In a small kitchen with no floor space to spare, start by choosing an appliance that suits the water supply and drainage you can arrange. A tank means you won’t need a fixed water connection, but you may still need a drain hose; a plumbed-in model requires a compatible water supply. If the dishes for one or two people regularly exceed the capacity of a mini model with 2 or 3 place settings, consider a larger compact model, provided you have a stable surface for it. Also check the size of your dishes and how many wash cycles you’d be willing to run.
You want to cut down on washing up by hand without altering the plumbing. A tank-fed appliance may suit you if you also have a stable surface for it and a suitable route for draining the water. Daan Tech sets out both requirements for its Bob model.
If a day’s worth of dishes quickly fills a small tub, compare a higher-capacity model with the space and connections available. Electro Dépôt, for example, lists a Valberg model with 6 place settings. Its stated capacity doesn’t mean you can skip checking how much room it needs in your kitchen.
If the appliance will run near your living area, check the stated noise level for the exact model and choose cycle times that suit your home. Noise is one of the criteria covered in UFC-Que Choisir’s dishwasher guide.
Start with the available space, water supply and drainage, then compare the stated capacity with the dishes you use. If you can’t arrange suitable connections, sticking to an organised hand-washing routine is better than choosing an appliance you can’t use in your kitchen.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Installation and drainage | Check whether the appliance uses a tank or a water supply, then follow the instructions to see how it needs to drain. Make sure the chosen spot is stable and that there’s a socket within reach. | Without a fixed water supply, I want to avoid plumbing work while still being able to drain the waste water. Around 29% of consumers would put this installation option at the top of their list. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the number of place settings with your plates, glasses and larger utensils. Check the maximum plate diameter it can accommodate, if stated. | If a day’s worth of dishes and cookware won’t fit in a small basket, capacity matters more than choosing the smallest appliance. Around 29% of consumers would make it their top priority. |
| How often you’ll run a cycle | Compare the dishes you produce between washes with the capacity per cycle and the programme times listed for the model. | When I cook often, I want to know whether a small tub would mean running more cycles or continuing to wash utensils by hand. Around 24% of consumers would prioritise this everyday consideration. |
| Ease of use | Check the stated noise level and care instructions. For drying, look for reviews or tests of the exact model. | In an open-plan kitchen, the noise from a cycle, as well as dishes that need drying or maintenance to carry out, could affect my choice. Around 18% of consumers would make ease of use their main priority. |
A tank can save you from needing a fixed water supply, but the waste water still has to drain as specified for the appliance. Daan Tech, for example, says that Bob needs a drain hose connected.
Before ordering, locate a suitable drain and check the model’s instructions for the approved route for the hose.
Two appliances with the same stated capacity may fit large plates, frying pans or food containers differently. Klarstein, for example, states that the Oceana can take plates up to 26 cm.
Measure your bulkiest items and compare them with the usable dimensions and basket layout of the model you’re considering.
You may hear a cycle when the appliance is close to your living area. Klarstein states a noise level of up to 58 dB for the Aquatica, while Electro Dépôt lists 47 dB for the Valberg 6S47 D WAD929C V2. These stated figures relate to different models and don’t, by themselves, tell you how noisy either will seem in your home.
Check the figure and conditions listed for each exact model, then think about when you’d run the cycles.
A product listing that mentions a drying function doesn’t, by itself, tell you how your dishes will come out or how many cycles your household will use.
Check the instructions and look for tests or reviews of the exact model that describe its drying performance and whether it can fit the type of dishes you use.
The brand’s range includes Bob, a mini dishwasher designed to sit on a worktop, for example.
The range mentioned includes tabletop dishwashers that connect to a tap.
Electro Dépôt lists a compact Valberg model for anyone who needs more capacity than a 2- or 3-place-setting appliance can offer.
These countertop appliances suit different needs: the first has a tank, the second offers 6 place settings, and the third requires you to confirm its water supply setup before deciding where to put it.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if there’s no fixed water supply near your worktop. The product title states that it has an integrated 5 L tank and 5+1 wash cycles. Before installation, check the instructions for drainage, the space required and whether it can accommodate your dishes.
Image unavailable
Consider this if 2 or 3 place settings seem too restrictive and you have room for a countertop appliance with its connections. The product title lists 7 programmes, automatic door opening and 47 dB. Before ordering, check the dimensions, water supply and drainage requirements for this model.
Image unavailable
Consider this for a small kitchen only after confirming that it will work on your worktop. The product title lists 8 programmes, a built-in water softener and a delay start. Rather than assuming how it connects from its description as a portable appliance, check the instructions for the water supply, drainage and dimensions.
Yes, if it’s designed to do so. Daan Tech says Bob can use its integrated 4 L tank without a fixed water supply. You’ll still need to arrange drainage in line with the instructions.
Always check the drainage setup required for the model you choose. For Bob, Daan Tech says to connect the drain hose to the back of the appliance: its water tank doesn’t collect the waste water.
Gather the dishes you expect to use between cycles, including bowls, glasses and cooking utensils, then check what fits in the model’s basket. UFC-Que Choisir describes 2- or 3-place-setting models as an option for someone living alone or a couple without room for a full-size appliance. That doesn’t guarantee that your larger items will fit.
It offers more capacity, but only if its dimensions and connections suit your kitchen. Electro Dépôt lists the Valberg 6S47 D WAD929C V2 as having 6 place settings. Measure the available space and check the instructions before considering this format.