If you can’t spare any floor space, a mini countertop dishwasher could be an option, provided your everyday dishes fit inside and you have a stable surface to put it on, a suitable water supply for the model and a way to drain the wastewater. A 45 cm model is worth considering if you can free up floor space and want to wash more dishes at once, without running multiple cycles. A 60 cm model needs even more room.
You can spare a stable worktop surface, but there’s no room on the floor. UFC-Que Choisir describes 6-place-setting countertop dishwashers as suitable for smaller homes. However, only some models have a built-in water tank, and you’ll still need somewhere for the wastewater to drain.
Your choice depends on what will actually fit in a load. Plates, glasses, bowls and cooking utensils can take up space in different ways, so the number of place settings alone may not tell the whole story. Compare your dishes with the capacity and layout of the model you’re considering.
If you can make room on the floor and arrange the necessary connections, a slimline model offers a different loading capacity. UFC-Que Choisir puts freestanding 45 cm models at around 9 to 10 place settings, compared with 12 to 17 for 60 cm models. These figures don’t replace checking whether your own dishes will fit.
The space you have available determines which sizes are an option. The amount you wash each day and the water connections then help you choose between the models that can actually be installed there.
Worth considering: if you don’t have any floor space and your dishes will fit in the model you choose.
The trade-off: it takes up worktop space and needs to drain wastewater. A built-in tank means some models don’t need a fixed water supply, but they still need drainage. UFC-Que Choisir describes countertop appliances with a capacity of 6 place settings, while Daan Tech lists Bob as having 3 standard place settings. Mini models don’t all have the same capacity.
Worth considering: if you can spare floor space for a model that holds more than many mini dishwashers.
The trade-off: you’ll need the connections required for a conventional dishwasher. As a guide for one specific model, Bosch gives dimensions of 845 × 450 × 600 mm for its SPS4EMI17E. Measure the space for the model you choose.
Worth considering: if you have enough floor space and the amount of washing-up you regularly do justifies a larger model.
The trade-off: it takes up more floor space. UFC-Que Choisir gives a capacity of 12 to 17 place settings for freestanding 60 cm models. Bosch lists dimensions of 845 × 600 × 600 mm for its SMS4HMW08E, but these measurements don’t apply to every model.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space available | Measure the worktop surface or floor space, along with the clearance needed for the door and hoses as specified in the instructions. | I can’t add a floor-standing appliance without getting in the way in the kitchen, but I can spare a stable part of the worktop. Around 42% of consumers would put preserving floor space first. |
| Capacity per cycle | Compare the stated number of place settings with your plates, bowls and utensils, and check the basket layout too. | With the household dishes and cooking containers to wash, I want to avoid having to run another cycle too often. Capacity would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Connections | Check how the model gets its water and where its drain hose will need to go. | There’s no dedicated water supply near the spot I have in mind, so I need to be able to manage both filling and draining. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A tank can remove the need for a fixed water supply, but not for draining wastewater. Daan Tech says its Bob model drains water through a hose placed in the sink or connected to another drain.
Before ordering, work out where the wastewater will go and check the hose length and fitting instructions in the manual.
An appliance may fit in the space you’ve measured but leave too little room to open the door or route the hoses. A countertop model also shifts the space it takes up from the floor to the worktop.
Check the exact model’s width, depth and height, as well as the required clearances, then make sure the surface can support it.
The number of place settings doesn’t guarantee that your large plates, frying pans or lunch boxes will all fit at once. Capacity also varies between mini models: UFC-Que Choisir describes a category of countertop dishwashers with a capacity of 6 place settings, while Daan Tech lists Bob as having 3 standard place settings.
Make a list of the dishes you use in a day and compare their dimensions with the maximum sizes that fit in the basket of the model you choose.
These countertop models are for small households considering using their worktop rather than freeing up floor space. Compare their stated capacity with your dishes, then check the dimensions and drainage requirements of the model you choose.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a countertop appliance and would rather use a tank than a fixed water supply.
The title states that it has a built-in 5 L tank and “5+1” cycles. Check the space needed, whether its capacity suits your dishes and where the wastewater will drain.
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Compare it with the available worktop width if you’re looking for a model with a tank.
The title gives dimensions of 37 × 50 cm and 9 programmes. Check the height, clearance and route for the drain hose before choosing where to put it.
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Worth considering if you want to compare a countertop appliance listed for 6 place settings with the amount you wash each day.
The title mentions 7 programmes. Measure the available space and check the manual for the water and drainage connections required.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a mini countertop model that you fill manually.
The title lists 7 programmes. Before choosing where to put it, compare its capacity with your dishes and check the route needed to drain the wastewater.
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Worth considering for a small amount of washing-up if your kitchen has a suitable tap connection.
The model is described as a “3-Set” countertop appliance. Check its dimensions, whether it’s compatible with your tap connection and where the wastewater will drain before deciding where to put it.
Yes, if the model specifically has a tank. Daan Tech says Bob can use its built-in 3.9 L tank or connect to a standard water supply. This doesn’t automatically apply to other mini dishwashers.
No: wastewater still needs to drain away. For Bob, Daan Tech specifies a 1.50 m drain hose that can be directed into the sink or another drain. Check the hose length and fitting instructions for the model you’re considering.
No. A mini dishwasher could suit you if your everyday dishes fit inside and you’re short on floor space. A 45 cm model becomes more appealing if you have room for it and want to wash more dishes per cycle. UFC-Que Choisir puts freestanding slimline models at around 9 to 10 place settings.
If you’re a private individual who bought a dishwasher in France from a business, you may be able to rely on the legal guarantee of conformity if the product doesn’t match its description. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control says this guarantee is compulsory. Keep a copy of the description shown when you bought it and your proof of purchase.
Yes. It gives you an idea of how repairable a covered model is, but doesn’t measure how well it washes. The ministry responsible for the ecological transition says dishwashers are among the product categories covered by this index, which is scored from 0 to 10.