If you don’t have a dedicated space for a dishwasher, start by checking the room and connections you actually have available. A mini dishwasher with a water tank may not need a dedicated water supply, but you’ll still need to check how it drains, how it connects to the mains and whether its limited capacity will suit you. A freestanding model could work if you have enough room and the right connections. If the space it takes up seems excessive for the amount of washing-up you do, washing by hand is still an option.
You live alone or as a couple and want to consider a water-tank appliance rather than a permanent connection to the water supply. UFC-Que Choisir describes mini countertop models suited to this situation, but you’ll still need to check the drainage and installation requirements for the model you choose.
You have a water supply, a waste outlet and a potential spot on the floor. A larger-capacity freestanding model could mean fewer cycles, provided its dimensions and instructions are suitable for your kitchen.
If you can quickly wash your everyday dishes by hand, weigh up how much time you hope to save against the space an appliance would occupy permanently. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends considering how you’ll use and maintain it.
Consider it: if you don’t have a dedicated water supply but can set aside a stable surface for a small appliance.
Bear in mind: capacity is limited, and filling and draining requirements vary by model. UFC-Que Choisir describes tank-equipped countertop appliances for 2 or 3 place settings.
Consider it: if you want to fit more washing-up into each cycle and can give the appliance more surface space.
Bear in mind: it takes up more room than a mini model; the water supply and drainage requirements depend on the model. UFC-Que Choisir also covers countertop models for 6 place settings.
Consider it: if you have floor space and compatible connections, and need to wash a larger amount of dishes.
Bear in mind: it needs floor space and room for the door to open. For example, Electrolux France lists the Electrolux ESA63200SX as holding 10 place settings and says it cannot be installed at height.
Stick with it: if you don’t have much washing-up or no suitable space is worth giving up.
Bear in mind: you’ll spend time washing and drying the dishes after each meal.
| Consideration | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Installation requirements | Check the model’s instructions for its water supply, drainage, supporting surface and electrical requirements. | Without a dedicated water supply, I want to know whether I can fill, drain and connect the appliance in my kitchen. Around 36% of shoppers say installation feasibility is their top priority. |
| Useful capacity | Compare the rack with your usual plates, dishes and containers, then consider how often you’re happy to run a cycle. | If my washing-up piles up between meals, I want to avoid running lots of cycles without assuming my dishes will fit alongside my plates. Around 29% of shoppers prioritise useful capacity. |
| Space left over | Measure the appliance’s footprint and the room needed to open its door without blocking meal preparation or cupboards. | When I already use my worktop for cooking, I want to keep some clear space and access to storage. Around 21% of shoppers prioritise retaining space. |
| How useful it will be | Compare the amount of washing-up you produce and the time spent washing by hand with the space the appliance will occupy permanently. | With little washing-up each day, I don’t want to give an appliance a permanent spot if I’ll rarely use it. Around 14% of shoppers prioritise the purchase’s practical value. |
A water tank may mean you don’t need a permanent connection to the water supply, but the appliance still needs to be positioned, connected to electricity and drained as described in its instructions.
Before choosing a model, check the filling method, drain hose, clearance, supporting surface and electrical connection separately.
The number of place settings doesn’t guarantee that large plates, frying pans or lunch boxes will all fit in the rack together.
Compare the dishes you use for your usual meals with the rack layout and usable height, then decide how many cycles you’d be happy to run.
A compact appliance still takes up room on your worktop or floor. Daan Tech lists Bob’s dimensions as 34 × 49 × 49 cm; Electrolux France gives the freestanding ESA63200SX a depth of 615 mm.
Mark out the space using the dimensions of the model you’re considering, then check that its door can open and you can still reach nearby cupboards.
The brand makes Bob, a mini countertop dishwasher. Daan Tech lists it as 34 cm wide, 49 cm high and 49 cm deep.
In 2021, UFC-Que Choisir featured the MINID3SL among the 3-place-setting mini dishwashers it tested.
The ESA63200SX is an example of a slimline freestanding model: Electrolux France lists it as 45 cm wide with capacity for 10 place settings.
Darty lists a 6-place-setting freestanding model that is 55 cm wide.
Yes. Some mini models with a water tank can be filled without a permanent connection to the water supply, such as the countertop appliances described by UFC-Que Choisir. However, check the instructions for your chosen model to find out how to fill it and, especially, how it drains.
No. The supporting surface, dimensions, clearance, water supply and drainage all need to be suitable for the specific appliance. Daan Tech lists Bob’s dimensions as 34 × 49 × 49 cm, which helps you measure the space it needs but isn’t enough to confirm that your installation is suitable.
Yes, if you have floor space and compatible connections. The Electrolux ESA63200SX, listed by Electrolux France as holding 10 place settings, is one example. However, it cannot be installed at height on a worktop.
Check the electrical requirements in the instructions. If you’re unsure whether your home’s wiring is suitable, ask a qualified person to check it. A model with a water tank still needs these checks, as well as a check of its drainage.
Washing by hand is still an option if you don’t produce enough washing-up to justify the space an appliance takes up, or if there’s no suitable place for one. UFC-Que Choisir mentions washing and drying in under 15 minutes as a useful point to consider, not a threshold that applies to everyone.