Best Countertop Dishwashers Reviewed

Countertop Dishwashers Compared

The Advantage of Countertop Dishwashers

Choosing the Right Countertop Dishwasher

Overall Dimensions vs Available Space

It's essential to measure your counter space before purchasing a countertop appliance. For example, most cabinets are installed 18-20 inches above the countertop, but this is not an absolute requirement. You may find that in your small apartment or RV the clearance is much less.

Even though these countertop appliances are portable, they are not ideal for moving/storing after every use.  

Weight

Most of the countertop dishwashers that we look at in this article range from 40-50 lbs in weight (without the addition of water or dishes). Due to this factor, you might want to consider having someone help you to install the dishwasher initially since it will need to be lifted to counter-height.

We also do not recommend trying to move a fully loaded dishwasher, both because of the added weight and because of the risk of shifting items becoming dislodged or broken within.

Hose Length

Each countertop dishwasher comes with a hose that will attach to your faucet during operation. It’s ideal to keep your countertop dishwasher next to your sink so that your hose is as close as possible, but some people choose to keep their dishwasher on a rolling cart. Most hoses run 4-6 feet in length and should reach your faucet with no problem.

Place Settings (capacity)

Water Usage

According to this article from CNET, hand-washing your dishes can use up to 27 gallons per dish-load. Yikes! Countertop dishwashers use far less water, with most of the models we looked at ranging from just 3 to 4 gallons in an average wash.

The savings will not only be significant for the environment but will help you save on your water bill as well.

Wash Cycle Selections

Like full-sized dishwashing machines, countertop dishwashers also come with several washing cycles to choose from. Usually, these range from light to heavy loads. With countertop dishwashers, many people have found success with running the "rinse" cycle before a regular cycle using soap.

Thehomedweller blog states that hard or mineral-rich water can be a problem in the kitchen but the models for hard water on our list offer flexibility in their different wash settings.

Sound Level

Most dishwashers have a noise range of 46-60 decibels, but countertop dishwashers tend to sound louder because they don't have the noise buffering that full-sized dishwashers get from being installed within your cabinetry.

Sound is definitely something to consider when purchasing your unit, but you shouldn't have to worry about bothering the neighbors as most units run relatively quietly and will quickly be forgotten like the noises that our refrigerators or ice makers make. 

Delay Feature

Some countertop dishwashers come with a delay feature that allows you to load your dishwasher and set it to start at some point in the future. This is an excellent option if you’re hosting guests and don’t want the background noise of a dishwasher, or if you like to run your dishwasher overnight.

Energy Star Certification

According to Energy.gov, The ENERGY STAR label was established to: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy; and make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.

Most countertop dishwashers are Energy Star Certified, and their label will tell you how much the unit will cost to run annually (on average.)

Warranty

It is pretty standard for countertop dishwashers to come with at least a one-year warranty, and I would be slightly suspicious of any product offering less than that. Many models come with the option to purchase an extended warranty as well.

1. hOmeLabs Compact 

The hOmeLabs Compact Countertop Dishwasher is an excellent choice for a benchtop dishwasher. It has a very sleek and modern design that will fit perfectly on your countertop (or in some cases, even under your sink in the cabinet!)

The unit holds up to 6 table settings and can be used in one of six modes: heavy, normal, ECO, glass, speed, and rinse. I love the ECO mode because I tend to be one of those people who washes their dishes most of the way before putting them in the dishwasher and use the dishwasher mostly for its sanitation properties.

This makes me feel a little bit better about water consumption. This model also has a "delay" function that can allow you to load the dishwasher and start it later.

2. SPT SD-2201S

The SPT Countertop Dishwasher is a close second in our list of best countertop dishwashers on the market today. When reading the reviews, over and over you will see the infamous “why didn’t I buy this sooner?" This SPT model comes in both silver and white to match your kitchen preference, and will stand up to the test of time.

Perhaps the best feature of the SPT Countertop Dishwasher is how tranquil it is. Most countertop and portable dishwashers are known for being much louder than the average full-sized dishwasher because they lack the surrounding noise-buffering walls.

That is not the case with the SPT model at all. It's whisper quiet, and Manhattan apartment approved. 

The SPT Countertop Dishwasher holds up to six place settings. From empty and with a little finagling, users have also found that it holds many different pots and pans as well.

The unit comes with a full 1-year warranty, and from the reviews, we've read we have found that even the people who had a break or issue within the first year would still purchase the same unit again because they liked it so much.

The main reason why we have this as our #2 choice is availability is scarce. This models seems to go in and out of stock a lot.

3. Danby DDW611WLED 

The Danby DDW611WLED is the best budget countertop dishwasher. If you're sick of doing dishes and want to try a countertop dishwasher for the first time, this Danby model is a safe and affordable bet.

It fits perfectly under the cabinets of most countertops, and what is impressive is that the inside doesn't waste any space – it seems so broad! Full-sized (11 inches) dinner plates should be able to fit just perfectly without leaning over. 

The set-up on this model is , and most users have found that they can go from box to cleaning dishes in about 15 minutes flat. If your kitchen sink has anything other than a standard faucet though, you may need to purchase additional adapters for the perfect fit.

4. Magic Chef MCSCD6W3 

The Magic Chef brand is known in most American households for their stoves and ovens, dating back to 1929. Now they have hundreds of products ranging from coffee makers to vacuum sealers to a camouflaged toaster, so we weren’t surprised to find a Magic Chef Countertop Dishwasher on our list.

The Magic Chef MCSCD6W3 is a compact countertop dishwasher. True to the Magic Chef name, it is incredibly easy to use with a handy knob that allows you to choose your setting and electronic controls to get you started. As you can see from the interior pictures of this model, the Magic Chef MCSCD6W3 can hold quite a lot of dishes. 

One of the unique features of this Magic Chef model is its “hygienic residual drying system,” a feature that dries your dishes without pulling unsanitary air from within your home, which means even less time spent on dishes. 

5. DELLA Compact 

If you don't have a lot of cabinet clearance on your countertop, the DELLA Compact Dishwasher is an excellent place to start because it is only 17 inches tall (about a quarter inch shorter than most standard countertop dishwashers).

It's also one of the only models of countertop dishwashers we've found to come with the option of a black finish, so if you have other black appliances and you are looking for a match, here it is! The DELLA Compact Dishwasher also comes in silver and white, and on all three models, the interior is stainless steel.

The DELLA Compact Dishwasher doesn't have as many reviews as a lot of the other units we've looked at in this article, but there are 35+ reviews on Amazon, and nearly 90% of the reviews are 5-star, which is almost unheard of! 

Some users said that their only complaint was that the DELLA dishwasher didn’t dry their dishes. I have to chime in here and say that this is likely due to user error. If you use a rinse-aid in the provided compartment, your dishes should be clean and dry every use.

6. Ivation Portable Dishwasher

We were surprised when we couldn't find more extensive reviews on this little countertop dishwasher by Ivation, because it is truly a great product! It's compact size, and user-friendly set-up make it perfect for any small space, and its short height makes it the ideal dishwashing companion for RVs. 

The size of the Ivation Countertop Dishwasher is pretty similar to the other compact machines that we've looked at in this article, but the reason I list it as the best countertop dishwasher for RVs is that it is a very quiet appliance and within the enclosed confines of an RV that makes it a difference.

The only time you'll likely even hear this Ivation model is when it is filling up and draining. The agitation on the cleaning cycles is super quiet. This makes it easy to run it overnight while you’re parked/sleeping, and you can wake up to clean dishes (who wouldn’t love that?)

7. Whynter CDW-6831WES

One of the significant complaints of countertop dishwashers, in general, is that you can't fill them as much as you would a regular dishwasher because they won't clean as well or will need to run for two cycles to be efficiently clean.

That is not the case with the Whynter Countertop Dishwasher. You can feel comfortable filling it up and letting it run without pre-washing in the sink. 

The Whynter Countertop Dishwasher is a model that you can purchase for its very modern style, but also be completely satisfied with its functionality. With its LED display, no one would even guess that this isn’t a permanent fixture on your countertop.

Do I Need One & How Do They Work?

Countertop dishwashers often come with several washing cycles to choose from and generally hold about 4-6 place settings. They are the ideal appliance for small apartments, RVs, cabins, man caves, and more. Many people in lower occupancy households (1 to 3 people) are even turning to countertop dishwashers for their space and water-saving benefits.

Installing a Countertop Dishwasher

Thankfully, the hardest part about setting up a countertop dishwasher is lifting the unit (on average 40-50lbs) on top of your counter. The actual set up is generally straightforward and quick, and you can be on your way to clean dishes in as little as 15 minutes.

In fact, many of the models we looked at advertise themselves as “no tools necessary” products. This YouTube video by reviewer BOZO DOES IT shows just how simple it is to hook up your new countertop dishwasher to your faucet tap.

Instructions for Countertop Dishwasher Use

Converting a Countertop Dishwasher to a Built-in

Most countertop dishwashers are easily connected to your faucet with an attached hose when you want to use them and therefore are not permanent fixtures. In many cases, though, the dishwasher can be installed as a permanent fixture.

Usually, when this happens, it is because the consumer wants to create a "built-in" dishwasher by adding it under a cabinet near the sink like a full-sized dishwasher. If this is something you're considering, you'll want to make sure you choose a product that only has buttons on the front-facing panel.

You will also need to do a little more work to create a permanent plumb-line to your appliance under your sink. For more information on how to achieve this look, check out this article from SFGate.

Cleaning & Maintenance

As the first line of defense you might even try using a lemonade mix or Tang – as the acid in these drink mixes is often enough to clean small amounts of build-up. Using the hottest cycle simultaneously will also help properly sanitize the dishwasher.

Other than cleaning your dishwasher regularly, check often to make sure that your drain and drainage hose is clear of any debris.

People also Ask (FAQs)

How can I be sure that the countertop dishwasher I will be buying will fit full-size plates?

Most countertop dishwashers are designed to hold full-sized dinner plates and around 4 to 6 place settings. To make sure, it's best to measure your desired plates ahead of time and compare with the specifications of the countertop dishwashing model.

What is the difference between portable and countertop dishwasher? Or are they the same thing?

Portable dishwashers are usually full-sized dishwashers that can be stored away when not in use and moved in front of the sink when you want to use a full load. These units often represent a small kitchen island and can offer additional counter space. Countertop dishwashers are much smaller units that sit atop your counter. 

Do I need a plumber to hook up a countertop dishwasher or is it something I can easily do myself?

The consumer can easily install most countertop dishwashers, and they come with a handy adapter that attaches to your kitchen sink. 

Can I have the countertop dishwasher installed anywhere in the kitchen?

You can store your countertop dishwasher anywhere within a kitchen, but while in use it will need to be next to a water source (your sink).

How do I know what size dishwasher to buy?

The size of dishwasher you purchase will depend mostly upon how much room you have in your kitchen, whether or not you have space to store a full-sized portable dishwasher, and how many dishes you use per day. Some units are designed to hold only a couple of place settings, whereas other models can fit pots and pans and even have a built-in garbage disposal.

Conclusion

Aren't we lucky to live in a day and age where any small space can have access to a dishwashing machine, and we can ditch hand-washing all together? Overall, the consensus on countertop dishwashers is that once you have one, you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.

We hope with our research that you can find the right countertop dishwasher for your need. Our top pick for countertop dishwashers is the hOmeLabs Compact model. It’s so popular that stores are having trouble keeping it on the shelves.