If there are one or two of you, start by checking the space available and whether you can connect the appliance. A countertop model frees up floor space but takes up worktop space, while a 45 cm model needs a permanent spot and may fit more dishes, depending on the model. If you have room for a 60 cm model, don’t rule it out if you cook often or use large dishes. Before you order, check how much you can actually load, how noisy it is and the Eco programme details.
You’ll need to find room on the worktop and plan for the water supply, drainage and a suitable power supply. Measure the available depth and height too: “compact” doesn’t mean the appliance will fit under every cupboard.
Plates, pans and food containers can quickly fill a small appliance. To judge its usable capacity, check how the racks fit your usual dishes rather than relying on the advertised place setting count alone.
If the dishwasher will run near your living space, compare the decibel levels and noise ratings of the models you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir highlights how important noise levels are in an open-plan kitchen.
A countertop model, a 45 cm model and a standard-sized appliance each suit different spaces. First decide where you can install the dishwasher, then check that its capacity suits the dishes you actually use.
Consider it if: you have no floor space, but do have room on the worktop and are near a drain. A built-in water tank may mean you don’t need a fixed water supply, but only on models designed with one.
Bear in mind: the appliance takes up worktop space. If it has a tank, you’ll also need to fill it and deal with drainage for every cycle.
Consider it if: you have a suitable permanent space, particularly if a small countertop model may not fit your dishes and pans.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to plan for the connections and check the space available. An integrated model also needs a compatible door panel and cabinet.
Consider it if: you have enough room and regularly have lots of washing-up, or use large utensils.
Bear in mind: its width makes it unsuitable for a kitchen without a compatible space.
| What to consider | Checks to make before buying | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the height, width, depth and door clearance. Check the water supply, drainage and power requirements of the model you’re considering. | With no spare appliance space, I want to know whether it can stay on my worktop and how the water will drain away. Around 46% of consumers would put this first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the stated place setting capacity with the room available in the racks for your dishes, pans and food containers. | If I cook often, I don’t want to have to run another cycle because my larger utensils won’t fit. Capacity would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Noise | Check the dB level and noise rating on the label for the exact model, especially if your kitchen opens onto your living space. | In a studio flat or open-plan kitchen, I want to run the appliance without it getting in the way of what I’m doing. Around 18% of consumers would put noise first. |
| Consumption | Compare the kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and Eco programme duration, then consider how many cycles you’ll need to run at home. | I want to keep an eye on water and electricity use without choosing an appliance that makes me run more washes. This would be the top priority for around 9% of consumers. |
A countertop appliance may need a water supply. Even if a tank means it doesn’t need a fixed supply, the wastewater still needs to drain away.
Check the instructions for the exact model: confirm whether it has a tank and how it drains, then work out where the hose will go.
With a tank, you’ll need to fill the appliance and set up the drainage each time.
The depth, height, door clearance and space for hoses can all prevent an appliance from fitting, even if it’s narrow enough.
Measure every dimension of the space and compare them with the model’s installation diagram. For an integrated model, check the cabinet and door panel too.
Large pans and food containers can limit how much you can load. UFC-Que Choisir includes these items in its dishwasher testing, among others.
Check the racks and their adjustment options with the utensils you actually use.
The rating doesn’t tell you everything about the capacity you need or the consumption of every programme. The ADEME notes that the label shows electricity consumption in kWh per 100 cycles, among other details.
Check the water use per cycle, Eco programme duration and capacity too, then consider how often you’ll need to run the appliance.
Bosch offers countertop appliances as well as 45 and 60 cm models, giving you a choice of different installation options to compare.
The EES42210L is an example of a fully integrated 45 cm appliance, rather than a model that sits on the worktop.
The brand offers several compact configurations: Darty lists the TD602E-W with 6 place settings, while the CDWMTO201D(W) available on Joybuy has a stated 5 L tank.
Brandt describes the DFC6519S as a 45 cm-wide appliance with 6 place settings.
These countertop models are aimed at kitchens short on floor space. Some have a stated water tank; for each one, compare its footprint, loading capacity and drainage method with your kitchen setup.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a countertop model with 6 place settings and can plan for its water supply and drainage.
The title states 7 programmes and 47 dB. Measure all three dimensions and check the door clearance before choosing a spot for it.
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Worth considering if a fixed water supply would be difficult to use, provided you can arrange drainage.
The title states a built-in 5 L tank and 5+1 wash cycles. Check the dimensions, noise level and space needed for the drain hose in your kitchen.
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Worth considering for smaller loads of washing-up, but check that the racks can also fit your bulkiest utensils.
The title states 7 programmes and a 24-hour delay start. Check the instructions for this exact model, particularly for installation and drainage.
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Worth considering if you’d like a countertop model with a tank, once you’ve worked out where the wastewater will go.
The title states a built-in 5 L tank and 6+3 programmes. Check how the interior fits your dishes and how this model drains.
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Worth considering if worktop width is a key factor and you can plan for drainage from a model with a tank.
The title lists dimensions of 37 × 50 cm and a 5 L tank. Also check the height, door clearance and programmes available on the model being sold.
Not necessarily. Only a model specifically designed with a tank can avoid a fixed water supply. You’ll still need to arrange drainage; on some mini models, that means putting a hose in the sink for every wash.
Check the water supply, drainage, power supply and clearances specified in the model’s instructions. Promotelec recommends a dedicated electrical circuit for the dishwasher socket; have your installation checked if you’re unsure.
It may be, if all the dishes you produce between cycles fit in the racks, including any cookware you want to wash. If you often cook with large dishes, compare their dimensions with the interior before ruling out a 45 cm model.
Look at the kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, Eco programme duration and capacity together on the label. According to the ADEME, these figures let you compare appliances on a consistent basis, but they don’t describe every other programme on their own.
Compare the dB levels and noise ratings of models that already meet your space and capacity needs. UFC-Que Choisir points out that noise deserves particular attention when your kitchen shares your living space. Also consider when you plan to run the cycles.