Dishwasher Buying Guide

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Breakfast cereal, egg yolk, raspberry jam: What do these foods have in common? Their dried-on, baked-on, caked-on residue is a challenging adversary for any dishwasher.

In our tests, we ask more of a dishwasher than you probably ever will—we load 10 place settings slathered with the aforementioned stubborn foods. We let them sit overnight, then run them through a normal cycle. After heat-drying (if it’s available). We also judge noise quality.

Tougher rules have slashed the amount of energy and water dishwashers can use and still get the government's Energy Star seal. Dishwashers that qualify for the Energy Star designation are, on average, 5 percent more energy efficient and 15 percent more water efficient than standard models, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars over the life of the appliance. Below, get a load of some of your options.

The Price is Right

Aside from how they perform in our tests, dishwashers differ in type, features, and, of course, cost. On the lower end, dishwashers cost from about $250 to $600. Prices for high-end models can soar to around $2,200.

Budget dishwashers. In general, if you opt for a model at a modest price point, you’ll get more performance than glitz, and fewer convenience features. They typically cost up to $600. Some clean nearly as well as premium-priced dishwashers, and you may still get adjustable racks and a soil sensor. On the flip side, budget dishwashers tend to be noisier than upscale versions and have fewer flexible-loading options to accommodate oversize items.

High-end dishwashers. At roughly $700 plus, premium models tend to be quieter and have ample flatware slots, folding tines, and other flexible-loading features. Hidden controls and a cycle-time display add style and convenience. Many high-end dishwashers have a stainless-steel tub, which resists stains better than plastic.

Dishwasher drawers. For new construction or a complete kitchen renovation, you might consider dishwasher drawers. They typically include two small, stacked drawers that you can use simultaneously or separately. Compared to dishwashers with doors, the drawers are easier to load. But they can be expensive, and the models we've tested haven't performed as well overall as budget-priced conventional dishwashers. Capacity is relatively small, limiting how much you can wash at once.

Check Our Dishwasher Ratings for Top Models at Reasonable Prices

Before You Shop

Look for Convenience: Dishwashers that score well for ease of use usually include adjustable racks and lots of flatware slots. Some mid-priced dishwashers have third racks that let you lay down large utensils or short cups. Many also have fold-down tines, which allow for fitting in large or odd-shaped dishes and other dinnerware.

Consider Your Cleaning Habits: All our top dishwasher picks clean well enough for you to skip the pre-rinse before loading. Pre-rinsing can even make your dishes come out dirtier, not cleaner. The reason is that most dishwashers costing $500 or more sold in the past five years or so have a sensor that determines how thorough a wash is needed. At the initial rinse of the cycle, the sensor checks how dirty the water is to determine the proper amount of time and water to get everything clean.

Match Your Décor: All about good looks? Then opt for a cabinet-front dishwasher; they accommodate panels that blend in with your cabinets.

Check the Controls: Some dishwashers include interactive touch controls, but the usual touchpads are fine if they're clearly marked. If controls are invisible when the dishwasher door is closed, look for cycle-time and other visible displays. Many with hidden controls display a light or other indicator to tell you the dishwasher is running, a plus for extra-quiet models. Still, with cycle times running around two hours or more, we prefer a more detailed indicator of time remaining.

Watch the Dimensions: The width and depth of every conventional dishwasher is intended for a cavity measuring 24 by 24 inches. Fitting in your new dishwasher could be a challenge if you’ve tiled the floor or re-done your counters, changing the height of the cavity. Before deciding on a new dishwasher, measure your space and ask the seller for the full height range (and don’t forget to account for adjustment of the leveling feet).

Find out Which Models Score the Highest in Our Dishwasher Ratings

Find the Best Features

When shopping, you should look for attributes that can save you time, money, and effort.

Picture of someone adjusting the extra rack on their dishwasher.

Adjustable (or Extra) Racks and Loading Aids

Racks that move up and down, tines you can adjust, and silverware and stemware holders let you reconfigure the interior of the dishwasher and organize the contents. Those devices are handy when you cook for a crowd, and can help fit large and oddly shaped items. Certain models go an extra step with, for example, upper racks you can adjust single-handedly. Pay a premium for your dishwasher, and you're likely to get a third rack for large utensils and small cups (think espresso). A few models let you raise or lower portions of the rack to fit slightly taller items.

Photo: Whirlpool

Soil Sensors

This adjusts the cycle's time and water use to the load's soil level, improving efficiency.

Picture of a rinse and hold setting on a dishwasher.

Rinse/Hold Cycle

It lets you rinse dirty dishes when you're not quite ready to start a full cycle (rather than letting stubborn food mess get even more recalcitrant). This perk can reduce odors and prevent soil from setting while you stack up enough dirty dishes for a full load.

Wash Zones

Some newer models designate a certain part of the dishwasher for heavily soiled items needing a special cycle. These zones don't necessarily run the whole time—with certain models, it's only for a few minutes. In our labs, they do seem to work as promised.

Filters

These keep wash water free of food that could be re-deposited on clean dishes. There are two types: self-cleaning and manual. With self-cleaning filters, a grinder pulverizes the debris and flushes it down the drain. That's convenient but can be noisy. Some models instead have a filter without a grinder. It's quieter, but you need to clean it periodically to avoid iffy smells, a job that takes a few minutes.

Special Wash Cycles

Most dishwashers come with at least three cycles: light, normal, and heavy (pots and pans), with many newer models also including "quick" or "express" cycles that clean lightly soiled loads in as little as 20 minutes. Some offer single-rack, pot-scrubber, soak/scrub, steam clean, china/crystal, or sanitizing cycles as well. The three basic cycles should be enough for most chores—even for baked-on food. A sanitizing option that raises water temperature above the typical 140 degrees F doesn't necessarily deliver better cleaning for dishes; if it lasts long enough, it’s meant to disinfect the dishwasher interior.

Stainless-Steel Tub

Typically available in mid-priced and higher-end models, stainless steel tends to resist staining better than light-colored plastic. Gray-speckled plastic tubs help camouflage stains and trim the overall cost. Any plastic tub should last longer than most people keep a dishwasher. Some newer models have hybrid stainless/plastic tubs.

Heated Dry

Budget-priced dishwashers typically dry in the few hours after a wash cycle using just drainage and the residual heat in the tub. Pay more, and some models will either heat the water further during the final rinse (to warm up the stainless tub) or use a heating element to dry the dishes—perhaps coupled with a fan to circulate the warm air. These options increase convenience, but also your electric bill.

Hidden Touchpad Controls

Controls mounted along the top edge of the door (that are hidden when the door is closed) are strictly about style. The downside: You typically can't see cycle progress at a glance. Partially hidden controls are a good compromise. You’ll know when the machine is running and, often, the remaining cycle time. Some have only an indicator light that tells you the dishwasher is on.

The Noise Factor

Some dishwashers sound like an airplane landing, which can be annoying when wash cycles range from 90 minutes to about three hours (by the way, we found no correlation between time and performance). The KitchenAid KDTE254ESS (shown) got an “excellent” score for noise in our tests. Caveat: Manufacturers may display a decibel rating, but they average the sound level of an entire cycle (including the—silent—dry cycle), which can be misleading.

Asko Bosch Frigidaire GE Kenmore KitchenAid Maytag Miele

A premium brand, Asko dishwashers are distributed by the Sub-Zero and Wolf distributor/dealer network.

This European brand makes dishwashers in the higher end of the market. One of its claims is that its dishwashers are among the quietest.

This brand is sold mostly at big-box stores, independent appliance stores, and other national retailers for $300 to $800; the company also makes the Frigidaire Gallery and Frigidaire Professional lines. Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux.

This company is the second-biggest dishwasher brand and has four lines: GE, GE Profile, GE Café, and GE Monogram. Prices range from about $300 for a basic GE model to $1,400 for a GE Monogram product. The GE Café line offers professional-style models at lower prices than the GE Monogram series.

Kenmore, the largest dishwasher brand in this country, has three lines: Kenmore, Kenmore Elite, and Kenmore Pro. Prices range from approximately $300 for a basic Kenmore model to $1,600 for the double-drawer dishwasher.

This high-end brand positions itself as a maker of dishwashers loaded with features geared toward homeowners with gourmet kitchens and sold through independent dealers.

A Whirlpool-owned brand, Maytag makes dishwashers in the mid-priced range.

This European brand, like Asko, makes dishwashers that generally excel in energy efficiency but come at a premium cost.