Dishwasher Buying Guide

The top performers reliably wash away starchy, crusted-on messes, and will efficiently handle less stubborn goop, too—even with lower-cost (or more eco-friendly) detergents, and even in hard water (which can reduce a detergent’s cleaning ability). Details such as extra wash arms and specialty wash zones can help dishwashers clean better than models without those features in the lab, but we haven’t found other correlating factors that predict excellent cleaning in the real world.

Nylon coating on the racks is more durable than the vinyl typically found on the lowest-cost dishwashers. Folding tines can fit large items more easily, as can an upper rack with an adjustable height setting. A third rack adds capacity, though it cramps the space for tall items, and not everyone needs that extra space. Wineglass clips and specialty loading zones (laid out for specific dish shapes) tend to work as advertised. High-end features such as ball bearings, telescoping racks, and interior lights can make using the dishwasher seamless. If you are shopping in a store, consider taking some of your dishes with you to make sure they fit. Rack designs are not all the same, and dishes might not fit like they did in your old machine.

A soil sensor adjusts the cycle’s time and water use to the load’s soil level, extending the wash cycle if your dishes are still dirty. These days, you’ll find soil sensors in most dishwashers, which can improve water efficiency.

The normal cycle on most dishwashers tends to take around 2 to 2.5 hours, though there are some exceptions in both directions. Many models have auto or sensor cycles that are typically a bit quicker. Heavy cycles tend to take longer. One-hour cycles are common as well, though on some dishwashers it’s not much better than a rinse and leaves dishes soaking wet—while on others, it performs mostly as well as the normal cycle (at the expense of more water and energy). Many new models also include a “quick” or “express” cycle that can clean lightly soiled loads in as little as 20 minutes.

All modern dishwashers use mesh filters to keep food from being redeposited onto your dishes during the cycle. With most brands, the filter pops out so that you can rinse it off in your sink. Some brands’ filters don’t need to be removed and rinsed, but you’ll still have to clear any not-really-dissolvable debris (think lettuce, bread ties, and glass) from the filter by hand—those dishwashers also tend to earn mediocre scores in our lab tests and reader surveys. There are still a few models with old-school grinders that can pulverize debris before it clogs the drain, but they still have primary mesh filters that do most of the work of capturing food, and you should still expect to clean the filter from time to time. See “Why Your Dishwasher Filter Makes a Difference” for more information.

In addition to the usual light, normal, heavy, and quick cycles, some dishwashers offer single-rack, pot-scrubber, soak/scrub, steam clean, china/crystal, and sanitizing options. The sanitizing option, which is meant to disinfect the dishwasher interior, raises water temperature above the typical 140° F, but it doesn’t necessarily deliver better cleaning for dishes. Rinse/hold cycles allow you to rinse dirty dishes when you’re not quite ready to start a full cycle. This perk can reduce odors and prevent food from setting while you stack up enough dirty dishes for a full load.

Tubs will be plastic, stainless steel, or both (with steel walls and a plastic base). The material doesn’t affect the dishwasher’s cleaning performance, or its long-term durability. But plastic tubs are much more likely to develop stains over time, typically from hard-water mineral deposits. They don’t muffle noise as well as steel, either. 

All dishwashers have a tough time drying plastic containers, even if you use a rinse aid. If you can’t stand leftover moisture on your plastic, check CR’s drying ratings for an idea of the dishwashers most likely to get your dishes bone-dry. In general, dishwashers with heated-dry cycles (which essentially bake the dishes) tend to do a better job than models that rely on residual heat, but it’s not a guarantee. More recently, we’re seeing dishwashers that automatically open their doors at the end of a cycle to release steam—a feature that has proved to be quite effective, according to CR’s tests.

Controls mounted along the top edge of the door (and hidden when the door is closed) are strictly an aesthetic choice. The downside: You typically can’t see the cycle progress at a glance. Partially hidden controls are a good compromise. You’ll know when the machine is running and, often, the remaining cycle time. Some have only an indicator light that tells you the dishwasher is on.

Any dishwasher claimed to run at 45 decibels or less will be very quiet, if not practically silent, for most of its cycle. However, those advertised numbers are based on the dishwasher’s average volume over the entire cycle. That includes the drying portion of the cycle, when the machine is silent. CR has found in our testing that certain “quiet” models actually have jarring, obvious spikes in volume from time to time while they run, like the sound of the detergent door thwacking against the tub or the churn of a loud drain pump. Our ratings take those random noises into account. Another general rule: Anything rated at 55 decibels or higher is obviously loud, and can border on being a nuisance if, for example, your bedroom is next to your kitchen. For more details, see our article “Quietest Dishwashers From Consumer Reports’ Tests.”