What should I look for when buying a dishwasher?

When you’re buying a dishwasher, there are plenty of things to consider, from capacity to soil sensors. Here are the top five points you should keep front of mind when shopping:

1. Capacity

Capacity is based on how much washing up you deal with on a day-to-day basis. Is it just you and one other in the house? Or are you feeding a small army on a daily basis? Once you understand how much washing your new dishwasher will need to do, it’s easier to pick the right capacity.

As a rough guide:

• 6–12 place settings suits smaller households

• 13–14 place settings works well for medium-sized homes

• 15+ place settings is better for bigger households or if you get through a lot of dishes

It’s less about the size of your kitchen, more about how often you’ll fill it.

2. Stainless steel tub

These are way more rugged than other dishwasher tubs. And because of that, it’ll last way longer – and you won’t have to replace it anytime soon.

3. Soil sensors

The soil sensor detects how dirty your dishes are and adjusts the wash cycle accordingly. If there’s a heavier load, the machine will use more water or extend the cycle to get everything properly clean. So you’re less likely to find yourself running things through again.

4. Adjustable racks

If you’re fed up with trying to cram all your bowls, cups and cutlery in, look for a dishwasher with adjustable racks. You can fold, flip or remove certain parts to make more space and wash bulky bits like pots and pans.

5. Energy efficiency

Bills just keep getting more and more expensive. With a better energy rating, you’ll keep costs down a bit. And have a little extra cash to play with at the end of the month.

That should act as a good start. And if you’re still researching, check out our Dishwasher buying guide for more help.

Best integrated dishwasher: Bosch Series 2 Dishwasher

If you need a dishwasher that blends in perfectly with your kitchen, an integrated dishwasher is the solution for you. Integrated dishwashers have all the same brilliant features as their freestanding counterparts but just sit behind your kitchen cabinet doors.

The Bosch Series 2 SMV2HTX02G Integrated Dishwasher has low water usage at just 9 litres per cycle. It has 13 place settings, giving you plenty of space for a day’s worth of dirty dishes! Once turned on, it has an InfoLight which shines a red dot on the floor while the cycle runs. Using the Home Connect App, you can control the dishwasher with Alexa and even reduce noise for up to 30mins at a time.

Best slimline dishwasher: Beko DVS04X20W Slimline Dishwasher

If you only have a small space to fit a dishwasher, a slimline dishwasher is the perfect solution for you. Either freestanding slimline or integrated slimline dishwashers can accommodate between 9 and 11 place settings so, although it’s slim, it has plenty of space to keep your home’s dishes clean.

The Beko DVS04X20W Slimline Dishwasher is small but mighty. Designed for smaller kitchen units, it can still fit 10 place settings. It has four programs: Eco, Intensive, Mini and Quick & Shine. The Mini program can clean a full load in just 30mins. Or, if you don’t have a full load to clean, you can select the half-load function to clean your dishes while using less water and electricity

Best freestanding dishwasher: Bosch Series 2 SMS2HVI06G Dishwasher

A freestanding dishwasher gives you the most space for your dishes and a full spectrum of features. It stands alone, not hidden by cabinet doors, and offers anywhere from 12 to 16 place settings.

The Bosch Series 2 SMS2HVI06G Dishwasher has 14 place settings and amazing flexibility with Rackmatic, which lets you raise, lower and tilt the top drawer. It even has a third drawer, the top Vario Drawer, for cutlery and smaller utensils. It has a variety of great features to optimise your wash, including ExtraDry for thorough drying, SpeedPerfect+ to cut cycle times in half and ActiveWater technology to ensure your water use is as low as possible.

Can I use smart home features with my dishwasher?

That all depends on which dishwasher you end up buying. With some, you can control them straight from your phone from anywhere in the house. So, you can chill out on the couch and start a cycle without having to hit pause on your favourite show. With the more advanced dishwashers, you could even sync them up with virtual assistants like Alexa. Making your dishwasher even easier to use – and way more convenient!

Affordable dishwashers

Paying a bit less doesn’t mean having to miss out on some of the handiest features. If budget is your priority, here are a few quick recommendations for dishwashers under €300 and €500.

The best dishwasher under €300

The Indesit Push&Go IN2FE13CNO7WUK Dishwasher is a freestanding dishwasher at fantastic value. It has 13 place settings and 6 wash programs to choose from, including an Eco wash lasting just under 4 hours and a Rapid wash cleaning a full load in just 30 minutes. It has a nifty Stop & Add feature which allows you to pause the wash and add anything you might have forgotten.

The best dishwasher under €500

The Bosch Series 2 SMS26AW08G Dishwasher has 12 place settings and height-adjustable baskets if you have particularly large delph. It has an Automatic program that assesses the load and adjusts the cycle to give you the best wash. It has SpeedPerfect to reduce wash times, ExtraDry so everything is ready to go back in the press and an EcoSilence Drive to minimise noise, which is great for working from home or open-plan kitchens.

Get the best dishwasher for your home

When you’re hunting for your perfect dishwasher, check out our customer ratings and reviews. You’ll get useful opinions from customers who’ve unboxed and tried them out. But if you want more help while you’re shopping, the next place to stop should be our Dishwasher buying guide.

FAQs

How many years should a dishwasher last?

A dishwasher should last around 8–10 years with regular use and proper care. Keeping filters clean, using the right detergent, and avoiding overloading helps extend its lifespan, so it keeps running efficiently without losing cleaning performance over time.

Is it cheaper to run the dishwasher or wash dishes by hand?

It’s cheaper and more energy-efficient to run a full load in the dishwasher than wash dishes by hand. A dishwasher uses between 10 and 15 litres of water per cycle, whereas handwashing can use double that. The dishwasher also heats the water more efficiently than, say, leaving the hot tap running while you handwash.

Are all dishwashers standard size?

No, not all dishwashers are a standard size so it’s important to check the specs and the space in your kitchen. Slimline dishwashers can range from a height of 81cm to 86cm and depth of 55cm to 60cm, but the width is generally 44.8cm. A full size dishwasher can range from a height of 81cm to 86cm, a depth of 55cm to 60cm and a width of 59cm to 60cm.

What are the best brands of dishwashers?

The best brand of dishwasher sold by Currys is Bosch as they are robust, energy efficient and have a superb cleaning performance. Hisense and Beko are two up-and-coming dishwashers brands offering fantastic features at a competitive price.