Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton
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Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton
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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The Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N is a near-perfect dishwasher. It scrubbed out every stain we threw at it, in record time, and has great smart features. Read More
The G 5266 blows most other dishwashers out of the water. If your budget can accommodate its premium price, it's one of the best models you can buy. Read More
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This Bosch is one of the best dishwashers we've ever tested. It gets dishes clean and dry, quickly, and is ADA-compliant. Read More
This feature-filled Bosch dishwasher offers a quiet cleaning experience with a lot of adjustabilities to ensure dishes of all sizes can get clean. Read More
Here at Reviewed, we've spent thousands of hours studying, testing, and writing about dishwashers. Who doesn't love an appliance that saves you from having to hand-scrub burnt-on casserole?
When the wash cycle is over, though, nobody likes having to towel off wet dishes before putting them away. If you're looking to buy the best dishwasher that dries dishes, you've come to the right place. We've pulled together a list of dishwashers that earned top marks in our drying tests, while also not skimping on stain-fighting strength.
At no surprise to our lab staff, the best dishwasher that dries dishes is the Bosch SHP78CM5N (available at Wayfair) , not only because of its efficient Zeolite drying, but also its excellent cleaning and high-end aesthetics.
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.
It cleans even stubborn stains completely
Fast cycle times
It dries dishes
Controls can be finicky
Some options only available on app
Effective Heavy Duty cycle
Dries dishes completely
Foldable tines and repositionable racks
Dishes got less clean towards the center of the bottom rack
Third rack
Adjustable tines
Lots of features
Cleaning power was low for its price
High-end aesthetics
Third rack, bottle jets, and smart features
Inconsistent cleaning
Not the best value at its current price
Here at Reviewed, we test all appliances in our Cambridge-based labs—dishwashers included. Our chief scientist and staff have developed a standardized testing and review process that ensures all our results are directly comparable, allowing us to determine which models excel and which ones lag behind their peers.
Testing how well a dishwasher cleans requires we need a constant supply of dirty dishes. We manually apply standardized stains to a full load of dishes, to ensure each dishwasher is facing the same cleaning challenge, consisting of cheese-crusted casserole pans, milk-stained glasses, and spinach puree-painted plates.
At the end of each cycle, we measure how much stain remains on each dish. Ideally, each dish is 100% clean, but our tests are deliberately designed to make this task difficult, so it's rare to see completely clean dishes.
We keep an eye out for any redeposit, which is when the dishwasher cleans off bits of food, doesn't filter those particles out properly, and sprays them back onto another dish.
We also look at a dishwasher’s ability to dry dishes after each wash cycle. Customers expect their dishes to be dry before they put them away, and nobody wants to have to manually towel them off.
Learn more about how we test dishwashers.
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While you can buy a budget dishwasher for under $600, if you're looking for a dishwasher that dries your dishes you'll likely have to spend a bit more: A common problem with cheaper dishwashers is that dishes often come out wet.
Between the price and hassle of getting a new large appliance installed, picking the right dishwasher is a decision you want to get right the first time. Here are some important factors to keep in mind while shopping for a dishwasher that dries dishes.
Just like refrigerators, ranges, and other major appliances, dishwashers often come in different finishes.
Stainless steel is currently one of the most popular and common finishes, and a metallic sheen tends to fit well in just about any style of kitchen. Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel is a great upgrade that won't show smudges. Black stainless is also an option for some models, though it often comes at an additional cost.
Basic matte finishes—most commonly white and black—are also frequently available. Once you start getting into higher-end models, you'll also start seeing some bold, innovative finishes, like champagne, platinum glass, navy steel, and Tuscan steel.
Remember to keep the rest of your appliances' finishes in mind while shopping, to make sure your kitchen fits together aesthetically.
In our dishwasher lab, we focus on testing a dishwasher's normal, heavy, and quick wash cycles. These are the three major cycles that almost all dishwashers have. While higher-end models often have significantly more options to choose from, in our experience these are mostly superfluous.
That being said, there are a handful of extra wash cycles that actually do provide helpful functionality. A sanitize cycle, for example, is excellent for newer families that want to keep their baby bottles free from germs. If you have a lot of fine or heirloom dishware, some higher-end dishwashers have gentler cycles available to help keep them protected.
A dishwasher's cleaning performance is its most important quality, but features can sometimes help provide additional functionality or improve the overall user experience. Other times features simply inflate the price without providing much additional value.
Some of the more helpful features help you make space to ensure everything gets washed. Adjustable racks create enough room for deeper pots and pans. Foldable tines let you easily accommodate bulky cookware or ceramics. Third racks can be helpful for storing spatulas, ladles, and other larger utensils that are too big for the cutlery basket. Reusable water bottles, thermoses, or other tall, narrow containers are often difficult for a dishwasher to clean properly, but a bottle jet ensures they'll get scrubbed out.
A stainless steel tub has become nearly ubiquitous, and it's great for ensuring a quieter wash than a plastic-lined tub. Some higher-end models come equipped with a turbidity sensor, which lets them detect if dishes are still soiled and lengthen the wash cycle to make sure everything comes out spotless.
There are also smart features, though these tend to have more niche usefulness. Remote control can be easier and more accessible than the on-board controls. Notifications can be helpful if you need to quickly run a few wash cycles back-to-back. You can also sometimes indicate a higher-intensity wash zone to ensure particularly stubborn stains get scrubbed away.
Just keep in mind that features almost always increase the price of the dishwasher: If you don't think you'll use a feature, try to find a model without it to save some money.
If you ever used a dishwasher growing up, chances are that you remember each dish coming out sparkling clean, dry, and warm to the touch. Now, as an adult, confronted with water droplets on your nice plates and standing water in your Tupperware containers, it probably seems like a betrayal of your dishwasher memories of the past.
However, as it turns out, there are two very good reasons why your dishes may not come out perfectly dry: energy efficiency and plastics.
There are lots of different techniques dishwashers employ to get your dishes dry. Many dishwashers used to include an exposed heating element at the bottom of the dishwasher. At the end of a dishwasher cycle, the dishwasher would automatically turn on the heating element, which would heat up the inside of the dishwasher and cause the leftover water to evaporate away.
Now, though, in an effort to make dishwashers more energy efficient (and more easily able to meet Energy Star requirements), many manufacturers have done away with the heating element.
If you do see a drying option on your dishwasher's control panel, but it doesn't explicitly say that heating is involved, it's probably a ventilation fan that will help get rid of condensation inside the dishwasher after a cycle is over. If your dishwasher has a "heated dry" option, then your dishwasher has a heating element.
However, there are tradeoffs for heated drying—slightly higher energy bills and the possibility of melted Tupperware if it gets too close to the heating element. That brings me to the second reason why your dishes might not be getting as dry as you would have hoped.
Dishwashers have a harder time drying plastics (such as Tupperware, sports bottles, baby bottles, etc.) because plastics are harder to dry in general.
Plastics do not retain heat the same way ceramic, metal, and glass do, so while residual heat from the warm water of the dishwasher cycle can make normal dishes warm enough that they can evaporate away any remaining water droplets, plastics do not share that ability.
Additionally, most plastics are light enough that they can be tossed around by the water jets, so even though you placed your Tupperware containers upside down on the upper rack, there's still a good chance that it will end up right side up, with water at the bottom.
Other than buying one of the dishwashers on this list, you can use rinse aid, which will make it easier for your dishwasher to dry all of your dishes.
Despite its name, rinse aid has very little to do with rinsing and everything to do with drying. Rinse aid's hydrophobic properties make it more difficult for water to collect and stay on your dishes; most water slides off, leaving the dishes water- and water-spot-free.
You can easily buy rinse aid in any grocery store or online.
Full-size dishwashers can typically hold 14-to-16 place settings. Loading a dishwasher can be an art, and can often lead to arguments.
Here are the basics: Plates and serving dishes go on the bottom rack, glasses and bowls go on the top rack, and, if you have one, serving spoons, spatulas, and other larger utensils sit up on the third rack.
Don’t overload your dishwasher. Keep in mind that the spray jets can only clean what they're able to hit, and if you cram in too many dishes there may be some surfaces they can't reach. An overloaded dishwasher often ends its wash cycles with dirty dishes.
A common assumption is that you don't need to clean your dishwasher because it's already spraying soapy suds everywhere. Unfortunately, this isn't the case: It's important to clean your dishwasher every few months to ensure no bacterial build-up and unwanted odors.
Fortunately, cleaning your dishwasher is easy and only requires two ingredients: white vinegar and baking soda.
First, pour a cup of white vinegar into the dishwasher and run it on its heavy cycle. After the cycle is complete, sprinkle some baking soda over the bottom of the dishwasher and let it sit overnight. In the morning, run another wash cycle while the dishwasher is still empty. That's it!
Clean clothes and your washing machine at the same time with vinegar.
Keep things clean and odorless by cleaning with baking soda.
You'll also need to clean your dishwasher's filter regularly. This can be a gross job at the best of times, but it will only get grosser the longer you put off the task.
To clean your dishwasher filter, all you need is dish soap and a scrub brush.
Twist the filter out of the bottom of the dishwasher’s tub, scrub it under the tap with the soap and brush, and rinse it clean.
Easy, right? Now for the bad news: You ideally need to do this on a weekly basis. A clean filter will keep your dishwasher running smoother for longer, and ensures none of that gross bacterial build-up gets sprayed onto your dishes.
We have a guide available on how to install a dishwasher. There, we outline how to do the job yourself, as well as when it's time to call a professional.
Before attempting to take the DIY route, consider if you have basic plumbing and electrical skills necessary to hook up a new dishwasher. The set-up can be complex, has to adhere to state requirements, and mistakes can quickly cause flooding, which can extensively damage your home. You'll also need a plan for how to get rid of your old appliance.
In many cases, it's better to just have a professional do it.
Most big box stores will have an option available to install a new dishwasher and cart away the old one. Sometimes this will be built into the price of the machine and sometimes you'll have to pay an additional fee for the service.
The average dishwasher lasts roughly nine years, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. We recommend checking out this InterNACHI chart on standard estimated life expectancies for all types of home products. It has information on dishwashsers and other major appliances.
When we spoke to appliance repair experts, they had a slightly more optimistic estimate, claiming a good dishwasher should last 10-to-13 years.
We currently don't perform any long-term testing for durability or operational lifespan. Based on what we've seen from user reviews, though, the lifespan of a dishwasher can vary dramatically by brand and model.
You can find budget models like Hotpoint, Amana, and Beko available for under $600. More midrange models typically range from $600 to about $1,000, with most options clustered around the $800 price point.
Once you get over $1,000, you'll start to see higher-end models that are packed with special features that boast near-perfect cleaning performance available from brands like Bosch, Café, Samsung, Frigidaire Pro, and GE Profile.
Over $1,600 and you're looking at more luxe models, which often have more of an emphasis on aesthetics in addition to superb performance and features. This is where you'll start seeing brands like Miele, Fisher & Paykel, Bertazzoni, and Viking.
In many cases? Yes. But it depends.
You should expect the average dishwasher to last about 10 years. A replacement will typically cost you about $800, assuming you aren't looking for a budget model or something particularly fancy.
If your current dishwasher is towards the end of that decade-long lifecycle, then yes, it probably is cheaper to just buy a new dishwasher. Newer models are often a lot more efficient in terms of electricity and water usage, which can add up to lots of savings on your utility bills over time.
If you do decide to buy a new dishwasher, make sure you have a plan for how to dispose of your old appliance. Many stores can cart away your older model for an additional fee, but there are also other options available if you'd rather do it yourself.
All built-in dishwashers are either 24 or 18 inches wide and connect directly to the water intake in your kitchen. Make sure to measure the width of your available space to make sure you're buying the right size.
If you want a dishwasher that sits flush with your cabinetry, you'll also need to measure the available depth.
Double-check all measurements before purchasing—taking a few minutes to get these right will save you a huge headache when later, when there's an ill-fitting appliance sitting in your home.
That being said, there really isn't much to a dishwasher's size. This is partially why they're so easy to shop for online.
Fun fact: Dishwashers use less water than hand-washing.
According to Jonathan Chan, Reviewed's lab operations manager, "The amount of water a dishwasher uses varies greatly on type and cycle selected. Normal cycles on compact models can use as little as 2.5 gallons, but larger entry-level models can use up to 5 gallons."
Part of our lab testing involves measuring exactly how much water and electricity are used during wash cycles. Under the assumption of 208 cycles per year (4 per week), of which 25% are fast, 50% are normal, and 25% are heavy, we're able to approximate a dishwasher's annual resource usage.
The Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N, our current pick for best dishwasher, uses 750 gallons per year. Our current Best Value winner, the Beko DUT25401X, uses slightly less: 731 gallons per year. Interestingly, our upgrade pick, the Miele G 5266 SCVi uses the least amount of water: just 626 gallons per year.
New dishwashers come out each year, each with its own set of unique features and engineering improvements. Rarely these improvements will become a new standard—more often than not, though, they end just being a gimmick and a waste of money.
Because every brand has produced models that are overpriced for their performance and features, it's difficult to definitively say that any one is better than any other: It all comes down to the performance of individual models.
That being said, there are a few brands that tend to perennially occupy our lists of top performers. Brands like Bosch, Miele, KitchenAid, Thermador, LG, and Samsung all tend to be capable of producing models that out-perform the competition. Bosch in particular is remarkably consistent in their quality.
We don't perform any long-term tests that gauge a product's reliability over time. As such, we don't have any data that indicates which brands produce more durable, long-lived products.
Based on the data we do have, we suspect longevity likely differs on a model-to-model basis, rather than a brand-to-brand basis. Most brands typically offer dishwashers across the whole spectrum, from budget to high-end, and the latter will almost certainly prove more reliable than the former.
A dishwasher's warranty is one of the better stand-ins for a dishwasher's reliability. The industry standard warranty is 1 year of coverage for parts and service, though many manufacturers often go above and beyond that minimum. Bosch, for example, will cover racks and circuitry for up to 5 years and will replace rusted stainless-steel fixtures for the life of the product. LG covers the control board and rack for up to 5 years, the motor for up to 10 years, and the stainless steel door liner has lifetime coverage.
Be cautious about claims that aren't backed up by a warranty. For example, Miele claims their products last for 20 years, but doesn't offer a warranty to match: Their 2-year warranty, though longer than the industry standard, falls far short of their marketing claims.
There is a correlation between a dishwasher's price and its overall quality, but we've tested a ton of models that are overpriced and underperform. Paying more is no guarantee that the produce will perform better.
As a general rule, though, a higher price should indicate at least one of the following:
The answer to this depends on your available budget and individual needs.
In general, a higher-end dishwasher is going to last longer than a budget model, it's going to offer more consistent cleaning, and it's going to have more helpful features.
If you're used to a lower-end dishwasher, you may not have any problem with its eccentricities, but moving from a high-end model to a lower-end one may be a frustrating experience. The user experience may provide more friction, the machine may not accommodate all your dishes, and you may find dishes aren't as clean after a wash cycle. It can be difficult to put a price to all these different sources of friction.
If you're looking at it from a purely price-based perspective, assuming a budget model costs about $500 and a higher-end model costs about $1,000, that means the higher-end model has to last twice as long as the cheaper model.
Unfortunately, because we don't test for reliability over time, we don't have a body of data about reliance over time to draw from.
According to our body of test results, the current #1 dishwasher is the Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N dishwasher. It can scrub out even difficult stains consistently, it has a ton of helpful extra features, its well-designed, and it's backed by an excellent warranty.
Of course, it's only our current #1 dishwasher. New dishwashers come out each year and old winners are eventually discontinued. The #1 dishwasher is a constantly-changing title.
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.
Leigh Harrington has 25 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At USA TODAY and Reviewed, Harrington oversees large appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and laundry, and manages Reviewed's overall home content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, and parenting. She focuses on developing and editing consumer ed content, product reviews and buying guides, but she also writes, too.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Boston, an adult coloring book. www.leighharrington.com
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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