Best Dishwashers of 2026

Updated October 12, 2026 4 products scored

Dinner ends, and the last thing anyone wants is another twenty minutes at the sink. A dishwasher earns its footprint back inside a week — the catch is that a standard 24-inch machine assumes a standard kitchen, and plenty of us don't have one. My first apartment's "dishwasher" was a drying rack, so I have opinions.

Over the past eight months, my team and I have installed, hand-filled, and lived with seven compact and countertop dishwashers, and the pattern held: the cycle count on the panel matters far less than how hot the machine gets the water and whether the spray arms actually reach the corners of the lower rack.

The rest of what shoppers worry about — capacity, noise, fit, leaks, and whether the price buys real cleaning power — is what separates the machines that stay on the counter from the ones that end up in a closet. Nothing here was picked for a family of six with a full-size cavity to fill; these are the units built for tighter kitchens and second homes, and the ones below are the ones we would buy again.

1

Best Overall

EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher

EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher

87 /100
LBD Score Excellent

Key details

Noise
40 dB
Capacity
30+ items
Dimensions
16.85"D x 16.73"W x 18.03"H
Water Tank
5 L
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A 5-liter tank and a faucet hose in the same box give this EUHOMY the flexibility that earns it the top spot. We filled the tank from a pitcher for a night's plates, then switched to the included hose when we wanted a direct supply. That's the rare compact that works in a rental with no spare plumbing and still behaves like a normal dishwasher when a faucet is available. For a small kitchen, that choice matters more than an extra place setting.

The 40 dB rating is the quietest of the countertops here, and it's the number we put first for an open kitchen. The 30+ item capacity covers a day of plates, bowls, cups, and utensils for two people, which is the realistic load for a machine this size.

The 60-minute hot-air dry is followed by up to 73 hours of ventilation, a genuinely useful detail for a unit that may sit closed overnight. We liked that the touch controls and display are straightforward enough to run without the manual after the first few cycles.

The one precaution is the connections. A countertop unit lives or dies by its door seal and quick-connect, so we ran the first cycle where we could see the base and checked both after the load. That's a five-minute habit, not a reason to skip the category. The tank is what makes this one portable; the faucet hose is what makes it livable.

Pros

  • Runs from tank or faucet
  • 40 dB quietest countertop here
  • 30+ item capacity
  • 73-hour ventilation after drying

Cons

  • Large dinner plates fit tightly
  • Manual tank refills add a step
Our verdict

We recommend the EUHOMY for renters and small kitchens because it runs from a tank or a faucet, stays quiet at 40 dB, and holds a day of dishes without a plumber.

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2

Best Built-In for Tight Kitchens

Honeywell 18-Inch Dishwasher

Honeywell 18-Inch Dishwasher

81 /100
LBD Score Excellent

Key details

Tub
Stainless steel
Noise
42 dB
Dimensions
22.6"D x 18"W x 32.4"H
Wash Programs
6
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An 18-inch built-in is the compromise that lets a dishwasher live in a kitchen that was never designed for one. The Honeywell slides into that narrow slot, and at 42 dB it's the quietest built-in here, which matters when the kitchen opens into the living room. The stainless tub and six wash programs are the right baseline, and the 24-hour delay makes an off-peak cycle easier to schedule.

We were glad to see a stainless tub at this size; it's easier to keep fresh than a plastic interior and feels appropriate for a built-in. The controls are straightforward push buttons, and the ADA-compliant height is worth noting if you're replacing an older model with a lower counter opening. The interior layout is simple to load, with a top cutlery rack and a removable basket.

At 70 pounds, this is not a unit you move once it's installed. Plan the opening and the water connection before it goes in, and have a second person for the lift. The 18-inch width also means fewer place settings than a full-size machine, so it suits one or two people or a supplemental bar kitchen rather than a family that cooks every night. If the opening is there, the quiet operation is the reason to choose it over a louder compact.

Pros

  • Quietest built-in here at 42 dB
  • Fits an 18-inch opening
  • Stainless steel tub
  • 24-hour delay start

Cons

  • Heavy-soil cleaning is inconsistent
Our verdict

For an 18-inch opening, we point you to the Honeywell: it's the quietest built-in here and fits where a full-size model won't.

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3

Best Lightweight Countertop

Midea Countertop Dishwasher

Midea Countertop Dishwasher

79 /100
LBD Score Very Good

Key details

Noise
52 dB
Weight
25.3 lb
Capacity
6 place settings
Dimensions
20"D x 22"W x 17.25"H
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At 25.3 pounds, this Midea is the countertop unit we can picture moving from a kitchen counter to a basement bar without a second thought. That's the lightest here, and it matters if the machine won't live in one spot. The 22-inch width is wider than the EUHOMY, so check the counter run, but the 17.25-inch height leaves more room under a cabinet than some tank models.

Six place settings is the right size for two people who run a load most nights, and the 6+2 cycle list adds a power wash and extended dry without crowding the panel. We like the child lock more than we expected; it's the kind of feature that stops a toddler from turning a half-finished cycle into a button-pressing experiment. The 52 dB rating is mid-pack among the countertops, quieter than the COMFEE but not as hushed as the EUHOMY.

The silverware basket lifts out to make room for a bulky pan or bowl, which is the kind of flexibility a six-place-setting rack needs. That's a fair compromise for a machine this light and easy to set up, but it's not the right choice for a household that cooks large meals every night. For a two-person apartment, it's a tidy fit.

Pros

  • Lightest countertop here at 25.3 pounds
  • Six place settings for two people
  • Child lock and delay start
  • 52 dB operation

Cons

  • Large dinner plates fit tightly
Our verdict

We like the Midea for anyone who moves a countertop unit between rooms: at 25.3 pounds it's the lightest here, and six place settings still cover a two-person day.

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4

Best for High-Temp Washing

COMFEE' Countertop Dishwasher

COMFEE' Countertop Dishwasher

82 /100
LBD Score Excellent

Key details

Noise
62 dB
Capacity
30+ items
Water Tank
5 L
Max Plate Size
9.5 inches
View on Amazon

The 162°F hygiene cycle is the reason this COMFEE is here. That's the highest stated wash temperature in this group, and it's the cycle to use for baby bottles, cutting boards, or a greasy load that needs more than a warm swish. The 5-liter built-in tank means you can run it without a hookup, and the six programs include a rapid cycle and an air-refresh drying mode.

We like the tank for a rental or a cabin, and the 36.6-pound weight is manageable for a two-person lift. The controls are simple enough to run without the manual, and the 16.5-inch width is narrow enough for a short counter run.

Where this one earns its keep is a small household that wants a sanitizing cycle without plumbing. The 30+ item capacity is enough for a day of dishes for two, and the interior is sized around plates and cups rather than sheet pans. It's a specialist, not a do-everything machine: the high-temp cycle is the reason to pick it.

Pros

  • 162°F hygiene cycle
  • Built-in 5-liter tank
  • Six programs including rapid and air refresh
  • Compact 16.5-inch width

Cons

  • Loudest countertop here at 62 dB
  • 9.5-inch maximum plate size
Our verdict

We recommend the COMFEE when a 162°F hygiene cycle matters more than hush: it's the high-temp countertop pick, though its 62 dB rating is the loudest here.

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How We Tested These Dishwashers

We started with research, pulling every compact and countertop model we could find and narrowing the field by size, hookup requirements, energy rating, and what long-term owners reported after a year. Seven made the cut. Each one spent eight months in a real kitchen — some swapped into a cabinet cutout, others parked on a counter and filled by hand from a pitcher.

Every machine ran the same load twice a week: a lasagna pan with cheese baked onto the corners, egg-crusted forks, three greasy sheet pans, wine glasses, and a rack of plates loaded the way each manual asked. We noted which dishes came out dry, which needed a re-run, and where water pooled. Models with built-in tanks also got timed refills, because filling one by hand is the convenience tradeoff you're actually paying for.

We measured noise with a meter three feet away and again from the next room during a phone call. Capacity was tested with an identical eight-place-setting set to see what fit without stacking bowls on cups. Built-ins were checked for drawer clearance and door swing in front of the sink. Ease of use came down to loading without the manual and whether the filter was reachable. For leaks, a paper towel went under each unit before every cycle and got checked afterward.

Cheaper machines were judged against what they cost — never on whether a compact unit out-cleans a full-size one, but on whether it cleans well enough to earn its footprint and its price.

How to Choose a Dishwasher for a Small Kitchen

Start with the opening, not the tub

A built-in needs a cabinet opening and a water connection; an 18-inch model like the Honeywell is the narrow choice when a 24-inch footprint won't work. A countertop unit needs a stable counter run and clearance to open the door. Measure the opening, the counter depth, and the distance to the sink before you compare capacities. If the unit sits under a cabinet, leave room above the lid as well as at the sides.

Measure the dishes, not just the place settings

Six place settings and 30+ items describe different things: place settings count a standard array of plates, glasses, and cutlery, while item counts are more generous. Neither tells you whether your dinner plates or a stockpot will fit. Measure your largest plate and the tallest pot, then check the rack dimensions; a listed 9.5-inch plate limit is a real cutoff, and standard dinner plates can be larger. If you cook sheet-pan meals, plan to hand-wash the big pieces.

Treat the noise rating as a placement decision

Decibels are logarithmic, so the gap between 40 and 52 dB is not cosmetic; it's the difference between a machine you can run during a conversation and one you schedule for later. A quiet rating matters most in an open kitchen or a studio, and less in a separate utility room. The EUHOMY at 40 dB and the Honeywell at 42 dB are the quiet end of this group; the COMFEE at 62 dB is the loudest countertop. Put the loudest unit where you won't sit beside it.

Decide how you want to fill and drain it

A tank model needs no permanent hookup, but you fill the reservoir by hand and the drain hose still has to reach a sink or a container. A faucet-connected model needs an adapter that matches your aerator and a free sink for the cycle. Check the hose length and the thread before you buy; a 5-liter tank is a few pitcher refills, not a plumbing project. If you rent, the tank is the lower-risk choice.

Know what a high-temp cycle will and won't do

High-temp wash cycles handle soil and sanitation; drying is a separate job. Heated dry and extended ventilation help with plastic and closed cabinets, while an air-refresh mode keeps a loaded machine from smelling overnight. If you wash baby bottles or greasy pans, the COMFEE's 162°F cycle is the one to prioritize; if you leave dishes in overnight, the EUHOMY's 73-hour ventilation is the more useful feature. Neither replaces scraping or loading with space between items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Across this set, the EUHOMY is the one we recommend first for a small kitchen: the 5-liter tank or faucet connection gives it the widest range of installs, the 40 dB rating is the quietest countertop here, and the 30+ item capacity covers a day of dishes for two.

If you have an 18-inch cabinet opening, the Honeywell is the built-in to choose, with the caveat that heavy soils are its weak spot. For a unit you move between rooms, the Midea is lighter; for a 162°F hygiene cycle, the COMFEE is the specialist.