When it comes to kitchen work, hand-washing dishes is the most time-consuming and mundane task out there. What you need is a reliable and efficient dishwasher to help you save valuable time.
But if you have a small kitchen you can’t fit so many appliances in it. Enter countertop dishwashers. These things are compact and fit in even the tightest of corners in the kitchen.
This article will give you a look at the top 5 smallest dishwashers available on the market in 2024.
Here is a quick look at my top picks for the smallest dishwashers of 2024:
Danby DDW631SDB: Best Overall Countertop Dishwasher
Compact powerhouse offering excellent cleaning performance that even basic full-size dishwashers can put out. Has 6 place setting capacity with a separate basket for silverware. Low water consumption and Energy Star compliance will keep your utility bills low as well. Fits under most cabinets and has a display timer as well.
Danby DDW621WDB: Best Value For Money
Danby has changed the game with this one. Can’t go wrong with a Danby portable dishwasher. It has a durable stainless steel interior and very quiet operation. Priced at only $349 this is a hard one to beat. Even with the price cut from the DDW631SDB, it does not skimp out on features. Has all the certifications of the prior and a fold-down cup shelf as a bonus.
Black & Decker BCD6W: The Most Stylish Countertop Dishwasher
Add a sleek look to the kitchen environment. Quick Connect lets you plug and play without permanent installation or direct plumbing. Easy-to-grip handles make loading easier. Highly efficient and ingeniously designed. 7 different wash cycles to choose from to get all your dishware clean and sparkling.
Magic Chef MCSCD6W5: Full-Size Versatility in a Small Design
This is the most versatile one out of the picks. It has all the convenience of a full-size dishwasher in a compact space-saving design. The six standard place settings are ideal for singles, couples, apartments, and even an office kitchen. Has a sliding rack for easy loading, a silverware basket, and a cup shelf for an organized wash.
Farberware FDW05ASBWHA: The Best Camping Buddy
If you frequent camping and need a dishwasher with an in-built water reservoir nothing can beat the Farberware portable dishwasher. It can hold up to 1.4 gallons of water in its tank. This one has the best cleaning performance out of the five. It is easy to use and maintain and is made by a cookware specialist company.
Honorable Mention:
Comfee Portable Dishwasher: Best Budget Dishwasher
This dishwasher can fit up to 70 pieces of tableware and holds plates up to 10m in diameter. It has the most washing cycles with eight different modes to select from. The lower price point is an interesting point for many budget buyers. Takes the least amount of time to clean dishes out of the roundup. You can get sparkling clean dishware in under 45 minutes.
How to Pick the Right Dishwasher: Countertop Dishwashers for Your Needs
If you want to pick the right dishwasher for your kitchen needs, you should consider the following specifications:
Capacity
Since the article is about countertops or small dishwashers, talking about the size would be irrelevant. What you do need to consider however is the capacity.
In dishwasher language, it is how many place settings it has and what diameter plates it can fit inside the compartment. Most countertop dishwashers have a six-place setting capacity with plates of 10 inches in diameter.
There are some which are more compact and only have two or three-place settings.
Cleaning Performance
This is a no-brainer. A dishwasher’s main job is not to look good in the kitchen or have a sleek design but to clean dishes.
The cleaning performance should be good enough so it does not leave residue or food chunks on the dishes.
Energy Consumption
Most countertop dishwashers are Energy Star-rated. However, the wattage for each dishwasher may vary.
For example, a Danby DDW631SDB has a rating of 1600W from the outlet whereas the Farberware FDW05ASBWHA is rated at only 750W.
This makes it more compelling because if you go out camping with the dishwasher, the low rating will make it easier on a temporary power source.
Cycle Options
Common cycle options that should be in a dishwasher are normal, heavy duty, quick wash, and economy.
Some dishwashers take it a step further by adding a delicate or babycare option for silverware.
Installation
The ease of installation and maintenance should be considered as well. Not everyone is tech-savvy and can diagnose issues when they come up.
Countertop dishwashers’ design makes it so it only takes a faucet connection to install. Avoid dishwashers that have complicated installation processes.
Top 5 Smallest Dishwashers Available in 2024: My Honest Review
After all is said and done, these picks are catered to individual needs. You will find one in the list that perfectly matches what you are looking for.
Let’s jump into the reviews of each of the smallest dishwashers:
Danby DDW631SDB: Best Overall Countertop Dishwasher
Key Features:
- Weight: 53 Pounds
- Dimension: 21.7 x 19.7 x 17.2 inches
- Wash Cycles: Eight (Customizable extras)
- Eco-Cycle
- Child Lock
- Noise Level: 54dB
- Price: $439.00
Features Details:
For someone who has a lot of dirty dishes piling up every day, the Danby DDW631SDB is the best choice. The price is a bit on the higher end but it is bigger than most countertop dishwashers.
It has a stainless steel exterior which makes it tougher than most other dishwashers. The build quality is superb. You will never see a scratch on it.
This dishwasher has six different wash cycles. You can set up a schedule to run a cycle two to eight hours later which comes in very handy when you do not want to run the dishwasher during your other work.
Unfortunately, it does not have a drying option. What it does have is a rinse aid compartment that other countertop dishwashers lack. It has a capacity of 11.7 liters.
It is Energy Star compliant so your water and electricity bills will be low. It has a child lock feature for added safety as well.
The Danby DDW631SDB is a great little dishwasher that can do a fantastic job of cleaning anything without a hassle. Being bigger than your average countertops, but not as big as a full-size machine, it can clean anything without a hassle.
Pros:
It has Energy Star Certification which is for energy efficiency. A wide range of wash cycles and options. Stainless steel exterior and Child lock for added safety. Has a big compartment so no worries about large piles of dishes.
Cons:
Heavier than the other models in the roundup which makes it lose in portability. Louder than the other models. The soap compartment is finicky and does not open during a cycle. Leaves residue if too much detergent is used.
Danby DDW621WDB: Best Value For Money
Key Features:
- Weight: 46.3 Pounds
- Wash Cycles: 6
- Dimensions: 19.69 x 21.65 x 17.24 inches
- Material: Stainless steel interior
- Max. Capacity: 11.7 Litres
- Noise: 52 dB
- Water Consumption: 2.8 Gallons
- Display Type: LED
- Price: $349.99
Feature Details:
The Danby DDW621WDB is a cut-down version of the DDW631SDB for a lower price. It has most of the features available on the other model.
It has two fewer wash cycles: Economy, Intensive, and Normal. Rinse. Rapid and Delicate. It weighs about 10 lbs lower than the other model. The dimensions are quite similar.
Although it is smaller and cheaper than a lot of countertop dishwashers, it does not lack in cleaning performance.
The only bad thing about this dishwasher is how plain it looks. It is only available in one color and does not fit in the aesthetic of a colorful kitchen. It does not have a timer on the display.
Pros:
Efficient operations. Minimalistic design for the minimalist folk. Excellent cleaning performance. Easy to position and install. Estimated yearly power consumption of only $18.
Cons:
No drying function. The tray layout does not let it load larger items with regular ones. Small dishware easily falls through the gaps in the tray and blocks the dispenser arm.
Black & Decker BCD6W: The Most Stylish Countertop Dishwasher
Key Features:
- Weight: 5.73 Pounds
- Dimension: 17.2 x 21.5 x 21.7 inches
- Noise Level: 60 dB
- Controls: Touch
- Finish: Stainless steel
- Capacity: 4.25 cubic feet
- Cable length: 5 feet
- Option cycles: 7
- Price: $299.39
Feature Details:
The Black & Decker BCD6W is a stylish and sleek-looking dishwasher. Anyone going for an aesthetic look at their kitchen will find this dishwasher intriguing.
Apart from the looks the features are also commendable. It has an LED display and a touchscreen control interface. The whole body is made up of stainless steel and the build quality is very durable.
Another thing that sets this dishwasher apart is the Babycare wash type. This is ideal for anyone who has a lot of crystal and fine china dishware. Not many dishwashers are safe for these types of dishware.
It has a delayed start feature that goes up to 24 hours and a child lock. It also has a high-efficiency rating. The control console is fully integrated giving users more control over its operations.
Pros:
Sleek design. Energy Star for efficiency. Babycare wash cycle as a special feature. Fully integrated touch controls. Delayed start up to 24 hours.
Cons:
Poor customer service from the maker. Makes the most noise out of the batch. It does not have any water tank or drying feature.
Magic Chef MCSCD6W5: Full-Size Versatility in a Small Design
Key Features:
- Weight: 49.5 Pounds
- Dimension: 19.7 x 21.7 x 17.2 inches
- Material: Plastic
- Controls: Full panel
- Display Type: LED
- Form: Freestanding
- Noise: 55 dB
- Price: $368.53
Feature Details:
The Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 is an underrated dishwasher that can go toe to toe with all the popular ones. People tend to ignore this dishwasher because of its plastic build.
However, when it comes to cleaning the dishes it does a top-notch job. It has a 1 to 24-hour delay setting for scheduled washes.
You can choose from six different cleaning cycles with rinse being the default one. This is a versatile dishwasher that does most of the work a full-size dishwasher can do.
It has a built-in dryer that puts out dry dishes after the wash is complete which other countertops lack.
Pros:
Only dishwasher with a dryer. Energy star rating. Interior is stainless steel. Different baskets do not have holes big enough for dishware to slide through and fall.
Cons:
Cheap plastic builds raise questions. Cannot handle large loads that well. Struggles with tough stains.
Farberware FDW05ASBWHA: The Best Camping Buddy
Key Features:
- Weight: 36.38 Pounds
- Dimension: 17.3 x 16.2 x 17.3 inches
- Special Features: Water tank
- Control type: Touch
- Form factor: Built-in
- Cycles: 5
- Water Consumption: 5 Litres
- Price: $384.09
Feature Details:
As compact designs go, The Farberware FDW05ASBWHA is by far the smallest countertop dishwasher available on the market. If you frequent trips and camping or have an RV this will fit in well.
What is great about the dishwasher is that it has a tank built in. So you will not have to worry about plugging it into a faucet when out camping.
It has touch controls and curved edges that give it a very beautiful look. It cleans the dishes well with its six different wash cycles.
Pros:
Built-in water tank. Small in size and weighs less than its competitors. Completes a wash cycle within 40 minutes saving time. The power rating is only 750W which is less than half of what the other models require.
Cons:
Limited capacity of only 2 place settings. Needs refills because a single wash uses the whole tank.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How small can a dishwasher be?
A dishwasher can be small enough to fit in a corner of a tabletop in a small kitchen. The average countertop dishwasher dimensions are 32.5” high, 18” wide, and 20” deep.
Are there any mini dishwashers?
Yes. The Ecozy Portable is considered a mini dishwasher that is designed for RVs and boats.
Is it worth getting a small dishwasher?
Of course, it is. If you do not have the space in the kitchen or if you frequently go camping or fishing you will be able to take the dishwasher with you.
