In a shared house where several people cook regularly, start by considering how much washing-up you generate and how much room you need for pans, glasses and cutlery. A 60 cm model may be suitable if your kitchen has space for it. A 45 cm or compact model is better suited to limited space, but its capacity still needs to match how often you’re happy to run a cycle. Compare noise levels and energy consumption on the energy label, then check the space and connections available before choosing between a freestanding and an integrated model.
If plates, pans, glasses and cutlery pile up between meals, compare the place settings capacity with the dishes you actually use. Check the basket layout too: a large dish can take up space that the place settings figure doesn’t account for.
If you’ll be running a cycle while others are asleep, working or using the shared space, compare the dB rating and noise class on the energy label. A marketing claim such as ‘quiet’ is no substitute for these figures.
Measure the available space before choosing between freestanding, integrated, 45 cm and compact models. Check the existing connections and the model’s instructions. If you’re considering modifying any rented fixtures or fittings, discuss it with your landlord before installation.
Start with the washing-up generated between cycles, then weigh up your preferred capacity against the available space and the needs of shared living.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and loading | Compare the number of place settings with the space available for larger utensils. Check the adjustable baskets and cutlery storage on the specific model. Beko France lists a capacity of 14 place settings for the BDEN38441WA; Whirlpool France lists up to 15 for the W7FHS31S. | ‘We cook together and want to fit the dishes from our meals in without leaving pans out.’ |
| Size and installation | Measure the space, then check the dimensions and installation instructions. For an integrated model, check the housing and cabinet door, as well as the available water inlet, drainage and power supply. | ‘The kitchen is narrow’ points to a size that needs careful measuring; ‘there’s already a dedicated space’ means checking whether an integrated model will actually fit. |
| Noise | Compare the dB rating and noise class on the labels of the models you’re considering. The European Commission includes noise emissions among the information shown on dishwasher energy labels. | ‘A cycle might run while someone is working from home or resting’: noise matters just as much as when the appliance will be used. |
| Water and electricity | According to ADEME, the label shows energy use in kWh per 100 standard cycles and water use in litres per standard cycle. Also check the Eco programme duration, which is shown on the label according to the European Commission. | ‘We share the household bills’: I want to compare figures based on the same standard cycle, without confusing them with figures for other programmes. |
| Cycle frequency | Match the capacity to the number of meals between washes. For a smaller model, check that it can hold the household’s dishes without requiring cycles at inconvenient times. | If everyone eats at different times, we’ll need to agree when to load, run and unload the dishwasher. |
Two models with the same stated capacity may have different arrangements for pans, glasses and small utensils. The figure alone doesn’t show where your shared dishes will go.
Look at photos of the interior and the details for the specific model, particularly the adjustable baskets and dedicated cutlery storage.
In an open-plan kitchen, the noise from a cycle can disturb someone else, even if the timing suits the person who started it.
Compare the dB rating and noise class on the label, then agree together when to run the dishwasher.
The stated width of the appliance alone doesn’t confirm that it will fit the cabinet, door panel and connections.
Measure the space and check the installation instructions. If installation involves altering the rented property or its fixtures and fittings, get the landlord’s written consent before carrying out any work: this requirement appears in Article 7 of the French law of 6 July 1989, published on Légifrance.
Under the same article, alterations made without this consent may result in a request to restore the property when you move out.
The kWh per 100 cycles and litres per cycle shown on the label are based on a standard test. They won’t necessarily reflect a quick or intensive programme.
Compare the label figures between models and check the Eco programme duration, as well as which programmes your household plans to use.
These examples showcase different sizes and interior layouts. Their specifications don’t automatically apply to other models from the same brand.
The BDEN38441WA is a 60 cm freestanding model worth considering if your household shares a large volume of washing-up.
The fully integrated SMV25EX02E is an example of an interior layout to consider if your kitchen has a compatible space.
The EEM48330L and ESL2500RO give you two options with different built-in sizes.
Two freestanding models let you compare the space available with the amount of washing-up you expect.
These models are mainly suited to housemates looking for a freestanding dishwasher for shared loads. An integrated model is also included for kitchens with a compatible space. Compare each option with the space and the washing-up generated in your household.
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Worth considering if several housemates regularly fill the dishwasher between cycles. The title lists 14 place settings and a C energy rating. Before deciding where to put it, confirm the exact dimensions: the stated width for this model is inconsistent across listings.
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Its stated capacity of 14 place settings is worth comparing with the amount of washing-up you generate between meals. The title lists seven cycles. If you plan to install it under a worktop, check the installation instructions and required dimensions rather than relying on the ‘freestanding’ description alone.
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This stated capacity may suit a shared load if you have space for a 60 cm model. The title lists a D energy rating. To help organise chores between housemates, check whether the stated five-hour Eco programme suits your household’s schedules.
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Compare the stated capacity of 14 place settings with the number of meals and utensils your household needs to wash. The title lists an E energy rating. If noise or how energy use is shared is particularly important, compare the figures on its energy label with those of the other models you’re considering.
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This 14-place-setting model is worth considering if your shared kitchen has a suitable space for a 60 cm integrated dishwasher. The title lists an E energy rating. Check the required dimensions for the housing and cabinet door, as well as the installation instructions, before making any changes to the property’s fixtures and fittings.
If the installation involves altering the rented property or its fixtures and fittings, Article 7 of the French law of 6 July 1989, published on Légifrance, requires the landlord’s written consent. Simply connecting to existing fittings shouldn’t automatically be treated as an alteration: check what the installation involves and ask for consent before making any necessary changes.
Compare capacity, kWh per 100 standard cycles, litres of water per cycle, the Eco programme duration and noise. ADEME and the European Commission explain the information shown on the label. For a shared house, also check the basket layout, which these figures don’t tell you about.
Yes, if the washing-up generated between cycles fits the model’s capacity and its smaller width addresses a genuine space constraint. Whirlpool France lists 10 place settings for the 45 cm WSFO3T223P, compared with 14 or 15 place settings for some 60 cm models cited by Beko France and Whirlpool France. Also consider how often you’re willing to run the dishwasher.
Consider one if space is very limited and the household’s combined washing-up is modest. Electrolux France lists 6 place settings and 49 dB for its compact integrated ESL2500RO. Compare these specifications with the dishes you actually use and the times when you’ll be able to run a cycle.