8 Of The Best Dishwashers For Every Kitchen and Budget

Raise your hand if doing the dishes is your favorite chore. (Yeah, we didn’t think so.) Staring down a sink that’s brimming with dirty plates, smudged glassware and a sauce-streaked casserole dish or two is enough to make one want to throw in the towel on post-dinner cleanup. But a solid dishwasher works miracles in keeping the kitchen tidy—without all the heavy lifting.

The two most important things to keep in mind when buying a dishwasher are how often you plan to use it and the size of your kitchen. You should also consider sound level, since some dishwashers lean towards the noisy end of the spectrum. For whisper quiet machines, look for a dBA (weighted decibel) rating between 44 and 52.

Options range from portable dishwashers that connect to the sink (and can be wheeled out of sight when not in use) and larger built-in models that hold up to 16 place settings’ worth of dishes to simple countertop machines and Wi-Fi-connected smart models. And the list below has a dishwasher to fit every lifestyle and every kitchen.

Best Dishwasher Overall

A Quiet, Effective And Expertly-Crafted Option

• Dimensions: 33.88 x 23.56 x 23.75 inches
• dBA: 44
• Capacity: 16 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

Bosch dishwashers are categorically swoon-worthy—quiet, effective and expertly crafted. But the brand’s 300 Series stands apart by ticking all the boxes at a reasonable price. Its extra roomy third rack makes space for 30% more dishes than a standard two-rack dishwasher, a sanitizing option removes 99.9% of bacteria and a precise, powerful spray ensures sparkling dishes without pre-rinsing. It is also Energy Star qualified, which is kinder on the environment and provides you with year-round energy bill savings. 

forbes.comHome Depot Coupons | 10% Off In August 2021 | Forbes

Best Smart Dishwasher

A Dishwasher With Built-in Wi-Fi And A SmartHQ App

• Dimensions: 23.75 x 34 x 24 inches
• dBA Rating: 42
• Capacity: 16 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

This dishwasher pairs GE’s time-tested quality with up-to-date technology for a superior clean. Built-in Wi-Fi and a SmartHQ app lets you monitor the cycle, check rinse aid levels and reorder detergent before you run out. Beyond the technological bells and whistles, the dishwasher also uses a powerful water stream that tackles stuck-on food, bottle jets to clean inside longer items and a dual fan system for complete drying with every cycle. Holding up to 16 place settings (according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, one place setting includes a dinner plate, snack plate, saucer, bowl, coffee cup, drinking glass and cutlery), you can have the whole gang over without dreading the cleanup.

---

Best Dishwasher Under $500

An Affordable Dishwasher With All The Bells And Whistles

• Dimensions: 34.6 X 23.75 x 24 inches
• dBA: 59
• Capacity: 12 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

Good quality dishwashers do not have to cost a fortune. This GE model is roomy (it fits up to 12 place settings), easy to use and versatile (there are five wash cycle options to choose from). A “delay start option” conveniently lets you set your dishwasher to run in advance, and an advanced dry cycle ensures fully dry dishes every time—all without the sticker shock.

---

Best High End Dishwasher

An Ultra Luxe Dishwasher With High End Features

• Dimensions: 23.56 X 22.44 x 33.69 inches
• dBA: 45
• Capacity: 16 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

Give your best dishes the ultra-luxe treatment with Miele’s next-level dishwasher. This model is quick, Wi-Fi connected, powerful on even the most stuck-on food and a sleekly designed addition to your kitchen. The layout inside is fully customizable, offering a height-adjustable section for smaller items and a width-adjustable section for wine glasses and other stemware. An innovative dosing system senses and dispenses the optimal amount of detergent for whatever you are washing.

---

Quietest Dishwasher

A Virtually Silent Option For Homes With Little Kids Or Sensitive Pets

• Dimensions: 23.75 x 34 x 24 inches
• dBA: 44
• Capacity: 16 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

Run the dishwasher during a dinner party without interrupting conversation—or run it after hours without waking up the kids. Operating at only 44 dBA (A-weighted decibels), KitchenAid’s dishwasher is virtually silent while delivering spotless dishes and glassware. The dishwasher also includes a third rack that’s perfect for mugs and bowls, rotating jets that make sure every surface is thoroughly cleaned and rinsed and a removable utensil tray.

---

Best Compact Dishwasher

A Space-Friendly Dishwasher

• Dimensions: 24 x 32.5 x 18 inches
• dBA: 50
• Capacity: 8 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

Apartment dwellers and those who tend to cook for a smaller crowd can enjoy all the benefits of a standard-size dishwasher at a slimmer, space-saving size. Whirlpool’s 18-inch, Energy Star-qualified model fits up to 8 place settings, offers a high temperature option for sanitizing items like baby bottles and is designed to get dishes completely dry. As an added convenience, the dishwasher remembers its last cycle and can automatically choose it the next time you decide to run it. 

---

Best Portable Dishwasher

A Renter-Friendly Option

• Dimensions: 36 x 18 x 25.4 inches
• dBA: 52
• Capacity: 8 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

For efficient dish cleaning that is there when you need it and tucked away when you don’t, a portable dishwasher is the way to go. GE’s 18-inch model delivers table-ready dishes (clean, dry and sanitized) and Energy Star compliance, with steel blades that rotate at 3,600 RPM to pulverize and then fully wash away food particles. When not in use, simply disconnect the dishwasher from the sink and wheel it into a closet, freeing up kitchen space for other tasks. 

---

Best Countertop Dishwasher

A Pint-Sized Dishwasher With Full-Size Features

• Dimensions: 19.7 x 21.7 x 17.2
• dBA: 62
• Capacity: 6 place settings
• Energy Star qualified: Yes

Outfit smaller kitchens—in vacation cottages, RVs, boats—with this portable dishwasher that sits right on the countertop. Despite its compact size, it holds up to 6 place settings and includes a cutlery basket for silverware. The dishwasher’s six washing programs offer full-size cleaning quality, and an extra drying function leaves plates and glasses dry and ready for the cupboard. A child lock setting lets you lock the buttons, so little ones cannot accidentally start the dishwasher.