Countertop dishwashers lack the interior space of built-in models, but they take up far less space in your home, use less water and electricity, and can give you back the time you would have otherwise spent washing plates, forks, and cups by hand. The best countertop dishwashers include water-tank models that don’t require a nearby sink for operation, hook-up models that need to be connected to a kitchen faucet, and models that can run in either mode for extra convenience.
We tested four countertop dishwashers in The Lab to evaluate effectiveness, capacity, noise level, and other factors. We found that countertop dishwashers are slower than built-in models, but they perform well even without rinsing your dishes before loading them in. After testing several models, we also came to the conclusion that a forced water drain function is almost a must-have to simplify cleanup and maintenance, which can be time-consuming and messy in between cycles.
Our favorite countertop dishwashers fit between two and six place settings at once; we think they’re best for households of one to four people that don’t have enough under-counter space for a full-sized dishwasher. The models we tested were all quiet, and some even include extra features like a high-temperature mode for baby products and a gentle mode for washing fresh fruit.
To compile this list, we used our firsthand experiences to recommend countertop dishwashers we tested and loved, and a few additional options that we haven’t gotten our hands on yet. We’re now testing more options, and will update this list with those insights soon.
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This Danby countertop dishwasher is a spacious option that fits into tight spots, with clean lines and a simple design that won’t look out of place in your kitchen. This dishwasher fits up to six place settings at once, but it’s small enough to slide under standard kitchen cabinets that rise about 18 inches above the countertop. It takes up a fair amount of room on your counter, but offers the same performance as a full-sized dishwasher.
We love how little noise this dishwasher makes during operation (about as loud as a conversation). It’s designed to use a maximum of 3.1 gallons of water per wash on normal mode, and eco mode is even more efficient than that. This dishwasher is certified by Energy Star as well, which means it uses resources very smartly to help the environment and your wallet.
This dishwasher features very basic controls since there’s no display. A simple LED dial configuration shows which mode you have selected, and a delayed start option can schedule a wash time between two and eight hours in the future. Three of the modes include a drying cycle—but, note that there is no dedicated drying or plate-warming cycle, so you might need to pop the door open after the wash cycle is over so your items can fully dry.
However, we’re otherwise totally pleased with this Danby countertop dishwasher that must be hooked up to your faucet for operation. It additionally has a stainless steel tub, which will be durable and long-lasting.
Dimensions: 19.69 x 21.65 x 17.24 inches | Noise Level: 52 decibels | Cycles: 6 | Installation Type: Hookup | Energy Star Certified: Yes
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After testing this Comfee dishwasher in the lab, we think it provides the best value to any household of two or three people with modest dishwashing needs. Comfee says that the dishwasher holds two place settings, but we were able to load three drinking glasses, dinner plates, and salad plates, along with a bowl and four sets of silverware without excessive crowding. We don’t think it has enough room to clean up after a party of four, but there’s plenty of space for two, or even three, depending on the specific dishes and silverware you typically use for a place setting.
This dishwasher is a bit more expensive than some, like the Farberware Portable Countertop Dishwasher that we also recommend, but it is a bit more spacious than the Farberware in comparison, and has more features (including a powerful steam-clean function). Other useful settings include a quick-wash option, a glass cycle designed to reduce spotting on your glassware, and a fruit-washing mode for cleaning fresh fruit.
We tested this Comfee countertop dishwasher in its water tank mode, but it also includes the required hookups to connect it to your kitchen faucet. The documentation said a normal wash should take an hour and a half, but we observed the full wash and dry cycle to take over two hours to complete.
The results were excellent though, with most of the dishes left spotless and dry to the touch, even though we didn’t do any pre-rinsing. One spoon had a bit of yogurt dried on it, but we think that could be avoided with a little pre-rinsing or careful positioning of the silverware.
We were also impressed with how easy it was to drain the dishwasher after use and inspect the debris filter. The filter didn’t need to be cleaned at the time, as it appeared spotless, but we think it will be easy to service when the time comes. The dishwasher is a little heavy and bulky to move out of the way when it isn’t in use though—so, we think it’s best for apartments and other small living spaces that have enough counter space to leave it out full-time.
Dimensions: 17.25 x 16.5 x 18.35 inches | Noise Level: 62 decibels | Cycles: 7 | Installation Type: Water tank or hookup | Energy Star Certified: No
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Doesn’t leave food remnants
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Instructions are particularly helpful for loading dishwasher
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Filter is easy to service
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Can squeeze in 12-inch plates
When we tested the Novete Portable Countertop Dishwasher alongside several other small dishwashers, we were impressed with how many place settings it fit despite its compact size. We think it’s the best mini portable dishwasher because we were able to fit three large plates, small plates, and mugs inside, along with four full sets of silverware, two small spoons, and a glass. We found the instructions to be especially helpful as well, as we were able to squeeze in four extra items following the brand’s recommendations.
This dishwasher did a very good job cleaning both dirty dishes and utensils, leaving no food remnants on anything. We noticed a few water spots on the utensils, but the glasses came out sparkling clean.
After we washed the dishes and removed them from the dishwasher, we checked out the filter, which was slightly soiled after one load. It was very easy to remove and rinsed clean in about 10 seconds; checking it and cleaning it after each wash to keep the dishwasher in good working order shouldn’t be any trouble at all.
Novete says that this dishwasher fits four place settings; we think that would work just fine depending on what you use for a place setting, and as long as you don’t mind running the dishwasher after every meal. The interior isn’t big enough to hold cooking pots or pans, but you can squeeze 12-inch plates in if you angle them right.
The wash and dry cycle did take over two hours to complete. That’s in line with the Comfee Countertop Dishwasher (our best value pick), but this model holds a little more, so it’s a bit more efficient. Additional modes include a high-temperature cycle for baby items, a soft cycle for lightly soiled or fragile dishes, and a fruit-washing cycle. The Novete Portable Countertop Dishwasher doesn’t have a high-powered steam cycle like the Comfee unit, unfortunately.
Dimensions: 16.8 x 16.9 x 18.1 inches | Noise Level: 50 decibels | Cycles: 5 | Installation Type: Water tank or hookup | Energy Star Certified: No
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This RCA countertop dishwasher has a basic appearance and simple controls, but it cleans dishes just as well as flashier models. More importantly, it’s almost silent during operation, with an output of 34 decibels. That’s not only significantly quieter than other countertop dishwashers like it, but it’s also about the same volume as a whisper. Other standout features of this dishwasher include a stainless steel tub and silverware basket that’s removable.
Measuring about 22 inches wide and 17 inches tall, this countertop dishwasher fits up to six place settings at one time, which is standard in comparison to other models. (Keep in mind that the capacity depends on the diameter of your plates, which also applies to other models.) The spray arms are located only on the bottom of the wash tub, but if you load the dishwasher properly, you can still expect solid cleaning performance.
There are plenty of wash cycles as well, including a speed-wash cycle that only takes 45 minutes, a gentle mode for your delicate dishes and crystal, and a pre-wash soak mode.
Dimensions: 17.2 x 21.7 x 19.7 inches | Noise Level: 34 decibels | Cycles: 6 | Installation Type: Hookup | Energy Star Certified: No
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It can be hard to hide any appliance in your home, even if the appliance is compact. Most often, people store countertop dishwashers in plain sight, and if that is your situation and you want a design-conscious option, we’d point you to this countertop dishwasher from Black+Decker.
A shiny stainless steel handle accents the dishwasher’s white housing and black window. Taking on the form factor of a standard, built-in dishwasher, this model could look right at home on your counter. Its appeal isn’t limited to aesthetics, though. The Black+Decker Compact Dishwasher includes functional design aspects, like the fully integrated LCD control panel with electronic touch controls to operate its many functions.
This appliance comes equipped with seven wash functions, which is more than most models we recommend. The options include specialty cycles like glass and eco. You can wash up to six place settings at a time, but you should know that the plate diameter is limited to 10 inches. If you’re looking for a dishwasher that can fit plates up to 12-inch in diameter, we’d instead point you to the Novete Portable Countertop Dishwasher.
Notably, this pick is also Energy Star certified. It joins our best overall pick, the Danby Countertop Dishwasher, in being the only two picks on our list that have the certification.
Dimensions: 17.2 x 21.5 x 21.7 inches | Noise Level: 60 decibels | Cycles: 7 | Installation Type: Hookup | Energy Star Certified: Yes
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A countertop dishwasher offers a hands-free way to clean your dishes, but many models will leave your plates, glasses, and flatware with residual moisture that must be dried off—much like the full-sized appliances. If you dread having to dry each item after the cycle is over, the Costway Countertop Dishwasher takes care of that problem for you. This model stands out since it has an extended refresh cycle that keeps dishes dry and ready to go for several days.
This model has five cycles that end with a hot-air function. It circulates hot air at 158 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate moisture and sanitize the load. And, it will automatically engage the drying function every two hours for up to 72 hours. So, even if you can’t unload your dishwasher right away, your dishes will be dry and ready to be put away for up to three days after you’ve washed them.
We will note that this model has a decibel rating of around 56 decibels, though, which isn’t typically disruptive but is still louder than other options on this list. You can enjoy the Costway dishwasher‘s 360-degree cleaning power from the top and lower spray arms. It also holds up to six place settings, with the help of a silverware basket and a small shelf for cups or compact items.
Dimensions: 17.7 x 21.7 x 19.7 inches | Noise Level: 56 decibels | Cycles: 5 | Installation Type: Hookup | Energy Star Certified: No
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Intuitive touchscreen controls
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Can be used with a water tank and faucet connection
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Cycles are relatively quick
When we tested this dishwasher, we were impressed with how many dishes it fit and how well it cleaned dishes that hadn’t been pre-rinsed. Farberware says it fits two place settings, but we were able to fit a bit more—two each of cups, mugs, large plates, and smaller plates, along with four each of spoons, knives, and forks.
This dishwasher did a great job of cleaning most of the dishes we washed in it, too. We did notice some water spots on the silverware, and it left some yogurt on the spoons, but we chalked that up to the way we loaded the spoons vertically. We think that with some experimentation and practice with loading (and a bit of pre-rinsing) that this dishwasher would perform even better.
We especially liked how quickly this dishwasher finished a normal wash cycle, as we were able to stop it with 30 minutes left on the drying cycle because the dishes were already clean and dry. The interior of the dishwasher wasn’t dry, but we were able to use the forced drain feature to totally empty it.
Farberware says you’re also supposed to disconnect the water and drain hoses and wipe the interior down after every use. That seems like a lot of extra work to go through, but it didn’t seem entirely necessary due to the drain feature.
We thought the control panel was intuitive and easy to use, but the initial setup process was a little confusing. The manual says to fill the water tank until you hear a beep, which we did, but the display showed a faucet icon that we had trouble figuring out. It eventually turned out that the tank wasn’t full enough—even though it had beeped—so keep that in mind to avoid a minor annoyance. Once the tank had enough water, we didn’t have any other issues running the Farberware Portable Countertop Dishwasher.
Dimensions: 17.3 x 17.3 x 16.5 inches | Noise Level: Not listed | Cycles: 5 | Installation Type: Water tank or hookup | Energy Star Certified: No
Final Verdict
We recommend the Danby Countertop Dishwasher as the best overall countertop dishwasher. With a durable stainless steel interior and six wash cycles, it’s the best option to ensure your dirty dishes get a thorough, efficient clean. If you’re looking for a tinier model for your tiny home, RV, or camping situation, the Novete Portable Countertop Dishwasher (our best mini pick) didn’t leave any food remnants behind in our testing and comes with helpful instructions for loading up the dishwasher.
How We Tested the Countertop Dishwashers
We tested four countertop dishwashers in The Lab, loading each one with an identical set of clean dishes to determine capacity, and then loading them with dirty dishes to test their performance. In addition to cleaning performance, we evaluated each model for capacity, design, sound, and value.
- Capacity: As noted above, we started our tests by loading each dishwasher with clean dishes, glassware, and silverware to see how much would fit in each. For consistency, we used the same silverware, glassware, and dinnerware for each dishwasher. We noted how many items fit, and whether they fit comfortably or had to be placed strategically.
- Design: After testing the maximum capacity, we loaded the dishwashers with dirty dishes and ran a normal wash cycle. To evaluate design, we noted how easy or difficult it was to start the wash cycle, whether the interior design included convenient features such as a slide-out bottom level and removable silverware tray, and how much counter space the dishwasher occupied.
- Sound: With the dishwashers running, we paid attention to how much noise they made. We then took into consideration whether they were loud enough to be distracting, and whether we were able to carry on a conversation without being drowned out.
- Performance: We evaluated performance by checking the dishes for signs of dried-on food after the cleaning and drying cycles were complete. If we found any food remnants or water spots, we made a note. A few of the models we tested left a little dried yogurt on one or more spoons, but they all cleaned the plates, bowls, and other silverware without any residue.
- Value: To determine value, we looked at the price of each dishwasher and then compared that to the features found in each dishwasher, noting whether they seemed well-priced, too expensive, or like a particularly good deal.
- Long-term Testing: When we were done testing the countertop dishwashers in the lab, we took them home to continue testing them in our own homes for six months (or more), to provide more in-depth and real-world insights about performance and quality over time.
Dera Burreson
What to Look for in a Countertop Dishwasher
The Size, Weight, and Capacity
Countertop dishwashers are much smaller than standard dishwashers, but they’re still bigger than many other countertop appliances, like microwaves and air fryers. Johnathan Brewer, a member of The Spruce’s Home Improvement Review Board notes, “These types of dishwashers may be ideal for tiny homes as a space-saver.”
If you have cupboards over your counters, measure to see how much space you have available. The most common cupboard height is 18 inches, which is just enough to squeeze in a large model like the Danby Countertop Dishwasher (our best overall pick), but some cupboards provide less space.
Weight is a consideration for portable dishwashers that are designed to be moved around. The Novete Portable Countertop Dishwasher (our best mini pick) only weighs 28 pounds, so it’s a good choice if you plan on moving your dishwasher around a lot, or want to store it in a cabinet when it isn’t in use. Even then, our tests showed that countertop dishwashers in that size range are bulky and inconvenient to move around, so it’s important to have enough dedicated space available to limit how often you’re moving your appliance.
As you might expect, bigger, heavier countertop dishwashers typically provide more capacity than smaller, more portable units. The Danby Countertop Dishwasher (our best overall pick) fits up to six place settings, which is the highest capacity commonly found in countertop dishwashers. Smaller models like the Comfee Countertop Dishwasher (our best value pick) typically hold just two to four settings.
Notably, it’s key to consider the size of the plates you have when thinking about capacity, though—some models are equipped for 12-inch plates, even if they’re loaded at an angle, while others fit only 9-inch plates at best.
The Available Cycle Options
Just like a full-sized dishwasher, countertop models offer a variety of cycle settings. A standard wash cycle is a given, but other options may include a shorter, rapid-wash cycle, an eco-friendly cycle that uses less water, or a glass care cycle that reduces water spots on water cups and wine glasses.
In addition to these wash cycles, some countertop dishwashers will dry your dishes. In these models, an internal fan circulates hot air and speeds up the drying process so you can leave your dish towel hanging on the rack when it’s time to unload. Several of the countertop dishwashers we tested, like the Farberware Portable Countertop Dishwasher (our we also recommend pick), had completely dried our dishes about half an hour into an hour-long dry cycle.
If you’re hoping to save time and get right to unloading your dishes, our best for dry dishes pick, the Costway Countertop Dishwasher, dried quickly and can keep items fresh for up to 72 hours.
How Noisy the Dishwasher Is
Despite being more compact, countertop dishwashers do produce some noise during operation. The quietest models put out less than 50 decibels, which is equivalent to a bird call. During our tests, we found that the dishwashers didn’t interrupt our quiet conversations.
Some models are on the noisier side, producing up to 60 or more decibels, which is is about as loud as an office environment or an air conditioning unit from a distance of 100 feet. The RCA Countertop Dishwasher (our best quiet pick) operates at just 34 decibels, which is the equivalent of a whisper.
The Installation Requirements
When picking a countertop dishwasher, the installation requirements of each model are important to consider. Hookup countertop dishwashers are either permanently connected to plumbing, or they hook up to your faucet with a quick connect fitting. Installing a quick-connect faucet fitting doesn’t require any special tools, but it isn’t an option with some pull-down kitchen faucets.
If you select a countertop dishwasher with a built-in water tank, there’s nothing to install. Instead, you fill these models with water from a pitcher before each cycle. Some tank dishwashers also have the option to connect to a faucet, but the tank allows you to use this kind of countertop dishwasher anywhere you need it. If you opt to use this type of dishwasher anywhere but next to your sink, you will need a bucket to catch the dirty water.
We think water tank installation is a very convenient option, but a forced drain feature is a must-have even if you’re filling the dishwasher from a pitcher and draining it into a bucket, because it simplifies cleanup when you’re done washing dishes for the day and helps keep your unit dry and clean in between individual cycles.
Dera Burreson
One More Thing
Countertop dishwashers are naturally more efficient than full-sized dishwashers, but selecting a model that’s Energy Star certified will save you even more.
Dishwashers with this certification, like our best overall pick, use less energy and less water—really only what is absolutely needed for a thorough clean—with every cycle than uncertified models. You can find if a model is Energy Star certified in its specifications on a retailer’s website. We also made sure to include this specification in our listed key specifications for each recommended product, so you don’t have to dig through a retailer listing.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Jeremy Laukkonen is an updates writer for The Spruce who does not enjoy hand-washing dishes. He currently has a built-in GE dishwasher with multiple wash zones and bottle jets, but he’s used a few compact and portable dishwashers in the past when he didn’t have under-counter space for a full-sized model.
For this story, Laukkonen relied on our very own countertop dishwasher testing data and performed additional research, evaluating each dishwasher for capacity, cleaning performance, design, noise output, and other factors.
Our Experts:
- Johnathan Brewer, licensed general contractor and member of The Spruce’s Home Improvement Review Board
- Marisa Viglione, senior editor at The Spruce
