If you're searching for the best countertop dishwasher to add to your kitchen, look no further because we've got you covered right here.
Let's face it, constantly hand-washing your dishes can be an arduous task, so it's completely understandable that you might be looking for alternative ways of cleaning your tableware.
Perhaps the most obvious option is a dishwasher, but, of course, not everyone has the space or money to have one installed in their home...don't worry, though, this is where countertop dishwashers come in.
These appliances can offer you many of the same benefits as built-in dishwashers, including different cycle options and energy efficiency, except they're a lot smaller and are designed to fit on your kitchen counter, much like the best countertop ovens.
Along with their compact size, the main difference between them and a regular dishwasher is that they won't need additional plumbing to be installed. Instead, they either connect to your faucet or come with their own water tank.
Dishwashers that connect directly to the faucet have the advantage of having an unlimited water supply and, therefore, tend to come with a larger capacity because they can wash more items on a single cycle.
However, appliances with their own water tank are more suitable for smaller kitchens and can be placed anywhere on your countertop, as they don't need to be directly next to your sink in order to be connected to the faucet.
So, with all of this in mind, we've selected the products for this list based on the aforementioned specs, general reviews, price, and any other advantageous features they have.
Now, let's dive in and take a closer look...
Best countertop dishwasher
- hOmeLabs Compact Countertop Dishwasher
- COMFEE' Countertop Portable Dishwasher
- Farberware FDW05ASBWHA
- COMFEE' Mini Countertop Dishwasher
- RCA RDW3208
Best countertop dishwasher - hOmeLabs Compact Countertop Dishwasher
hOmeLabs Countertop Dishwasher appears to be a great all-rounder to consider if you're searching for a compact appliance to add to your kitchen.
It can wash up to six place settings, which should be plenty for a small family, and contains a dish rack and cutlery basket to organise your crockery for a more efficient wash.
And it comes with six different wash cycles so you can get the best results depending on what or how much tableware needs rinsing. The modes include: heavy, normal, ECO, glass, speed, and rinse.
Read more: Best countertop dishwasher with a water tank
The appliance should also be quite easy to use; you can select your cycles via a simple control panel with light indicators that show you what option you're currently on.
Plus, it comes with the accessories you need to assemble it, including an inlet, drain hose, and faucet adapter, so you can connect it to your sink for a steady water supply.
You can also use rinse aid in this dishwasher as it comes with a dispenser specifically for it. This should help remove water from your dishes so that they dry quicker, while also preventing water spots from forming.
All in all, we'd say this dishwasher certainly seems a well-rounded option for your countertop.
Best quiet countertop dishwasher - COMFEE' Countertop Portable Dishwasher
If you're looking for a particularly quiet countertop dishwasher, then this COMFEE' product might be worth considering.
According to the manufacturer, this appliance is rated at 49 decibels when running. To put this into perspective, it should make around the same amount of noise as some household refrigerators.
This dishwasher can potentially also help you save on your water bills, as it is Energy Star compliant, and its water consumption is said to be as low as 2.77 gallons.
Read more: Best ice maker machine
It's a pretty good size for a countertop dishwasher, too, with a capacity of up to 70 pieces of tableware. Plus, it should be able to hold fairly big plates up to 10 inches in diameter.
Versatile in its application, you can actually choose whether you want to use this dishwasher as a countertop device connected to a faucet, or, if you have the space, you can even fit it into a cupboard and connect it to your plumbing.
In terms of functionality, it has various different washing cycles depending on your needs. These include: Heavy, Normal, Baby-Care, ECO, Glass, and Speed. All of these can be selected with an extra drying option so your crockery should dry faster. Overall, an impressive bit of kit.
Best countertop dishwasher with a water tank - Farberware FDW05ASBWHA
If you're on the hunt for a countertop dishwasher with a water tank to save you from needing to attach it to your faucet, then this Farberware dishwasher fits the bill.
A countertop dishwasher of this type also works well if you don't have enough space next to your sink to put the appliance.
It's very compact, so is ideal for small houses/apartments or dorm rooms. Plus, because it comes with its own tank, the machine is said to be portable, allowing you to take it with you on a camping trip, for instance.
Read more: Best portable cooktop
Because of its compact size, the capacity is also fairly small, meaning it would be very well-suited to someone living on their own.
And, with five wash cycles to choose from, you can adjust the settings to suit whatever it is you're washing up. The different modes include Normal, Rapid, Fruit Wash, Baby Care, and Glass.
Interestingly, the Fruit Wash cycle actually allows you to put your fruit and vegetables into the specially designed fruit basket (which is included in the package) so they can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
In our opinion, this is definitely an appliance worth considering if you want something small and portable to fulfill your dishwashing needs.
Best countertop dishwasher for drying dishes - COMFEE' Mini Countertop Dishwasher
COMFEE's Mini Countertop Dishwasher looks to be great at making sure your dishes are bone dry when it comes to taking them out.
This is because it has an Air Refresh function, which should remove both moisture and odour to keep your crockery dry and fresh. The mode is enabled by default on every cycle, but you can turn it off if you wish.
Speaking of modes, this dishwasher has six programmes altogether. As well as the Air Refresh setting, you can choose between Normal, Rapid, Steam, Fruit, and Glass washing cycles.
Read more: Best budget air fryer
Similar to the last product on our list, the Fruit cycle on this appliance is designed for washing fruit and vegetables before you eat them... remember not to put any detergent in on that cycle!
It's also worth mentioning that its Steam program, which includes rinsing at 162℉ and steaming at 192℉, should remove heavily ingrained and dried food more easily than the other available programmes.
This appliance comes with a 5-litre water tank, meaning you don't need to connect it to the faucet. It also means you can pop it wherever you have the most space on your countertop rather than needing to place it directly by the sink. It's also quite small, which means it should fit even if you have a small kitchen.
On the whole, we'd say this dishwasher certainly ticks a lot of boxes, hence why we think it's one of the best countertop options available right now.
Best budget countertop dishwasher - RCA RDW3208
The RCA RDW3208 Dishwasher is relatively inexpensive in comparison to some of our aforementioned options. So, if you're looking for something that won't completely break the bank, this product certainly seems worth considering.
The appliance comes with six different settings, which can be easily programmed using its LED display panel. These modes include Soak, Glass, Rapid, Economy, Normal, and Intensive.
Read more: Best portable fridge
It also comes with a rinse agent dispenser, so you can add rinse aid to your cycle to help your tableware comes out of the machine dry and without any water spots.
Suitable for a small family, it comes with quite a large capacity and can fit up to six place settings in a single wash.
Additionally, it has a fairly low water consumption of 3.43 gallons. This can potentially help you save on your water bills, especially when compared to hand-washing your dishes.
All in all, we'd say this is a pretty good budget option to go for.
Frequently asked questions
We've taken the time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about countertop dishwashers so you can learn a bit more about them.
Is a countertop dishwasher worth it?
If you live in a house or apartment that doesn't have a built-in dishwasher and you don't have the space to have one installed, then we'd say it's definitely worth looking into buying a countertop dishwasher.
Not only will it save you the time and effort of having to hand-wash your dishes, but a dishwasher should also clean them more effectively.
This is because they should wash away more bacteria during each cycle as they can continually rinse using hotter water than cleaning by hand under a tap.
Alongside this, you'll likely find that a countertop dishwasher uses significantly less water than washing dishes by hand. This means buying one may well reduce your overall water usage and, therefore, potentially cut the cost of your water bill.
Do countertop dishwashers need plumbing in?
No, countertop dishwashers don't need to be hooked up to the plumbing of your house or apartment. Instead, some need to be connected to your faucet, while others come with their own water tank.
In regards to the dishwashers that have to be attached to your faucet, you'll simply need to connect a hose to the back of the appliance and screw it to the faucet for a consistent water supply.
This is also important so that it has a place to empty out the dirty water during its cycle - or you can also consider placing a large bucket under it to catch the expelled water and then empty it once the cycle has finished.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Tech