Start by considering the space available, your water supply and how much washing-up you need to do between cycles. A mini dishwasher with a tank can save you from needing a permanent water connection, but it still needs to drain. A plumbed-in tabletop model offers more capacity, while a 45 cm model needs floor space. If you already have a 60 cm dishwasher, check how often you fill it before replacing it.
If a permanent water connection is difficult to arrange, a mini dishwasher with a tank could be an option for smaller loads. You’ll need to fill the tank and direct the drain hose into a sink or another drain, as specified by Daan Tech for Bob.
A plumbed-in tabletop dishwasher could be a good choice if you want to wash more dishes per cycle than a small mini model can handle. The Candy CP 6E51LW, for example, is listed as holding 6 place settings and measures 550 × 501 × 443 mm, according to Candy France. Remember to allow enough room to open the door.
If pans, dishes or washing-up from several meals quickly fill a tabletop model, consider a slimline dishwasher. Electrolux France lists 45 cm-wide models with room for 9 place settings, available as freestanding or built-in depending on the model. Make sure the installation type suits your kitchen.
Start with the available space and connections, then compare the stated capacity with the washing-up you actually produce.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed for the door and access to the hoses. Candy France lists the CP 6E51LW compact tabletop model at 550 × 501 × 443 mm; Electrolux France lists the freestanding ESG42310SW as 45 cm wide. | I need to keep enough worktop space free, or have a floor space where the door can open. |
| Water supply and drainage | Check how water gets in and where it drains. Daan Tech says Bob can be supplied from a tank or a standard water connection; the tank doesn’t remove the need for a drain hose. The CP 6E51LW is described as connecting directly to the water supply. | If there’s no accessible permanent water connection, I could consider a tank model, as long as I can set up the drainage properly. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the stated place settings, then check the dimensions of your plates, pans and dishes. Daan Tech lists Bob as holding 2 standard place settings, Candy France lists 6 for the CP 6E51LW and Electrolux France lists 9 for the ESG42310SW. | I want to fit my usual washing-up inside without running extra cycles or waiting several days for the dishwasher to fill. |
| Consumption | Compare energy labels using the same units: kWh/100 cycles or kWh/cycle, litres/cycle and capacity. European Regulation 2019/2017 bases consumption measurements on the Eco programme; a figure given for another programme isn’t directly comparable. | Consumption matters to me, but I won’t assume that a smaller appliance will always use less energy for the amount of washing-up I have. |
| How often you run it | Consider how much washing-up builds up between cycles and how much space larger utensils take up. If you already have a 60 cm dishwasher, compare its capacity with how quickly you fill it before considering a smaller size. | Some days I only have a few plates; on others, meals and cooking quickly fill the baskets. |
A tank lets you fill some mini dishwashers by hand, but the wastewater still needs to drain away. Daan Tech specifies a drain hose for Bob.
Identify a suitable sink or drain, then check the instructions for the hose length and how it needs to be secured on your chosen model.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you on its own whether your large plates and pans will fit at the same time. It also doesn’t replace checking how often you’ll need to run a cycle.
Measure your bulkiest dishes and compare them with the loading dimensions listed for the specific model.
Consumption figures for a quick cycle aren’t directly comparable with the Eco programme figures used for European energy labelling.
To compare two appliances, look at their Eco figures in the same units, along with their capacity and programme duration.
The French Ministry of the Economy notes that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business in France. So, check what an extended warranty actually adds.
Before taking one out, check its duration, exclusions, any call-out charges and the conditions relating to installation.
With Bob, Daan Tech offers a mini countertop dishwasher for smaller spaces.
Candy France offers both the compact tabletop CP 6E51LW and larger-capacity freestanding dishwashers.
Electrolux France offers slimline dishwashers that are 45 cm wide and hold 9 place settings, available as freestanding or built-in depending on the model.
These models are tabletop appliances intended for smaller loads, with different water supply options depending on the model. When choosing between this size and a 45 or 60 cm dishwasher, also consider your available floor space and how often you run a cycle.
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For a worktop without a permanent water connection, the product listing describes a 5 L tank or tap water supply, with drainage into a sink or container.
Stated capacity: 4 place settings; plates up to 26 cm; dimensions of 45,8 × 42,8 × 42,5 cm. Check the voltage and plug type specified for the appliance before installing it in France.
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At 34 cm wide, it’s worth checking whether it will fit on your worktop. The Joybuy listing describes a tap water connection and drainage into a sink.
The Joybuy listing states 3 place settings, while Daan Tech lists Bob as holding 2 standard place settings. Check the reference, the capacity that suits your dishes and the water supply method of the appliance on offer before relying on it to work with a tank.
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The manually filled tank could be useful if you can’t use a permanent water connection.
The listing states 3 place settings, plates up to 270 mm and dimensions of 420 × 436 × 465 mm. Check the instructions for how to drain the wastewater before choosing where to put it.
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This tabletop model holds 6 place settings, making it suitable for a household with a water connection that wants to wash more dishes than a mini model with just a few place settings can manage.
The listing specifies a 1 500 mm inlet hose and a 1 720 mm drain hose. Measure the appliance and the space it will go in, then check the connections before installation.
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This countertop model, listed as holding 3 place settings, could suit smaller loads if you have access to a tap.
The description mentions a tap connection, despite the commercial title stating ‘no installation’. Check the dimensions and water supply and drainage requirements in the instructions before deciding where to put it.
No. A tank can remove the need for a permanent water connection, but wastewater still needs to drain out of the appliance. For Bob, Daan Tech specifies a hose that should be directed into a sink or another drain. Check the instructions for your chosen model.
Compare their energy label figures for the Eco programme, using the same units and taking capacity into account. European Regulation 2019/2017 uses this programme to measure or calculate energy and water consumption, among other things. Don’t compare these figures with those for a quick cycle.
No. The right choice depends on how much washing-up you need to fit in and how much floor space you have. Electrolux France lists the 45 cm freestanding ESG42310SW as holding 9 place settings. Also check the door clearance and access to the connections.
No. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory for goods sold by a business, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. Before taking out an extended warranty, check what it actually adds, as well as its exclusions and service conditions.