To keep your existing kitchen door, first choose a dishwasher whose housing space, door and hinges are compatible: a stated width of 60 cm isn’t enough to establish this. A fully integrated model hides the controls behind the door, while a semi-integrated model leaves its control panel visible. A freestanding model is suitable if you’re happy with its own finish and, if it’s going under a worktop, if it’s designed for that installation. Before ordering, also check the water inlet, waste outlet and electrical supply.
You’d like to keep your existing cabinets, plinth and, if possible, door panel. Measure the housing space in three dimensions and identify how the door is fitted. As UFC-Que Choisir and Bosch point out, width alone doesn’t determine whether an appliance will fit or whether its hinges are compatible.
If you’re planning a door to match your kitchen units, decide whether you want the controls hidden or visible. Also plan how the door panel will be secured and where the connections will go before finalising the cabinet.
A freestanding model has its own finish. If you want to place it under a worktop, check its dimensions and whether its top can be removed. UFC-Que Choisir recommends confirming that the model has a removable top.
Start with the installation type and your kitchen measurements. Then compare the everyday features of models that will actually fit your space.
| Priority | What to check | What matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| Housing space and door | Measure the width, height and depth of the housing space. Compare the plinth, door panel and door movement with the model’s installation diagram. Bosch, for example, distinguishes between fixed and sliding hinges. | I want to keep my existing door panel and make sure the door can open without catching on the plinth. |
| Connections | Locate the water inlet, waste outlet and electrical supply – the three connections listed by UFC-Que Choisir. Check that they’ll still be accessible once the appliance is in place. | Delivery is approaching, so I’d rather know where the appliance will connect before deciding exactly where to put it. |
| Door panel and controls | Confirm the exact installation type. A fully integrated model hides its controls behind a kitchen door, while a semi-integrated model leaves its control panel visible, as Electrolux states for the relevant models. For a freestanding model, check the top if it needs to fit under a worktop. | I want either a door panel that matches my kitchen units, visible controls, or an appliance that doesn’t need an additional door panel fitted. |
| Everyday use | Once you’ve confirmed the size is compatible, compare the stated capacity, noise level in dB(A), and water and electricity consumption for the Eco programme on a like-for-like basis. | Noise matters to me in an open-plan kitchen. I also want a capacity that suits the amount of washing-up we get through. |
The stated width doesn’t confirm that the height and depth will fit, or that there’s enough clearance for the door and plinth.
Measure the housing space in three dimensions, note the plinth height and check the installation diagram for the model you’ve chosen.
The term alone doesn’t tell you whether the controls will be visible or what kind of door panel needs to be fitted. A fully integrated and a semi-integrated model look different from the front.
Check the model’s exact category, whether it needs a door panel and how that panel is secured.
You can only remove the top if the model is designed for it. Without that option, there may not be enough height for the installation you have in mind.
Look for explicit confirmation in the product information that the top is removable, and measure the remaining space under the worktop.
Even if the appliance fits into the housing space, it needs an accessible water inlet, waste outlet and electrical supply. You’ll also need to plan how the door panel and plinth will be secured.
Before delivery, locate the connections and confirm with your installer what the installation will involve. If you have any concerns about the existing electrical installation, ask a qualified professional to check it.
These ranges offer useful points of comparison for sizes and door types. You’ll still need to check compatibility for the specific model, and shouldn’t assume it’s included in the product selection below.
Bosch offers fully integrated dishwashers in 45 cm and 60 cm sizes, as well as hinge options to consider based on your door panel.
Electrolux product information distinguishes between fully integrated models and semi-integrated models with a visible control panel.
Siemens offers fully integrated dishwashers, including some models equipped with its varioHinge system.
Miele describes fully integrated models that can be fitted with a door panel to match your kitchen.
This selection includes fully integrated dishwashers designed for a kitchen door panel, as well as a freestanding model. If you’re replacing an appliance, check that its installation type suits your kitchen before comparing other features.
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Worth considering if you’re planning to fit a kitchen door panel to a fully integrated appliance. Compare the housing dimensions, plinth and door fitting with your kitchen. Check the model’s product information for its noise level before using it as a deciding factor.
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Consider this for a kitchen with a door panel and concealed controls. Before choosing this model, confirm its installation dimensions: the available width information is contradictory, and the door panel must also be compatible with the hinge system.
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This fully integrated model is designed for a housing space with a kitchen door panel. Before choosing it, check the available space, plinth, hinge type and how your door panel will be secured.
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Worth considering if you’re happy with a visible appliance that doesn’t need a kitchen door panel. The top is listed as non-removable, so don’t choose this model for an under-worktop installation that requires it to be removed. Also measure the space and check access to the connections.
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This fully integrated model is designed for a fitted kitchen with a door panel. Confirm the installation dimensions and hinge system: the information about the door movement doesn’t establish whether it will work with an existing door panel.
No. The stated width doesn’t confirm the height or depth, or whether the door panel and hinges are compatible. Measure the housing space and identify how the existing door is fitted. Bosch, for example, distinguishes between fixed and sliding hinges.
A fully integrated model hides the appliance and its controls behind a kitchen door panel, while a semi-integrated model has a visible control panel above the panel. For example, Electrolux describes its KEGB7400IX as semi-integrated with a visible control panel.
Yes, if the model is designed for this type of installation and its dimensions are suitable. UFC-Que Choisir recommends explicitly checking that the top is removable. Then check the height, depth and access to the connections.
You’ll need a water inlet, a waste outlet and an electrical supply – the three connections listed by UFC-Que Choisir. Locate them before positioning the appliance and check that they’ll still be accessible once it’s installed.