Do you want a dishwasher that’s quiet, reliable, and inexpensive? Well, our dishwasher review can help you find the best one for your needs. We’ll show you how to find the quietest, most reliable, and least expensive model for almost any home.
When it’s time to buy a new dishwasher, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. To make it easier for you, we created this guide with our top picks for every budget and style. Whether you’re looking for a basic model or one with all the bells and whistles, we’ve got you covered.
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Dishwashers have been around since the 1950s. They’ve grown in popularity ever since because they’re convenient and reliable. But not all dishwashers are created equal.
We’ve been researching these appliances for years and have looked at hundreds of models from major brands like Bosch, Electrolux, and Maytag over dozens of hours of testing to find the best ones for almost any home’s needs. We’ve also spent hours evaluating expert sources such as Consumer Reports and Good Housekeeping to determine which models will be most reliable over time, saving you money in repair bills or replacement costs down the road.
Dishwashers are supposed to make your life easier, but finding the right dishwasher for your home can be surprisingly tricky. There’s a lot to consider, from size to efficiency and of course price.
The Wirecutter is a list of great technology by Brian Lam and friends, founded in 2011 and a part of the New York Times Company since 2016. Have a question? Tweet at him: @brianlam.
For decades, most dishwashers have been virtually interchangeable. You can choose between a handful of colors and a couple of different cycles, but all of them basically do the same thing the same way. And then there’s Bosch. The German company has a reputation for building quiet, reliable dishwashers with high-end usability features. Bosch’s new Ascenta line was designed to make those advantages available at a price that’s within reach of most homeowners—between $550 and $850.
So far, so ho-hum. But this year, Bosch is unleashing its 800 Series dishwasher on North America. It boasts a heat exchanger that dries dishes faster than you can say “The Germans are coming.” And it offers nifty extras like an adjustable third rack for silverware and small gadgets. It costs about twice as much as an Ascenta model, but for the money you get some useful upgrades (see the Dishwasher Features Explained section below), plus a few gewgaws that we think you can live without.
See also: our full guide to buying a dishwasher.
The best dishwasher for most people. The Bosch 300 Series SHEM63W55N is a quiet, efficient dishwasher that offers a third rack and a stainless-steel tub at an affordable price.
Our pick: Bosch 300 Series SHEM63W55N
The Bosch 300 Series SHEM63W55N is the best dishwasher for most people because it cleans as well as models that cost twice the price, yet it offers useful features such as a third rack, a stainless steel tub, and a quiet motor.
Runner-up: Samsung DW80H9970US
If you don’t mind paying more than double our pick’s price, the Samsung DW80H9970US has Wi-Fi connectivity and an auto-release door that helps with drying. It cleans better than our pick in some tests but does not have a third rack.
Also great: Frigidaire Gallery FGID2466QF
The Frigidaire Gallery FGID2466QF is about $100 cheaper than our top pick. It performs almost as well, but it has only two racks and its normal cycle ran longer in our tests.
The Bosch 300 Series is the best dishwasher overall because it’s quiet, inexpensive, and efficient, making it a great choice for most people.
Most people don’t need a super-duper expensive dishwasher that can hold 18 place settings or has more than half a dozen cycles; they just want something simple and reliable that will clean their dishes. And that’s exactly what you get with the Bosch 300 Series SHEM63W55N: It’s a basic stainless steel dishwasher with six cycles and an adjustable top rack that will fit in almost any kitchen.
It’s not the most stylish machine we tested, but it is quiet (it runs at 44 decibels), so when you’re watching TV or having dinner you won’t hear it running. Its racks are sturdy, and it has some really useful features such as a third rack for flatware and other utensils, which allows you to put more in the dishwasher at once. It also has a “delay start” option (which allows you to schedule your wash cycle for later) and a 24-hour cycle completion indicator. Like all Bosch dishwashers, this model has a European design that doesn’t require a heating element to dry your dishes: The water is heated by
It’s pretty much the only appliance that you can use every day and yet still regret owning.
But getting a great dishwasher doesn’t have to be painful. We’ve been testing dishwashers for the past three years, including a head-to-head match-up of 10 top models. We chose a winner from each category and our favorite all-around dishwasher, but after reading this guide, you may decide that one of our other picks is better for your needs.
All of the dishwashers we recommend are at least very good at cleaning, drying and being quiet. They’re also durable—we didn’t recommend any dishwashers based on a single test. And each machine we recommend has an average owner satisfaction rating of 4.3 out of five stars or higher (on a scale of one to five) across more than 100 owners on sites including Reviewed, Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowes—that’s especially important because in our experience, customer service is not always stellar when it comes to dishwashers.