Best dishwashers in 2024

The best dishwashers can get your dishes sparkling clean without you needing to wash them up by hand. But while a dishwasher saves you time on chores, it can be a task in itself searching for a dishwasher that’s right for you. So, how do you work out which one to buy? Here’s where we come in, with our round-up of the top dishwashers.

Your top priority will be to find a dishwasher that provides a spotless cleaning and drying performance, but you may also have other criteria. Perhaps you’re limited on space and want a slimline model, or you enjoy entertaining and need a dishwasher with extra racks. You might also want to run the appliance at night, so you’ll be interested in how quiet it runs and if it has a timer setting or an app to set it to run while you are out. Energy and water consumption are other considerations, so you’ll want to check the Energy Star rating to judge the appliance’s efficiency.

To help you choose the best dishwasher for your needs, we’ve selected the best options using different scenarios and rated the appliances accordingly. The Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N is the best overall — it offers excellent cleaning performance and is quiet when running. Whatever you're looking for, whether its the best value design or impressive capacity, we’ve got a recommendation. These are the best dishwashers.

The quick list

Here’s the best dishwashers you can buy right now based on our comprehensive research. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews.

The best dishwashers you can buy today

Bosch has a reputation for high-end performance, and it doesn’t disappoint with the Bosch 500 Series SHP65CM5N dishwasher. It’s the personal pick of our U.S. Editor, Mike Prospero, who was amazed at how quietly the dishwasher runs. He says it’s so quiet that he can hardly hear it, even in the kitchen. He often has to check the InfoLight below the handle to ensure it’s on, which he says is a good visual indicator, and is especially welcome for something that runs so quietly. He even tested it to check the decibel level, which he registered at between 47-50 dB, slightly higher than the 44 decibels claimed by Bosch.

Apart from the quietness of the dishwasher, he was also impressed with the adjustable third rack, which he describes as giving a lot more space for silverware and other kitchen utensils. The upper shelf is also adjustable and can be set at 9 different positions, to allow for flexibility when loading taller items.

Although this Bosch dishwasher is not the cheapest, it’s worth paying out for the quietness level and the third rack. Cleaning performance is also essential, too. It offers PrecisionWash and PowerControl with a cleaning arm that targets the dirtiest dishes with a deeper clean. Plus, it has five wash cycles, with the addition of three extra cycles when using the HomeConnect app. It also provides CrystalDry technology, although some users have reported water remaining on the top of dishes.

Best value

The Whirpool WDP540HAMZ provides a good performance at a reasonable price, covering the basics of what a dishwasher should offer. It features the core settings you need, including Heavy, Boost and Normal cycles as well as two dry settings. Plus, extras include Quick Wash and High Temperature options, for added flexibility. Although, it is worth flagging that there’s no delay start and no fragile or glassware cycle, so if you often rely on those, you’d be best to check out one of the other dishwashers in this guide. But, otherwise the performance is reliable as well as constant — removing all traces of food in a single cycle.

At 12 place settings, this dishwasher would suit a smaller household. Although, the design of the internal tub is spacious, with plenty of room in the lower rack for taller items. We also like the neat cutlery basket design which sits flat against the side of the rack. And it also has three 5-inch cup shelves on the top rack, which can be folded down when not needed. Ultimately, this dishwasher comes at a great price, and being available in stainless steel, black or white, you can customize it to suit your kitchen. As it’s Energy Star certified, you know you’re getting an efficient performance as well.

Best premium

Many people love KitchenAid dishwashers for the wide spacing between the tines of the lower rack that easily accommodate plates of all sizes. This one also has a third rack on top that can hold small bowls and glassware in addition to utensils, freeing up space below for larger items like mixing bowls. Some of the tines on the top and middle racks can be either adjusted or folded down which also helps to make room for oversized things, including serving plates, pots and pans, and vases. This appliance also has a good capacity and is designed for 16 place settings.

This model features KitchenAid’s ProWash system that senses soil levels and adjusts the time and temperature of the wash cycle. In addition, it has lots of other helpful cycles including Sani-Rinse and Express Wash. And when it’s running it so quiet you’ll probably have to take a peek at the top controls if you don’t remember whether or not you turned it on.

Best slimline

The Midea 17.6-inch wide, built-in dishwasher offers the convenience of a dishwasher for a pocket-sized kitchen. While it can’t hold as many dishes as a full-size 24-inch machine, this slimline dishwasher should be more than adequate for daily family dinners and has the capacity for 8 place settings. And although it’s small it has been designed to fit plates and pans up to 11 inches in height.

This isn’t a fancy machine — its controls are on the front, rather than hidden out of sight on the top panel like other appliances in this guide. But despite its small size you can still choose between 6 cycles — Heavy, Normal, Eco, Delicate, Quick and Rinse. Plus, it features Heated Dry, Hi-Temp and Sanitize functions. The Hygiene wash cycle maintains the water temperature at 136°F, which can tackle heavily soiled dishes and baby bottles.

Overall, this Midea dishwasher offers a good cleaning ability and functionality at a reasonable price. When it’s operating, it’s quiet, which is particularly useful if it's installed in an apartment or small house where there’s not a lot of distance between rooms.

Most quiet

The Samsung DW80R9950US is the dishwasher to go for if quiet running is important to you. Rated at just 39 dB, it’s by far the quietest on our list and would be best for running through the night. It appears both minimalist and sleek in its design and comes with 3 racks and 15 place settings, which is enough for a family-sized load. The third rack is particularly handy as it allows you to remove the cutlery tray in the lower rack, giving you more space for plates and dishes. It’s also the most energy efficient full-size dishwasher on the list at just 239 kWH, so will save you money in the long run too.

You can choose between 7 wash cycles, including Heavy, Express 60 and Rinse Only. This dishwasher also features Zone Booster, whereby an additional water stream is delivered to the bottom left area of the tub to tackle hard-to-clean pots and pans.

We also love that it comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can remotely monitor and control this dishwasher from your smartphone. The AutoRelease door is another useful feature — at the end of each cycle the door opens to allow air to circulate and improve drying performance. Our only qualm is that the prongs on the racks are quite widely spaced apart and you could probably get more place settings in there if it were tighter.

Best countertop

If you’re really tight for space in your kitchen, then a countertop dishwasher could be the way to go, and they don’t come much better than the Danby DDW631SDB. Unlike other plastic countertop models, this one actually looks superior with its stainless steel design, electronic controls with LED display and metal drop-down door handle. It’s a compact size at ‎19.69 x 21.65 x 17.24 inches, so it won’t take up much space. But, it still comes with eight wash cycles to choose from, including Heavy, Normal, Rinse, Rapid, Glass and Soak, Baby bottle and Eco.

Being a countertop dishwasher, it naturally can’t hold loads (six place settings is all it can manage). However, it comes with useful features, such as a delay start and a quick connect design — there’s no permanent plumbing necessary, you can hook it straight up to the sink. It’s Energy Star certified as well if you’re looking to save on your energy bills. If you want a countertop dishwasher, this is the one to get., plus it's much better looking than others on the market.

Best smart

This LG dishwasher looks smart and it is smart. It offers 15 place settings to accommodate lots of dishes and stemware and a height adjustable third rack, which apart from accommodating flatware and utensils, can be raised to make more space below for taller items. Apart from the Quadwash feature, which power cleans dishes from four angles, it also features TrueSteam that uses steam to penetrate tough food residue. The feature also improves drying to eliminate pools of water on your mug bottoms and leaves you with crystal clear glassware. The steam function also leaves you with sanitized dishes, giving you peace of mind when someone in the house has been sick with a cold or flu.

If you like controlling your appliances with Alexa or the Google Assistant, you’ll be happy to know this dishwasher is compatible with them. You can also monitor and control it with an app on your mobile phone. Last but not least, this LG isn’t loud enough to disturb kitchen conversation and doesn’t use enough power to jack up your energy bill. On top of all of these, the appliance is also Energy Star rated.

Best for big families

Whirlpool’s newest dishwasher offers a third rack at a great price. By loading the top rack with utensils and small items, you free up room on the lower rack so you can pack in more dishes and glassware. In addition to having settings for heavy and quick washes, this machine has a Sani Rinse cycle that’s certified by NSF which is a guarantee that it will kill any germs lingering on your dishes.

It’s also EnergyStar certified which means it uses power efficiently to keep your electric bill down. You can choose this model in basic black or white as well as fingerprint resistant stainless steel. That makes it a good choice if you have an older kitchen and want it to match your other appliances. But at this price, you won’t find any smart features for remote control or monitoring.

Best energy efficient

This Miele dishwasher is rated at ‘Most Efficient’ by Energy Star and comes top of the organization’s leaderboard, with an annual energy usage at 200kWh. It has minimal consumption and an Automatic program to ensure the best cleaning results with minimum water use. Electricity is also kept low, with the Economy program running at 0.83 kWh. Plus, when a program is selected, estimated water and electricity consumption values are displayed.

This fully integrated dishwasher has top panel controls to keep the appliance looking sleek. And to ease loading, this 16-place setting dishwasher has four LED lights illuminating the interior as soon as the door is opened. To make everything easy, the adjustable parts on the racks are color-coded for quick identification. It also boasts 12 programs, from QuickIntenseWash to China & Crystal, ExtraQuiet, and SensorWash.

The door also opens automatically at the end of each program cycle to allow the dishes to dry more efficiently, and while the moisture is expelled with a fan, special air ducts protect your countertop from humidity. This appliance can also be connected to the Miele app and controlled by a mobile.

How we chose

We found the best dishwashers through a combination of extensive online research and specification comparisons. We factored in online reviews, only considering those with the highest and most consistent ratings, while taking into account any special features, such as Wi-Fi connectivity and third racks.

We also considered the price, and chose a selection of dishwashers to offer a range of price points, including a value and premium dishwasher — giving you the best options whatever your budget.

To find the best dishwashers we considered everything from the capacity on offer, to the noise produced as well as the energy consumption. We also reviewed the programs on offer, making sure there are a sufficient selection. Lastly, we made sure to factor in dishwashers of variable sizes to suit different kitchens, from full size to slimline to countertop.

Dishwasher specs compared

How to choose

Style

Virtually all dishwashers are designed to fit in a space under the countertop alongside your cabinets. Most are 24 inches wide and 35 inches high but there are some 18-inch wide models available for smaller kitchens. It’s always best to check the dimensions of your space and appliance before you buy.

You can also purchase a stand-alone or portable type, which attaches to your faucet by a hose and drains into your sink. If you’re really short on space, a countertop model might work for you. Be aware that these counter-top models only have a single rack, so don’t hold many dishes.

Finish

As with all appliances, stainless steel is currently the finish of choice. However, you can find white or black models to match older appliances or black stainless steel or so called Tuscan stainless steel with a bronze tone. If you’re going with stainless steel, ask if it’s fingerprint- and smudge-resistant, especially if you have kids in the house.

Tub

The interior of the dishwasher will either be made of stainless steel or plastic. Stainless steel is more durable and if you can afford it, worth the higher price.

Cycles

You’ll find anywhere from 4 to 14 on today’s dishwashers. Consider which programs you’ll actually find useful. Most dishwashers come with an Eco program now, which is just one of 7 ways your dishwasher can save you money.

• Auto uses a sensor to detect particles in the rinse water and figure out when your dishes are clean. It then adjusts the time and water usage, reducing energy costs.
• Rinse settings are great when you don’t have enough items to run a full load but don’t want to leave dirty, smelly dishes in the machine overnight or longer.
• Extra Dry options enhance drying and eliminate spotting which is particularly helpful for plastics and glassware. If your mugs always come out of the dishwasher wet, this TikTok dishwasher hack will keep your mugs dry.
• Delay Start is great if you want to run the dishwasher during off-peak energy hours or in the middle of the night when no one has to take a shower.
• Sanitize kills bacteria and are nice to have when someone in the house is sick.
• China or Delicate cycles give glassware and fragile items TLC. Here's how to clean cloudy glasses if your dishwasher has taken its toll on your glassware.
• Half load reduces water usage by washing items in either the top or bottom rack.

Energy efficiency

All dishwashers carry Energy Guide labels, detailing how much electricity they use and approximately how much they will cost you per year to run. The most energy efficient products carry the EnergyStar label, which is set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Noise

The lower the decibel rating, the quieter the machine. Check on the manufacturer’s website if you can't find it in the store. The quietest models are around 44 dB or lower.

Racks

Check to see how smoothly the racks slide out and whether or not they are adjustable. Racks that move up and down can make room for oversized items like pots or tall vases.

Another helpful feature are fold-down tines, which create space for serving bowls and casseroles. If you have any concerns about whether or not your dinner plates or a favorite platter will fit between the tines, bring them with you when you go shopping.

Increasingly, dishwashers are equipped with a third flat rack on top to hold flatware and tools. Some will even be deep enough for small bowls. Be careful when it comes to washing cutlery in the dishwasher though, here's why your cutlery is rusty and how to restore it.

When to replace

Most brands will offer a one year warranty with a new dishwasher, however the National Association of Home Builders states that a dishwasher should last about nine years. You can buy an extended warranty, but we wouldn’t recommend it as it tends to cost as much, if not more, than any potential repairs. If your dishwasher shows signs of wear and tear, that doesn't necessarily mean it needs replacing, here's how to make your dishwasher last longer for tips on this.

If any repairs cost half as much as a new dishwasher, we recommend just replacing it. Likewise, if you start to notice rust or cracks forming, then it’s time to buy a new machine. If you notice any strange noises coming from your dishwasher, then that’s a sign that there’s a problem with your pump or motor. Other indicators that your dishwasher needs updating include: a broken door latch, failing to heat the water and water leaking onto the floor during the cycle.

The latest dishwasher models tend to be much more energy efficient. If you opt for one which is Energy Star certified, it will only cost about $35 a year to run, saving on overall water and energy consumption.

Features to look for

The latest dishwashers come with built-in sensors which evaluate the dirtiness of the load and set the program accordingly. These can be described as Auto or Smart cycles. Sanitizing programs are more common as well, which will kill any lingering bacteria on your crockery. Half load or zone settings are also available which can focus the wash on either the upper or lower rack. This saves energy and water if you don’t need to clean a full load. Third racks are also very useful and are now becoming more widely available. These can be found above the upper rack and they essentially replace the cutlery basket, giving you more space for plates. Quiet running is also a useful option to have — with this you can easily have open conversations in the kitchen while a cycle is running.

Wi-Fi connectivity is becoming an expected feature with most premium models. Using this, you can connect your dishwasher to your smartphone to monitor and control it. You can even use voice control via Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models can self-diagnose faults and notify the manufacturer’s service center.

If you’ve noticed your dishwasher smells a bit musty, you might be interested to know that someone finally made a dishwasher that doesn’t get smelly. The new GE Profile Ultrafresh System Dishwasher features antibacterial properties and keeps itself clean between cycles. Essentially the main touch points are covered in an anti-bacterial coating and the dishwasher flushes itself through when it senses dirty water in the filter. This is an innovative design which would appeal to those who value cleanliness above all.

How to maintain a dishwasher

When you use an appliance regularly, it can be easy to forget that it needs a little TLC from time to time. Unlike seasonal appliances, like a lawnmower, which you may service once a year, a dishwasher is used every day but often goes forgotten.

But it comes in for a lot of wear and tear. Hot water and dirt and grime are thrown at it during every wash cycle, so it needs regular maintenance to keep it in good working order.

Here is a reminder about the regular maintenance jobs that will keep your dishwasher in tip-top condition.

1. Clean the filter, removing any food debris.
2. Wipe the door and door seal , removing excess water and grime.
3. Clean the spray arms, removing any tiny particles of food debris that can hinder the water flow.
4. Run a regular cleaning dishwasher cycle to eliminate odors, limescale and grease. Put the product in your normal detergent compartment and run a cycle on empty.

Dishwasher FAQs