Credit:
Reviewed / Jonathan Chan
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Credit:
Reviewed / Jonathan Chan
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.
Learn more about our product testing
The Beko DUT25401X is that it pairs an excellent, energy-efficient performance with an incredibly low price tag—a great value. Read More
This affordable Hisense dishwasher delivers reliable cleaning performance at an attractive price. The controls can be tricky to figure out, however. Read More
The Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ is a great budget option for those who primarily rely on the Normal cycle to deal with the weekly dish load. Read More
With a noise rating of 50 dBA, it's a bit louder than other Bosch dishwashers on the market, but we didn't find the sound very noticeable during testing. For best stain removal results, we recommend using the Normal and Heavy cycles, which do a great job at getting rid of really tough stains. Read More
If you want your dishwasher to look like it costs a lot more than it actually does, the Whirlpool WDT710PAHZ is the dishwasher for you. Its sleek matte stainless steel finish means that it is mostly resistant to fingerprint smudging, so it always looks brand new on the outside. Read More
A thrifty shopper knows there’s always a balance to be struck between cost and performance: The sweet spot in between is where you get the most value.
With a bigger budget, you can buy a dishwasher with all the bells and whistles, but having a smaller budget doesn't mean you have to put up with inferior stain removal. You can skip the high-end features and still find an affordable dishwasher that does a great job cleaning dishes.
Here at Reviewed, we care about consumers finding great value, which is why we brought top-rated budget dishwashers into our labs to find which ones are worth purchasing and which should be avoided.
After testing the best affordable dishwashers, we found that the Beko DUT25401X (available at Appliances Connection) offers the most value for its price by a large margin. It gets dishes spotless, but it won't clean out your bank account.
The Beko DUT25401X dishwasher features convenient racks that flip down for larger kitchen utensils.
One of the few optional extra features on the HUI6220XCUS is its top rack has adjustable height.
The Whirlpool WDT730PAHZ's cutlery basket has a grid that helps to space each utensil, making sure that each surface gets clean.
Great cleaning performance
Great features
Too expensive for what it offers
Confusing controls
Impressive cleaning for its price point
Low yearly power and water costs
Runs at a relatively quiet 51 dBA
Weak quick cycle
Had issues with redeposit
Heating rod
Lots of cycles and cycle options
None that we could find
Cleans well
Adjustable upper rack with stemware holders
Has minor issues with redeposit
Includes steam options and bottle jets
Offers Dry Boost setting
Top mounted control panel
Dry Boost leads to three hour cycle time
Good cleaning performance for its price
Portable
Had some difficulties cleaning tough stains
Not many features
Hi there! As Reviewed's former and current appliance testing team, we've spent many years testing major appliances in a controlled lab environment, but we also use them like normal people would in the course of their daily lives. All this means that we have a great sense for what appliances are bargains at their price points, and which appliances have really useful extra features.
At the end of each wash cycle, we determine how much stain has been removed from each dish. Ideally, each dish is 100% clean.
Whether testing high-end dishwashers or models that cost less than $500, we focus on three major things: performance, features, and usability.
When considering a dishwasher’s performance, we look at stain removal prowess, cycle time, drying abilities, and redeposit, the term for when water jets remove food particles from dishes only to have the bits get stuck on other dishes.
No one wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a dishwasher that can't get your dishes clean. That’s why we test each dishwasher on the three main cycles—normal, heavy, and quick wash. We loaded dishes stained with tough-to-remove food particles—milk, spinach, egg, oatmeal, meat, and more. After each cycle, we determine how much stain has been removed from the dishes.
When assessing features and usability, we look at the various cycles, cycle options, and dishwasher specs and determine how useful they are and how easy they are to use.
People on a budget shouldn’t have to settle for a “cheap dishwasher.” There are plenty of dishwashers that are both affordable and clean dishes well, but there are some other things to consider, as well.
The price of a dishwasher depends on a number of factors, including features and finish. When testing dishwashers at every price point, we consider value. Consumers can find a pretty powerful bang for their buck when shopping for affordable dishwashers. For instance, there are some budget-friendly dishwashers that clean dishes as well as models that cost twice or three times as much.
With affordable dishwashers, you shouldn’t expect the same number of features that you would find in the high-end dishwashers. Still, models in the lower price bracket can still have some of the features that you would find in the best dishwashers on the market.
For instance, most of the affordable dishwashers that we tested had either stainless steel tubs or hybrid stainless steel, not the plastic ones you would expect from a more affordable model. Typically, dishwashers with stainless steel tubs dry dishes better and are quieter than models with plastic tubs.
Additionally, all of the dishwashers we tested are Energy-Star certified. For people who are interested in how much water and energy dishwashers use, 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.
To meet Energy Star requirements, some manufacturers have eliminated dishwasher heating elements, which in turn can impact drying abilities, especially with plastic items like Tupperware. Instead, manufacturers use different ways to dry dishes.
Whether it's accomplished with rinse aid, a built-in heater, a built-in fan, or another method, people should be able to expect their dishes to be dry, as well as clean. That’s why we penalize dishwashers when dishes come out wet during our testing.
Buying a budget dishwasher doesn’t mean that you have to totally sacrifice finish and design.
The dishwashers we tested came in a number of finishes, including stainless steel. While you should be able to find a dishwasher that matches your kitchen setup and your other appliances, be ready to pay more money for any finish more sophisticated than black, white, and stainless steel.
While some of the dishwashers that we reviewed had control panels on their fronts, others were more sleek in their design, opting for top controls instead.
People who can’t afford a full-size, built-in dishwasher may want to consider a countertop or portable model.
The best countertop dishwashers cost less and take up less space than full-size units, which are about 24 inches wide. Because they’re smaller, however, they don’t wash as many place settings at one time. Portable and countertop models also don’t require additional plumbing beyond access to your kitchen faucet.
Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.
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.
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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