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No space? No worries. You can still skip hand-washing dishes. Free Standing Ac Unit
We updated this article in March 2023 to ensure current prices and added new picks based on testing notes from the Good Housekeeping Institute.
For those that live with tiny, cramped kitchens, a built-in dishwasher may seem like a luxury that dreams are made of. But having a dishwasher is not as out of reach as you may think. Even if you have limited space, a countertop dishwasher can be a time- and energy-saving solution worth considering and can save you the work of washing dishes by hand.
Countertop dishwashers are mini machines that sit on the countertop next to your kitchen sink and get hooked up to the faucet as their source for clean water. At the end of the cycle, the dirty water drains into the sink. Some have built-in water tanks that you fill by hand. The benefit of that is your faucet is free for hand washing or food prep while the dishwasher is running. Most countertop dishwashers hold up to six place-settings of dishes and glassware, and like their full-size counterparts offer multiple cleaning cycles and heating elements along with basic features, like fold-down cup shelves, flatware baskets, touch controls, detergent dispensers, pull-out racks and more. Just be sure to follow the same smart dishwasher loading techniques you would with any full-size dishwasher to get the best cleaning results.
After you review our recommended picks, read about how countertop dishwashers work, what to consider when buying one, answers to other commonly asked countertop dishwasher questions and why you should trust Good Housekeeping reviews.
If it's high-end style you're going for, this fully-featured Danby with its stainless steel-look exterior, LED display and uncluttered controls comes as close to the look and feel of a built-in as a compact model can. Like others, it has multiple wash cycles, cup shelves, a flatware basket and holds six place settings, but there's more. If you've never heard of Danby, it's a brand with a long-standing reputation in compact appliances. Specialty options on this model include an eco cycle to save energy, a "mini-party" setting to refresh glassware in 20 minutes and a "baby care" cycle with an extra hot rinse. Impressive extras include a child lock on the controls and programs for extra drying, extra cleaning and express washing. Though the controls use symbols instead of words, they seem to be easy to decipher.
Similar to our Best Overall countertop dishwasher pick, we went back to Danby for this model. It sits at almost 22 inches wide and uses a combination of electronic and mechanical controls on its panel for those who are fans of plain push buttons. But even at this affordable price, it doesn't skimp on options. It offers six wash cycles from intense to soak plus a two-, four-, or eight-hour delay wash option and a high-temperature boost to do a better job on cookware or especially dirty items. Fold down cup shelves and a removable flatware basket add to its loading flexibility and a light on the control panel conveniently tells you when it's time to add more rinse aid.
The affordable price tag of this Black + Decker mini dishwasher combined with its stylish look (it could almost pass for a mini oven!) and high-end features made it a shoe-in for our best value pick. At 21.5 inches wide, it claims to hold six place settings and dinner plates up to 10 inches in diameter. There are seven wash programs from intensive to rapid to rinse only and even a 24-hour delay start option for you to load it up and run the cycle at a time when you're not using the kitchen. The detergent and rinse aid dispensers look and work just like those of full-size models and the child lock assures that little fingers can't accidentally start it. Though it is the largest dishwasher of our picks, with its curved stainless steel handle that can likely hold a dish towel and black glass window, it can blend seamlessly with the other appliances in your kitchen.
With a compact footprint of 17 x 17 x 18 inches, the HAVA only holds up to four place settings. Though smaller than others, it's an ideal choice for one- or two-person households and those living in small apartments where counter space is at a premium. It features both bottom and top spray arms for all-around cleaning and comes with two 61-inch hoses, one for draining directly into the sink and the other connects to a faucet. Or, if a faucet hook-up is not available or desired, we like that it offers you the option to manually fill the five-liter water tank with the pitcher that's included. The HAVA features four wash cycles that are automatically followed by a 60-minute dry cycle, one fold down cup shelf and a flatware basket. There's even a fruit cycle which when used with the included basket rinses produce.
This mini appliance has a cycle that — according to company literature — offers a very high temperature final rinse so it's ideal for new parents who have lots of bottles and other baby items to clean or for anyone who wants to sanitize eating utensils food prep items or even pet bowls. A test sample of the HAVA was sent to one of our GH staffers who praised it for performance. She also found the fruit cycle especially helpful and loading it turned into a fun activity with her daughter who found the dishwashing action mesmerizing to watch through the large window.
At only 52 decibels, this Magic Chef is the quietest countertop model we found, a real plus in small kitchens and tiny apartments. (For reference, other brands report decibel levels of 55 or higher and the quietest full-size dishwashers are usually around 40 decibels.) At almost 21 3/4 inches, this Magic Chef is among the deepest countertop models we recommend so be sure to measure accurately before you buy. But, it sports many of the amenities found on full-size appliances. A separate flatware basket and two flip down cup shelves help it hold up to six place settings. The six wash programs here include everything from intense wash to rinse only, plus there's a 24-hour delay wash option that adjusts in one-hour increments to better match the dishwasher's schedule to yours to keep noise to a minimum.
If you don't like the idea of permanently giving up precious counter space for a portable dishwasher, this mini machine from Farberware could be a great option. At just over 18 inches wide it has the smallest footprint of our picks and with its rounded corners and light weight could just be portable and easy enough to move out of way when you don't need or want it out. Keep in mind that it claims to accommodate only two place settings, so it's best for just one or two users. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in features. There are five wash programs, including one with a high-temperature sanitizing rinse, LED touch controls, a see-through door window, a child lock on the controls and a delay start option. A small fold down shelf holds flatware and cutlery instead of the regular basket. Detergent goes into a little well on the door, but it lacks a dispenser for rinse aid. There's also a dedicated cycle and a basket included for washing fresh fruit and a water tank that you can fill by hand to avoid the faucet connection.
Sunpentown, or SPT, isn't a brand we were familiar with but one with its roots in commercial cooking appliances that consumer reviewers rate highly. This mini dishwasher is simple to use with just three buttons and a row of cycle lights on its control panel. Inside, it offers the same rack configuration, flatware basket and cup shelves as the others, but if you do a lot of entertaining and need glassware and lightly soiled items in a hurry, this model fits the bill. With two speedy cycles (one 20 minutes and one 45 minutes) you'll always have wine goblets and appetizer plates ready for guests that need them. And, you'll be able to keep dirty dishes from piling up in the kitchen for less cleanup once guests go home. At 55 decibels, it's a bit louder than some but quieter than others, though consumer reviewers said they could barely hear it. It claims to hold six place settings, though one commenter wished it held larger dinner plates.
In the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab, we test full-size, countertop and portable dishwashers for how well they clean normal and heavily-soiled loads we've stained with a greasy spinach slurry, milk, egg yolk, baked-on mac and cheese, fried hamburger and more. After a two-hour drying session, all the soiled items are loaded into the test machine and the cycle is started. We also assess capacity, sound, energy use, how easy the dishwashers are to load and program and more. While we haven't tested these countertop models in our Lab, to make our recommendations we looked for brands with familiar names and solid performance reputations based on our testing experience, cycles and features that would be most useful, energy savings, size relative to capacity and top consumer reviews.
Here are some key points to keep in mind when buying a countertop dishwasher:
✔️ Overall size: While how much counter space you'll be giving up is an important consideration, a model's height is even more important. You can usually squeeze in space on the sides for a wide unit, but a tall one that won't fit between your countertop and upper cabinets means it won't work for you.
✔️ Capacity: Most countertop dishwashers claim to hold up to six place settings, and the dinner plates they can accommodate can vary from 10 to 12 inches. Make sure any model you are considering can handle the plates you use most often.
✔️ Energy efficiency: All countertop dishwashers carry yellow Energy Guide labels, so you'll be able to compare approximately how much they will cost you per year to run. But only some are actually Energy Star certified. meaning that they are the most efficient models. We think it's worth looking for Energy Star certification.
✔️ Controls and cycles: Here you have some choice. Sleek electronic controls will generally cost more than push buttons but are easier to clean. LED lights and displays can alert you to the time left on the cycle, what cycle you've chosen, and when the rinse aid dispenser needs refilling. We think controls with words are easier to use than those with icons and extra cycles and options, like speed wash and delay start, give you capabilities similar to what full-size models offer, but are only worth considering if you'll actually use them.
Just like portable washing machines, countertop dishwashers fill from a nearby faucet and drain into the sink. As with a full-size dishwasher the temperature of the water going in needs to be at least 120ºF to get good cleaning results. Most of these mini models have heaters to boost the temperature of the water for even better cleaning, rinsing and drying performance and use about three gallons of water per cycle. Check the faucet connections included with any model to be sure you have the necessary parts to attach it to your faucet. Keep in mind they don't attach to faucets with pull-out sprayers.
Countertop dishwashers range in width from about 16 to 22 inches wide and 17 to 20 inches high, so be sure to take measurements before you buy so you know the model you've chosen will fit in the space between your countertop and upper cabinets. Capacities are small, so an oversized platter or a large pot likely won't fit inside. But most reviewers give them high praise for being real work and time savers.
All models have filters that require cleaning and some recommend a regular vinegar rinse to remove deposits and mineral build-up. While you shouldn't have to pre-rinse your dishes, it is a good idea to scrape or wipe off excess food before loading. When it comes to choosing the best dishwashing detergent to use, packets, tablets, powders and gels are all fine in the countertop models. While virtually all the machines have detergent and rinse aid dispensers that look and work like the usual ones, most brands caution against using packets or tablets for the short cycles as they may not fully dissolve.
If you hate washing dishes by hand and can spare the work space, a countertop dishwasher can be a worthwhile investment. It's also a great spot to stash the used flatware, plates and glasses as they accumulate all day long until you can wash them, keeping your kitchen looking neater and your sink cleaner, too. Consumers that own them rave that they are time and work savers and even if you can't fit all your dirty dishes and cookware inside, having one will cut down on the time you spend and the number of items you have to wash by hand while also ultimately saving energy.
Carolyn Forté is a consumer products expert with over 40 years of experience evaluating cleaning products and appliances for Good Housekeeping, including dishwashers and dishwasher detergents. She has attended and presented at many industry events related to dishwashing, writes the monthly "Inside the GH Cleaning Lab" column for the magazine where she responds to reader questions on a variety of topics, including dishwashing, and has authored several Good Housekeeping cleaning and home care advice books. She regularly interacts with appliance and detergent manufacturers to stay on top of the latest technologies and is excited to see innovations in machines and formulas that solve common consumer dishwashing problems. Some of the most frequently asked questions Carolyn answers are about how to properly load a dishwasher and whether pre-rinsing is really necessary.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
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