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Best Dishwashers

Updated April 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Samsung Bespoke AutoRelease Smart 46dBA Dishwasher with StormWash™
Samsung
Bespoke AutoRelease Smart 46dBA Dishwasher with StormWash™
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Sleek & Reliable
Bottom Line

The Samsung Bespoke dishwasher is a quiet, smart, and customizable dishwasher that cleans dishes thoroughly and elevates your kitchen design.

Pros

The dishwasher is so quiet you’ll forget it’s running. The interchangeable front panels allow you to change the look of your dishwasher whenever you want to. You can monitor cycles from your smartphone.

Cons

Be aware that the Samsung Bespoke dishwasher's heavy cycle can take 3 hours, which is longer than some competing models.

Best Bang for the Buck
LG 24” Top Control Smart Built-In Stainless Steel Tub Dishwasher
LG
24” Top Control Smart Built-In Stainless Steel Tub Dishwasher
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Excellent Value
Bottom Line

A sleek stainless steel model with convenient controls and a wide range of wash modes.

Pros

With a 1-hour wash and dry time, this powerful dishwasher gets the job done quickly. Its stainless steel design features streamlined top controls that fold away when the door is closed. Impressively quiet with useful smart features to control the washer from anywhere.

Cons

Some reports of failing to clean dishes, especially when they are placed on the third rack.

Samsung Smart 42dBA Dishwasher with StormWash+ and Smart Dry
Samsung
Smart 42dBA Dishwasher with StormWash+ and Smart Dry
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Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

We love this quiet dishwasher for its exciting features like dual, high-pressure wash arms and automatic drying options.

Pros

The StormWash+ system efficiently clean dishes. Dual wash arms use high-pressure water to dislodge difficult grime. WiFi connectivity allows you to start, stop, or delay a wash cycle from your smartphone. Features a third dish rack to fit up to 30% more dishes. SmartDry feature automatically opens the door to air-dry dishes quickly.

Cons

Some plastic parts on this machine are flimsy and seem to break easily.

Bosch 800 Series Panel Ready Smart Dishwasher w/ Alexa, Aquastop Plus
Bosch
800 Series Panel Ready Smart Dishwasher w/ Alexa, Aquastop Plus
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Slim Yet Powerful
Bottom Line

Searching for a smaller, more discrete washer for your apartment? Look no further.

Pros

The pull-down door on this model blends in with your kitchen cabinets and doesn't take up too much space. People love how quietly and effectively it cleans their small loads. The interior gives you the flexibility to fit the load at hand. Great for small kitchens.

Cons

You'll need a panel that matches your kitchen; this is just the washer itself.

KitchenAid KDTM404KPS
KitchenAid
KDTM404KPS
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

The FreeFlex third rack gives you more flexibility than most dishwashers, and does so at an affordable price.

Pros

The advanced clean water system ensures that you’re not washing dishes in their own filth. Printshield finish reduces fingerprints around the outside of the machine. People praise the breadth of features and quiet operation. Buyers also praise this model’s performance and overall quality.

Cons

Some disputed how quiet it was despite others applauding it.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
99
Consumers
Consulted
16
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best dishwashers

Who really wants to clean dishes by hand? A dishwasher provides a convenient, quick way to clean all your plates, cutlery, and cups thoroughly. With a dishwasher, there’s no more need to soak dishes in mucky water, or deal with streaky wine glasses.

Choosing the right dishwasher model, however, can be a bit of a challenge. There are so many options! Not to worry, the BestReviews team has created an informative buying guide to help you narrow down the right choice of dishwasher for your kitchen. We go over the various types, capacities, and features to look for when shopping for a dishwasher, and provide you with helpful tips for getting the cleanest dishes in town. And when you’re ready to buy, please consider our highlighted models.

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Dishwashers, on average, use one-third the amount of water as hand washing the same number of dishes.

Considerations when choosing a dishwasher

What should you be on the lookout for when shopping for a new dishwasher? We’ve covered the main items to be concerned about below.

Dishwasher types

There are a few types of dishwashers available, and each addresses different needs.

  • Built-in models are meant to be fitted right beneath a countertop, and offer standard capacity. Typically, built-in dishwashers are located next to the kitchen sink for plumbing connections, and it makes it easy to rinse the plates before loading them up.

  • Countertop models are more compact, and perfect for those with no space for a built-in. They are also less expensive than their built-in counterparts.

  • Portable units, on the other hand, can provide the same capacity as built-ins, but have wheels for easy transport around the kitchen. These often have a hose that attaches to the kitchen faucet for water supply.
     

Countertop and portable models are great for those who move around a lot, or who lack the space for a traditional built-in.

Capacity and configuration

The capacity required will depend on the number of people you feed on a daily basis. Most regular sized built-ins have space for up to 12 place settings. Compact models have considerably less capacity, and are a good choice for those who produce fewer dirty dishes. Larger households or avid home cooks will likely prefer the flexible capacity of a regular-sized dishwasher.

Examining the interior configuration of a dishwasher is also essential. Does the layout work for you? Most models come equipped with utensil caddies that fit into the bottom or top racks, but some units feature a built-in door caddy to maximize dish space inside. Many models also feature adjustable sections, with tines that fold down to accommodate awkwardly shaped dishes. The interior should make sense to you, each rack should slide smoothly, and everything should be easy to reach.

Energy efficiency

If you’re concerned about conserving energy and water, look for models with the Energy Star label. Your own best practices also help maximize the appliance’s efficiency. Only run it when full, and load it up correctly to avoid the need for a second wash cycle.

Noise

Every unit produces some noise; that’s to be expected. You can find out how loud a dishwasher runs by checking the decibel level rating. A lower number rating means the appliance will produce less noise. A quieter unit can be run during the night, without disturbing sleepers.

Functions and cycles

Most dishwashers come equipped with basic wash cycles like normal wash, quick clean, and a pots and pans setting for cleaning tough messes. There’s little variation between units when it comes to wash cycle options, and most cycle sets simply feature slightly different names. Some dishwashers, however, do have automatic cleaning cycles that use sensors to detect the level of grime and dirt on your dishes and wash accordingly. Many units also have a cleaning option for fragile items like wine glasses. Some units also feature an eco-friendly wash cycle that uses less water.

If you often find yourself going long periods without starting your dishwasher, it may be wise to choose a unit with a “Rinse” cycle. This helps to avoid caked-on foods that get stuck and are tough to remove, even with the strongest wash cycle.

Dishwasher prices

There are budget dishwasher options available for under $500. These are often compact, have a smaller place setting capacity, are slower to clean, and have fewer features. Regular built-in models range between $500 to $800. They have plenty of features, more durable construction, and many work more efficiently because of sensor technology. More expensive models over $1,000 have a larger capacity and more luxury features, with a sleeker exterior finish.

Getting the most out of your dishwasher

Are you worried that replacing your dishwasher won’t fix the issues you’ve had in the past — dishes coming out dirty after a cycle, and caked-on foods? It may not be your dishwasher. A few simple dishwasher tricks can help you get your dishes ultra-clean.

  • Avoid loading your dishwasher without cleaning plates that still have large pieces of food on them. Large, solid pieces of food can clog your dishwasher drain.

  • Cleaning off large pieces of food also reduces the chance of permanent, caked-on dirt.

  • Resist the temptation to stick one more plate inside. An overloaded dishwasher won't clean as well.

  • Clean your dishwasher! Yes, the dishwasher itself needs to be washed once in a while.

  • Not everything goes in the dishwasher. You can ruin delicate items that aren’t meant for the dishwasher, or cause them to break inside the appliance.

  • Careful. Make sure plastic items don't fall to the bottom of your dishwasher. If this happens, they're likely to melt and give off a nasty burning smell that will linger for the whole day.

  • Careful to load your dishwasher so that no plates, utensils, or other cookware blocks any moving parts.

  • Load cups upside down, or you'll get a cup full of (probably dirty) hot water at the end of a wash cycle

  • Keep fragile items apart, so they don't clink and break one another.

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Always use the right amount of detergent in your dishwasher. Too much can create a soapy film on your flatware.

FAQ

Q. My dishwasher smells funny. Is there a way to clean it?
A.
Yes. You can purchase inexpensive tablets that help wash away stinky buildup inside your appliance.

Q. My dishes aren’t cleaning that well, what’s going on?
A.
It may be that the draining mechanism in your dishwasher is clogged. You can try to take it apart yourself to check for blocking debris. If you're not comfortable doing that, call a plumber.

Q. I found liquid dish soap on sale, can I use it in the dishwasher?
A.
Unfortunately, you can’t. Liquid soap produces a whole lot of suds. You’ll likely come back to your kitchen to find a whole lot of bubbles pouring out of the dishwasher.