Dishwasher Buying Guide: 10 Things to Look For Before You Buy

Written by Sara Ibrahim, Cupindy Kitchen Team · Last updated September 28, 2026

Most dishwasher regrets start before the dishwasher arrives. It does not quite fit the opening, it is louder than you expected from the sofa, or every plastic container comes out wet. The good news is that all three are easy to avoid if you check the right things first. This guide walks through the 10 that matter, in the order worth checking them, using published figures from Lowe's, ENERGY STAR, Consumer Reports and Yale Appliance's repair records. We compared these sources and the product listings; we did not test the dishwashers ourselves.

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The 10 things to check before you buy a dishwasher

Work down the list in order. The first two decide which dishwashers can go in your kitchen at all; the next five decide whether you will like living with it; the last three are about how long it lasts and what you pay for. Each point has its own section below.

1. Size and type: which dishwasher fits your kitchen

Are all dishwashers the same size? Most are. A standard built-in dishwasher is about 24 inches wide, 35 inches high and 24 inches deep, and most US kitchen cabinets leave a 24-inch opening for one. But compact, drawer and portable models come in other sizes, and even standard models vary by an inch or so in height and depth. Lowe's gives these ranges:

Built-in, compact, drawer and portable ranges: Lowe's. Countertop sizes: the three models listed below, from their Amazon listings.

Two other terms you will see: a tall tub dishwasher uses the full height of the opening for more room inside, and a panel-ready model takes a cabinet door panel so it disappears into the kitchen. Neither changes the opening you need.

2. Measure the opening before you shop

Measure the opening, not the old dishwasher: width at the floor, height to the underside of the counter, and depth to the back wall.

Measure the space, not the dishwasher you are replacing. Lowe's suggests three measurements:

1. Width at the top and at the bottom of the opening. Use the smaller number.
2. Height at the left side, the centre and the right side, from the floor to the underside of the countertop. Keep the smallest number, because floors and counters are rarely level.
3. Depth from the front of the cabinets to the back wall.

Then check three things the tape measure will not tell you. First, the door: it needs room to open fully without hitting a drawer handle, an island or the corner of the next cabinet. Second, the hookups at the back of the opening: a hot water supply valve, a drain connection and power. Many dishwashers are hardwired into a junction box while others plug into an outlet, so check what the new model needs in its installation guide before it arrives. Third, the floor: if you have added tile or a new floor since the old dishwasher went in, the opening may now be lower than it was.

Most buyers are better off paying for installation. Lowe's says most homeowners choose professional installation, and a retailer that installs will usually take the old dishwasher away too. And if there is no opening at all and you cannot add one, the countertop section further down is for you: those models need a counter, a sink and an outlet, nothing more.

3. Capacity, racks and the third rack

Capacity is sold in place settings. ENERGY STAR defines a standard dishwasher as one that holds at least 8 place settings plus 6 serving pieces; most full-size models are rated 12 to 16. The number is a lab measure, though, and what matters at home is whether your own pans, big plates and tall glasses fit.

A stainless tub, a flat third rack and fold-down tines are the three features that change daily use the most.

• A third rack. A shallow top tray for cutlery, spatulas and ladles frees the lower rack for plates and pans. Lowe's singles it out for flat and oversized utensils.
• Fold-down tines. Rows of tines that fold flat let a pot or a mixing bowl lie in the lower rack.
• An adjustable upper rack. Raising or lowering it by an inch or two decides whether tall wine glasses or large dinner plates fit.
• Bring your largest plate. If you can, measure your biggest dinner plate and tallest glass and compare them with the rack heights in the spec sheet.

4. Noise: the decibel number

Every dishwasher lists a noise rating in decibels (dB). A few decibels sound small on paper, but the scale is logarithmic, so the difference between a 44 dB and a 50 dB machine is easy to hear across a room. Lowe's groups them like this:

In an open-plan home you hear the dishwasher from the sofa, which is why the decibel number matters.

If your kitchen opens onto the living room, aim for under 45 dB. Quieter machines usually have a stainless tub, more insulation and a manual filter, which is part of why they cost more.

5. Tub material and drying

Look inside before you look at the control panel. The tub is the part you cannot change later.

• Stainless steel tub. According to Lowe's, stainless resists stains and odours, handles higher temperatures and helps drying, because moist air condenses on the cool metal and runs down to the drain. Dishwashers with stainless tubs also tend to be quieter.
• Plastic tub. Found on lower-priced models. Durable, but it holds less heat, so drying relies more on a heating element.
• Hybrid tub. Stainless walls with a plastic floor or door, common in the middle of the range.

Drying is where dishwashers differ most in daily use. Consumer Reports finds that dishwashers with a heated-dry cycle tend to get dishes drier than models that rely on leftover heat, and that models which open the door automatically at the end of the cycle to let the steam out are among the most effective. Whirlpool makes the same point: cheaper models rely on residual heat, while heated or fan drying uses extra heat and moving air. Plastic containers are the hardest test for any dryer, so if you wash a lot of them, look for owner comments about wet plastics before you buy.

If you would rather keep plastic out of hot water, a stainless tub is the only tub with no plastic walls, and it is worth checking what else goes into the machine. Our guides to what not to put in the dishwasher, which plastic numbers are safer and flatware that survives the dishwasher cover that.

6. Cleaning power: cycles, sensors and the filter

Almost every modern dishwasher cleans well on its normal or auto cycle when it is loaded properly. The features that make a real difference are few:

• A soil sensor. ENERGY STAR explains that an auto-sensing cycle checks how dirty the water is and adjusts, which saves water on light loads.
• Four cycles you will use: auto or normal, heavy for pots, quick for a lightly soiled load, and sanitize for baby bottles and cutting boards. Ten more cycles on top of those rarely change anything.
• The filter. Many quiet dishwashers use a manual filter that you rinse out; Consumer Reports suggests cleaning it every month or so, and sooner if dishes start to feel gritty. Others grind food with a disposer, which needs less attention but adds noise.
• Spray arms you can reach. Consumer Reports suggests checking the spray-arm holes every few months, so it helps if they come off easily.

If an older machine is leaving film or food behind, the cause is often the filter, the spray arms or hard water rather than the dishwasher itself. Our guide to a dishwasher that is not cleaning walks through the checks, and hard water can be tested and treated with the steps in our water softener guide.

7. Energy and water use

Look for the ENERGY STAR label. Under the current criteria, in effect since July 2023, a certified standard dishwasher uses no more than 240 kWh of electricity a year and 3.2 gallons of water per cycle, and a compact model no more than 155 kWh and 2.0 gallons. The federal limit for standard dishwashers allows up to 307 kWh a year and 5.0 gallons per cycle, so the label is a real step up.

ENERGY STAR also estimates that a certified dishwasher saves about 8,400 gallons of water a year compared with washing the same dishes by hand, and uses less than half the energy. The program moved from the EPA to the Department of Energy in 2026; the label and its criteria are still what to look for on the yellow EnergyGuide sticker and the spec sheet. For the rest of the house, our guide to lowering your electric bill covers the other big users.

8. Reliability and brand

Most manufacturers told Consumer Reports that a dishwasher should last about 10 years. Yet in CR's survey of more than 66,000 members, about 21% of dishwashers broke or stopped working as well as they should within five years. So the brand you pick does matter. Yale Appliance, a Boston-area retailer that publishes its own repair records, reports these first-year service rates in its 2026 reliability report, based on more than 33,000 service calls:

Treat these as one retailer's data, not a national ranking, and check two more things for any brand you shortlist: the warranty (one year on parts and labour is common, with longer cover on some parts) and whether there is an authorised service company near you. Yale notes that GE still runs one of the largest manufacturer service networks in the country.

9. Budget: what more money buys

Consumer Reports says many models in the middle of the price range earn its top ratings for cleaning and predicted reliability. Below that, models tend to have plastic tubs and run louder; above it, you mostly pay for styling, finishes and extra features rather than cleaner dishes. In practice, extra money buys you a quieter machine, a stainless tub, better drying, a third rack and a longer warranty, in roughly that order of usefulness. Delivery, installation, new supply lines and haul-away of the old unit are often priced separately, so compare the total, not the sticker.

10. Controls and smart features

• Top controls sit on the top lip of the door, hidden when it closes, for a clean look. Front controls keep the buttons on the outside, so you can see and change a setting without opening the door.
• Panel-ready models take a cabinet door panel so the dishwasher matches your kitchen.
• Wi-Fi lets you start a cycle or get an alert on your phone. Useful if you run the dishwasher at night or while away, but not a reason to pay much more.
• A floor light or display shows that a quiet machine is running, which matters more than it sounds at 42 dB.

No room for a built-in? Countertop dishwashers

If you rent, live in a studio or have no cabinet space to give up, a countertop dishwasher is the realistic option. It sits next to the sink, plugs into a normal outlet and gets its water one of two ways: you fill a built-in tank of about 5 liters by hand, or you connect a hose to the kitchen faucet. Waste water drains into the sink.

Know the limits before you buy one. These machines hold about 5 to 6 place settings, so they suit one to three people rather than a family. Large dinner plates may need tilting, and some will not fit at all. The interior is plastic, not stainless. You also need about 17 by 17 inches of counter and around 19 to 20 inches of height under the wall cabinets, according to the makers.

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Common mistakes when buying a dishwasher

• Measuring the old dishwasher instead of the opening. The opening is what the new one has to fit.
• Forgetting the door. A dishwasher next to a corner, an island or a drawer with a deep handle may not open fully.
• Buying on the number of cycles. Four good cycles beat twelve you never use.
• Ignoring the dB rating in an open-plan room. It is the spec you notice every evening.
• Choosing the cheapest plastic tub if you wash a lot of plastic. Wet containers are the most common complaint about drying.
• Forgetting install costs. New supply lines, a power cord or junction box work, and haul-away can add up. Ask what is included.
• Skipping the service check. A reliable brand with no repair company nearby is not reliable for you.

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for when buying a dishwasher?

Check ten things, in this order: size and type, the opening measurements, capacity and racks, the dB noise rating, the tub material and drying method, cleaning features, ENERGY STAR energy and water use, the brand's repair record and service, your budget, and controls or smart features.

Are all dishwashers the same size?

Most built-in dishwashers are about 24 inches wide, 35 inches high and 24 inches deep, and most US kitchens have a 24-inch opening. Compact models are about 18 inches wide, and drawer, portable and countertop models come in other sizes.

What should I measure before buying a dishwasher?

Measure the width of the opening at the top and bottom, the height at the left, centre and right (keep the smallest), and the depth to the back wall. Then check door clearance and where the water, drain and power connections sit.

What decibel level is quiet for a dishwasher?

42 dB or less is close to silent, 43 to 50 dB is very quiet, and 51 dB and up is standard, according to Lowe's. Aim for under 45 dB if your kitchen opens onto a living area.

Is a stainless steel tub worth it?

For most buyers, yes. A stainless tub resists stains and odours, handles higher temperatures, helps drying and tends to make the dishwasher quieter. Plastic tubs are durable but dry less well.

How long should a dishwasher last?

About 10 years, according to most manufacturers Consumer Reports asked, though about 21% of dishwashers in its member survey had a problem within five years. Cleaning the filter monthly and scraping rather than pre-rinsing plates help.

What should first-time buyers know about buying a dishwasher?

Measure the opening, check the hookups, and budget for delivery, installation and haul-away. Choose a quiet model with a stainless tub and a third rack over one with many cycles.

Are countertop dishwashers worth it?

They are worth it if you cannot install a built-in, for example in a rental or a studio. They hold about 5 to 6 place settings, need counter space and height under the cabinets, and have plastic interiors.

The bottom line

Measure the opening first, then choose the quietest stainless-tub dishwasher with a third rack and the ENERGY STAR label that fits your budget, from a brand with a good repair record and a service company near you. If a built-in is not an option, the EUHOMY countertop dishwasher is where we would start. Still deciding whether a dishwasher is worth it at all? See our dishwasher pros and cons.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.