Dishwashers are kitchen magicians. You load them with dirty dishes, glasses, cups and utensils as well as cookware with baked-on cheese and more and expect the items to come out clean, dry and spot-free. That's a tall task but, thankfully, today's best dishwashers are well-equipped to handle the job while saving you the time, effort and water it takes to wash a load by hand. All you have to do is load it correctly, clean it regularly and use the best dishwasher detergent.
To evaluate the cleaning performance of the steady stream of new dishwashers we have coming and going in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab, we meticulously soil multiple place settings of plates, bowls, cups and saucers, glassware and cookware with our standard greasy, starchy messes and make sure everything we've applied is dry and baked on. And yes, we skip the pre-rinse! We also evaluate capacity, ease of use and loading and assess drying performance, energy consumption, sound and more.
This Miele model has the same wash programs and virtually all the same features as the model we tested in the Lab but at a significantly lower price. The cleaning performance was outstanding — even on the QuickIntenseWash cycle with our toughest messes — as all items emerged squeaky clean and noticeably shiny. Plus, we found the controls easy to navigate and the racks easy to load and adjust.
Unique to Miele is its AutoDos detergent system which works with Miele’s PowerDisk, dispensing the precise amount of powder detergent for the cycle you've selected based on the soil level of your load and the hardness of your water. One disk contains enough detergent for up to 20 washes or you can opt to add your own detergent per cycle.
Though just a tad less quiet than its more expensive siblings and still our priciest pick, Miele dishwashers offer lots of valuable extras and cleaning performance that's hard to beat.
| Model # | G 7176 SCVI SF |
|---|---|
| Sound level | 43-dBA |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Yes |
| Est. yearly energy cost | ~$32 |
| Warranty | Five-year full |
What GE did to tackle stinky washing machine odors it's now doing with dishwashers. This GE Profile UltraFresh model has handles, controls, a filter, a flatware basket and more, all treated with Microban to help keep these high-touch areas clean and germ-free. In addition, fresh air and water circulate inside the tub between cycles to help purge the dishwasher of stagnant water and food odors. In our view, these extras combined with great performance and a price hovering around $1,000 are enough to qualify it as our Best Value pick.
In our tests, this GE model did a very good job on our cleaning evaluations and was quiet and easy to use. We liked the discreet but informative front display. Dedicated jets in the top rack and beneath the flatware basket ensure that water bottles and other hard-to-wash items get fully clean.
We've always liked the wide spaces between the tines in GE dishwashers that make loading curved or deep plates easy, even though it limits capacity a bit. Sadly though, we didn't find any fold-down cup shelves in the top rack here.
| Model # | PDT755SYRFS |
|---|---|
| Sound level | 42 dBA |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Yes |
| Est. yearly energy cost | ~$34 |
| Warranty | One-year full |
If shopping for a dishwasher gives you sticker shock, look no further than this model from LG. It's hard to find a model priced at only $500 with so many high-end touches, but LG managed to do it. First, you'll notice the stainless steel interior and fingerprint-resistant front panel, something more expensive models don't always offer. Its discreet control panel lights up when you press the buttons and we found it very easy to read and navigate.
This LG did a great job cleaning and drying our test loads and even removing lipstick from the rims of the cups. Two options it offers are Flex Zone which allows you to adjust the wash intensity to the racks where you've put the dirtiest dishes and Night Dry to help vent steam from the tub overnight for better drying.
While the capacity of both the racks and flatware basket is impressive, you won't find folding tines and cup shelves in the top rack or a third-tier rack. It's also not as quiet as pricier models.
| Model # | LDFC2423C |
|---|---|
| Sound level | 52 dBA |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | No |
| Est. yearly energy cost | ~$33 |
| Warranty | One year full; two years on control board, rack parts and stainless steel tub and door liner; 10 years on direct drive motor |
Finally, your family's battles about loading the dishwasher are over. This Bosch with PrecisionControl lets you select a light, medium or heavy wash in each quadrant of the lower rack so now, you can place items where they fit best and still get safe, effective cleaning. These adjustments can be made directly from the controls or through the app, which we found easy to use.
In our Cleaning Lab tests, this dishwasher loaded, cleaned and dried like a dream and it has a great capacity. At the end of the cycle, a hidden chamber of minerals draws in the moist air, dries it and emits it back into the dishwasher as heat for better drying performance, even on plastics — making it a recent Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award winner.
It's also very quiet, compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home and offers additional cycles through the app. The only thing this pricey machine is missing is a child lock on the controls.
| Model # | SHP9PCM5N |
|---|---|
| Sound level | 38 dBA |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Yes |
| Est. yearly energy cost | ~$34 |
| Warranty | One-year full; Two to five-year parts only for microprocessor, printed circuit board, racks; Lifetime parts only for rust-through on inner tub liner |
Inside this sleek JennAir dishwasher, you'll notice unique racks and nice extras to accommodate the oversized utensils, cutlery and prep bowls that home chefs rely on.
In our GH Cleaning Lab tests, it plowed through our dirtiest loads with ease, and at 38 dBA, was super quiet. We found the dishwasher intuitive to use and easy to program.
Loading is easy, and though the top rack isn't particularly flexible, there are six very secure holders for stemware. Most unique is its high-capacity third rack that holds bowls, cocktail glasses, cups, ramekins and other small deep items safe and out of the main racks. We also appreciated the removable side caddy for oddly shaped utensils, like whisks and slotted spoons.
The oversized flatware basket has two very large open sections — one at each end — to accommodate a wide variety of pieces. And there's a knife holder on the bottom rack for safely cleaning sharp cutlery. Our main con is that a dishwasher at this price point doesn't have a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel front.
| Model # | JDPSS246LL |
|---|---|
| Sound level | 38 dBA |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | No |
| Est. yearly energy cost | ~$35 |
| Warranty | Two-year full parts and labor; three to five-year limited certain parts only; lifetime limited stainless steel tub and inner door liner |
Carolyn Forte/Good Housekeeping
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Cleaning a dishwasher's filter is an important but often overlooked task and Beko figured out a way to take it off your hands.
Beko put water jets inside the dishwasher's filter well. So when you want to clean it, just select the option on the control panel and it's done. Water blasts up through the filter to flush out any debris lodged there. This, combined with its CornerIntense square water spray pattern for better coverage and cleaning helped make Beko a winner in a previous Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards.
In our performance testing, it completely cleaned our charred cookware items with ease. When it came to capacity, we fit in our full 110-piece test load plus an additional nine glasses and one extra dinner plate. It's super quiet, so there's a light that shines on the floor to let you know what stage it's in. The only hiccup we could find was that the controls needed a firm touch to engage but with practice, it got easier.
| Model # | DDT39434X |
|---|---|
| Sound level | 39 dBA |
| Energy Star certified | Yes |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Yes |
| Est. yearly energy cost | ~$30 |
| Warranty | Two-year full, 10-year limited on inverter motor |
When we test dishwashers, we challenge them with dirtier loads than you would ever have at home. And, we never pre-rinse anything before loading it in. Plus we assess the capacity and flexibility of all the racks, trays and baskets and evaluate how easy each dishwasher is to use, load and program.
Prior to testing the cleaning performance of various cycles, we uniformly apply, then bake-, dry- and burn-on mac and cheese, hamburger, oatmeal, egg yolk, milk and more to cookware (pictured) and 10 five-piece settings of dishes, glassware, cups, saucers and flatware. We even "kiss" each coffee cup with lipstick, a stain that many dishwashers struggle to completely remove.
Between staining, drying and cleaning each load, we spend at least 7 hours testing just one cycle, not counting the time it takes to examine each piece once the cycle is done. We test multiple cycles on each machine, including any special options and the app if the machine works with one.
We follow the manufacturer’s loading guidelines and use the same detergent in each machine to wash our dirty loads. Post-cleaning, we look for and note water spots left after drying, and we examine and score every item for any specks of soil that remain. The glasses are checked and scored for spots and leftover film in a special lightbox (pictured).
A weighted cleaning score is calculated for each cycle, and all the cycle scores are averaged to get an overall cleaning score for each dishwasher. We also assess and rate each appliance for energy efficiency and sound and note any special features, like fingerprint-resistant stainless steel fronts.
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Fortunately, you don't have to decide what size to buy. Unlike the best refrigerators or ranges, virtually all dishwashers — except for compacts and countertops — are a standard 24 inches wide and will fit into the space your current one now occupies. Here's what else to keep in mind:
✔️ Dishwasher cycles: When buying a new dishwasher, you’ll want the basics (and some bells and whistles too):
✔️ Dishwasher racks: As you’ll soon find out, not all dishwasher racks are created equal. Here are the features we recommend considering:
✔️ Dishwasher tub: The two most popular materials used inside the dishwasher are stainless steel and plastic. Both can be durable, but our vote here goes to stainless steel. Once reserved only for the most expensive models, stainless steel tubs are common on virtually all but the most inexpensive machines these days. Stainless steel retains heat, stays clean and lasts forever.
✔️ Dishwasher door: This decision is purely a matter of personal preference. Here's what you'll see when you hit the stores or online sites:
✔️ Energy efficiency: All dishwashers carry Energy Guide labels, so you can compare models for how much energy they use and approximately how much they will cost you per year to run. For a dishwasher, energy use is almost entirely tied to water use. The less water it uses, the less energy it consumes. All new dishwashers use less water per cycle than those made 10 or even five years ago and can be considered efficient, especially since they have to pass federal energy efficiency standard tests. Manufacturers usually do all their required energy testing on the normal or auto cycle and calculate the cost based on an average number of cycles. So, if you do more loads than average or use other cycles, you'll likely use more water. Energy Star-certified models are even more efficient than the federal standards require. And the costs are figured on water from an electric water heater, so if your water is heated by gas your yearly cost to run the dishwasher may be less than what's shown on the guide label. Don't worry that long cycles use a lot more energy. They don't. They still use little water and the machine itself doesn't add much to the appliance's energy usage.
✔️ Loudness: Dishwashers are one of the few appliances where manufacturers disclose the decibel level of the model based on standard testing (check on the manufacturer's website if you can't find it in-store). The quietest models are around 40 dB or below.
Today's dishwashers have an average lifespan of about 10 years. And as long as it is installed correctly and you take care of it by loading it correctly and keeping the dishwasher clean and maintained, those 10+ years should be trouble-free and may even stretch to 15 years or more.
However, warranties exist for a reason. Sometimes things do go wrong. Most appliance manufacturers offer at least a one-year full warranty, meaning that both parts and labor are covered for any repairs within the first year. If you need repair, it's always best to use a manufacturer-authorized repair service. They have access to the correct parts and the most up-to-date information from your model's manufacturer. Using an unauthorized repair service, especially on a new machine, can leave you without recourse if something goes wrong. At the very least, you may have to fork over the cost of another service call to reassess the situation.
After the first year of the warranty expires, some manufacturers offer limited five-year (or more) warranties on parts (not labor), like the electronic controls and racks should they be defective. Some offer lifetime warranties for the stainless steel door and tub if they should rust through. Always check the warranty terms for any model you are considering. Before the first year full warranty is up, we recommend using the appliance often and trying as many cycles and options as you can to make sure all work to your satisfaction.
There are dishwashers to fit every budget. You could get a basic model with only a few cycles in a standard finish for less than $500. What you likely won't get is a model with a wide assortment of cycles, stylized controls, flexible racks, a front panel that matches your cabinets or one that's noticeably quiet. For those perks, you'll have to trade up.
While it's not necessary to go totally top-of-the-line to get good cleaning performance, spending $1,000 to $1,500 will get you solid cleaning performance along with a nice assortment of perks and maybe even Wi-Fi connectivity. At the very least, we recommend getting a stainless steel tub, all the basic cycle features — including a boosted drying option — and if possible a fingerprint-resistant door.
