Small Dishwasher Dimensions: Countertop and Portable

On this page (10 sections)

1. Dimensions for countertop and portable dishwashers
2. What width and depth mean on your counter
3. Height and the cabinet above
4. Width and place settings
5. Outside size and inside space
6. Weight and moving the unit
7. Hose and cord lengths set how far the unit can sit
8. How to measure your space in four steps
9. What the size numbers leave out
10. Choose a small dishwasher by its dimensions

Small dishwasher dimensions run from about 16.5 inches wide for a tank countertop model to 23.6 inches wide and 35.6 inches tall for a rolling portable. This guide puts the width, depth, height and weight of eight countertop and portable models into one place.

Two models with similar names can differ by several inches, so the numbers matter more than the name on the box.

The figures are the sizes and weights the makers give. Below the table, you will find what those numbers mean for your counter, your cabinets and your floor.

For the full map of countertop and portable types, see the countertop and portable dishwashers guide.

Dimensions for countertop and portable dishwashers

Tank models are the narrowest in this group, and the rolling model is the widest and the tallest. The table gives the width, depth, height and weight for each of the eight models in this guide.

The HAVA weight is converted from 13 kg. A few makers give slightly different sizes in different places, so check the exact inches before you order.

Small dishwasher dimensions and the 18-inch name

The BLACK+DECKER rolling model carries 18-inch in its name, but it is 23.6 inches wide and 17.6 inches deep. Measure your floor space against those figures, not the name.

If you are choosing between a rolling model and a tank model, the countertop vs portable dishwasher comparison lays out the trade-offs.

What width and depth mean on your counter

Width is the side-to-side space the unit takes along the counter, and depth is the front-to-back space from the wall. Both must fit with room for the door and the dish rack.

Measure the counter, not just the cabinet

Measure the counter width at the front and at the back, and measure the depth from the wall to the front edge. Use the smaller of the two widths when you compare the numbers with the table.

Allow room for the door and the rack

Open space in front of the unit matters as much as the footprint. BLACK+DECKER says the BCD6W comes with a slide-out dish rack for full access, so plan a clear path in front of it.

Height and the cabinet above

Tank models stand 17.2 to 18.2 inches tall, and the makers ask for about 19 to 20 inches of space above the counter.

COMFEE' says more than 19.6 inches, EUHOMY says more than 19 inches, and Hermitlux says at least 20.08 inches between the countertop and the wall cabinets.

A tank model that is 18.2 inches tall leaves less than 2 inches in that gap at the makers' minimums. Measure your gap before you buy, not after the unit arrives.

What the faucet-fed and rolling heights mean

The faucet-fed models stand 17.2 inches tall, which matches the shortest tank model. The rolling model is 35.6 inches tall, so measure the space around it, not just the space above a counter.

A unit set under a sink is a separate question. Read Can You Put a Countertop Dishwasher Under the Sink? before you plan that spot.

Width and place settings

Place settings run from 4 to 8 across these models, and plate limits run from 9.5 to 12 inches. The table below sets out the capacity and the plate limit for each model in this guide.

Width alone does not predict capacity. The 16.7-inch HAVA tank model holds four full place settings, while the 21.7-inch COMFEE' six-place model holds six.

A narrow frame can still take wide plates. NOVETE says dishes up to 12 inches fit when they are loaded at an angle.

For picks with tanks, see Best Countertop Dishwashers With a Water Tank.

Outside size and inside space

The outside size tells you what fits on the counter, and the inside size tells you what fits in the tub. The two numbers are not the same, so check both when a particular load matters to you.

What the NOVETE inside size means

NOVETE gives an inside size of 13 by 13.77 by 10.83 inches with the tableware basket in place. That is the working space for dishes, and it sits inside a 16.9-inch-wide outside frame.

The basket and rack take part of that space, so a tall platter may not fit even when the outside height looks right. Measure the tallest item you wash before you assume it will go in.

Weight and moving the unit

The tank models weigh 28 to 37 pounds, the faucet-fed models about 46 pounds, and the rolling model 116 pounds. Weight decides who can move the unit and how often it gets moved.

Lifting a countertop model

Four of the five tank models weigh about 28 to 31 pounds, and the COMFEE' 1.32-gallon model weighs 36.6. The 46-pound faucet-fed models are heavier, so plan who will lift them before the day of delivery.

Moving the rolling model

At 116 pounds, the rolling portable is meant to roll rather than be carried. Clear the path from the sink before you move it, so the wheels do not catch on a threshold or cord.

For RV picks ranked by weight and footprint, see Best Countertop Dishwashers for RVs and Campers. For small homes more broadly, Best Dishwashers for Tiny Houses and Small Kitchens covers compact options.

For picks that roll, Best Portable Dishwashers on Wheels compares rolling models by size and place settings.

Hose and cord lengths set how far the unit can sit

Hose and cord lengths decide how far the unit can sit from the faucet and the outlet. Inlet hoses run from about 17 inches on the COMFEE' tank model to 61 inches on the HAVA and NOVETE.

• COMFEE' 1.32-gallon tank model: a 1.44-foot hose, about 17 inches.
• HAVA: a 61-inch inlet hose and a 55-inch power cable.
• Hermitlux: a 59.06-inch inlet hose.
• EUHOMY: a 4.92-foot inlet hose.
• NOVETE: a 61-inch inlet hose.
• BLACK+DECKER BCD6W: a 5-foot power cable.
• BLACK+DECKER rolling model: a 59-inch hose.

COMFEE' gives its hose length as 1.44 feet, which is short, so plan for that unit to sit close to the faucet in faucet mode. Measure from the outlet and the faucet to the spot, and leave some slack so no hose is pulled tight.

How to measure your space in four steps

Measure the counter, the cabinet gap, the floor for a rolling model, and the reach to the outlet and faucet. Then compare each number with the tables above.

1. Measure the counter width at the front and the back, and the depth from the wall.
2. Measure the gap from the counter to the lowest cabinet above it, with nothing on the counter.
3. Measure the floor space and the path for a rolling model, including the door swing.
4. Measure the distance from the outlet and the faucet to the spot, so the cord and hose reach without strain.

Write the numbers down before you shop, and compare them with the maker's numbers for the model you pick.

What the size numbers leave out

The outside size and weight do not show every space a unit needs. Some of those gaps can decide whether a model fits, so plan for them first.

• How far the door opens in front of the unit.
• How the hoses and the power cord route behind the unit.
• How much room the handle and the rack need when they are pulled out.

Ask the maker or check the manual for these numbers first. Measure your space with a little extra room, so the unit still fits once the door and hoses are in place.

Choose a small dishwasher by its dimensions

Pick a tank model if you have at least 17 inches of counter width and a cabinet gap of 20 inches or more. Pick a faucet-fed model if you have about 22 inches of counter width and your faucet takes an adapter.

Pick the rolling portable if you have about 24 inches of floor width, a faucet within reach, and a household that needs eight place settings. For renters working through the steps, How to Choose a Portable Dishwasher for an Apartment puts the checks in order.

If energy certification matters to you, search certified models at energystar.gov before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common size for a small countertop dishwasher?

Tank models run about 16.5 to 17 inches wide and 17.2 to 18.2 inches tall, which makes them the most compact in this guide. Faucet-fed countertop models are wider at 21.7 inches, so measure your counter and the cabinet above before you choose.

How much clearance does a countertop dishwasher need?

Three tank-model makers give advice between 19 and 20.08 inches of space between the countertop and the cabinet above. A unit that is 18 inches tall leaves very little margin in that space, so measure your own gap rather than relying on the makers' numbers alone.

Are portable dishwashers bigger than countertop models?

Yes, the BLACK+DECKER rolling model in this guide is 23.6 inches wide, 17.6 inches deep and 35.6 inches tall, and it weighs 116 pounds. The tank models are about 16.5 to 17 inches wide, so a rolling model needs much more floor space.

Which small dishwasher holds the most place settings?

Among the models in this guide, the BLACK+DECKER rolling model holds eight place settings. The COMFEE' six-place countertop model and the BLACK+DECKER BCD6W hold six, while the tank models hold four or five place settings or give an item count instead.