Credit:
Reviewed / Jonathan Chan
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
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
The Maytag MDB4949SKZ is an average dishwasher with some helpful features, like sanitize rinse and heated dry. Read More
The Bosch 100 Series SHE3AEM2N is an excellent entry-point into owning a Bosch. Its good cleaning and drying performance make it a nice value. Read More
The Samsung DW80R2031US has an adjustable upper rack, steam/sanitize modes, and powerful cleaning, all for a price that won't break the bank. Read More
3.9
If you don’t mind long cycle times, the affordable GE GDP645SYNFS dishwasher has to offer. 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 AJ Madison) offers the most value for its price by a large margin. It gets dishes spotless, but it won't clean out your bank account.
Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve not only compiled lists of the best dishwashers to shop, but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.
The Beko DUT25401X dishwasher features convenient racks that flip down for larger kitchen utensils.
Auto and Normal cycles scrub out most stains
Gets dishes dry
Sanitizing rinse cycle
Cleaning performance is low compared to peers
Lacks customization
Appropriate cleaning power
Gets most dishes dry
Smart features
Some features only accessible via app
Lacks some common rack features
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
Hi there! As Reviewed's appliance testing team, we've spent many years putting major appliances through their paces. We use both a controlled lab environment with standardized testing and also use the product just like you would in your own home. 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.
Shoot us an email
4.1
