Are Countertop Dishwashers Worth It?

On this page (9 sections)

1. Are countertop dishwashers worth it for a small kitchen?
2. How much counter space does a countertop dishwasher need?
3. Do countertop dishwashers clean as well as full-size machines?
4. Is a water tank or a faucet hookup better?
5. What should you check before you buy one?
6. Which countertop dishwasher fits a first small kitchen?
7. Who should pick the faucet-connected SPT instead?
8. Do you need extra fittings for the faucet hookup?
9. Are countertop dishwashers worth it?

Yes, for most small kitchens and 1 to 2 people. A countertop dishwasher turns daily hand-washing into a load you can run overnight, as long as you have roughly 22 inches of free counter and accept smaller loads and a tank or faucet hookup.

The real question is not whether these machines clean dishes. It is whether the counter space, the smaller basket and the way you fill or hook them up fit how you actually live.

This guide walks through that decision.

Are countertop dishwashers worth it for a small kitchen?

They are worth it when counter space is the only space you have. In an apartment or rental with no room for a built-in unit, a countertop model is the difference between a dishwasher and no dishwasher at all.

The trade is simple. You give up a stretch of countertop, and in return you stop standing at the sink with a sponge.

For one or two people, that stretch is often the least-used part of the kitchen anyway.

The numbers make the case clearer. A 6 place setting countertop machine holds enough for a day of dishes for two people.

You load it once, run it, and unload the next morning.

What you don't get is a full-size load. A 6 place setting unit handles plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery, but a large stockpot or a full dinner service for four won't fit.

If your household cooks big meals most nights, the smaller basket becomes the limiting factor.

How much counter space does a countertop dishwasher need?

Plan for about 22 inches wide and 20 inches deep, plus clearance above. The SPT SD-2224DS measures 21.65 inches wide, 19.69 inches deep and 17.24 inches high.

The Hermitlux unit is smaller at 16.85 inches wide and 18.03 inches high.

Height matters as much as footprint. Hermitlux says to leave at least 19.88 inches between the countertop and the wall cabinets.

A machine that won't slide under the upper cabinets limits you to an open counter run.

Measure three things before you buy: the free counter width, the depth from the wall to the counter edge, and the gap up to the cabinets. Then check the door swing.

A unit placed in a corner needs room for the door to open fully while you load it.

If you're weighing the space against a fixed appliance, our comparison of countertop dishwasher vs built in lays out the footprint and installation differences.

Do countertop dishwashers clean as well as full-size machines?

Yes for everyday dishes, with one catch: you must load them so water can reach every surface. Both machines here use spray arms and hot water.

The Hermitlux model adds dual high water pressure spraying arms and a hot-air drying stage.

Where a countertop unit falls short is capacity and loading flexibility. Full-size racks hold plates upright in wide rows.

A compact basket makes you angle plates and stack bowls carefully.

A "6 place setting countertop dishwasher" usually means six settings of plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery in one compact basket. That's plenty for two people, but it leaves little room for serving dishes.

The Hermitlux model has a 4 place setting capacity and fits dishes up to 10.25 inches loaded at an angle. The SPT model lists a 6 place setting rack with a silverware basket.

If you cook for more than two, either basket fills fast.

Is a water tank or a faucet hookup better?

A tank model is better for renters and anyone who can't touch the plumbing. A faucet hookup is better for daily use in a kitchen you own.

A tank unit needs no installation at all, while a faucet unit needs an adapter and a free faucet.

The Hermitlux model has a built-in 5L water tank. You fill it with the included funnel and run a load without connecting anything.

It also supports a faucet mode if you want to skip the manual fill.

The SPT model connects to your kitchen faucet through a universal faucet adapter and quick connect. It doesn't carry a tank, so each load needs the faucet free for the cycle.

The faucet route means you can't use the sink while the dishwasher runs. That's fine overnight, less convenient during a busy evening.

A tank model frees the sink, but you fill it by hand each time.

If you go the faucet route and your faucet threading doesn't match, the Hibbent adapter bridges the gap. Its top side has 15/16 inch male external threads and 55/64 inch female internal threads.

What should you check before you buy one?

Check the fit, the water route and the cycle choices first. These three things decide whether the machine earns its counter space or becomes a drying rack.

• Fit: width, depth, height and cabinet clearance.
• Water: tank or faucet, and whether the faucet stays free during a cycle.
• Cycles: a quick wash for light loads and a heavier program for greasy dishes.
• Capacity: how many place settings, and whether your largest plates fit at an angle.

The SPT unit offers 7 wash cycles: heavy, normal, light, mini party, rinse, speed and soak. It also has a delay start you can set for two, four, six or eight hours.

A delay start is genuinely useful if you want the machine to run after dinner while you're out.

The Hermitlux model runs 5 programs: standard, fast, ECO, strong and fruit cleaning. The fruit cycle is a nice extra for washing produce.

The SPT unit shows water supply and rinse aid warning indicators on its display.

For a deeper walk through specs and fit, see our guide on how to choose a countertop dishwasher.

Which countertop dishwasher fits a first small kitchen?

The Hermitlux model is the easier first buy for a rental or dorm because it needs no plumbing. It scored 7.8 on our scale, and its built-in 5L tank means you can run it the day it arrives.

Its footprint is compact: 16.85 inches wide by 16.73 inches deep by 18.03 inches high. That fits more counter runs than the SPT unit.

The glass door lets you watch the cycle, and the top touch buttons keep the controls within reach.

The 4 place setting basket suits one or two people. If you regularly cook for three or more, the smaller basket means more frequent runs.

Skip it if you want a larger rack and would rather hook to the faucet.

Who should pick the faucet-connected SPT instead?

Pick the SPT SD-2224DS if your faucet stays free during a cycle and you want more rack room. It scored 7 on our scale, and its 6 place setting basket and 7 cycles give you more options per load.

The delay start is its best feature for a working household. Load after dinner, set a four hour delay, and the dishes are done while you sleep.

The stainless steel interior and silverware basket are practical details for daily use.

It stands 17.24 inches high and 21.65 inches wide, so measure your counter gap first. It also needs the faucet adapter in place and the sink free for the whole cycle.

That rules it out for some shared kitchens.

Neither machine replaces a full-size dishwasher for a big family. For two people who cook most nights, either one removes the sink chore.

Our roundup of the best countertop dishwashers compares more options if neither fit suits your counter.

Do you need extra fittings for the faucet hookup?

Only if your faucet threading doesn't match the machine's adapter. Most faucets fit the universal adapter that ships with a faucet-connected unit.

If yours doesn't, a snap-on adapter solves it.

The Hibbent 2-pack gives you two adapters with a brass body and a 360 degree swivel ball joint. The swivel matters when your faucet sits close to the wall or the machine sits at an angle.

The adapter also works as a faucet aerator when no dishwasher is attached, so the faucet stays usable.

It scored 7.8 on our scale. The dual threads cover 15/16 inch male and 55/64 inch female fittings.

The snap-on quick connect lets you move the hose on and off without rethreading.

Skip it if your faucet already takes the adapter in the box. Buy it when the hose won't seat and you'd rather not change the faucet.

Are countertop dishwashers worth it?

They are worth it if you have the counter space and one or two people to wash for. You trade a patch of counter for the end of daily hand-washing, and that trade usually pays off in a small kitchen.

Go with the Hermitlux model if you rent, want no plumbing, or need the smallest footprint. Choose the SPT unit if your faucet stays free and you'd use the extra rack space and delay start.

Add the Hibbent adapters only if your faucet won't take the supplied fitting.

Skip a countertop unit if your household runs through several loads a day or you regularly wash stockpots and large serving dishes. In that case a full-size machine earns its space better.

For everyone else in a small kitchen, the answer to whether these machines are worth it is a practical yes.

Frequently asked questions

Do countertop dishwashers use a lot of water?

No. A full cycle uses less water than filling a sink to hand-wash the same dishes.

The Hermitlux unit uses 0.38 kWh per cycle.

The savings are small but real compared with a basin of hot running water.

Do I need to hook a countertop dishwasher to a faucet?

Not always. Some models run from a built-in tank you fill by hand, while others connect to your kitchen faucet with an adapter.

A tank model needs no plumbing at all, which is why it suits rentals and dorm rooms.

Can a countertop dishwasher go under a cabinet?

Only if you have enough clearance. Hermitlux says to keep at least 19.88 inches between the counter and the wall cabinets.

The SPT unit stands 17.24 inches high, so measure the gap above your counter before you buy.

How long does a countertop dishwasher cycle take?

It depends on the program. A quick wash finishes sooner, while heavy and soak cycles run longer.

Most machines offer a short cycle for lightly soiled dishes and a heavier one for pots and greasy plates, so you can match the run to the load.