Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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A convertible dishwasher that comes with a counter-top, stainless steel finish and interior, and cleans dishes just as well as a built-in dishwasher. Read More
This is our second-favorite portable dishwasher. Though a smaller size than its sister model, it still cleans like a full-size and gets dishes dry. Read More
If you're looking to try out a portable dishwasher, this low-priced Danby is a great place to start. Just be careful with its fragile hose clips. Read More
If you have a smaller kitchen, the SPT SD-9263W will slot right in. Its adjustable rack should help accommodate bulkier items, but it can come loose. Read More
This Black & Decker portable dishwasher has a stainless steel tub, which helps keep noise low. Users like it overall, but note it doesn't dry well. Read More
Unlike built-in dishwashers, portable dishwashers don’t need to be installed, making them convenient and easier to move. They also don’t require any modifications to your home’s plumbing. These appliances are perfect for small kitchens and people on long trips to a vacation home or in an RV.
These models often have better cleaning quality and a significantly higher capacity when compared to counter-top models. In general, portable dishwashers offer the best of both built-in and countertop models.
Put your dishwasher next to the sink, attach its faucet adapter to the tap, and you’ll be washing dishes without ever getting your hands wet. Once your dishes and cutlery are clean and put away, just store your dishwasher away—what’s not to love?
As an added bonus, a portable dishwasher can also serve as additional counter space: You can store items on their flat tops. Just make sure to lock their wheels before using them so they don't roll away.
Here are some of the best portable dishwashers you can get right now.
Great cleaning performance
Convertible
Runs quietly
No dry cycle
Excellent cleaning quality
Completely dries dishes.
Uses a lot of water
Not many cycle options
Smaller size makes it ideal for cramped kitchens
Adjustable upper rack
Upper rack comes off too easily
Stainless steel tub
Rinse aid reminder
Doesn't dry dishes well
Runs quietly
Cleans dishes well
Very spacious
Weak drying cycle
Portable dishwashers (left) are usually on wheels and sometimes have butcher block tops to add extra functionality in the kitchen. Countertop dishwasher (right) are considerably smaller, take up less space, and fit fewer dishes.
If your kitchen doesn't have a cutout for a standard 24-inch installed dishwasher, there are two alternatives to giving up and washing everything by hand: portable or countertop dishwashers. Make sure you know the difference when you're shopping.
Portable dishwashers — These models are typically on wheels so you can roll them up to the sink when they're in use and shove them in a corner when they're not. They're typically 18 inches wide, though you can also find 24-inch-wide models. Because they're about the same height as a standard dishwasher, a portable dishwasher on wheels can hold quite a few dishes in its two racks.
Countertop dishwashers — If floor space is limited, or you just don't need to wash that many dishes, a compact countertop dishwasher may be a better choice for you. Countertop dishwashers typically cost about half as much as a portable dishwasher. They can't fit many dishes, usually can’t handle odd dishes like baby bottles, and can take up a lot of counter space, but you'll still save a lot of water and time with these mini dishwashers compared to washing your dishes manually.
Portable dishwashers have an inlet hose that screws onto the threading of your faucet, where the removable aerator would typically fit. Drain hoses usually account for the dishwasher’s waste water. If your faucet doesn't have threading at all, you may have some issues with installing countertop or portable dishwashers.
Examine your kitchen faucet carefully to ensure you can attach a hose to it before purchasing a portable or countertop dishwasher. In certain cases, you may be able to buy an adaptor for it. But in many cases your next best bet would be to replace the faucet with one that has threading.
Standard dishwashers are all the same size: 24 inches wide by 24 inches deep by 35 inches high. This means that it's super easy to shop for a dishwasher online, because you can guarantee it'll fit the space you already have in your kitchen. These portable models tend to run smaller, since they aren’t fitting into an existing space.
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the average dishwasher lasts about nine years. Appliance lifespans are shorter these days for a few reasons—broad economic factors, components being outsourced to inexpensive third-party manufacturers, and machines being made with more plastic and less metal.
Since most consumers don’t buy appliances very often, a decreased lifespan can seem all the more dramatic. It can be frustrating to see a dishwasher break down after 10 years when its predecessor chugged along for 30.
Dishwasher cycles can run the gamut from 30 minutes to four hours. Shorter cycle times are much more convenient, especially when it comes to large dinner parties, where you may need to reuse dishes from dinner when it's time for dessert.
“The amount of water a dishwasher uses varies greatly on the type and cycle selected,” Reviewed’s lab operations manager, Jonathan Chan, says. “Normal cycles on compact models can use as little as 2.5 gallons, but larger entry-level models can use up to 5 gallons."
And, although it may surprise you, dishwashers use far less water than you would by hand-washing your dishes, and smaller dishwashers (like portable and countertop models) tend to use less water than larger ones.
If you're environmentally or money conscious, the prospect of using less water and energy may be appealing to you. Be sure to check out the Energy Star rating for a dishwasher to give you an idea of what you can expect your utility bills to look like.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Julia is the Senior Scientist at Reviewed, which means that she oversees (and continually updates) the testing of products in Reviewed's core categories such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more. She also determines the testing methods and standards for Reviewed's "The Best Right Now" articles.
Lily Hartman
Staff Writer, Search
Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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