First, choose a type of installation that works for your kitchen, then check that the capacity and racks suit the dishes you usually wash. If you have a suitable space, an integrated model may be the right choice. Without one, a freestanding dishwasher offers more flexibility, while a compact model frees up floor space at the expense of capacity, as UFC-Que Choisir’s guides explain.
You’re looking for your first appliance or a replacement that won’t require changes to your kitchen units. Floor space, plumbing and the amount of washing-up you have can help you choose a freestanding model, which comes with its own finished exterior and doesn’t need an additional furniture door, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
You’re fitting out a space or reusing one left by an old appliance, and want the door to match your kitchen units. Measure the space and check the model’s hinges: built-in dishwashers are designed for a purpose-made recess, as UFC-Que Choisir explains.
You’re considering a countertop appliance to keep the floor clear. Check that it can also accommodate your dishes and pans; a compact format still needs the necessary connections.
Choose this if : your kitchen doesn’t have a suitable recess and you have a space with the necessary connections.
Bear in mind : the appliance will be on show. If you’re putting it under a worktop, check the available height and whether the model’s top can be removed.
Choose this if : you have a dedicated recess and the dimensions, door and furniture panel are compatible with the model. A visible control panel distinguishes a semi-integrated model from a fully integrated one.
Bear in mind : check the installation diagram, hinges and furniture-panel fixings before you buy. A built-in appliance isn’t simply a freestanding model with a panel added.
Choose this if : you have a stable surface and your everyday loads are fairly small.
Bear in mind : a compact model takes up worktop space, and its smaller capacity may mean running more cycles. The Candy CP 6E51LS, for example, is listed as holding 6 place settings and connecting directly to the water supply.
| Priority | What to check before buying | Who is this most important to ? |
|---|---|---|
| Installation without a recess | Measure the width, height and depth. If you’re fitting the appliance under a worktop, check whether the top can be removed on the exact model. Make sure there’s room for the connections. | If I don’t have a dedicated recess, I’m looking for an installation that doesn’t require an additional furniture panel. Around 25 % of consumers prioritise an installation without a recess. |
| Matching your kitchen units | Compare all three measurements of the recess with the model’s diagram; check the hinge type and how the furniture panel is attached. | If I’m reusing a recess and want the door to match my kitchen units, the dimensions and hinge system are key. This is a priority for around 20 % of consumers. |
| Small floor-space footprint | Measure your available worktop space, then check the water supply, drainage and electrical connection required for the model you’ve chosen. | If floor space is limited, I could consider a countertop appliance, provided I have a suitable surface. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise a small floor-space footprint. |
| Everyday load | Compare the number of place settings and the rack layout with your plates, dishes and pans; also consider how many cycles you’re happy to run. | If I want to wash a day’s worth of dishes without running lots of cycles, I look at the actual capacity and the space for larger items. Around 25 % of consumers put everyday capacity first. |
| Running costs and ease of use | For models with comparable capacity and installation types, check the EU energy label for energy use per 100 Eco cycles, water use per cycle, programme duration and noise level. The European Commission explains these indicators. If needed, also ask about the cost of the furniture panel and installation. | If more than one format works in my kitchen, I can compare them based on running costs and noise levels. Around 10 % of consumers prioritise these factors. |
An integrated appliance needs to fit a purpose-made recess and may require a suitable furniture panel and door fitting. The dimensions and hinges of a particular model don’t guarantee that it will fit your kitchen units.
Measure the recess and check the installation diagram for the exact model. Also check the furniture panel and installation requirements before finalising your plans.
Allow for a matching furniture panel and, depending on your setup, installation costs.
The number of place settings doesn’t tell you everything about the shape of the items that will fit in the racks. For example, manufacturers list 6 place settings for the Candy CP 6E51LS, 9 for the Electrolux ESG42310SW and 14 for the Beko BDIN38440. These figures apply to those specific models.
Think about a day’s worth of washing-up, including larger dishes, and check how they fit in the racks of the model you’re considering.
If capacity is too limited, you may need to run more cycles to wash your household’s dishes.
A countertop format doesn’t necessarily mean the appliance works without a water connection. The Candy CP 6E51LS is listed as connecting directly to the water supply.
Check the water supply, drainage and electrical requirements separately in the manual for the exact model.
Depending on your kitchen layout, you may need to make changes to the water supply or drainage.
A range of freestanding and fully integrated models with published specifications, making it easier to compare the installation requirements of specific appliances.
The BDIN38440 is an example of a 60 cm integrated dishwasher.
The ESG42310SW is an example of a narrow 45 cm freestanding model.
The CP 6E51LS is an example of a countertop compact dishwasher.
This selection includes a countertop compact dishwasher and freestanding models with different capacities and configurations, to suit kitchens without a dedicated recess and a range of household loads.
No image available
Its countertop format and listed capacity make it suitable for smaller loads when floor space is limited.
3 place settings; 7 programmes; 24 h delay start; 5 L tank or direct connection; listed water use of 4.2 L per wash; listed noise level of 56.3 dB; energy rating C.
It takes up worktop space, and its capacity may be too limited for a full day’s dishes, including pots and pans.
No image available
Consider this freestanding model if your kitchen doesn’t have a built-in recess and you’re looking for a listed capacity of 14 place settings.
14 place settings; 5 programmes; delay start of up to 24 h; height-adjustable upper rack; listed Eco water use of 11.5 L per cycle.
No image available
This freestanding model could suit a kitchen without a dedicated recess, with several storage options for different types of load.
14 place settings; 11 programmes; adjustable upper rack; third rack; listed Eco water use of 9.5 L per cycle.
No image available
Its freestanding design is suited to kitchens without a built-in recess. The half-load option may come in handy if the amount of washing-up varies.
14 place settings; third cutlery rack; half-load option; listed Eco water use of 9.5 L per cycle.
No image available
Its freestanding design and listed capacity of 14 place settings could suit everyday household loads, provided it fits the available space.
14 place settings; 6 programmes; delay start from 1 to 8 h; listed water use of 9.5 L; removable top; upper rack adjustable even when loaded.
Measure the width, height and depth of the space, then compare them with the model’s diagram. For an integrated model, also check the hinges, furniture panel and connections. For a freestanding model under a worktop, check whether the top can be removed on the model you’ve chosen.
Don’t assume so just because it’s described as ‘compact’. The Candy CP 6E51LS is listed as connecting directly to the water supply. Check the manual for the model you’re considering, as well as the drainage and electrical requirements.
The EU energy label includes energy use per 100 Eco cycles, water use per cycle, programme duration, capacity and noise level. The European Commission explains these indicators. They won’t give you an exact forecast of your bills if you use other programmes.
Follow your appliance’s manual. For its models, Bosch recommends removing and cleaning the filter, then checking that it has been fitted back correctly. This manufacturer guidance doesn’t set a mandatory cleaning schedule for every brand.
For goods sold by a business to a consumer, the legal guarantee of conformity applies under the conditions set out by the Ministry of the Economy. In information published in September 2026, the Ministry explains that, for new goods, the presumption that defects existed at the time of purchase lasts for two years. Its August 2026 guidance states that a repairability index is mandatory for dishwashers. The replacement of this index with a durability index in 2025 applied to televisions and washing machines, not dishwashers.