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Midea portable countertop dishwasher Credit: Midea

The Best Countertop Dishwashers of 2024

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Midea portable countertop dishwasher Credit: Midea

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Editor's Choice Product image of Danby DDW631SDB
Best Overall

Danby DDW631SDB

4.2
Check Price at Amazon

This Danby countertop dishwasher is our best overall, having cleaning performance that's comparable (or even better) than that of regular dishwashers. Read More

Pros

  • Has comparable cleaning to a full-size dishwasher
  • Plenty of cycle options

Cons

  • Has issues with spinach redeposit
Product image of Farberware FDW05ASBWHA
Best Cleaning

Farberware FDW05ASBWHA

4.2
Check Price at Amazon

This portable dishwasher doesn't require a sink hookup and will clean and dry your dishes with no muss and no fuss. Read More

Pros

  • Great performance
  • Dries dishes
  • Has a fruit cleaning cycle

Cons

  • Minor issues with redeposit
Product image of Magic Chef MCSCD6W5

Magic Chef MCSCD6W5

4.1
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The Magic Chef countertop dishwasher offers the flexibility of a full 1-24 hour delay option, giving you control on exactly when to clean your dishes. Read More

Pros

  • Has 6 cleaning cycles
  • 1-24 hour delay option

Cons

  • Struggles with tough stains
Product image of Homelabs HME010033N

Homelabs HME010033N

4.1
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This modern-style countertop dishwasher offers great cleaning performance and cycle options. Read More

Pros

  • Sleek look
  • Intuitive controls

Cons

  • Very small capacity
Product image of Black & Decker BCD6W

Black & Decker BCD6W

4.0
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For those looking more into design over performance, the Black & Decker countertop dishwasher offers a sleek stainless steel finish. Read More

Pros

  • Stainless steel finish
  • 1-24 hour delay option

Cons

  • Has issues with spinach redeposit
  • Best Overall Danby DDW631SDB
  • Best Cleaning Farberware FDW05ASBWHA
  • Other countertop dishwashers we tested
  • What You Should Know Before Buying a Countertop Dishwasher
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

If you don’t have the budget or space for a full-size, built-in dishwasher, but also don’t want to spend a lot of time and water scrubbing dirty dishes, it makes sense to buy a compact countertop dishwasher.

While the best countertop dishwashers look tiny, they can typically fit up to six place settings (consisting of a plate, bowl, glass, fork, knife, and spoon), and generally don’t require any additional plumbing other than access to your kitchen faucet. They're also significantly more efficient than trying to hand wash all of your dishes.

Most of the countertop dishwashers on this list are very similar and will work well in your kitchen. Based on our findings, these are some of the best countertop dishwashers you can get online right now.

Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve not only compiled lists of the best dishwashers to shop, but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.

The Danby countertop dishwasher set up on a kitchen counter.
Credit: Danby
Best Overall
Danby DDW631SDB
  • Dimensions: 19.7" x 21.6" x 17.3" ( H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 6 place settings
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

This countertop dishwasher has excellent cleaning performance, with stain removal comparable to some full-size dishwashers. It was able to clear away about 96% of our test stains in just 100 minutes.

With its extra drying option, this Danby dishwasher managed to do a great job removing excess water from dishes after a wash cycle. This is something most of the countertop dishwashers struggled with

a digital display, and a sleek-looking exterior, the Danby DDW631SDB is a great compact countertop dishwasher that takes up a minimal space and can do the job right the first time.

Pros

  • Has comparable cleaning to a full-size dishwasher

  • Plenty of cycle options

Cons

  • Has issues with spinach redeposit

Buy now at Amazon
The Farberware countertop dishwasher floating in a purple void. You can see some dishes stored inside it through its translucent front door.
Credit: Farberware / Reviewed
Best Cleaning
Farberware FDW05ASBWHA
  • Dimensions: 17.3"H x 16.5" x 17.3" ( H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 2 place settings
  • Energy Star rated: No

For a dishwasher that you can (literally) use anywhere, you may want to take a look at this Farberware model. This small cube of a countertop dishwasher has a built-in, five-liter water reservoir, so it can run a wash cycle without monopolizing your sink's faucet. It also makes it a good option for washing dishes while out camping, or on a road trip.

The biggest upside of this countertop dishwasher is its cleaning power. It cleared away over 99% of our test stains, which is better than the majority of full-size dishwashers we test.

You can also choose between five different wash programs, depending on how dirty your dishes are. There’s even a fruit-washing feature that will rinse your fruits and vegetables for you before eating them. Also, unlike other dishwashers on this list, the Farberware FDW05ASBWHA can accommodate dishes up to 12 inches in diameter, which will be a boon for those with bigger plates.

The main downside of this dishwasher is its low capacity: You can only fit two place settings inside. That means you'll need to run three times as many wash cycles as most other options on this list. Also, its powerful wash cycles take about 90 minutes to complete, which is a half hour longer than most other countertop dishwashers we tested.

Pros

  • Great performance

  • Dries dishes

  • Has a fruit cleaning cycle

Cons

  • Minor issues with redeposit

$309.99 from Amazon

Other countertop dishwashers we tested

Product image of Magic Chef MCSCD6W5
Magic Chef MCSCD6W5
  • Dimensions: 17.2" x 21.7" x 19.7" ( H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 6 place settings
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

The Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 is a nifty little portable dishwasher that's easy to set up and use.

In terms of performance, this dishwasher did well. Although it only cleaned about 92% of our test stains away—a lower result than many of the other dishwashers on this list—cycles ended with fewer dirty dishes than the models below. This is a better outcome, because if you do need to rerun a cycle, you'll have fewer dishes that need a second go-around.

Otherwise, we thought this was a fine machine.

Pros

  • Has 6 cleaning cycles

  • 1-24 hour delay option

Cons

  • Struggles with tough stains

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Homelabs HME010033N
Homelabs HME010033N
  • Dimensions: 17.24" x 21.65" x 19.68" ( H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 6 place settings
  • Energy Star rated: No

The HomeLabs HME010033N is another solid option for a countertop dishwasher.

On our cleaning tests, this compact model was able to clean over 96% of our test stains away, which is an excellent result—one of the best of the bunch, actually.

Where this model fell down, however, was with its consistency. Despite cleaning away more stains overall, those remaining stains were more spread out, resulting in cycles that had more dirty dishes than other models on this list.

Pros

  • Sleek look

  • Intuitive controls

Cons

  • Very small capacity

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Black & Decker BCD6W
Black & Decker BCD6W
  • Dimensions: 17.2" x 21.7" x 21.5" ( H x W x D)
  • Capacity: 6 place settings
  • Energy Star rated: Yes

This Black & Decker countertop dishwasher offers pretty comparable cleaning performance to the others on this list. In addition to the same six common cycles, the BCD6W has a 90-minute BabyCare cycle.

One aspect that sets the Black & Decker apart from the competition is its looks—with its stainless steel handle finish and its touchscreen user interface, it’s easily the best-looking dishwasher on this list. If you have a more modern-looking kitchen and don’t want a white box on your countertop, this is a slick choice.

The main downside is it can only accept dishes up to 10" in diameter. Most countertop dishwashers struggle with larger plates, but others in this list can fit plates with a 12" diameter.

Pros

  • Stainless steel finish

  • 1-24 hour delay option

Cons

  • Has issues with spinach redeposit

$279.43 from Amazon

What You Should Know Before Buying a Countertop Dishwasher

Portable versus countertop dishwashers
Credit: GE / Midea

Portable dishwashers (left) are usually on wheels and sometimes have butcher block tops to add extra functionality in the kitchen. Countertop dishwasher (right) are considerably smaller, take up less space, and fit fewer dishes.

What Are the Differences Between Portable and Countertop Dishwashers?

If your kitchen doesn't have a cutout for a standard 24-inch installed dishwasher, there are two alternatives to giving up and washing everything by hand: portable or countertop dishwashers. Make sure you know the difference when you're shopping.

Portable dishwashers — These models are typically on wheels so you can roll them up to the sink when they're in use and shove them in a corner when they're not. They're typically 18 inches wide, though you can also find 24-inch-wide models. Because they're about the same height as a standard dishwasher, a portable dishwasher on wheels can hold quite a few dishes in its two racks.

Countertop dishwashers — If floor space is limited, or you just don't need to wash that many dishes, a countertop dishwasher may be a better choice for you. Countertop dishwashers typically cost about half as much as a portable dishwasher. They can't fit many dishes, usually can’t handle odd dishes like baby bottles, and can take up a lot of counter space, but you'll still save a lot of water and time with these mini dishwashers compared to washing your dishes manually.

How Do You Attach a countertop Dishwasher?

Countertop dishwashers have an inlet hose that screws onto the threading of your faucet, where the removable aerator would typically fit. Drain hoses usually account for the dishwasher’s waste water. If your faucet doesn't have threading at all, you may have some issues with installing countertop or countertop dishwashers.

Examine your kitchen faucet carefully to ensure you can attach a hose to it before purchasing a portable or countertop dishwasher. In certain cases, you may be able to buy an adaptor for it. But in many cases your next best bet would be to replace the faucet with one that has threading.

How Wide Is a Dishwasher?

Standard dishwashers are all the same size: 24 inches wide by 24 inches deep by 35 inches high. This means that it's super easy to shop for a dishwasher online, because you can guarantee it'll fit the space you already have in your kitchen. These models tend to run smaller, since they aren’t fitting into an existing space.

How Long Do Dishwashers Last?

According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the average dishwasher lasts about nine years. Appliance lifespans are shorter these days for a few reasons—broad economic factors, components being outsourced to inexpensive third-party manufacturers, and machines being made with more plastic and less metal.

Since most consumers don’t buy appliances very often, a decreased lifespan can seem all the more dramatic. It can be frustrating to see a dishwasher break down after 10 years when its predecessor chugged along for 30.

How Long Does a Dishwasher Run?

Dishwasher cycles can run the gamut from 30 minutes to four hours. Shorter cycle times are much more convenient, especially when it comes to large dinner parties, where you may need to reuse dishes from dinner when it's time for dessert.

How Much Water Does a Dishwasher Use?

“The amount of water a dishwasher uses varies greatly on the type and cycle selected,” Reviewed’s lab operations manager, Jonathan Chan, says. “Normal cycles on compact models can use as little as 2.5 gallons, but larger entry-level models can use up to 5 gallons."

And, although it may surprise you, dishwashers use far less water than you would by hand-washing your dishes, and smaller dishwashers (like portable and countertop models) tend to use less water than larger ones.

If you're environmentally or money conscious, the prospect of using less water and energy may be appealing to you. Be sure to check out the Energy Star rating for a dishwasher to give you an idea of what you can expect your utility bills to look like.

Meet the testers

Julia MacDougall

Julia MacDougall

Senior Scientist

@reviewed

Julia is the Senior Scientist at Reviewed, which means that she oversees (and continually updates) the testing of products in Reviewed's core categories such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more. She also determines the testing methods and standards for Reviewed's "The Best Right Now" articles.

See all of Julia MacDougall's reviews
Kyle Hamilton

Kyle Hamilton

Product Tester

Kyle Hamilton is a product tester at Reviewed, specializing in home appliances and technology.

See all of Kyle Hamilton's reviews
Lily Hartman

Lily Hartman

Staff Writer, Search

Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.

See all of Lily Hartman's reviews

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