A tabletop dishwasher is a good choice if you can spare worktop space for it and its capacity suits the amount of washing-up you usually have. For example, the Candy Rapido CP 6E51LS measures 550 × 501 × 443 mm and holds 6 place settings, according to Candy France. If you have a suitable space for an integrated model and that capacity regularly falls short, a 45 cm model could free up your worktop: the Electrolux EEM43200L has a stated capacity of 10 place settings. Whichever you choose, measure the available space and check the instructions for the exact model before relying on it fitting.
If you don’t have much washing-up each day, a tabletop model is worth considering, provided it leaves you with a usable area for food preparation. Candy France states that its Rapido CP 6E51LS holds 6 place settings; its dimensions let you compare this example with your available space, but don’t account for the clearance you may need.
If you need more capacity than a 6-place-setting tabletop model offers, without using up worktop space, look at slimline models. Electrolux France states that the integrated EEM43200L holds 10 place settings. Check that the space and installation requirements are right for the model you choose.
A mini model with a water tank may save you from connecting to a fixed water supply, as shown by a tank-fed model featured by Darty. You’ll still need to fill it and check the drainage, power socket and installation instructions separately.
If you don’t have a standard-sized space for a dishwasher, start by looking at the room you actually have: a tabletop model uses worktop space, while a 45 cm model needs a suitable spot on the floor. Once you know which size could fit, compare its capacity with your washing-up from a typical day and check the connections it needs.
Consider this if: you can permanently spare part of your worktop for a modest amount of washing-up.
Bear in mind: you’ll have less room for food preparation; a tabletop model doesn’t necessarily use a water tank.
Consider this if: you have a suitable space and regularly find that 6 place settings aren’t enough.
Bear in mind: it needs a spot on the floor and, if it’s an integrated model, a kitchen suited to its installation.
Consider this only if: you genuinely have a suitable space and the amount of washing-up you have makes it worth looking at this capacity.
Bear in mind: it’s wider than a 45 cm model, so it won’t solve a lack of space in a kitchenette without a dedicated space for it.
| What to consider | What to check before you buy | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Usable space | Measure the width, depth and height, then check that the door can open and you can still access the sink. | I still want to be able to prepare a meal once the appliance is in place; around 36 % of shoppers prioritise how much space it leaves available. |
| Water supply | Check the instructions for the exact model to confirm how it gets water, how it drains and what connections it needs. | Without a usable fixed water supply, I need to know whether a tank will suit my installation requirements; around 28 % of shoppers say being able to install the appliance without a fixed connection is their top priority. |
| Daily capacity | Compare a day’s washing-up, including plates and pans, with the capacity and basket layout. | If I often need to run a second load, I’m looking for more capacity; this is the top priority for around 36 % of shoppers. |
A tabletop model may need a water supply, while some mini models have a tank. The size alone doesn’t tell you how the appliance gets its water.
Before choosing a model, check its product details and instructions for how to fill it, how it drains, the socket it needs and any accessories included.
Depth and height matter too. Candy France gives the dimensions of its compact CP 6E51LS as 550 × 501 × 443 mm, while Bosch states that its freestanding slimline SPS4EMI17E measures 845 × 450 × 600 mm. These are appliance dimensions, not universal installation measurements.
Compare all the dimensions of your chosen model with the space available, and check the door clearance and access to the connections.
A stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your plates and larger utensils will fit alongside your everyday crockery. To compare specific models, Electrolux France states that its 45 cm EEM43200L holds 10 place settings, while its 60 cm ESA47400SX holds 13.
Make a list of what you use in a typical day, then check the baskets and the maximum dish dimensions for the model you’re considering.
The European Commission outlines the energy information on dishwasher labels, including consumption per 100 Eco programme cycles. A figure for a different programme isn’t a like-for-like comparison.
To compare two appliances, check the Eco programme information on their energy labels and take their capacity into account too.
Worth a look if you’re considering a 6-place-setting tabletop model, such as the Rapido CP 6E51LS featured by Candy France.
A brand to explore if you have space for a slimline dishwasher, whether freestanding or integrated, depending on the model.
These two models from the brand let you compare stated capacities if your kitchen can accommodate a slimline or standard-size appliance.
These tabletop models are worth considering if you’re thinking of using part of your worktop rather than a space on the floor. Compare their stated capacities and how they get their water, then check the installation and drainage instructions for the model you’re interested in.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a tabletop appliance with a water tank. Check that its size, usable capacity and drainage instructions suit your space and your washing-up.
The product name states that it has 5 + 1 wash cycles. Check the instructions for its connection and drainage requirements before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering for a small load if manually filling a water tank suits your needs. The ‘3 Cutlery’ description needs clarification in the product documentation: check the usable capacity and the dimensions of dishes it can take rather than assuming it means three standard place settings.
The product name states that it has 7 programmes and an energy rating of D. Check the drainage and power supply instructions too.
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Worth considering if a stated capacity of 6 place settings suits your usual washing-up and you can connect it to a water supply. Don’t assume it can operate independently without checking how the model gets its water.
The product name states that it has 7 programmes and an energy rating of D. Check the instructions for its dimensions, door clearance and connection requirements.
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Worth considering for a smaller load, provided its stated capacity suits your usual plates and utensils. The ‘3-Set’ description alone doesn’t tell you whether there’s room for larger dishes.
Before setting aside space for it, check its dimensions and water supply requirements in the instructions. The installation and tap connection details for this model need to be clarified. Check the drainage requirements too.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then check the door clearance and access to connections in the instructions for the exact model. Candy France gives the dimensions of the CP 6E51LS as 550 × 501 × 443 mm; these measurements alone don’t include all the clearance needed for installation.
It may be too small if your usual washing-up regularly needs several loads, or if larger utensils prevent you from filling the baskets as intended. If you have enough space and want to consider a larger capacity, Electrolux France states that its integrated 45 cm EEM43200L holds 10 place settings.
No. A model with a water tank may not need a fixed water supply, but you’ll still need to check how to fill it, drain the water and connect it to the mains. This feature isn’t available on all compact dishwashers.
Compare their energy labels on a like-for-like basis, including the stated energy use per 100 Eco programme cycles. The European Commission includes this information on the energy label. Also consider each appliance’s capacity so you can compare models that suit the amount of washing-up you have.