A worktop dishwasher is worth considering if your dishes fit inside a compact tub and you can set aside a stable surface, a suitable power supply and a practical way to drain the water. A model with a water tank avoids a fixed water connection, but you’ll need to manage filling and draining. If your dishes pile up and you have space on the floor, consider a slimline 45 cm appliance instead. If you can’t install an appliance safely and suitably, washing by hand is still an option.
If you can connect the dishwasher to the water supply and drain near your sink, a compact worktop model can take care of some of the washing up for you. First, measure the surface you can spare: Darty lists the Comfee TD602E-W as having a footprint of 55 × 55 cm.
A model designed for manual filling can save you from having to make a fixed water connection. You’ll still need a suitable socket and somewhere to direct the wastewater. Daan Tech offers two drainage options for Bob: into a sink or a container.
If a compact tub would mean running too many cycles, compare the space taken up by a 6-place-setting worktop model with that of a slimline appliance installed on the floor. The latter needs suitable space and connections, but leaves your worktop free.
Start by working out where the water will go, then check that the capacity and dimensions suit your everyday washing up.
Consider this if: you have space near the sink and suitable connections for a 6-place-setting worktop model.
Bear in mind: the Comfee TD602E-W listed by Darty takes up 55 × 55 cm of worktop space, before you allow room to open the door.
Consider this if: a fixed water connection is a problem and your dishes will fit in a compact tub. Daan Tech says Bob holds 3 place settings.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to fill the tank by hand and find a way to drain the wastewater.
Consider this if: your dishes regularly exceed the capacity of a compact tub and you have space for a 45 cm appliance on the floor.
Bear in mind: this option frees up your worktop, but needs suitable floor space and connections.
Stick with this if: you don’t have a stable surface, a manageable drainage option or a suitable power supply for an appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to wash the dishes by hand, but you won’t have an appliance taking up space in your kitchen.
| Consideration | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Water, drainage and electricity | Check the instructions for the exact model to find out how it’s supplied with water, how the drain hose should be routed and what electrical connections it requires. | If you can’t connect the appliance easily, you’ll need to know where to fill it and where to drain it after every cycle. Around 36% of shoppers put these installation requirements first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the stated place settings, maximum plate size and basket layout with the dishes you use in a typical day. | If your bowls, plates and utensils pile up, you’ll want to avoid a compact tub that needs too many cycles. Capacity comes first for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height, remembering to allow for the door to open and the hoses to run. | If you prepare meals using the only available worktop in your kitchen, you’ll want to keep some of it free. Around 21% of shoppers prioritise the space an appliance takes up. |
| Everyday use | Check the stated noise level and programme duration, as well as how easy the filters are to reach and the consumption per cycle. | If the appliance will run near your living area, you’ll need to be comfortable with the noise and the maintenance it requires. Around 14% of shoppers prioritise these everyday considerations. |
A tank saves you from making a fixed water connection, but you’ll still need to fill it and drain it. Daan Tech describes these steps for Bob; the Comfee KWH-TD305-W-FR instructions also say to direct the drain hose into a sink or bucket.
Before ordering a model with a tank, decide where you’ll fill it and find a stable place for the wastewater to drain.
Darty also lists the Comfee TD602E-W as 55 cm deep. An appliance may fit on your worktop but still get in the way when you’re preparing food or opening the door.
Measure the depth, the height beneath your cupboards, the space in front of the door and the route for the hoses. A cardboard template can help you picture how much space will be left.
Large plates and bulky utensils can limit how much you can load well before you reach the stated number of place settings.
Compare the dishes you usually use with the maximum dimensions and basket layout for the exact model.
Having a socket nearby doesn’t, by itself, mean the electrical installation is suitable for the appliance. Legrand outlines specific requirements when adding a dishwasher circuit in a kitchen.
Check the appliance’s electrical requirements. If you have any doubts about the circuit or socket, ask a qualified person to inspect the installation.
Bob is an example of a compact-tub option for kitchens where limited width or the lack of a fixed water connection influences your choice.
The TD602E-W is an example of a 6-place-setting worktop model for kitchens with an accessible sink and connections.
The CP 6E51LW and CP 6E51LS are examples of 6-place-setting compact worktop models.
The Studio MINID3SL is another compact-capacity option if you have limited width available.
These three worktop models suit smaller loads or larger quantities of everyday washing up. Start by choosing according to the space you have, the amount you need to wash and the water supply method confirmed for the exact model.
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Worth considering if you don’t have a fixed water supply near your worktop.
The title states that it has a built-in 5 L tank and 5 + 1 wash cycles. Before planning where to install it, check the instructions for this model to confirm the water supply method, drainage and electrical requirements.
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Worth considering if you need 6 place settings and can install a plumbed-in appliance near the sink.
The title lists 7 programmes and 47 dB. Before buying, measure the available space and check the dimensions, clearances and hose reach for this model.
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Worth considering if worktop width is limited and you have a small amount of washing up.
The title lists a width of 34 cm. For this version, check the instructions to confirm how it’s supplied with water and how to drain it. Don’t assume it works in the same way as another version of Bob.
Yes, if the model is designed to be filled manually, but it will still need to drain the wastewater. Daan Tech says Bob can be used this way and has a drain hose that can run into a sink or another container. Check the instructions for the version you’ve chosen to confirm how it works.
It depends on how much surface you have left after installation. Darty lists the Comfee TD602E-W as measuring 55 × 55 × 43,8 cm. Remember to allow for the door to open and the hoses to run before deciding where to put it.
Not necessarily. You’ll need to check that the electrical connection is suitable for the appliance and your kitchen’s installation. If you don’t know how the circuit is set up, ask a qualified person to inspect it rather than relying on the fact that there’s a socket nearby.
Remove large food scraps and clean the filter system as directed in your appliance’s instructions. The Comfee KWH-TD305-W-FR instructions describe these tasks; the exact procedure may differ for another model.