Countertop dishwashers are the portable, compact dishwashers that are placed on top of the counter or any other 
similar flat surface. With its small size, it is much more compact, uses lesser energy and has similar capabilities as that of the conventional dishwashers.
Normally these compact dishwashers come with an adapter that easily gets connected to a standard water intake or sink faucet. In the back of the unit, they have drain hose that allows the drainage water to run out straightaway into the sink.
Some people are worried about the amount of energy these consume but the good news is that these countertop dishwashers are quite efficient and economical. They use extremely less water as compared to the conventional dishwashers; each wash cycle requires only about 3 gallons of water. So, aren’t these dishwashers a perfect choice for your kitchen? We have also written a complete guide about the best portable washing machines.
Key features to consider when choosing the best Countertop Dishwasher
Are you looking for a dishwasher that doesn’t need lot of space? Do you need a dishwasher to just do a couple of dishes? If you are, a countertop dishwasher should be your pick. These are extremely versatile and can adapt to your requirements, then whether you need it as main dishwasher or as secondary. Especially if you stay in a small house or renting an apartment, this countertop dishwasher can come as your life savior. You can have these dishwashers connected to your wash basin and have a button to get water, or you can choose to disconnect it from the sink after use.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
It is important that you make a note of exact dimensions you require to fit your countertop dishwasher. You must check the distance between the top of the counter and the cabinet bottom, and take a note of this distance.
Capacity is one of the key features that must be noted to understand how much load you can put on the dishwasher. It has been seen that most of the countertop models accept up to 6 place settings, however it depends on the type of model you buy.
The Material
The inner composition is also important to analyze which dishwasher should be used to fit in your needs. For instance, if you are more focused on durability, choose countertop dishwasher that come with stainless steel interiors as these are more long lasting as compared to the plastic interiors.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
Different models of countertop dishwashers come with different number of cycles. So, see what works out to be the best for your purpose and make your buying decision accordingly.
Energy and water efficiency
Energy and water consumption are important criteria for evaluating which model is good for your house. If the device consumes too much of water and/or electricity, you might not want to buy it as you will end up seeing bigger numbers in your water and electricity bills every month. It is also not good for environment.
Maintenance and Installation
Installing a countertop dishwasher can be really simple and easy, as compared to the conventional dishwashers. Most of the units come equipped with all the tools and parts that are required to install them. So, just find a level place in your house to install it and install it there. It requires an inlet, two hoses and drain hose. If you look at the back side of the dishwasher unit, you will see two ports where each of the hoses is to be screwed. Inserting the quick connect adapter in the wash basin, attach both the hoses to it. Now plug in the device into the socket and start the machine. Start the wash cycle and when the dishes are done, end it. Once the cycle is complete, you can disconnect all the hoses and plug them back next time you want to use the device.
Maintaining the device is also quite simple. Just be sure you do not overload it and no dishes hinder the functioning of spray arm. If there is any food residue in the unit, clear it off before starting the next wash cycle. With maintained and used properly, the countertop dishwasher can save you from hard work of hand washing your dishes.
Top 10 Best Countertop Dishwashers in 2022
1. Danby DDW611WLED Countertop Dishwasher – White
Danby DDW611WLED countertop dishwasher beautifully transforms the tedious task of hand washing the dishes
into a painless chore. It helps saves money and at the same time conserves energy. With a capacity to handle 6 standard place settings, Danby DDW611WLED is perfect for your house. Its quick connect adapter lets you connect it to any of the wash basin’s tap and the 6 settings will make your dishes sparkling clean.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
The unit comes in small size with dimensions 19.7 x 21.6 x 17.2 inches, and is relatively light weight as it weighs just 50 pounds. It offers 6 different kinds of wash cycles that let you clean your utensils according to your specific needs, such as heavy, soak, normal, light and glass
The Material
The interior of Danby DDW611WLED is made up of durable stainless steel.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
Danby DDW611WLED comes with 6 place setting wash cycles. It has 3 durable stainless steel wash arms that evenly distribute the water to all the utensils to ensure sparkle shinning effective cleaning.
Energy and Water Efficiency
It is an Energy Star qualified model that helps you reduce water and electricity bills.
Maintenance and Installation
This energy star countertop dishwasher is quite compact and fits in most of the kitchen cabinets. It offers a quick connect to any tap with water consumption as low as 3.17 gallons per cycle.
Danby makes sure its dishwashers are user friendly and that’s why it has made the control panel really simple. The interiors and exteriors of the unit are designed keeping in mind the latest trends, and that’s the reason it stands out with its brilliant stainless steel look.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- It comes with convenient automatic detergent and rinse agent dispenser
- The unit has electronic controls with LED display
- Relatively easy to install
- Excellent design
- Energy Efficient
Cons
- The device makes a soft humming sound while running but it doesn’t impact its performance.
2. Black+Decker BCD6W 6 Place Setting ENERGY STAR portable compact countertop dishwasher
Your kitchen might not be in a state to accommodate a conventional dishwasher but that doesn’t mean you keep
yourself busy in dishwashing job. Black+Decker brings to you its 6 place setting countertop dishwasher that can adjust anywhere in your kitchen. It comes with lot of great features including 7 different wash cycles but still doesn’t act too demanding. It can easily sit on any level countertop and can accommodate dinner plates up to 10 inches. The water connections and drainage mechanism are really simple. All this makes Black+Decker BCD6W a sure addition to your kitchen, especially to the ones that are often visited by family and friends.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
The dimensions of the unit are 21.7 x 21.5 x 17.2 inches. The unit comes with easy loading feature. The dish rack slides out easily and the removable utensil makes room for easy and simple loading and unloading.
The Material
Black+Decker BCD6W comes with spacious interiors, that is made up of good quality, stainless steel.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The countertop dishwasher comes with 7 wash programs including intensive, normal, raid & soak, eco, glass and 90 minutes.
Energy and Water Efficiency
It is a high efficiency rating and Energy Star certified model that helps you reduce water and electricity bills, and at the same time saves environment.
Maintenance and Installation
This energy star rating countertop dishwasher is quite compact and fits in most of the kitchen cabinets. It offers a quick connect to any kitchen tap with consumes less water.
Black+Decker has really made this dishwasher user friendly and that’s why it comes with a simple control panel. The water hook-up and other connections are fast and simple, ensuring the machine starts in no time.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The unit comes with electronic touch controls and LED display that makes it easy for the person to set up and adjust the settings
- Its attractive design with space saving feature easily fits into most of the kitchen cabinets
- To ensure safety of kids, the counter dishwasher comes with child lock
- High efficiency rating
Cons
- A pre-rinse in the sink is required before the dishes are actually washed in the unit
3. SPT SD-2202S Countertop Dishwasher with Delay Start, Silver
A perfect countertop dishwasher for office kitchens, apartments and small-sized kitchens, SPT SD-2202S provides
full power in compact size – perfect example of “small is powerful”.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
With height of only 17.24 inches, the SPT countertop dishwasher fits just perfect between cabinetry and most types of countertops. Its spacious interiors are capable of loading up to 6 standard place settings, offering easy controls and easy control mechanism along with rinse aid warning. The unit weighs around 48.5 pounds and measures 21.6” x 19.7” x 17.2”.
The unit is capable of holding plates up to 10.5″ in diameter, and the maximum water temperature allowed is 148°F.
The Material
SPT SD-2202S features a sleek silver finish that is perfect for any contemporary small-sized kitchen. The interior is made up of stainless steel.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The unit comes with 6 different wash cycles that lets you wash your dishes according to your specific needs including soak, normal, glass, heavy, glass and light.
Energy and Water Efficiency
It is a high efficiency rating and Energy Star certified model that helps you reduce water and electricity bills, and at the same time saves environment.
Maintenance and Installation
Its quick connect feature to any kitchen faucet eliminates the need for permanent installation or direct plumbing. This countertop dishwasher is equipped with user friendly controls that help you to operate the machine without any difficulty. It comes with additional accessories such as a silverware basket and dish rack to store dishes easily. It also features an automatic detergent dispenser.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The unit doesn’t need permanent installation or any sort of direct plumbing as it is especially designed to connect to any regular kitchen tap.
- The dishwasher is affordable.
- With its compact design, the unit fits well between most standard countertops and cabinetry
- It is easy to use and does a great job in washing your dishes.
Cons:
- The SPT dishwasher normally makes beeping sound that might annoy users if you do not turn it off at the time of unloading
4. Koldfront PDW60EB 6 Place Setting Portable Countertop Dishwasher – Black
The Koldfront PDW60EB 6 Place Setting countertop dishwasher can wash up to six standard place settings.
Extremely easy to operate, this portable dishwasher is optimized for six wash cycles and is equipped with a cutlery basket and cup shelf for organization. The built-in rinse agent dispenser helps in eliminating the water spotting on dishes, while an internal water heater and the heavy wash cycle gets rid of germs and bacteria by boosting water temperature up to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. The unit comes with a quick connect faucet adapter and five-foot hose to make hook-up compatible with almost any faucet simple. The model is designed in a way that it will be up to the job of cleaning those dirty dishes in no time.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
Standing just over 17 inches tall, the counter dishwasher measures 17-3/16″ H x 21-11/16″ W x 19-11/16″ D.
The Material
The stainless steel interior of Koldfront countertop dishwasher makes the complete unit look quite designer and enhances the look of your kitchen, while a powerful spray arm ensures a deep and thorough wash of the dishes.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The unit comes with 6 different wash cycles that lets you wash your dishes according to your specific needs including soak, normal, glass, heavy, glass and light.
Energy and Water Efficiency
The unit needs just 200 kilowatt hours per year, which is around 61% less energy than similar countertop dishwashers. Apart from saving energy, this Koldfront countertop dishwasher hardly wastes any water, which can save you a lot of money on your water and energy bills every month.
Maintenance and Installation
Koldfront compact countertop dishwasher offers a low profile that fits just perfect under most cabinetry without any need of permanent installation. Its quick connect feature to any kitchen faucet eliminates the need for permanent installation. This countertop dishwasher is equipped with user friendly controls that help you to operate the machine without any difficulty. It comes with additional accessories such as a cup shelf, cutlery basket and dish rack to store dishes easily. It also features an automatic detergent dispenser.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The variety of settings it comes with, makes the unit quite versatile and efficient.
- Koldfront countertop dishwasher is compact and lightweight, making it easy to move it from one place to another.
- The device is easy to set-up with its quick-to-connect adapter and the five-foot hose.
- The countertop dishwasher is water and energy efficient and hence a good choice for all those who are worried about being eco-friendly.
Cons:
- The countertop dishwasher sometimes requires you to do separate loads in case you have bigger utensils, such as big pots and pans.
5. Danby DDW631SDB Countertop Dishwasher, Stainless
Danby is well known brand for manufacturing compact appliances. Dishwashing has never been so simple and easy
as it is with this stylish, stainless Danby DDW631SDB countertop dishwasher. This countertop dishwasher utilizes only about 3.1 gallons of water for a normal cycle. It also comes with a 12-month warranty, which can be used for the dishwasher parts and labor.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
Standing just over 17 inches tall, the counter dishwasher measures 17-3/16″ H x 21-11/16″ W x 19-11/16″ D.
The Material
The stainless steel interior of Danby countertop dishwasher makes the complete unit look quite designer and enhances the look of your kitchen. Keeping the appliance clean is mainly due to its durable stainless-steel interior. It also has an auto detergent and rinse agent dispenser for the convenience of use and its stylish dishwashing unit is designed to fit under just about any type of kitchen cabinet.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The unit comes with six different settings which can be programmed and monitored easily with the help of the electronic LED display. The wash cycles range from soak, glass, rapid, economy, normal, and intensive.
Energy and Water Efficiency
The unit is energy star compliant and consumes very less water, which is roughly 3.1 gallons of water per wash. This way this countertop dishwasher hardly wastes any water, which can save you a lot of money on your water and energy bills every month.
Maintenance and Installation
This Danby countertop dishwasher is specially designed for easy and quick installation as it can easily be hooked up to any tap in your kitchen.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The unit comes with a variety of settings which makes it versatile and efficient.
- Danby countertop dishwasher is compact and lightweight
- The device is easy to set-up with its quick-to-connect adapter.
- The countertop dishwasher is water and energy efficient and hence a good choice for all those who are worried about being eco-friendly.
6. Magic Chef MCSCD6W3 6 Place Setting Countertop Dishwasher, White
Magic Chef MCSCD6W3 Countertop Dishwasher gives its users the convenience of a large dishwasher without eating
up too much of the kitchen space. You can choose from the available 5 wash cycle options by simply pressing the program knob. While washing the dishes, remember to place the cutlery in a separate basket and cups in the rack. The countertop dishwasher comes with an anti-flood mechanism, an efficient drying system, an automatic detergent and rinse dispenser. To ensure safety, the unit comes with a built-in flow meter water sensor.
On the whole, the setup of the unit is quick simple and quick, and comes with 1 year warranty.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
Standing just over 17 inches tall, the counter dishwasher measures 20.4 x 21.7 x 17.2 inches and hence can easily fit on most of the kitchen countertops.
The Material
The stainless steel interior of Magic Chef countertop dishwasher makes it highly durable and efficient. The unit comes with an auto detergent and rinse agent dispenser for the convenience of use and its stylish dishwashing unit is designed to fit under just about any type of kitchen cabinet. Apart from this, it features a floating anti-flood switch.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The unit comes with five different wash cycle programs to handle different types of dishwashing tasks, including heavy, normal, soak, speed and light. Magic Chef countertop dishwasher is equipped with a user friendly push button control panel which is located in the front, comprising of three buttons and seven indicator lights.
Energy and Water Efficiency
The unit is energy star compliant and consumes only 680 watts. This way this countertop dishwasher is good on environment as well as your wallet.
Maintenance and Installation
This Magic Chef countertop dishwasher is specially designed for easy and quick installation as it can easily be hooked up to any tap in your kitchen using its 70 inches long inlet hose and 47 inches long outlet hose.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The noise level of the unit is quite reasonable and the credit goes to the Magic Chef sound reduction technique used in the device.
- The countertop dishwasher comes with a solid track record for reliability.
- The unit is energy efficient.
- Magic Chef compatible countertop dishwasher is quick and easy to install.
Cons
- The unit doesn’t have a delay start option.
7. SPT SD-2213W Countertop Dishwasher, White
SPT SD countertop dishwasher is perfect for small-sized kitchens, office kitchens and apartments. It offers full-size
power with a compact design. Compact yet spacious as it can load up to six standard place settings. The limit for water temperature is up to 148 degree F.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
Standing just over 17 inches tall, the counter dishwasher measures 21.6 x 19.7 x 17.2 inches, making it perfect fit between cabinetry and most countertop.
The Material
The dishwasher unit features a sleek silver finish interior that is perfect for any contemporary type of kitchen.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The unit comes with six different wash cycles that lets you clean the dishes as per your specific needs, which includes soak, glass, rapid, light, normal, and heavy.
Energy and Water Efficiency
The unit is energy star compliant and consumes very less water, and therefore it hardly wastes any water. This way it helps you save money on your water and energy bills every month.
Maintenance and Installation
The unit ensures quick connect to any type of kitchen faucet, eliminating the need for direct plumbing or permanent installation. The faucet adapter that comes along with this countertop dishwasher fits standard-sized aerator openings and as long as the faucet has a removable Aerator, it is capable of connecting the faucet adapter.
For any standard faucet head that comes with a side or detached sprayer, some detached sprayers might see water leakage due to line pressure while it is attached to the faucet. It is totally up to the design of these faucets to redirect the water pressure from the main faucet head to the side sprayer. And if there is a side sprayer, a water line can be installed, which is separated from the sprayer.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The unit is designed in a way that it doesn’t need any permanent installation or any kind of direct plumbing as it can connect to any regular kitchen tap.
- SPT countertop dishwasher is known for its quiet operation.
- Due to its compact design, the unit fits well between most standard countertops and cabinetry.
- The device is quite easy to operate and does a great job in washing the dishes.
Cons
- Normally the SPT countertop dishwasher makes loud beeping sounds that are very annoying if not turned off at the time of unloading.
8. Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 6 Plate Countertop Dishwasher, White
The Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 Countertop Portable dishwasher offers all the convenience of a full-size dishwasher in a
design that is space saving. Featuring enough space to accommodate six standard place settings, the device is perfect for the office kitchen, singles, couples and even apartment kitchens. With push-button electronic controls that are easy-to-operate, the unit is designed with a durable stainless steel interior that includes a cup shelf, silverware basket and a sliding rack for easy loading. Additionally the device has up to 24 hour delay start and comes with EZ clean removable filter. The device comes with one year warranty.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
Standing just over 17 inches tall, the counter dishwasher measures 19.7 x 21.7 x 17.2 inches, which makes it perfect for most countertops. Its single removable rack let it accommodate up to 6 place settings and 6 washing programs.
The Material
The stainless steel interior of Magic Chef countertop dishwasher makes the complete unit look quite designer and enhances the look of your kitchen. It also has an auto detergent and rinse agent dispenser for the convenience of use and its stylish dishwashing unit is designed to fit under just about any type of kitchen cabinet.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The unit comes with six different settings which can be programmed and monitored easily with the help of the electronic LED display. The wash cycles range from soak, glass, rapid, economy, normal, and intensive.
Energy and Water Efficiency
The unit is energy star compliant and uses less water as compared to various other models
Maintenance and Installation
This countertop dishwasher is specially designed for easy and quick installation as it can easily be hooked up to any tap in your kitchen. It also features a residual drying system that avoids using air outside the dishwasher unit.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The dishwasher unit comes with a whole lot variety of settings which makes it versatile and efficient.
- Magic Chef countertop dishwasher is quite compact and lightweight
- The device is easy to set-up with its quick-to-connect adapter.
- The countertop dishwasher is water and energy efficient and hence a good choice for all those who are worried about being eco-friendly.
9. SPT SD-2224DS Countertop Dishwasher with Delay Start and LED
SPT SD-2224DS Countertop Dishwasher is perfect for small-sized kitchens, offices and apartments. Offering full-size
power, it comes in a compact design. With a height of only 17.24 inches, this dishwasher fits just perfect between most countertop and cabinetry. Its spacious cavity can load up to six standard place settings. The device is equipped with automatic detergent and rinse-aid dispenser. With its quick connect to most kitchen faucets, the need for permanent installation or direct plumbing is completely eliminated. The unit comes with electronic controls with LED display which shows the time remaining to complete the cycle or the current washing state. There is also a delay start for added convenience which can be two hours, four, six or eight hours. For the ease of users, SPT SD-2224DS is provided with water supply warning indicator and a rinse aid warning indicator.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
The unit comes with generous capacity and can accommodate up to 6 standard place settings. The dishwasher unit is up to 10.25 inches in diameter.
The Material
The stainless steel interior of SPT countertop dishwasher makes the complete unit look quite designer and enhances the look of your kitchen.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The dishwasher comes with 7 wash cycles including heavy, normal, light, mini party, rinse, speed and soak
Energy and Water Efficiency
The unit is energy star compliant and consumes very less water. The used water is filtered and immediately reused again during the wash, hence drawing minimum water from the tap. This means the dishwasher hardly wastes any water, and hence you can save a lot of money on your water and energy bills every month.
Maintenance and Installation
This SPT countertop dishwasher is specially designed for easy and quick installation as it can easily be hooked up to any tap in your kitchen.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The wash water is filtered and used again immediately during the wash.
- The unit comes with a variety of settings which makes it versatile and efficient.
- The device is easy to set-up with its two hoses connected to the rear and locking nozzle attached on to the sink fixture.
- The countertop dishwasher is water and energy efficient and hence a good choice for all those who are worried about being eco-friendly.
Cons:
- The device is comparatively heavier than other countertops dishwasher and is also bulky.
- The running times of the machine are much longer than what is listed in the product manual.
10. Sunbeam DWSB3602GBB Portable Countertop Dishwasher
The Sunbeam DWSB3603GBB Portable Countertop Dishwasher can easily sit on any level counter, and does not
require special plumbing. The unit can fit up to six place settings in one load. As we have seen, hand washing dishes takes a lot of time and requires a lot of water. But Sunbeam portable countertop dishwasher is a great option for vacation homes, apartments, rental properties and smaller home kitchens. Based on your requirements, you can select from six different washing cycles including Heavy, Speed, Normal, Eco, Glass and Rinse. The unit can be quickly and easily installed with an included faucet adapter, and needs no direct plumbing. Just connect the faucet and plug in the dishwasher. The unit also comes with a rinse aid dispense, cup shelf, stainless steel interior and cutlery basket. A timer can be set for a 2, 4 or 8-hour delay before the washing cycle begins.
Size and Capacity of the dishwasher
Sunbeam countertop dishwasher is quite portable and measures 19.7 x 21.7 x 17.2 inches
The Material
The interior of this unit is made of great quality stainless steel, which enhances the look of your kitchen. Its stylish dishwashing unit is designed to fit under just about any type of kitchen cabinet. The dishwasher is available in three colors – black, silver and white.
Wash cycle and Dry cycle
The unit comes with six different settings which can be programmed and monitored easily with the help of the electronic LED display. The lights indicate water failure, end of cycle and rinse aid.
Energy and Water Efficiency
The unit is energy star certified and consumes very less water. It hardly wastes any water, and saves you a lot of money on your water and energy bills every month.
Maintenance and Installation
This Sunbeam countertop dishwasher is specially designed for easy and quick installation. Just connect it to the kitchen faucet and plug into the outlet.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The unit comes with various settings which makes it versatile.
- The countertop dishwasher is quite compact and lightweight
- The device is easy to install.
- The countertop dishwasher is water and energy efficient and hence a good choice for all those who are worried about being eco-friendly.