If the washing-up piles up after meals, start by choosing a capacity that suits what you actually wash and the space available. Que Choisir says a 45 cm model may suit a small family happy to run it every day. A 60 cm model can handle a larger load, provided it fits in your kitchen. Then compare the Eco programme figures and check the connections. For an integrated model, check the cabinet and door panel too.
If several meals leave you with cutlery, dishes and utensils to wash, consider the capacity and basket layout based on what you want to load between cycles. The number of people in your household alone won’t determine which size is right for you.
If width is limited, a 45 cm model is worth considering. Que Choisir says models with capacity for 9 place settings may suit a small family, even if that means running the dishwasher every day. Check whether that routine works for you and whether your dishes will fit.
If the dishwasher will run near your living space, compare the noise level shown on the label. If you want to hide the appliance behind a door panel, check the cabinet dimensions, door system and connections before choosing an integrated model.
First decide whether you generate enough washing-up to justify a dishwasher, then consider the width and installation type separately: a 60 cm appliance can be freestanding or integrated. As ADEME explains, the energy label’s consumption figures relate to the Eco programme; they don’t describe every cycle.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and cycle frequency | Compare the stated place-setting capacity with your dishes and utensils, then check the basket layout. | When washing-up from several meals piles up, I want to fit my dishes in without running extra cycles; around 31% of consumers would prioritise capacity. |
| Water, energy and consumables | Check the kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and Eco programme duration. Factor in the products you’ll need to use it. | If I run the dishwasher often, I want to consider water, electricity and washing products; around 25% of consumers would prioritise these ongoing costs. |
| Positioning and installation | Measure the space and check the water inlet, drainage and electrical supply. For an integrated model, check the cabinet and door panel too. | In a fitted kitchen, I need to be able to install the appliance without assuming the connections or door panel will be suitable; around 25% of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
| Noise and maintenance | Compare the noise level in dB and check the maintenance guidance and repairability index for the exact model. | With a kitchen close to the living room, I want to minimise disruption during cycles and be able to maintain the appliance; around 19% of consumers would put this need ahead of others. |
The letter won’t tell you whether the capacity suits your washing-up or whether the Eco programme duration fits your routine.
As ADEME recommends, also check the kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, capacity, programme duration and noise level on the label.
Setting up an appliance using existing connections won’t necessarily include creating or modifying them. Darty specifically excludes changes to the door panel, plumbing and electrics from its described integrated installation service.
Before placing your order, give the installer measurements and photos of the space, then ask them to confirm which work is included and what requires a separate quote.
According to Que Choisir, a 45 cm model with capacity for 9 place settings may suit a small family, but could need to run every day. The width alone doesn’t guarantee that your larger dishes will fit in the baskets.
List the place settings, pans and dishes you use between washes, then compare them with the capacity and layout of the model you’re considering.
Everyday use involves consumables and the maintenance tasks recommended for the appliance.
Check the manual for your chosen model to find out which products to use, how to adjust the settings for your water hardness and what routine maintenance is needed.
These 60 cm models include both freestanding and integrated appliances, so you can tackle the washing-up from your meals, depending on the space and installation options in your kitchen.
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Worth considering for tackling the washing-up in a fitted kitchen, provided the cabinet space, door panel and connections are compatible.
Stated capacity of 14 place settings; A energy rating. Check the cycle durations against your routine.
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For a freestanding space where you want to tackle the washing-up from several meals; check the space and connections before delivery.
Stated capacity of 14 place settings; E energy rating. Check the exact model’s label to compare the Eco programme.
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Worth considering if you need a freestanding model and want to compare noise levels for a kitchen close to your living space.
Stated capacity of 14 place settings; 41 dB stated in the product name; C energy rating. Check the clearance required in your chosen space.
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For a compatible fitted kitchen where you want to load the washing-up from your meals regularly.
Stated capacity of 13 place settings; B energy rating. Check the cabinet dimensions, door panel and connections before ordering.
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Worth considering for tackling the washing-up in a fitted kitchen, provided the planned installation is suitable for the model.
Stated capacity of 13 place settings; C energy rating. Check the cabinet dimensions, door, door panel and connections.
It can be useful if you regularly build up enough washing-up to fill the appliance, but the size of your household isn’t the only factor. Que Choisir says that if washing and drying up after every meal takes you less than 15 minutes, a dishwasher isn’t essential. Also consider your dishes, utensils and available space.
Look at the energy rating, kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, capacity, Eco programme duration and noise level together. According to ADEME, the consumption figures relate to the reference cycle. They let you compare appliances on that basis, but don’t describe every programme you’ll use at home.
Check the cabinet dimensions, door and door panel, as well as the water inlet, drainage and electrical supply. Darty says its integrated installation service using existing connections excludes changes to the door panel, plumbing and electrics. Before ordering, ask for details of the work needed in your kitchen.
No. The repairability index tells you how easy a product is to repair, not whether it will avoid breakdowns or how long it will last. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition says dishwashers are among the product categories covered in France. Check the index for the exact model when comparing appliances.