Written by Sara Ibrahim. Sara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy.
Published November 2026 · Last reviewed November 9, 2026 · Cupindy is not affiliated with any brand on this page.
The short answer
A dishwasher safe cutting board is made of plastic, paper or wood-fiber composite, or glass. Wood and most bamboo boards are not: the makers we read say hand wash only, because heat and water weaken the glued joints and warp the board. Choosing a wood board instead? See our guide to non-toxic cutting boards.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Our quick pick for the dishwasher
Epicurean Kitchen Series cutting board, 11.5 × 9 in (29 × 23 cm)
A wood-look board pressed from paper and resin, with no wood grain to swell. Epicurean lists it as dishwasher safe and heat resistant to 350°F (176°C).
See the Epicurean board on AmazonThe drawback: it is only ¼ inch thick, and knife marks show on the surface. Epicurean says that is normal.
Most cutting boards (chopping boards in the UK) meet the dishwasher sooner or later, on purpose or by accident. Plastic and composite boards are made for it. Wood and bamboo boards are not, and the damage tends to show up as a bowed board or a split along the glue line. Below is what board makers, the USDA and the dishwasher-safe lines say, material by material.
Dishwasher safe cutting board by material
| Material | Dishwasher? | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic | Yes | The USDA lists plastic boards among those that can be washed in a dishwasher (USDA). OXO sells its plastic boards as dishwasher safe (OXO). Replace one once the grooves get deep. |
| Paper or wood-fiber composite | Yes | Epicurean says to run its boards through the dishwasher or wash by hand, then dry them on their edge (Epicurean care sheet). |
| Glass | Yes, but hard on knives | The USDA allows it. Glass is hard on knife edges, so a board that goes in the dishwasher is not always the best one to cut on. |
| Solid wood, one piece | Usually no | The USDA says solid wood can go in. John Boos says its wood boards cannot, and CuttingBoard.com says heat and water warp and crack wood (CuttingBoard.com). Read the note below the table. |
| Glued wood (edge grain, end grain, butcher block) | No | The USDA says laminated boards may crack and split. John Boos says not to put its boards in the dishwasher (Boos care guide). |
| Bamboo | No, with one exception | Totally Bamboo does not recommend the dishwasher for its bamboo boards, except GreenLite, which it engineered for it (Totally Bamboo). |
| Titanium or steel | Read the label | Makers differ. The Sumzzz titanium board we checked on Amazon is listed as hand wash only (checked Nov 9, 2026). |
| Silicone and rubber | Follow the label | We found no single rule. If the board is not marked dishwasher safe, wash it by hand. |
Why the wood row says "usually no." The USDA's wording allows non-porous boards and solid wood in the dishwasher, if the board is dishwasher safe, and warns only that laminated boards may crack (USDA, USDA). OXO's own blog repeats that line (OXO). Board makers say their wood boards are not dishwasher safe. Most wood boards on sale are edge-grain or end-grain boards, which are strips glued together, so the USDA's laminated warning covers them anyway. If you cannot tell which kind you own, treat it as laminated.
Can you put a wooden cutting board in the dishwasher?
For nearly every board you can buy, no. John Boos, a US maker of wood boards and butcher blocks, says its wood cutting boards are not dishwasher safe, and its care guide warns that water sitting on the surface makes the wood expand and soften and weakens the glued joints (Boos care guide). A dishwasher cycle is a longer, hotter soak than a spill. CuttingBoard.com, a board retailer, gives the same answer for wood: heat and water cause warping and cracking, and the cracks then become a place for bacteria and mold to grow (CuttingBoard.com).
If you want a wood board, wash it by hand. How to wash and oil one is covered in our guide to non-toxic cutting boards. If you want something you can load and forget, choose from the materials above.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The best dishwasher safe cutting board for each material
Composite: Epicurean Kitchen Series
Made in the USA from layers of paper bonded with resin, which Epicurean sells as dishwasher safe and NSF certified. It looks like wood and has a hang hole for storage. The care sheet says to dry it upright on its edge, and warns it can warp if left wet or damp for long periods (Epicurean care sheet).
Plastic: OXO Good Grips Utility Cutting Board
A two-sided plastic board, 14.8 × 10.4 in (37.5 × 26.4 cm), with a drip catcher and non-slip feet. OXO describes it as dishwasher safe and suggests pouring off liquid from a corner, then putting it in the dishwasher.
Bamboo cutting board in the dishwasher
Most bamboo boards should stay out. Totally Bamboo, which sells both kinds of bamboo board, says it does not recommend the dishwasher for them (Totally Bamboo care page). CuttingBoard.com says the glue and pressure treatment make bamboo especially vulnerable to the heat and water inside a dishwasher (CuttingBoard.com).
The exception is a bamboo board built for it. Totally Bamboo says its GreenLite line is specially engineered to be washed in a residential dishwasher, and not in a commercial one (Totally Bamboo GreenLite). Here it is on Amazon if you want bamboo you can load. Any other bamboo board needs the same words on its own label.
Titanium and steel boards
There is no shared rule, so the label decides. The Sumzzz titanium board we checked on Amazon lists its care as hand wash only. If a listing does not say dishwasher safe, treat the board as hand wash.
Loading a cutting board: drying, heat and rack space
Stand boards upright in the rack slots if they fit, rather than laying them flat over other dishes, so water runs off. Epicurean's care sheet says to dry boards upright on their edge, and OXO's blog advises storing boards upright once they are completely dry (Epicurean, OXO). Measure the rack before you buy a large board. Epicurean's Amazon listing says the same.
On heat, Elihome, a board maker, says a typical dishwasher cycle runs at 140 to 160°F (60 to 71°C) (Elihome). Elihome says that heat, run after run, weakens the glue lines in laminated bamboo. Epicurean rates its composite as heat resistant to 350°F (176°C), well above a dishwasher cycle. None of the care sheets we read says which rack to use.
The USDA says to wash boards in hot, soapy water after each use, and that a dishwasher can clean and sanitize boards that are dishwasher safe and non-porous (USDA). If you want a board you can run through the dishwasher after raw meat, choose plastic or composite.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Our picks at a glance
| Board | Material | Why we list it | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epicurean Kitchen Series | Paper composite | Wood look, no oiling | See on Amazon |
| OXO Good Grips Utility Board | Plastic | Large, with drip catcher | See on Amazon |
| Totally Bamboo GreenLite | Bamboo (GreenLite line) | Made for home dishwashers | See on Amazon |
Dishwasher safe cutting board questions
Can you put a wooden cutting board in the dishwasher just once?
The makers we read give no safe number of cycles, and John Boos says not to do it at all. If a wood board has already been through one, dry it standing on its edge and look for cracks along the glue lines or a board that no longer sits flat. Do not run it again.
Are bamboo cutting boards dishwasher safe?
Most are not. Totally Bamboo does not recommend it for its standard boards. Its GreenLite boards are the exception, and only in residential dishwashers.
Can a cutting board go on the top rack?
None of the care sheets we read names a rack for cutting boards. Choose the position where the board stands upright and nothing blocks the spray arm, and check that it fits before you close the door.
Does the sanitize cycle make a cutting board safe?
The USDA says a dishwasher can clean and sanitize boards that are dishwasher safe and non-porous, such as plastic and glass. It also says to replace boards that are worn or grooved.
Is there a dishwasher safe cutting board that is not plastic?
Yes. Paper or wood-fiber composite, such as Epicurean's, and glass are both dishwasher safe. Epicurean describes its boards as microplastics free, which is the maker's claim. Glass is hard on knives.
Are titanium cutting boards dishwasher safe?
Not as a rule. The Sumzzz titanium board we checked is listed as hand wash only. Follow the care instructions for the exact board you own.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How we checked
We read USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service guidance on cutting boards and on washing food, the John Boos care guide, Epicurean's use and care sheet, OXO's blog on sanitizing cutting boards, Totally Bamboo's care and GreenLite pages, and the articles from CuttingBoard.com and Elihome on November 9, 2026. Product details for the Epicurean, OXO and Sumzzz boards come from their Amazon listings the same day. Makers change their wording, so check the care card that came with your board.
Sources
- USDA FSIS: cutting boards
- USDA FSIS: washing food, does it promote food safety?
- John Boos: board care and maintenance
- Epicurean: product use and care
- OXO: how to properly sanitize and store your cutting board
- OXO: Good Grips utility cutting board
- Totally Bamboo: cleaning and care
- Totally Bamboo: GreenLite dishwasher safe boards
- CuttingBoard.com: stop putting your cutting board in the dishwasher
- Elihome: the 5 safest non-toxic cutting boards that are dishwasher safe
