10 Best Dishwashers (October 2026) Reviewed and Ranked

A dishwasher is one of the highest-return appliances you can put in a kitchen. It cuts the daily cleanup down to a single press of a button, it uses a fraction of the water hand-washing takes, and the right model returns clean, dry dishes for a decade or more.

There is a catch when you start reading reviews, and it is worth naming before we get into the picks. The full-size 24-inch machines that dominate store displays need a dedicated 120-volt circuit, a plumbing rough-in and a cabinet cutout. If you are in a rental, a small apartment, or a kitchen with an 18-inch opening, most of those machines simply will not fit your life. So the best dishwashers in this guide are the countertop machines and 18-inch slimline built-ins that work without a full kitchen remodel.

Our team read 19316 owner reviews across 10 machines, then compared them on the five things that actually decide whether you will still be happy in year three: noise, capacity and rack flexibility, drying, cleaning power, and how hard the machine is to hook up and service. Every pick below earned its place on more than one of those.

Top 3 Dishwasher Recommendations (October 2026)

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Hermitlux Countertop Dishwasher

★★★★★★★★★★4.44,583

• 5 place settings
• 7 wash programs
• 18-hour delay start
• 5L tank or faucet mode

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BEST VALUE

COMFEE 6-Place Countertop Dishwasher

★★★★★★★★★★4.23,735

• 6 place settings
• 70 pieces
• 45-minute Speed cycle
• stainless steel tub

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BEST FOR BABY BOTTLES

NOVETE Portable Dishwasher

★★★★★★★★★★4.42,516

• 4 place settings
• 167F Baby Care mode
• 29-minute Speed cycle
• 3-in-1 storage

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All 10 Dishwashers Compared Side by Side in 2026

Everything below sits in one table so you can scan capacity, noise, tub material and hookup type without opening ten tabs. The cycle count and place-setting figures come straight from each manufacturer’s specification sheet.

Product	Key Features
Hermitlux Countertop Dishwasher HDW5CW01	5 place settings 7 programs 50 dB 5L tank or faucet	Check Latest Price
COMFEE Countertop Dishwasher CDC22P1BBB	6 place settings 8 cycles 52 dB stainless steel tub	Check Latest Price
COMFEE Mini Dishwasher CDC17P0ABB	1.32 gal built-in tank 6 programs 62 dB no hookup needed	Check Latest Price
NOVETE Portable Dishwasher TDQR01	4 place settings 5 cycles 50 dB 3-in-1 dryer and storage	Check Latest Price
BLACK+DECKER Countertop Dishwasher BCD6W	6 place settings 7 cycles 60 dB stainless steel interior	Check Latest Price
EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher DW001-5	40 dB operation 6 programs 29-minute Quick cycle 5L tank	Check Latest Price
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher TDQR	4 place settings 6 programs 167F Heavy mode 14-port spray arms	Check Latest Price
EdgeStar 18 Inch Built-In BIDW1802SS	8 place settings 6 cycles 52 dB leakage sensor	Check Latest Price
Midea 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher MDF18A1AST	8 place settings 6 programs 52 dB heated dry and sanitize	Check Latest Price
Hamilton Beach Countertop Dishwasher HBDW3208	6 place settings 2 cycles 34 dB stainless steel interior	Check Latest Price

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How We Picked the Best Dishwashers

We did not rank on star rating alone. A 4.8 from forty owners tells you far less than a 4.2 from 3735, so every pick here clears a volume threshold before it clears a score threshold. Ratings are the starting filter, not the finish line.

Noise came first. An open-plan kitchen turns a 60 dB machine into a household problem, so we weighted the published decibel rating heavily and cross-checked it against owner comments about daytime running. Drying came second, because wet plastic and cloudy glassware are the complaint that shows up most often in long-term ownership reports.

Third was capacity relative to footprint, since a machine that fits but only holds four settings is not much help. Fourth was hookup flexibility, weighted higher than usual because none of these machines requires a remodel. Fifth was cleaning power, judged on cycle design, spray arm coverage and reported results on heavy pots. Warranty length and brand support access broke the remaining ties.

1. Hermitlux Countertop Dishwasher HDW5CW01 – Best Overall

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Hermitlux Countertop Dishwasher, 7 Washing Programs Portable Dishwasher

★★★★★★★★★★4.4

• 5 place settings
• 7 wash programs
• 50 dB
• 5L tank or faucet mode
• 30.9 pounds

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Pros

• Roomiest interior relative to its 16.85 inch width
• 7 programs plus Delay Child Lock and Dry
• 18-hour delayed start
• hot air dry plus 72-hour ventilation
• uses only 5L of water per cycle

Cons

• Needs at least 20.08 inch of clearance above it
• small amount of water remains inside after a cycle
• 5 place settings means pots and pans still get hand washed

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We put this one first because it solved the problem most portable dishwashers get wrong. At 5 place settings in a body measuring 16.85 inches wide, it holds more than several machines that are physically larger, and 75% of its 4583 reviews are five-star.

It runs 7 programs from Standard through a Glass setting, plus three separate functions for delay, child lock and drying. The 18-hour delayed start is unusually long, which means you can time a heavy load to finish right after you wake up.

Water comes from either the built-in 5 liter tank or a faucet connection, so you can move it between the counter and the counter-hook position as your kitchen allows. Fourteen jets across the top and bottom arms cover the full 360 degrees of the tub.

Drying is the part that separates it from cheaper units: 60 minutes of hot air followed by 72 hours of automatic ventilation, which is why owners report dry dishes and no lingering odor. Energy consumption is listed at 0.38 kWh, one of the lowest figures in this roundup.

What you give up with the Hermitlux

Five place settings is the ceiling. A large stockpot, a sheet pan or a serving dish still goes in the sink by hand, no matter how well the racks are laid out. Budget for hand washing the oversized pieces once a week.

Check your overhead clearance first. The unit is 18.23 inches tall and needs roughly 20 inches of space between the counter and any upper cabinet, which rules it out under a low-hanging shelf in a lot of older kitchens.

Who the Hermitlux suits

A couple or a two-person household that wants the largest interior it can get without a plumbing run, and who want a machine that can double as a drying and storage cabinet. It is also the pick for anyone who wants to move the dishwasher between the counter and a cupboard.

If your kitchen has full-size cookware in the rotation, look at the built-in picks further down instead. They handle a bigger load without the countertop footprint problem.

2. COMFEE Countertop Dishwasher CDC22P1BBB – Best Value

BEST VALUE

COMFEE’ Countertop Dishwasher, Energy Star Portable Dishwasher, 6 Place Settings & 8 Washing Programs, Speed, Baby-Care, ECO& Glass, Dish Washer for Dorm, RV& Apartment, Black

★★★★★★★★★★4.2

• 6 place settings
• 8 wash cycles
• 52 dB
• stainless steel tub
• 45-minute Speed cycle

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Pros

• 6 place settings and up to 70 pieces
• stainless steel tub resists staining and odor
• 45-minute Energy Star Speed cycle
• as little as 2.77 gallons per cycle
• can sit on a counter or inside a cupboard

Cons

• Faucet adapter does not fit Moen or other pull-down faucets
• Included hose and power cord are short
• cup shelf will not accept standard coffee mugs
• noisy on the drain cycle

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This is the pick when you want the most dishes per dollar in the whole list. Six place settings and up to 70 pieces of tableware, with plates up to 10 inches, in a 46 pound machine you can still move between rooms.

The tub is stainless steel, which is rarer in this price bracket and shows up in owner comments about staining and smell resistance. Annual energy consumption is rated at 174 kWh, and the Speed cycle finishes in 45 minutes while staying within Energy Star limits.

Eight cycles cover the range, from a Heavy program running 12 nozzles on a 360-degree spiral spray up to 154°F, through Baby-Care and Glass settings. The door can be cracked open slightly for ventilation without dropping all the way to the floor.

Owners frequently report better results than the full-size machine they replaced. That is mostly a function of habit: if you are not loading a week’s worth of dishes at once, a smaller machine cycles faster and the spray arms stay clearer.

Check your faucet before you buy

The quick-connect adapter supplied with the machine does not work with Moen or several other pull-down faucets. This is the single most repeated complaint in the reviews, and it is an easy surprise if you buy without looking.

Reach is the other issue. The included hose and power cord are short enough that an adjacent cabinet may be out of range, so measure the counter depth and the nearest outlet before ordering.

Who the COMFEE CDC22P1BBB suits

A family of two or three, or a couple who batches dishes once a week. Six place settings with a stainless tub at this price is the combination we would pick for most people who cannot install a built-in machine.

Skip it if you have a pull-down faucet you love and do not want to swap it. Everything else about the machine holds up well.

3. COMFEE Mini Dishwasher CDC17P0ABB – Best for Total No-Setup Living

BEST FOR NO-PLUMB LIVING

COMFEE’ Portable Mini Dishwasher Countertop with 1.32Gal Built-in Water Tank for Apartments& RVs, No Hookup Needed, 6 Programs, 360° Dual Spray, 162℉ High-Temp& Air-Dry Function

★★★★★★★★★★4.0

• 1.32 gal built-in tank
• 6 programs
• 62 dB
• 9.5 inch plate capacity
• 36.6 pounds

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Pros

• Built-in tank needs no faucet hookup at all
• fill guide and buzzer simplify tank filling
• quiet in an open kitchen
• 162F Hygiene cycle for bottles
• includes pitcher fruit basket inlet and drain hoses

Cons

• Interior around 11 x 11 x 10 inches is very small
• Dinner plates must be loaded at an angle
• Drain hose clamp is ineffective without a zip tie
• top spray arm can stop spinning

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This machine is built around one idea: you should be able to own a dishwasher in a rental with no faucet adapter, no hose and no landlord conversation. The 1.32 gallon built-in tank means you pour water in, press start and walk away.

Six programs are on offer, and the Hygiene cycle heats water to 162°F, which is the setting bottle-feeding parents actually use. The tub holds 30 or more items with plates up to 9.5 inches, and the whole unit weighs 36.6 pounds.

Owners consistently describe it as quieter than a full-size dishwasher in the same kitchen, and results are spot-free once you pick the right cycle and use the right detergent amount. The accessories in the box include a pitcher, fruit basket, quick-connect inlet hose and drain hose.

The 15% one-star share in the reviews is worth understanding rather than ignoring. Most of those complaints point at the drain hose clamp, the spray arm failing to spin under heavy soil, and long cycles running past two hours.

The loading rules you have to learn

Full-size dinner plates do not stand upright in this tub. They go in at an angle, and a pot or pan will not go in at all, so the machine handles glassware and bowls and nothing larger.

Almost every negative review traces back to skipping one of two steps: rinsing food off before loading, and cleaning the filter and spray arms every few cycles. The included drain hose clamp is widely reported to be ineffective, and a zip tie fixes it.

Who the COMFEE CDC17P0ABB suits

A single person, a couple, or anyone in a rental where the landlord will not authorize a plumbing change. It is also the right pick for a second bathroom or a home office kitchenette where a full-size machine would never fit.

If you regularly cook for four or more, or you wash pots in the same sink, this will frustrate you within a month. Move up to a 6-place-setting machine instead.

4. NOVETE Portable Dishwasher TDQR01 – Best for Baby Bottles

BEST FOR BABY BOTTLES

NOVETE Portable Countertop Dishwashers for Small Apartments

★★★★★★★★★★4.4

• 4 place settings
• 5 wash cycles
• 50 dB
• 167F Baby Care mode
• 28 pounds

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Pros

• Compact 16.9 inch footprint with 4 full place settings
• 167F Baby Care/Heavy mode for bottles and oily dishes
• 29-minute Speed cycle
• 3-in-1 dishwasher dryer and storage cabinet
• full accessory kit in the box

Cons

• Dishes over 10 inches must be angled
• not built for full-size cookware or baking sheets
• small residual water after factory testing is normal

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NOVETE pairs a small footprint with a genuine 4-place-setting double-layer rack, and the 75% five-star share across 2516 reviews reflects that balance. The lower rack holds 4 serving bowls, 4 cups, 4 small plates and 4 dinner plates.

The Baby Care/Heavy mode washes at 167°F, the highest wash temperature in this roundup, and it is the reason this machine shows up in new-parent shortlists. The Speed mode finishes in 29 minutes for a quick turnaround.

The tank is 5 liters with an automatic water-level indicator, so you are not guessing at the fill line. It also has faucet mode if you would rather plumb it in permanently later.

What makes it unusual is the 3-in-1 design: wash, then 60 minutes of hot air dry, then 72 hours of automatic ventilation that lets you store clean dishes inside for days. The dual-layer glass door has an LED lamp, and every accessory, including a fruit basket and pitcher, is included.

Where the size bites

Four place settings is a single day of dishes for one or two people. Plates over about 10 inches have to be loaded at an angle, and there is no provision for a stockpot or a sheet pan.

It also weighs only 28 pounds, which is a genuine benefit for moving it around, and a genuine limitation for large cookware. Treat it as the glassware-and-bowls machine rather than the family machine.

Who the NOVETE suits

New parents who want a sterilizing-temperature cycle in a small apartment, and anyone who wants to store clean dishes in the unit instead of the cupboard. It also suits a holiday cabin or a second home.

If you need a bigger haul per cycle, the BLACK+DECKER and COMFEE 6-place machines give you two more settings in a similar footprint.

5. BLACK+DECKER Countertop Dishwasher BCD6W – Best for Large Countertop Loads

BEST FOR BIG LOADS

BLACK+DECKER Countertop Dishwasher, Energy Star Certified, BCD6W, White

★★★★★★★★★★4.2

• 6 place settings
• 7 wash cycles
• 60 dB
• stainless interior
• 46.2 pounds

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Pros

• Largest interior in the group at 6 place settings
• stainless steel interior and racks
• 45-minute cycle handles moderately soiled loads
• Quick Connect adapter installs in about ten minutes
• one-year parts and labor warranty

Cons

• Weak drying without rinse aid
• 46.2 pounds is heavy to lift
• plates over 10 to 10.5 inches do not fit in the rack
• wide rack gaps let small items fall onto the spray arm

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The BCD6W holds 6 place settings in a 21.5 x 21.7 x 17.2 inch body, and owners report it fits a large mixing bowl and even two frying pans. That raw capacity is what separates it from the 4-setting countertop machines in this list, and the only larger capacities here come from the two built-ins.

Seven cycles cover Normal, Intensive, Eco, Glass, 90 Minutes, Rapid and Soak, with a 24-hour delayed start and a remaining-time display. The stainless interior and racks resist the staining that shows up in plastic tubs after a year.

Hookup is a Quick Connect faucet assembly, and owners report about ten minutes to install. The unit stores in a cupboard, pantry or shelf between uses, which is how it earns its counter space back.

Drying is the weak point, and owners say so plainly. Water collects on cups unless you add rinse aid, so treat the dry function as a warmer and a fan rather than a full dry.

What to plan for before delivery

At 46.2 pounds this is one of the heavier countertop machines to get onto a counter or into a cupboard. Measure the route, not just the opening. It is also a wide body, so it needs more counter width than the 4-place-setting units.

Plates over 10 or 10.5 inches do not fit in the plate rack, and the rack spacing is wide enough that small items can drop onto the spray arm. Load with that in mind and it behaves well.

Who the BLACK+DECKER BCD6W suits

A household of three that wants real built-in-like capacity without a built-in, and anyone who needs pots and pans to go through the machine rather than the sink. It also suits a garage or laundry room kitchenette.

If drying performance matters more than capacity, look at the HOT air dry plus multi-day ventilation on the Hermitlux instead.

6. EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher DW001-5 – Highest Rated

BEST PERFORMER

EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher Portable, 6 Programs with 40 dB, No Hookup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5

• 40 dB operation
• 6 programs
• 29-minute Quick cycle
• 5L tank
• 28.6 pounds

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Pros

• Highest rating in the roundup at 4.5 with 78% five-star
• 40 dB suits open kitchens and phone work
• 29-minute Quick cycle
• light at 28.6 pounds with magnetic door closure
• ETL and DOE certified

Cons

• No pots or pans beyond very small sizes
• dishes must be rinsed thoroughly first
• drying is inconsistent and needs extra dry cycles
• no dedicated detergent compartment

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The EW001-5 holds the highest score in this roundup at 4.5 stars, with 78% of its 1015 reviews at five stars, and it currently sits at number one in the countertop dishwasher category. The headline feature is 40 dB operation.

Six programs cover Normal, Quick, ECO, Baby Care/Heavy, Fruit and Dry. The Quick cycle finishes in 29 minutes and the Baby Care/Heavy mode reaches up to 167°F. The tub holds 30 or more items with plates up to 10.25 inches.

Tank filling is straightforward: a 5 liter tank with a water-level indicator that chimes when it is full, or a faucet connection with the included hose. At 28.6 pounds it is one of the easiest machines here to move between a counter and a high shelf.

Cleaning power is the other thing owners single out, with several comparing results favorably to full-size machines. That reputation comes with a caveat repeated across reviews: pre-rinse, and use about a tablespoon of powder detergent.

The learning curve is real

Rack layout and utensil placement need practice. The utensil holder slots are poorly spaced, so cutlery has to be rearranged to avoid water stains, and powder detergent falls to the bottom of the tub because there is no dedicated compartment door.

Drying is the weakest function. Owners regularly add a second dry cycle, and square dinner plates may not fit at all. Treat this as a quiet washer rather than a quiet washer-dryer.

Who the EUHOMY suits

Anyone working from home who takes calls in the kitchen, or anyone in an open-plan space where a 60 dB machine would be genuinely disruptive. The light weight and magnetic door also make it easy to put away.

If you wash large cookware, this is not the machine. The 6-place-setting units are a better fit for a family kitchen.

7. HAVA Countertop Dishwasher TDQR – Best for Small Counters

BEST FOR SMALL COUNTERS

HAVA Countertop Dishwasher, 6 Programs Portable Dishwasher with Water Tank

★★★★★★★★★★4.4

• 4 place settings
• 6 programs
• 14-port spray arms
• 167F Heavy mode
• 5L water use

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Pros

• Tank mode needs no plumbing whatsoever
• 18-inch cube fits a crock pot with its lid
• quieter than a microwave
• Heavy/Baby Care mode at 167F
• can be plumbed in later with standard fittings

Cons

• Dries dishes only partially with water pooling in cups
• dry cycle emits a high-pitched whistle
• filter passes fine particles into the spray arms
• drain suction cup will not hold on a ceramic sink

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The HAVA is one of the more compact shells in this list at 16.8 x 16.7 x 18 inches, and owners report the interior is more generous than the outside suggests. It takes a crock pot with the lid on, mixing bowls and small pans.

Six programs include Normal, Speed, Soft, Heavy/Baby Care at 167°F, Fruit and Dry. The spray arms carry 14 water ports for 360-degree coverage, and the machine washes 30 or more pieces across 4 place settings.

Water comes from the built-in 5 liter tank, complete with an included pitcher and an audible ding when it is full, or from a faucet. If you move into a permanent home later, standard garden-hose thread fittings let you plumb it in.

Water use is 5 liters per cycle, which owner reports put at roughly a quarter of what hand-washing takes. Drying runs 60 minutes of hot air plus 72 hours of automatic ventilation.

What the reviews complain about most

Drying is partial. Water pools on top of cups, and the dry cycle itself emits a high-pitched whistle that is audible in a quiet room. Add rinse aid and plan on a second pass for anything you want to put away immediately.

Two smaller issues recur: the filter passes fine food particles through into the spray arms, so clean it regularly, and the drain hose suction cup will not hold on a ceramic sink wall. There is also a strong new-plastic smell for the first several uses.

Who the HAVA suits

A small kitchen where a wide 21-inch countertop machine simply will not fit, and anyone who wants no plumbing at first with the option to plumb it later. The Heavy/Baby Care mode also makes it useful for bottling season.

If you want the same footprint with better drying, the NOVETE is the closer comparison. If you want more capacity, step up to a 6-place-setting model.

8. EdgeStar 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher BIDW1802SS – Best 18-Inch Built-In

BEST 18-INCH BUILT-IN

EdgeStar BIDW1802SS 18 Inch Wide 8 Place Setting Built-In Dishwasher

★★★★★★★★★★4.2

• 8 place settings
• 6 wash cycles
• 52 dB
• leakage sensor
• 17.75 inch width

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Pros

• 8 place settings in a narrow 18-inch body
• only 17.75 inches wide for tight cabinet openings
• stainless steel interior racks and basket
• leakage sensor shuts off the water automatically
• Energy Star rated with sanitize hi-temp and heated dry

Cons

• Requires professional installation into a cabinet cutout
• heaviest machine here at 62.8 pounds
• most polarized rating spread with 10% one-star

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This is the first built-in in the list, and it is built for a specific problem: a narrow cabinet opening where a 24-inch machine will not go. At 17.75 inches wide it can replace a standard trash compactor.

It still delivers 8 place settings, with a stainless steel interior, racks and cutlery basket plus a cup tray. Six cycles run from Heavy and Normal through ECO, Glass, Rapid and Rinse.

Three options sit alongside the cycles: Sanitize, Hi Temp and Heated Dry. The leakage sensor shuts off the water flow automatically if a leak is detected, which is the feature we would want most in a unit installed next to cabinetry.

Cutout dimensions are 32.5 inches high by 17.75 wide by 23 deep, and the depth with the door open is 42.25 inches. Rated energy consumption is 234 kWh per year.

Installation is not optional

Unlike every other machine here, this one goes into a cabinet cutout and needs a real hookup. Budget for a plumber or an installer, and confirm the cutout measurements before the unit arrives.

It is also the heaviest machine in the roundup at 62.8 pounds, so the two people carrying it into position matter. The rating spread is the most polarized here, with 64% five-star but 10% one-star.

Who the EdgeStar BIDW1802SS suits

A homeowner with an 18-inch cabinet opening, a narrow kitchen, or a trash compactor slot waiting to be replaced. It also suits anyone who wants a genuine built-in with heated dry and a sanitize cycle but does not need a third rack.

Compare it against the Midea 18-inch before you commit, since both cover the same niche with different review histories.

9. Midea 18 Inch Built-In Dishwasher MDF18A1AST – Best Slimline Built-In

BEST SLIMLINE BUILT-IN

Midea 18 Inch Built-in Dishwasher, 8 Place Settings, Stainless Steel Tub

★★★★★★★★★★4.0

• 8 place settings
• 6 wash programs
• 52 dB
• stainless steel tub
• heated dry and sanitize

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Pros

• 8 place settings in an 18-inch slimline body
• quiet 52 dB operation
• cleans heavy pots pans and bakeware
• heated dry leaves dishes dry without towelling
• adjustable legs and install kit made installation straightforward

Cons

• Customer service and technician scheduling widely criticized
• reports of an E4 fault from the sump pump housing
• 16% one-star share is the highest in the roundup
• slimline body smaller than buyers expect

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The MDF18A1AST is an 18-inch slimline built-in with 8 place settings and a stainless steel tub, rated at 52 dB. Owners who receive a working machine describe the cleaning as genuinely strong, including heavy pots, pans and bakeware.

Six programs cover Heavy, Normal, ECO, Delicate, Quick and Rinse, with three functions: Heated Dry, Hi-Temp and Sanitize. The Hi-Temp hygiene cycle holds water at up to 136°F, and plates up to 11 inches fit.

Heated dry is the feature owners praise most. It removes the towel-drying step, which is the usual complaint with condensation-only machines. The digital control panel has an LED display, and adjustable legs plus an install kit make the fit easier to dial in.

Water consumption is rated at 15.5 gallons per hour and the unit is Energy Star certified. At 54.6 pounds it is lighter than the EdgeStar by a noticeable margin.

The service experience is the deciding factor

This machine carries a 16% one-star share, the highest in the roundup, and the complaints concentrate in one place rather than in performance. They concern units arriving with an E4 fault traced to the sump pump housing, and a slow, disorganized repair and refund process.

That is worth taking seriously. Dishwashers are the single most repair-prone major appliance in the home, and a brand with weak local service in your area can turn a small part into a long wait. Check authorized service coverage for your ZIP code before you commit to any brand in this category.

Who the Midea 18 Inch suits

A homeowner with an 18-inch opening who wants a stainless tub, heated dry and a sanitize cycle at the entry level of the built-in market. It suits a household of two to four that does not need a third rack.

Buyers who expect a full-size interior should measure carefully, since the slimline tub is narrower than a standard 24-inch machine. If heated dry is not a priority, the EdgeStar is the other slimline worth shopping.

10. Hamilton Beach Counter Top Dishwasher HBDW3208 – Budget Pick

BUDGET PICK

Hamilton Beach HBDW3208 Counter Top Portable Dishwasher, 6 Place Settings, White

★★★★★★★★★★4.0

• 6 place settings
• 2 wash cycles
• 34 dB
• stainless interior
• 35.3 pounds

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Pros

• Lowest entry point in this roundup
• 34 dB is the quietest figure in the group
• stainless steel interior resists staining and odor
• connects to any standard kitchen tap
• fits under most kitchen cabinets

Cons

• Only 2 wash cycle options
• the widest footprint at 23.81 inches
• 15% one-star and 6% three-star share
• no drying or delay options listed

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The HBDW3208 is the simplest machine here and the lowest entry point into the category among these picks. Six standard place settings, a stainless steel interior that resists staining and odor, and a tap connection that works with any standard kitchen faucet.

Its standout spec is 34 dB, the lowest published noise figure in this roundup, which makes it a genuinely good fit for a studio or a kitchen that opens onto a living space. Water consumption is rated at 3.45 gpm.

At 21.85 x 23.81 x 19.8 inches it fits under most kitchen cabinets, though it is the widest body in the group and needs a real counter or a deep cabinet opening.

What you give up is cycle selection. Two wash options is the fewest of any machine here, and the full console controls are less flexible than the touch panels on the other countertop picks. There is no listed drying or delay function.

Set expectations on wash consistency

The 61% five-star share is the lowest in this roundup, with 15% one-star and an unusually high 6% three-star share. That pattern points to inconsistent cleaning rather than a broken machine: results depend heavily on how you load it and which of the two cycles you pick.

Give it a rinse before loading, use powdered detergent rather than a tablet, and choose the longer cycle for anything with dried-on food. Done that way, owners report it handles a normal day of dishes well.

Who the Hamilton Beach suits

A student, a renter, or anyone on a tight budget who wants a dishwasher instead of a sink full of dishes and who does not need cycle variety. The 34 dB rating makes it the quietest choice in the guide.

If you can stretch, the COMFEE 6-place machine adds 8 cycles, a stainless tub and a 45-minute Speed cycle for not much more money, and it is the pick we would take home.

Dishwasher Buying Guide: Sizing, Noise, Drying and Tub Material

Countertop or built-in? A countertop machine needs a counter, a faucet or a tank, and an outlet. A built-in needs a cabinet cutout, a water supply, a drain and a dedicated circuit. If you rent, or you have not opened the walls, a countertop machine is the correct answer regardless of what a store display suggests.

What size do you need? The difference between a 4-place-setting machine and a 6-place-setting one is about how many days of dishes you can batch. A couple can run a 4-setting machine daily. A family of four needs 6 settings or an 8-place-setting built-in. Anything larger means pots and pans still get hand washed, which is the single most common disappointment in this category.

How to read the noise number. Anything at or below 45 dB is close to a quiet refrigerator, which suits an open-plan kitchen or anyone on calls. From 50 to 52 dB you will hear it in a quiet room but not over a conversation. At 60 dB and above, plan on running it after dinner rather than during it. In this roundup the range runs from 34 dB at the low end to 62 dB at the high end.

Drying systems, plainly. Condensation drying traps steam on cool tub walls and drips, which works for glassware and ceramics but leaves plastics wet. Hot air dry adds a fan and a heater and is the best you will find at this price level. Automatic ventilation runs a fan for many hours afterwards, which is what keeps plastics dry and stops odors developing. Seven of the picks here list that multi-hour ventilation, which is the feature we would rank second only to noise.

Stainless or plastic tub. A stainless tub resists staining, holds heat better and does not develop the smell that plastic tubs pick up over years. It is also lighter to wipe clean. The cost is corrosion at the exposed edges over a long life, and the price difference is real. Where you have the choice at no extra cost, take stainless.

Hard Water, Installation and Running Cost

Hard water is a drying problem before it is a cleaning problem. In a hard-water area, white spotting on glassware and dull film on stainless are mineral residue, not detergent failure. No dishwasher on this list solves it alone, because none carries a regenerated hard-water softener. What you can do is use rinse aid with citric acid, run the highest-temperature cycle available when the load is light, and clean the door seals and the filter on a monthly schedule.

Hookup options. Three options appear across this roundup. Tank mode uses the built-in reservoir and needs no plumbing, which suits rentals. Faucet mode uses a quick-connect hose to a sink tap, and you must confirm your faucet type because some pull-down models are not compatible. Built-in mode uses a fixed water supply and drain inside a cabinet cutout, which is the permanent install and the only one that needs a dedicated 120-volt circuit.

Running cost. Two machines in this roundup publish an annual energy figure: the COMFEE CDC22P1BBB at 174 kWh per year and the EdgeStar BIDW1802SS at 234 kWh per year. The Hermitlux is listed at 0.38 kWh per cycle and the COMFEE Speed cycle uses as little as 2.77 gallons. Water cost is trivial next to energy, and both numbers are dwarfed by the cost of a single service call.

Brands and failure modes worth knowing. Across appliance forums, the recurring reliability complaints in this category name specific parts rather than vague dissatisfaction: leaks and short lifespans at Frigidaire and Samsung, control-panel electronics failures at KitchenAid, and door latches and racks breaking on Midea machines. The same discussions point at Miele as a buy-once, cry-once machine with a 20-year design life, and at Bosch 800 as the consensus value alternative. None of those brands appear here, so the practical advice is to check authorized service coverage in your area before you buy any dishwasher. Appliance makers are not interchangeable regionally, and a brand with no technician within a reasonable distance is a poor buy at any budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Hermitlux Countertop Dishwasher takes our Editor’s Choice for one reason: 5 place settings, 7 programs, an 18-hour delay and 60 minutes of hot air drying inside a body under 17 inches wide, backed by 4583 owner reviews. It is the strongest all-round machine here for anyone who cannot open a wall.

The COMFEE CDC22P1BBB is the value pick if six place settings and a stainless tub matter more than footprint. The EUHOMY is the quietest high-performing option at 40 dB, and the EdgeStar or Midea 18-inch models are the way in if you do have a cabinet cutout and want real built-in capacity.

Whatever you choose in 2026, measure the opening, measure the counter clearance, and check that an authorized technician services your area before the unit is delivered.