In a small kitchen with no fitted units, your choice will depend first on the space available and the connections: a compact model is a good fit if you can give it a permanent spot on the worktop and its capacity is enough for your everyday washing-up. A 45 cm freestanding model offers more capacity if you have floor space available. An integrated model requires a compatible housing unit and, for a fully integrated model, a suitable cabinet door.
The number of people in your household isn’t the only deciding factor: where the appliance will go and how much washing-up you need to load matter too.
If there’s no unit designed for a dishwasher, compare a compact model that sits on the worktop with a slim freestanding model that stands on the floor. Measure the space each would take up and check the connections before settling on a format.
A 6-place-setting compact model could be suitable if you have worktop space to spare and your usual plates and pans fit inside. UFC-Que Choisir describes this countertop format as suitable for smaller homes, but its capacity still needs to match the way you use it.
A 45 cm model may have more room for washing-up than a 6-place-setting compact model: UFC-Que Choisir features slim models with 9 place settings, while Candy lists 10 place settings for its integrated CI0C7SB0FA. Check the capacity of the model you’re considering, then measure the available floor space or housing-unit dimensions.
First rule out any formats that can’t be installed in your home. Then compare the capacity and practical features of the models that remain.
Consider this if: you have a small load of washing-up and a stable surface where the appliance can stay permanently.
Bear in mind: it frees up floor space, but takes up room on your worktop.
Consider this if: you have floor space but no housing unit, and want to wash more than a 6-place-setting compact model can hold.
Bear in mind: its narrow width doesn’t mean you can skip measuring its height and depth.
Consider this if: a housing unit and connections have already been planned for this type of appliance.
Bear in mind: installation depends on the housing unit and, for a fully integrated model, a compatible cabinet door.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Measure the height, width and depth, as well as the clearance needed to open the door. For example, Candy France lists the compact Candy CP 6E51LS as measuring 550 × 501 × 443 mm, while Bosch Électroménager France lists the freestanding Bosch SPS4EMW61E as measuring 845 × 450 × 600 mm. | I want to keep enough worktop space for preparing meals, without putting an appliance on the floor where it will block the way. |
| Capacity | Compare the number of place settings, then check whether your pans, frying pans and larger dishes will fit. Candy France lists 6 place settings for the compact CP 6E51LS and 10 for the 45 cm integrated CI0C7SB0FA. These capacities apply to these specific models. | If I cook often, I want to fit a day’s washing-up into the appliance without assuming that the place-setting figure also tells me how much room there is for larger dishes. |
| Connections | Locate the water inlet, waste outlet and plug socket; check the route for the hoses and follow the instructions in the manual. Haier France’s installation guide recommends, among other things, a stable floor and hoses that are not twisted or crushed. | In a kitchen with no fitted units, I want to know where the hoses will go and whether the socket will remain accessible. |
| Energy use and noise | According to ADEME, energy use is compared in kWh per 100 standard cycles, and water use in litres per standard cycle. Also check each model’s capacity, Eco programme duration and noise level. | In a studio flat or open-plan kitchen, noise matters just as much to me as the stated energy and water use. I compare the same figures for each appliance. |
Candy France lists the Candy CP 6E51LS as 550 mm wide and 501 mm deep. Even when it’s out of the way, an appliance of this size takes up a permanent spot on your worktop.
Measure your worktop, the clearance beneath cupboards, the door swing and the space around the model specified in its manual.
A freestanding appliance can go outside a housing unit, but it still needs the water supply, waste outlet and electricity specified for that model.
Locate these connections before you buy, then check the manual for hose requirements and compatible accessories.
If the existing connections aren’t suitable, you may need compatible fittings or plumbing work.
Not all 45 cm models hold the same amount of washing-up. UFC-Que Choisir features slim models with 9 place settings, while Candy France lists 10 place settings for its fully integrated CI0C7SB0FA.
Compare the capacity and internal layout of the specific model, then check that your larger dishes and pans will fit.
A fully integrated model needs a housing unit with the right dimensions and a cabinet door. Electrolux France says its compact ESL2500RO is supplied without this door.
Check the housing-unit dimensions, cabinet-door compatibility and installation diagram before choosing your appliance.
You may need to arrange a suitable cabinet door separately.
These examples are useful for comparing specific configurations; a feature of one model won’t necessarily apply to the whole brand.
Candy France features a countertop compact model and a slim fully integrated model.
The SPS4EMW61E featured by Bosch Électroménager France is an example of a slim freestanding model that stands on the floor.
The ESL2500RO featured by Electrolux France is an example of a fully integrated compact model for a kitchen that’s already been fitted to accommodate it.
These Joybuy options are compact dishwashers for smaller spaces. Before choosing one, make sure its capacity and installation requirements suit the space and connections in your kitchen.
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This countertop model is designed for kitchens short on floor space, provided you can give it a stable surface and a suitable waste outlet.
The product name specifies a built-in 5 L tank and 5 + 1 wash cycles. Check the manual for clearance requirements and the conditions for using the different water-supply options.
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For a small daily load, check that larger items will fit inside and that your kitchen has a suitable waste outlet.
The product name specifies 3 place settings, 7 programmes and a D energy rating. Before choosing where to put it, check the manual for filling and drainage requirements.
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The stated capacity of 6 place settings is worth comparing with the washing-up you usually have, without assuming there will be room for larger dishes.
The product name specifies 7 programmes, 47 dB and a D energy rating. Measure the space and check the external dimensions and connections in the manual.
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This compact model could suit a small load, provided its dimensions leave enough room on your worktop.
The Joybuy listing for this model gives dimensions of 49 × 34 × 49 cm and a capacity of 3 place settings. Check the connections and the space needed to open the door before installing it.
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If you’re considering this pack for a small space, first check that its capacity is right for the amount of washing-up in your household.
Check the manual for the installation type, water inlet, waste outlet and required clearance before deciding where to put it.
For a dishwasher that connects to the mains, locate the water inlet, waste outlet and a suitable, accessible plug socket. Haier France’s guide also recommends a stable floor and hoses that aren’t twisted or crushed. Follow the manual for your chosen model to check hose lengths and clearance requirements.
Yes, if six place settings are enough for the amount of washing-up you have and your pans and larger dishes fit inside. UFC-Que Choisir presents countertop models with 6 place settings as an option for smaller homes. If you cook a lot, compare them with the capacity of a 45 cm model.
Compare figures for the same standard cycles: according to ADEME, energy use is given in kWh per 100 cycles and water use in litres per cycle. Consider these alongside the appliance’s capacity, rather than judging its performance by size alone.
Yes. In France, when a professional sells a new dishwasher to an individual, the legal guarantee of conformity is mandatory, according to the Ministry of the Economy. This rule also applies to second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a professional to an individual.
In France, an old dishwasher is covered by the collection scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment, or WEEE, as described by the ministries responsible for the ecological transition. Ask your local council or the retailer about the right collection point or take-back service.