If your kitchen has no usable water supply for a dishwasher, a countertop model with a tank can take care of some of the washing up, as long as you can fill it and drain the wastewater. If you have the necessary connections and tend to have more dishes to wash between cycles, compare 6-place-setting compact models against the space you actually have. The number of place settings doesn’t guarantee that your pans and large plates will fit in together.
A countertop appliance can cut down on washing up by hand in a small kitchen, but its installation requirements and capacity need to suit the way you eat.
If you don’t have a dedicated water supply, a tank means you won’t need that connection. You’ll still need to fill it, use a suitable socket as specified in the instructions, and find somewhere to drain the wastewater.
If dishes pile up between cycles, consider a 6-place-setting compact model rather than one with a very small basket. Check that you have enough worktop space and can make the connections required by the instructions.
A tank model may be an option if you don’t have a standard water supply. First, decide where to put the appliance and its drain hose: having a tank doesn’t remove the need to deal with wastewater.
Consider this if: you don’t have a usable standard water supply. Bob by Daan Tech is an example of a model with an integrated tank.
You’ll need to: fill the tank and direct the drain hose into a sink or other outlet. Daan Tech lists Bob as holding 2 place settings.
Consider this if: you have more washing up and can install the appliance in line with its instructions.
You’ll need: more worktop width than Bob, as well as the necessary water, electricity and drainage connections.
Consider this only if: your layout does allow you to make space on the floor.
Measure carefully: Bosch lists a width of 45 cm and a height of 84,5 cm for its slimline freestanding models. This type of appliance doesn’t sit on the worktop.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Space and drainage | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed for the door. Daan Tech lists Bob at 34 × 49 × 49 cm; the 6-place-setting models featured by Electro Dépôt and BUT are both 55 cm wide. Also plan the route for the drain hose. | I want to keep my worktop usable and drain the water without getting in the way of the sink. |
| Water supply | Check whether the model can be filled manually or needs a water connection. Even with the 3,9 L tank listed for Bob by Daan Tech, you’ll still need to deal with drainage. For a plumbed appliance, check the water, electricity and drainage requirements in its instructions. | If I don’t have a usable water supply, I can fill a tank, but I still need a way to get rid of the wastewater. |
| Loading | Compare your plates, glasses and utensils with the basket specifications, not just the number of place settings. Electro Dépôt says that the 6 place settings listed for the VALBERG 6S47 D WAD929C V2 are based on 25 cm plates and 12 cm glasses. | If I cook for two, I want to know what will fit in one cycle and what I’ll still need to wash by hand. |
| Cycles and noise | Compare cycle times and consumption figures for the stated programme, taking capacity into account. For noise, Electro Dépôt lists 47 dB for the VALBERG 6S47 D WAD929C V2, while BUT lists 49 dB for the FAR LVC6C51M24DW G. These figures apply to those specific models. | Noise matters to me in a living space. I also want to choose programmes that suit the dishes from my meals. |
A tank means you don’t need a mains water connection, but you still need to drain the wastewater. Daan Tech specifies that Bob’s hose should lead to a sink or another drainage outlet.
Before choosing a spot, find a suitable drainage point and check the instructions for how to route and secure the hose.
The number of place settings doesn’t tell you whether a salad bowl, frying pan and your large plates will all fit in together. The VALBERG 6S47 D WAD929C V2 product information specifies the dish sizes used to determine its stated capacity.
Measure your bulkiest items and check the permitted dimensions or loading diagram for the model you’re considering.
Available space isn’t the only consideration. Installing a plumbed dishwasher also means checking the water supply, electricity and drainage, as Bosch points out.
Check all three separately, along with the door clearance, using the instructions for the exact model.
Two per-cycle figures don’t represent the same amount of washing up if the capacities or programmes differ. A basket that’s too small may also mean you need to run cycles more often.
Compare the stated programme and its consumption with the amount of washing up you expect to load each time.
These models give you different formats to compare. The brand alone won’t tell you whether an appliance can be installed in your kitchen.
According to its specifications, Bob is a countertop mini dishwasher that can be used with its integrated tank or a standard water supply.
The 6S47 D WAD929C V2 is a countertop model with 6 place settings to consider if you have more worktop space.
The LVC6C51M24DW G is another countertop dishwasher with 6 place settings. Compare it based on the space you have and the programmes you’re looking for.
These Joybuy options are countertop dishwashers. Several have a tank or can be used without a permanent connection, while a 6-place-setting model offers a different loading capacity. Check the installation requirements for each model before choosing.
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Worth considering if you can’t install a permanent water supply. The title lists a built-in 5 L tank and ‘5+1’ cycles. Measure the space and check where the drain hose can go.
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A countertop model to consider for a small kitchen. The title lists seven programmes and an energy rating of D. Check the instructions for filling and drainage, and to see what size dishes it can take.
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Worth comparing if you have smaller loads and limited installation options. The title lists 3 place settings and seven programmes. Measure the available space and check the instructions for the water supply and drainage requirements.
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Worth considering if you want to load more dishes and can arrange the necessary connections. The title lists 6 place settings and seven programmes. Check the dimensions, water supply and drainage requirements in the instructions.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a countertop appliance advertised as needing no permanent connection. The title lists eight programmes. Check how it takes in water, how it drains and how much space it needs before choosing this model.
Yes, if the model has a tank designed to be filled by hand. Daan Tech lists this option for Bob, which has a 3,9 L tank. You’ll still need to direct the wastewater into a sink or another drainage outlet, following the instructions.
It may be enough for smaller loads, but consider your dishes and how many meals you’ll have between cycles. If plates and utensils tend to pile up, the 6-place-setting models featured by Electro Dépôt and BUT offer a higher stated capacity, provided their basket and installation requirements suit you.
Measure the width, depth and available height, as well as the space needed to open the door. Then check the route for the drain hose and, for a plumbed model, access to water and electricity. Bosch notes that these connections and drainage are part of the installation.
Check the score shown for each exact model rather than assuming it applies to an entire brand. For example, Electro Dépôt lists a score of 8,1/10 for the VALBERG 6S47 D WAD929C V2. Check the information about spare parts as well before choosing.