The Best Countertop Dishwashers You Can Buy for Portable Cleaning
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023Tired of washing dishes by hand? We researched and evaluated the best countertop dishwashers to help you find the perfect compact solution for your kitchen.
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If you live in an apartment, condo, RV or small home, there’s a chance your kitchen doesn’t have a full-size dishwasher. Washing dishes by hand can be time-consuming. And if you’re tired of scrubbing plates and forks after each meal, it might be time to invest in one of the best countertop dishwashers. These handy appliances allow you to just load the dishes and press go.
Countertop dishwashers are smaller versions of the full-size kind, and they typically hook up to your sink for operation. Most can fit somewhere between four and eight place settings per load, and they often have several wash cycles to choose from, just like a regular dishwasher.
What to Consider When Buying a Countertop Dishwasher
There are a variety of countertop dishwashers available today, so it’s important to consider the following factors to find the best option for your home.
- Size: As their name suggests, countertop dishwashers are designed to be placed on the kitchen counter, so it’s important to measure your space and select an appliance that will fit. Many people ask if you can put a countertop dishwasher under the sink, and while it is possible to tuck these appliances out of sight, it will make the dishwasher harder to operate, as it will be tricky to connect it to the faucet.
- Water source: As mentioned previously, most portable dishwashers hook up directly to your kitchen faucet during operation. However, there are some models with built-in water tanks, which allows them to be placed further away from a faucet.
- Capacity: Depending on how many people live in your household, you may want to look for a countertop dishwasher with a larger capacity, which will allow you to clean more dishes at once. Capacity is typically indicated by the number of place settings, with one place setting including a plate or bowl, glass, and silverware for one person.
- Settings: Most portable dishwashers have multiple wash cycles to choose from, including rapid cycles, eco-friendly modes and even sanitation options for items like baby bottles.
- Noise level: If you have a smaller home, such as an RV or studio apartment, you’ll likely want to consider the noise level of a countertop dishwasher. Models that operate loudly can be quite disruptive, especially if you’re trying to work or sleep.
- Maintenance: Don’t forget to consider the maintenance requirements of each countertop dishwasher. You may need to clean your dishwasher or change filters on a regular basis. Otherwise, you may end up with nasty smells or mold in your dishwasher.
Evaluation Criteria
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
Best Overall Countertop Dishwasher
Farberware Professional Countertop Dishwasher
The Farberware Professional countertop dishwasher is a top choice in terms of versatility, capacity and overall value. It comes in both black and white finishes, and it can hold up to six place settings per cycle, including plates up to 10-inches in diameter. The dishwasher even has a removable cutlery basket, as well as a fold-down shelf for mugs.
Our pick for the best countertop dishwasher stands out from the competition thanks to its seven wash cycles, which include heavy, normal, baby care, light, glass, 45 min and self clean. Plus, unlike many other models, it has an extra-drying feature that uses heat to remove lingering moisture from your dishes. The Farberware dishwasher hooks up to the faucet via a quick-connect adapter, and it even has indicator lights that let you know if the dishwasher is low on rinse and if no water is reaching the appliance. After you order, pick up our Test Kitchen’s favorite dishwasher detergent.
Pros
- Seven wash cycles
- Fits 10-inch plates
- Extra drying function
- Energy Star certified
- Works with any type of detergent
Cons
- Large footprint
Best Budget Countertop Dishwasher
RCA Electronic Countertop Dishwasher
Most countertop dishwashers cost between $300 and $500, but the RCA Electronic countertop dishwasher is a great value, retailing for less than $250. It can hold up to six place settings at a time, and it has both heavy and normal wash cycles, depending on your needs. It features an automatic detergent and rinse agent dispenser, but keep in mind that there’s no heated drying option.
What’s nice about this dishwasher—besides its low price—is that it uses less than four gallons of water for a normal wash cycle, helping to conserve water and keep your bills low. However, given that it’s a budget-friendly model, there are some small design flaws that can make it less convenient to use. Some reviewers note that it doesn’t always drain fully after the cycle, and large dinner plates don’t fit properly within the appliance. Make sure you pick up a clean/dirty dishwasher magnet to keep track of each load.
Pros
- Good value
- Low water consumption
- Quiet during operation
Cons
- Doesn’t always drain properly
- Larger plates may not fit
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Best Splurge Countertop Dishwasher
BLACK+DECKER Compact Countertop Dishwasher
If you’re willing to spend a little more, the BLACK+DECKER countertop dishwasher is a worthwhile splurge. This appliance has an attractive stainless steel exterior that’s more modern than many other models, and it’s Energy Star certified, meaning it will help save money on energy bills. The dishwasher has seven wash settings, including normal, intensive, eco, glass, 90-minute, rapid and soak, and it also features an optional heated dry setting.
This dishwasher can accommodate up to six place settings at a time, and the interior has enough room for 10-inch dinner plates. The LED display lets you know how long is left in the cycle, and it’s even mounted on locking caster wheels, making it easier to move around your counter as needed. By the way, these are our favorite dishwashing gadgets.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Energy Star certified
- Fits 10-inch plates
- Heated dry options
Cons
- Heavy
Best Compact Countertop Dishwasher
COMFEE Countertop Dishwasher
Many countertop dishwashers are fairly large, which means they take up quite a bit of space in small kitchens. However, the COMFEE countertop dishwasher is on the smaller side, measuring just 16.5 x 17.1 x 17.1 inches. It will fit easily underneath the cabinets in your kitchen, and you can even tuck it away in a cupboard when it’s not in use.
This portable dishwasher actually has a built-in water tank that can hold up to 5 liters (roughly 1.3 gallons), which means it doesn’t need to be hooked up to the faucet during operation. This allows you to place it anywhere in your home, but keep in mind you’ll need to drain it after the wash cycle is complete. The unit has a see-through window and can hold up to two place settings at a time, and it even has a steam cycle that’s ideal for baby bottles and other delicate items.
Pros
- Built-in water tank
- See-through window
- Steam clean cycle
Cons
- Small capacity
- Faucet adapter sold separately
Best Quiet Countertop Dishwasher
hOmeLabs Digital Countertop Dishwasher
The hOmeLabs Digital countertop dishwasher is quieter than many other options, operating at just 50 decibels. Most users say that you can barely hear it running (though it can be a little noisy when it drains at the end of the cycle), making it an ideal choice for small homes.
The appliance is fairly bulky and may take up quite a bit of space on your counter, but it can hold up to six place settings at a time, including 10-inch dinner plates. There are seven wash cycles to choose from—heavy, normal, eco, high temp, quick wash, glass and rinse—and the unit is Energy Star certified, as well. Plus, it will even work with water pressure as low as 6 PSI, making it suitable for use in RVs or campers.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Energy Star certified
- Seven wash cycles
- Works with low water pressure
Cons
- Bulky design
Best Easy-to-Install Countertop Dishwasher
Farberware Complete Portable Countertop Dishwasher
Don’t want to go through the hassle of hooking up a dishwasher to your sink for every cycle? Then the Farberware Complete portable countertop dishwasher is the unit for you. This compact portable dishwasher doesn’t require any hookups for operation thanks to its built-in 5-liter water tank. All you have to do is pour water into the tank, and it’s ready to go!
This countertop dishwasher is smaller than most, and it can only fit two or three place settings at a time. However, it can accommodate dinner plates up to 12 inches when you load them diagonally. It has five wash programs, including options for sanitizing baby bottles and even washing fruit, and its see-through window allows you to monitor the appliance as it cleans. Discover more unusual items you can wash in your dishwasher.
Pros
- No hookups needed
- See-through window
- Compact form
- Fits 12-inch dishes
Cons
- Small capacity
- Not compatible with rinse aids
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