5 Best Dishwashers of 2024, Tested by Cleaning Experts

When we test dishwashers, we challenge them with dirtier loads than you would ever have at home. And, we never pre-rinse anything before loading it in. Plus we assess the capacity and flexibility of all the racks, trays and baskets and evaluate how easy each dishwasher is to use, load and program.

Prior to testing the cleaning performance of various cycles, we uniformly apply, then bake-, dry- and burn-on mac and cheese, hamburger, oatmeal, egg yolk, milk and more to cookware (pictured) and 10 five-piece settings of dishes, glassware, cups, saucers and flatware. We even "kiss" each coffee cup with lipstick, a stain that many dishwashers struggle to completely remove.

Between staining, drying and cleaning each load, we spend at least 7 hours testing just one cycle, not counting the time it takes to examine each piece once the cycle is done. We test multiple cycles on each machine, including any special options and the app if the machine works with one.

We follow the manufacturer’s loading guidelines and use the same detergent in each machine to wash our dirty loads. Post-cleaning, we look for and note water spots left after drying, and we examine and score every item for any specks of soil that remain. The glasses are checked and scored for spots and leftover film in a special lightbox (pictured). A weighted cleaning score is calculated for each cycle, and all the cycle scores are averaged to get an overall cleaning score for each dishwasher. We also assess and rate each appliance for energy efficiency and sound and note any special features, like fingerprint-resistant stainless steel fronts.

Fortunately, you don't have to decide what size to buy. Unlike the best refrigerators or ranges, virtually all dishwashers — except for compacts and countertops — are a standard 24 inches wide and will fit into the space your current one now occupies. Here's what else to keep in mind:

✔️ Dishwasher cycles: When buying a new dishwasher, you’ll want the basics (and some bells and whistles too):

• Auto or Smart Wash: Dishwashers now have soil sensors, so you'll see cycles called "Auto" or "Smart Wash." These cycles adjust the length of the cycle and the amount of water to better match the soil level of your loads. For a lightly soiled load, the cycle is shorter and uses less water. If the dishwasher senses a particularly dirty load, it adds time and water for better cleaning. We suggest that these sensor cycles replace "normal" as your go-to setting to get the best cleaning. Normal has become the best option for lightly soiled loads.
• Heavy-duty is best for dishwasher-safe pots and pans.
• Quick rinse or rinse only is ideal for when you don’t have enough items to run a full load. This cycle is being removed from some control panels as manufacturers find consumers are not using it, but some may still offer it as an option through an app.
• Dry boosting means drier, more spot-free results, especially on glassware and plastic. It can go by a variety of names, like Turbo Dry or Extra Dry.
• Delay start is great if you want to run the dishwasher during off-peak energy hours or in the middle of the night when water use in your household is low.
• Sanitizing cycle kills bacteria with time and a high-heat rinse (ideal for use if someone in the house is ill). Look for dishwashers where NSF (an independent testing organization) has certified the sanitizing cycle to make sure it kills germs to the required levels to sanitize.
• China or delicate cycles are best for fragile items.
• Half-load cycles are for washes with just a few items placed in either the top or bottom rack.
• Speed cycle is ideal for cleaning lightly soiled items you need in a hurry, like extra glasses during a party. Many offer cycles that clean and dry in up to one hour.

✔️ Dishwasher racks: As you’ll soon find out, not all dishwasher racks are created equal. Here are the features we recommend considering:

• Mobility: When you are shopping, slide the racks in and out to make sure they are sturdy and roll smoothly, and check how easily they adjust.
• Spacing: Some shelves have very narrow spacing between the tines while others provide more room for thick or curved plates. Consider if they will accommodate the items you wash most often: If there’s a platter or plate you want to be sure fits into a new dishwasher, bring it with you to the store!
• Top-tier rack: Many dishwashers now come with three racks — the usual two and a shallow top tray that often replaces the traditional flatware basket for utensils, small bowls and other items. Using it frees up space in the bottom rack and ensures everything has enough room to get fully clean.
• Flexibility: Racks with fold-down shelves for stacking cups or fold-down or removable tines to better accommodate large or oddly-shaped items, stemware clips and even pop-up holders for vases and decanters can mean you can fit more things in easily. These moving parts should be easy to adjust and snap securely in place to prevent movement and breakage during the cycle.

✔️ Dishwasher tub: The two most popular materials used inside the dishwasher are stainless steel and plastic. Both can be durable, but our vote here goes to stainless steel. Once reserved only for the most expensive models, stainless steel tubs are common on virtually all but the most inexpensive machines these days. Stainless steel retains heat, stays clean and lasts forever.

✔️ Dishwasher door: This decision is purely a matter of personal preference. Here's what you'll see when you hit the stores or online sites:

• Controls can be visible so you can see the status of the cycle and the time remaining, while other models have hidden controls for a sleeker look. More models with hidden controls have front-facing lights or display the time to better help you monitor a cycle's progress and alert you when it's finished.
• Handles on the front are more likely to match the other appliances in your kitchen like the refrigerator or range. Recessed or pocket handles are hidden and won't protrude into the kitchen space.
• Door panels mostly come pre-finished with stainless steel, black or other standard panels but high-end models can also accommodate custom panels to match your kitchen cabinets for an invisible look.
• The finish can be traditional stainless steel, black stainless, matte black, white or bronze tones to add warmth and variety. Whichever you select, don’t forget to ask if the door panel is fingerprint-resistant. Many brands offer it, and you’ll be glad you got it. Top-of-the-line models come ready to accept a front panel that matches your cabinet fronts for a seamless look.

✔️ Energy efficiency: All dishwashers carry Energy Guide labels, so you can compare models for how much energy they use and approximately how much they will cost you per year to run. For a dishwasher, energy use is almost entirely tied to water use. The less water it uses, the less energy it consumes. All new dishwashers use less water per cycle than those made 10 or even five years ago and can be considered efficient, especially since they have to pass federal energy efficiency standard tests. Manufacturers usually do all their required energy testing on the normal or auto cycle and calculate the cost based on an average number of cycles. So, if you do more loads than average or use other cycles, you'll likely use more water. Energy Star-certified models are even more efficient than the federal standards require. And the costs are figured on water from an electric water heater, so if your water is heated by gas your yearly cost to run the dishwasher may be less than what's shown on the guide label. Don't worry that long cycles use a lot more energy. They don't. They still use little water and the machine itself doesn't add much to the appliance's energy usage.

✔️ Loudness: Dishwashers are one of the few appliances where manufacturers disclose the decibel level of the model based on standard testing (check on the manufacturer's website if you can't find it in-store). The quietest models are around 40 dB or below.

Today's dishwashers have an average lifespan of about 10 years. And as long as it is installed correctly and you take care of it by loading it correctly and keeping the dishwasher clean and maintained, those 10+ years should be trouble-free and may even stretch to 15 years or more.

However, warranties exist for a reason. Sometimes things do go wrong. Most appliance manufacturers offer at least a one-year full warranty, meaning that both parts and labor are covered for any repairs within the first year. If you need repair, it's always best to use a manufacturer-authorized repair service. They have access to the correct parts and the most up-to-date information from your model's manufacturer. Using an unauthorized repair service, especially on a new machine, can be problematic and leave you without recourse if something goes wrong. At the very least, you may have to fork over the cost of another service call to reassess the situation.

After the first year of the warranty expires, some manufacturers offer limited five-year (or more) warranties on parts (not labor), like the electronic controls and racks should they be defective. Some offer lifetime warranties for the stainless steel door and tub if they should rust through. Always check the warranty terms for any model you are considering. Before the first year full warranty is up, we recommend using the appliance often and trying as many cycles and options as you can to make sure all work to your satisfaction.

There are dishwashers to fit every budget. You could get a very basic, bare-bones model with only a few cycles in a standard finish for about $500. What you likely won't get is a model with a wide assortment of cycles, a stainless steel interior tub, stylized controls, flexible racks, a front panel that matches your cabinets or one that's noticeably quiet. For those perks, you'll have to trade up.

While it's not necessary to go totally top-of-the-line to get good cleaning performance, spending at least $1000 to $1500 will get you solid cleaning performance along with a nice assortment of perks and maybe even Wi-Fi connectivity. At the very least, we recommend getting a stainless steel tub, all the basic cycle features — including a boosted drying option — and if possible a fingerprint-resistant door.

Carolyn Forté is a consumer products expert with over 4o years of experience evaluating cleaning products and appliances for Good Housekeeping, including dishwashers and dishwasher detergents. She has attended and presented at many industry events related to dishwashing and writes the "Inside the GH Cleaning Lab" column for the magazine.

She regularly interacts with appliance and detergent manufacturers to stay on top of the latest technologies. Some of the most frequently asked questions Carolyn answers are about how to properly load a dishwasher and whether pre-rinsing is really necessary (often to settle the all-too-common marital and family spats). In Carolyn's opinion, dishes aren't worth fighting over!