First, choose an installation type that suits your kitchen: a freestanding model if you want a finished appliance, an integrated model if you have a suitable space and matching furniture door, or a compact model if space is tight and you have fewer dishes to wash. In an open-plan kitchen, compare the stated noise level and usable capacity, then check the dimensions and connections in the model’s instructions.
A freestanding dishwasher comes with its own finished exterior, so you don’t need to provide a furniture door. If you want to fit it under a worktop, check that the top panel is removable and that the dimensions are suitable. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking this before you buy.
If the dishwasher will be running while you’re in the living area, noise matters just as much as the installation type. Compare the stated dB(A) level and the noise emission class on the labels of the models you’re considering, rather than relying on their marketing descriptions.
A compact model is worth considering if you’re short on width or floor space. However, its smaller capacity needs to suit the dishes and pans you use regularly, and its position and connections must comply with the instructions.
The installation type determines whether a model will work with your kitchen layout. Noise, capacity and overall size then help you choose between the models that can actually be fitted.
Consider this if: you want a finished appliance for a kitchen without fitted units.
Bear in mind: it will be on show; if you’re fitting it under a worktop, the model must have a removable top panel.
Consider this if: you have a suitable space and want the appliance to match your kitchen units.
You’ll need: a compatible furniture door, supplied separately from the appliance, and an installation suited to the unit.
Consider this if: space is very limited and you don’t usually have many dishes to wash.
Bear in mind: the smaller capacity may make it harder to wash larger kitchen utensils.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Installation and layout | Measure the space; check for a removable top panel if fitting a freestanding model under a worktop, or check the space and furniture door for an integrated model. | Without fitted kitchen units, I want to install a finished appliance; if there’s already a space for it, I want to know whether a suitable furniture door can be fitted. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
| Noise in living areas | Compare the stated dB(A) levels and noise emission classes on the energy labels. | When the dishwasher is running while I work or chat in my open-plan kitchen, noise becomes my top priority. It matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Usable capacity | Look at the stated place settings and basket layout in relation to the dishes and utensils you usually use. | If the day’s washing-up is piling up, I mainly want to make sure my plates and larger utensils fit in a suitable load. Around 25% of consumers prioritise capacity. |
| Overall size | Check the width, height and depth, as well as the permitted location in the instructions for the compact model you’re considering. | If floor space is limited, I could consider a smaller model as long as it can handle my everyday dishes. Around 17% of consumers put saving space ahead of other criteria. |
An appliance with a finished top panel won’t necessarily fit in this position. UFC-Que Choisir advises checking that its top panel is removable.
Note down the exact model reference and check the instructions and dimensions before planning an under-worktop installation.
An integrated model is designed for a suitable unit and needs a matching furniture door, which isn’t supplied with the appliance according to the UFC-Que Choisir guide.
Check that the door, plinth and space are compatible, and confirm what’s included in the planned installation.
On its own, this description doesn’t give you a consistent basis for comparing two models in an open-plan kitchen.
For each model, check the stated dB(A) level and the noise emission class shown on its energy label.
Its smaller capacity may become a problem if the dishes and pans you use every day don’t fit inside.
Think about the dishes you use for a typical meal, then compare them with the stated place settings and the model’s interior layout.
These brands offer models for different installation types. Compare the specifications of each model rather than assuming that the features of one apply to the whole range.
Bosch offers freestanding and integrated dishwashers, including 45 cm and 60 cm models.
Electrolux is worth considering if you’re looking for a freestanding model that can fit under a worktop.
Beko offers freestanding, semi-integrated and fully integrated models.
These models cover two situations: a kitchen with a suitable space for an integrated dishwasher, or a minimally fitted kitchen where a freestanding model may be a better fit. Check the space before comparing capacity and noise information.
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Worth considering if your kitchen has a suitable space and you want to conceal the dishwasher behind a matching furniture door.
The product title states 60 cm, 14 place settings and an A energy rating. Check the dimensions of the space and the compatibility of the furniture door before choosing this model.
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A freestanding model is suitable for a kitchen without a furniture door designed for a dishwasher.
The product title states 60 cm, 14 place settings, 41 dB and a C energy rating. If you plan to fit it under a worktop, check in the instructions that the top panel is removable and that the dimensions are suitable.
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This model is designed for a kitchen with a compatible space and furniture door.
The product title states 60 cm, 13 place settings and a C energy rating. Check the exact installation dimensions and the required furniture door.
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Consider this model if you’re planning an integrated installation and need a stated capacity of 14 place settings.
The product title states 60 cm and an E energy rating. Measure the space and check which furniture door is suitable for this model.
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This integrated model is worth considering for a fitted kitchen, provided you confirm that it’s suitable for your units.
The product title states 14 place settings and a C energy rating. Ask for its exact width before preparing the space: the dimensions listed for this model don’t match.
Yes, if the model is designed for this installation and has a removable top panel. Check its dimensions in the instructions before you buy, too. UFC-Que Choisir points out that you shouldn’t assume the top panel can be removed on every freestanding appliance.
No: the UFC-Que Choisir guide says that integrated appliances are supplied without a furniture door. You’ll need to provide a matching door that’s compatible with the appliance and your kitchen units.
For a standard dishwasher, check that it can be connected to the water supply, electricity and wastewater outlet, as UFC-Que Choisir advises. Consult the instructions for your chosen model for its installation and connection requirements, particularly if it’s a compact model.
Compare their stated noise levels in dB(A) and their noise emission classes on the energy labels, then make sure their installation types and capacities are both suitable. A description such as ‘quiet’ isn’t a substitute for this information.
No. It’s a useful starting point, but the basket layout also needs to suit your dishes, pans and other large utensils. This is particularly important with a compact model, which has a more limited capacity than 45 cm or 60 cm models.