In our most recent round of testing, we evaluated standard-size, 24-inch built-in dishwashers. (We did not test smaller, 18-inch built-in dishwashers. But the companies that make our picks do offer models in that size. If you need a portable dishwasher, we have a guide to those.) In this guide, we focused on traditional dishwashers, but newer designs, including built-in drawer-style dishwashers, are becoming more widely available.
You can read our full testing protocol.
Here’s a summary of what we evaluated:
Cleaning performance
If you use a good detergent and rinse aid, most dishwashers will clean well. Great cleaning performance stems from hard-to-measure factors like spray-arm geometry, energy management, cycle programming, soil-sensor algorithms, and filtration quality.
We take these things into account while conducting our in-depth stress-testing. Replicating the daily dish usage of a five-person household, we washed more than 100 dishes and utensils for each load, including bowls slicked with oatmeal, plates painted with a patchwork of dried-on foods, and glassware smeared with lipstick.
Filtration systems
Modern dishwashers reuse the same few gallons of water during a cycle, so they have fine filters that trap and eventually flush away food debris, to prevent it from being redistributed onto your dishes. (Our testing showed that newer, eco-friendly cycles that use less water require even better filtration.)
Filtration is tied to cleaning performance. If a dishwasher doesn’t have an effective filtration system, dishes will have a gritty residue at the end of a cycle. We conduct tests using foods in a variety of colors and textures, to help us measure how well a filter prevents food from splashing back onto dishes during the cycle. We noted how often filters needed to be cleaned.
Some dishwashers also have a food grinder, to further pulverize excess waste. We did not find that a grinder necessarily improved performance (two of our picks have one). And depending on the dishwasher, it can make a cycle much louder.
Cycle speeds and types
Many dishwashers we tested have a dizzying number of cleaning-cycle options with perplexing names like Aquaflex. Our testing showed that there wasn’t much difference among them, and most people will be better off using time- or sensor-based cycles, like Quick or Pots and Pans.
Cleaning cycles can run from around one hour to three and a half hours or longer. Modern dishwashers use sensors to adjust cleaning duration in real time, often adding an hour or more if dishes are particularly dirty. We paid close attention to cycle length and gave special consideration to dishwashers that efficiently cleaned everything in less than 90 minutes.
Drying
Dishwashers tend to dry metal, glass, and ceramic thoroughly. But few models are particularly good at drying plastic cups and containers. In each of our test loads, we included multiple plastic items, to determine how each machine handled the task.
Racks
We assessed the flexibility of rack layouts and how well they accommodated dishes both big (a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish, a 2-liter pitcher) and small (ramekins, chopsticks). We took note of how smoothly the racks operated. A height-adjustable upper (or middle) rack helps make space for tall items, like long-stemmed wine glasses, or large cookware. We made sure that these racks lock easily into place so they don’t collapse mid-cycle (we’ve had this happen during testing).
Dishwasher manuals include advice on how to most efficiently load specific layouts, which we followed during testing after loading blindly for a few cycles.
Service and reliability
We examined the warranties of all the dishwashers we tested. A one-year warranty is standard. We gave extra points to models with longer warranties. To get a sense of reliability, in addition to our own appliance survey, we analyzed thousands of customer reviews using FindOurView, an AI-driven tool. We also referenced the Designer Appliances blog. We spoke with service repair technicians and owners of independent appliance stores, and we also dove into online appliance forums, including the one found on Reddit.
Noise
In our experience, dishwashers that fall around 45 decibels on average are practically silent (unless you’re standing right next to them). Noise starts to get bothersome at around 55 decibels. Dishwashers with stainless steel tubs are typically quieter than those with plastic or hybrid (plastic and stainless steel) tubs. Noise levels can also differ between cycles, such as Gentle or Heavy. Using an app, we measured decibels at various points in a cycle. While the measurements didn’t always match the advertised decibel level, nothing went over 55 decibels.
Remember to take manufacturer-reported decibel ratings with a grain of salt. Though a rating is measured by the industry’s standardized noise test, it’s an average of the entire cycle, which alternates between louder periods (when the dishwasher is draining water) and quieter periods (when it’s drying dishes).
Energy efficiency
Modern dishwashers tend to be very efficient. Until recently, many dishwashers qualified as Energy Star–certified, which means that, on average, they use 12% less energy and 30% less water than standard dishwashers. New qualification criteria for dishwashers were released in July 2023, and many dishwashers no longer qualify for Energy Star certification. Our top pick (the Miele G5008), upgrade pick (the Miele G7216), and best-for pick (the Café CDT888) are all Energy Star–certified under the new standards.
In almost any scenario, whether or not they are Energy Star–certified, dishwashers save significant amounts of water and energy compared with hand-washing dishes, which guzzles between 9 and 27 gallons of water (depending on your wash style) and up to double the water-heating energy.
