Top 10 Best Dishwashers For 2020 (Reviews / Ratings / Prices)

It's time to buy a new dishwasher. They all look the same nowadays either with space for your hand or a towel bar.

But there are new features to consider for washing bottles, silverware or casserole dishes. Dishwashers now have better drying cycles as well.

In fact, one dish can wash and dry in 20 minutes.

You probably want a quiet dishwasher as well especially if your kitchen opens to your living room. However, overbuying for quietness is a huge, yet common mistake.

We will show you the minimum level of quietness and how to buy a quiet dishwasher without spending a fortune.

You will also learn about the real differences between plastic and stainless steel dishwasher tubs. Then we will compare American and European dishwashers as well as some newer features worth considering.

I will also show you our reliability data based on 35,256 service calls logged by our service department last year.

Some are more reliable than others and repair is a huge problem in this industry. If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t need all of these guys.

Then you will see the 12 best dishwashers to consider out of the hundreds, if not thousands, of models available for every category.

10 Best Dishwashers for 2020:

1. Best Dishwasher Under $500: BEKO DUT25401 - $499
2. Most Affordable Dishwasher: Samsung  DW80R5061US
3. Best Dishwasher Under $800: KitchenAid KDTE334GPS
4. Best Washing and Drying Dishwasher: Miele G4228SCUSS
5. Best Dishwasher For Rack Adjustability: Bosch  SHP865ZP5N
6. Best Dishwasher For Drying: Bosch SHXM88Z75N
7. Best Dishwasher For Odd-Shaped Dishes: Miele G6625SCU
8. Fastest Dishwasher: Thermador DWHD870WFP
9. Best Panel-Ready Dishwasher: Bosch  SHVM88Z73N - $1,259
10. Best Dishwasher In Black Stainless Steel: Samsung DW80R9950UG

There is no one single best dishwasher, so I segmented based on how you may use one or a particular price range.

As I write this in May of 2020, you may want to also look at Best Affordable Dishwashers for a reliable replacement dishwasher.

First, let's cover the basics. 

How to Choose a Dishwasher

Miele Dishwasher Featuring Front Controls at Yale Appliance in Hanover

Dishwasher Reliability

Below are our sales and service statistics for 2020.

Most Reliable Dishwashers for 2020

Bosch, LG, KitchenAid, and Samsung are statistically the most reliable dishwasher brands. Whirlpool is basic and sold mostly to builders.

Miele is usually the best for reliability. Last year, they had a problem with a buzzing solenoid. It's easily repairable and should not be an issue going forward.

However, with a 10-15% repair rate within the first year, you most likely will need service within five years.

You should be mindful of who fixes appliances in your area. Pick a few brands and ask your local servicer what they can fix quickly.

Short on time? Get our free Dishwasher Buying Guide

Plastic vs. Stainless Tub Dishwashers

This isn’t much of an issue anymore. Most dishwashers are stainless these days, and they both can hold water.

Most of the better dishwashers have stainless tubs, whereas the less featured are plastic.

Stainless steel is non-porous and won't retain odors and germs like other surfaces. Commercial kitchens are stainless for that reason.

Frigidaire, GE, Samsung, Whirlpool, and Maytag are the only plastic tub manufacturers. Most brands are selling more stainless steel tubs than plastic now.

A few are hybrid or stainless with a plastic bottom like Samsung and the Bosch Ascenta dishwasher series.

All of the models we are introducing in this article have stainless steel tubs.

American vs. European Dishwashers

European-Style Dishwasher Display at Yale Appliance in Hanover

Dishwashers are split between American-style models (like Electrolux, Frigidaire, GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, Samsung, Jenn-Air, and KitchenAid) and European-style models (Bosch, Thermador, Asko, Beko, and Miele).

The American style has a grinder on the bottom to handle any leftovers, whereas the European style has a removable filter.

European models tend to be quieter for that reason. They will also be flush with your cabinet, so they look better with a custom panel.

American companies still have a heating element for better drying results in some cases. Some companies, like KitchenAid for example, traded its dishwasher grinders for filters to be quieter.

What Is Quiet Enough For A Dishwasher?

If you want a quiet dishwasher, look for a decibel level between 42 and 44 dBA.

You should not pay for just quietness as a feature below 44 dBAs. At a certain level, decibel differences are not detectable in the lower dBAs.

The difference for minimal improvements in quietness can cost over $1,000 in some cases. This is a common mistake.

Do not overbuy for just quietness.

That said, there are a few exceptions. KitchenAid has a great dishwasher at 39 dBA for $799. It's $800 cheaper than most dishwashers with a similar rating.

Bosch has a few in the $769-$1,049 range, so there is no reason to pay a great expense just for quietness alone.

Hear 55 dBA, 44 dBA, and 39 dBA dishwashers head-to-head: 

When Is The Best Time To Buy A Dishwasher?

As we have said throughout this blog, you should wait to buy appliances until there is a promotional holiday.

Manufacturers always have the most heavily rebated appliances during the following holidays:

It’s still worth waiting, but this year may be a bust for promotions due to a lack of supply

1. Presidents' Day
2. Memorial Day
3. July 4th
4. Labor Day
5. Black Friday

COVID-19 Update

This year, 2020, may be an exception. COVID-19 is unlike any other recession because supply and demand have been affected.

Many companies have had shutdowns due to COVID-19 contamination in their factories or in their warehouses.

So be careful.

You shouldn’t panic about not being able to buy a dishwasher or any other appliance.

You just might not see the season sales like years past.

Top 10 Best Dishwashers For 2020

Now, let's take a look at our best dishwashers to consider.

Best Dishwasher Under $500: BEKO Dishwasher DUT25401 - $499

Features:

• 5 Cycles
• 48 dBA
• 14 Place Settings
• ENERGY STAR™ Most Efficient
• Stainless with Pocket Handle

Review:

Beko is a huge appliance manufacturer based out of Turkey. They are well known in Europe for their clean styling and Green engineering.

Blomberg is a subsidiary of Beko. Viking dishwashers are also manufactured by Beko as well.

At one time, you had to compromise when you bought a dishwasher under $499. There were a few cycles. The tub was plastic or a hybrid of plastic and steel. It was also loud.

Beko is an exception with decent cycles and an all stainless tub. The quietness is not bad at 48 decibels.

You will hear it less than the 50 and 55-decibel dishwashers of competitive brands in this price range.

Most Affordable Dishwasher: Samsung Dishwasher DW80R5061US - $549

Features:

• 48 dBA
• Stainless Steel
• StormWash
• Adjustable Loading
• Fingerprint Resistant
• AutoRelease Door

Review:

Great dishwasher for the money. It has decent quietness att 48 dBs, a 3rd rack for silverware and is all stainless steel.

Their "Storm Wash" is essentially a few areas of concentrated spray jets for dishes with baked-on food. For drying, the door pops open at the end of the cycle to speed up the drying process.

Samsung Dishwasher Storm Wash Feature

Best Dishwasher Under $800: KitchenAid Dishwasher KDTE334GPS - $749

Features:

• ProWash(TM) Cycle
• Durable Stainless Steel Construction
• Heat Dry Option
• Fold-Down Tines in the Lower Rack
• SatinGlide(R) Max Upper Rack
• Fold-Down Shelf with Stemware Holders
• 4-Hour Delay Option
• Filter-Based Wash System
• Sani Rinse(R) Option
• 39 dBAS

Review:

The KitchenAid dishwasher KDTE334GPS has every cycle, including their ProWash or extended wash with soil sensing capabilities, light for wine classes or fine china sets, and, lastly, normal and shorter express washes.

KitchenAid Dishwasher Controls Featuring ProWash

You also have a ton of drying options like heated or air drying. The Sani-Rinse is a high-temperature rinse for better cleaning of baked-on foods.

There is also a third rack for silverware and specialized sprays just for bottles. There is an element for drying as well as a fan to extract heat.

KitchenAid Dishwasher Bottle Wash System

At 39 dBAs, it's almost noiseless and the quietest dishwasher on this list. This dishwasher is priced anywhere from $659 to $849, depending on the promotion.

KitchenAid Dishwasher Review [VIDEO]

Best Washing and Drying Dishwasher: Miele G4228SCUSS - $999

Features:

• Double Waterproof System
• CleanAir™ Drying
• 5 Wash Cycles
• AutoSensor Technology
• Silence Rating of 46 dBA
• 16 Place Setting Capacity
• SaniWash
• ENERGY STAR®

Miele is usually one of the most reliable dishwasher brands. This dishwasher features the best drying capabilities under $1000.

In the drying cycle, air is directed to the side of the dishwasher, so the hot air is attracted to the cooler side and then dissipated.

It also has a full wash arm on the top. A third spray is especially effective with the third silverware rack directly below.

Click here to check out all of Miele’s dishwashers and how they rate in our latest blog post.

Best Dishwasher For Rack Adjustability: Bosch Dishwasher SHP865ZP5N - $1,049

Features:

• Made in North Carolina
• 5 wash cycles, 5 options, touch controls
• 44 dBA
• Stainless Steel Tub
• Aqua Stop Plus Leak Protection System
• Five-Level wash
• Info Light – tells you that the dishwasher is running
• Silverware Basket and adjustable top rack for cutlery
• 16 place settings
• Ball-bearing wheels
• 2 folding tines at the rear for added flexibility
• FlexSpace Plus (both sets of tines fold down in front right section)
• Lower Rack Handle with metal inlay
• Rack stop to keep the rack from pulling completely out of the dishwasher.
• AutoAir Dry

The recessed handle, hidden controls, and flush installation are all great design elements.

This dishwasher also offers a few high-end features for the price such as a 3rd cutlery tray, tall item holder, and a half-load cycle.

This Bosch dishwasher has better ball bearing racks, and a rack stop to prevent the rack being pulled out of the dishwasher - call it Toddler Prevention (I have a toddler).

The racks also allow you to pile on dishes and still have the rack glide smoothly. You don’t have to pull and tug at the rack anymore with a full load of dishes

Bosch has added a new feature this year called AutoAir Dry. This means the dishwasher door will open at the end of the cycle.

To help cool your dishes and silverware faster.

Best Dishwasher For Drying: Bosch Dishwasher SHXM88Z75N - $1,259.99

Features:

• 6 Wash Cycles/6 Options/ Touch Controls
• 40 dBA Silence Rating
• Stainless Steel Tub
• AquaStop Leak Protection
• *30 Minute Express Cycle - 60 Minute Express Cycle?
• 5-level Wash
• Info Light - tells you that the dishwasher is running
• Silverware Basket
• Adjustable Top Rack for Cutlery
• 16 Place Setting
• Crystal Dry

If you want to buy a great dishwasher with high-end features but aren't looking to break the bank, this may be an interesting choice.

The Bosch dishwasher SHXM88Z75N is one of the most feature-loaded dishwashers in the industry. This dishwasher offers a new drying feature.

Crystal Dry uses a volcanic element called Zeolite to increase heat and absorb moisture. As skeptical as we were, it works.

Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher With CrystalDry Review [VIDEO]

Best Dishwasher For Washing Bottles And Silverware: GE Profile Dishwasher PDT825SGJWW - $919

Features:

This GE Profile dishwasher has a good wash and dry system. It still has the disposer on the bottom, so it's only 45 dBAs and not very quiet.  

However, it has 10 dishwasher options. The silverware and bottles have their own concentrated wash jets.

GE Bottle Jets

Best Dishwasher For Odd-Shaped Dishes: Miele Dishwasher G6625SCU - $1,799

Features:

• Quick Intense Wash
• AutoSensor Technology
• Water Softener
• ExtraComfort Basket
• China & Crystal Cycle
• Silence Rating of 45 dBA
• 16 Place Setting Capacity
• ENERGY STAR®

Miele's best selling dishwasher.

It is quieter, with better fold-down racks and overall adjustability. You can remove almost all the tines in the bottom to fit an odd-shaped dish, for example.

Miele Dishwasher Adjustable Rack

Miele Dishwasher Adjustable Rack

Along with their drying system, the door pops open to speed drying at the end of the cycle as well.  

Fastest Dishwasher: Thermador Dishwasher DWHD870WFP - $2,799

Features:

Like Bosch, Thermador uses a mineral from volcanic ash called Zeolite for a faster drying process.  

It absorbs moisture and emits heat for a 20-minute wash and dry cycle. You can wash up to 5 loads in 20 minutes each after 20 minutes preheating.

However, it's $2,799, so it should excel in washing and drying your dishes.

If you buy the Thermador range or wall oven and cooktop, you can apply a $1,399 credit for this dishwasher. 

As a runner-up, the Thermador Sapphire dishwasher doesn't have the speed cycle but is less expensive. 

The New Thermador Star Sapphire Dishwasher

Best Panel-Ready Dishwasher:Bosch Dishwasher SHVM88Z73N - $1,259

Features: 

• 40 dBA- Quietest Dishwasher Brand.
• The MyWay Rack gives you the industry's largest third rack loading capacity.
• FlexSpace Tines fold back to fit your larger pots & pans.
• RackMatic(R) on Upper Rack - 3 Height Adjustments and Up to 9 Possible Rack Positions
• AquaStop(R) Leak Protection Works 24/7
• Full-Size Stainless Steel Tall Tub Installs Perfectly Flush
• 16 Place Setting Capacity
• LED Remaining Time Display
• 6 Programs and 6 options
• Detergent Tray Optimizes Detergent Dissolving
• Speed60(R) gets your dishes from dirty to dry in about an hour.

Review:

In this case, I would recommend a European model exclusively for the best dishwasher to use with a custom panel.

American models will protrude past the cabinet, whereas the European models will not. 

Bosch and Miele have a few models you can put a custom panel on to match your cabinets. 

This particular Bosch dishwasher will not protrude from your cabinets. Best of all, it will look like your cabinets with a custom panel. 

Best Dishwasher In Black Stainless Steel: Samsung Dishwasher DW80R9950UG - $849

Features:

• 15 Place Setting Capacity
• Adjustable Upper Rack
• Cutlery Rack
• StormWash System
• FlexLoad Racking System
• Autorelease Door
• Digital Leak Sensor
• 44 dBA Sound Level
• Energy Star Rated

Review:

The best dishwasher for black stainless steel is the Samsung DW80R9950UG.

I don’t recommend black stainless for most people. It’s an oxide coating on top of stainless. 

You can scratch black stainless steel, and it will show the shinier stainless underneath. There is also no remedy or an easy fix. 

However, you probably will not replace every black steel appliance at once. Samsung and Bosch have the most scratch-resistant black steel.

Which Dishwasher Should You Buy?

Samsung Kitchen Package Featuring Stainless Steel Dishwasher at Yale Appliance in Hanover

In terms of reliability, KitchenAid, Bosch, and Samsung are the best dishwashers for 2020 .

Miele usually is high on this list, but had a buzzing selenoid problem last year as we said previously.

There is a reason to buy any of these dishwashers from $499-$2,799.

Quietness after 44 DBs is not a feature worth paying more alone. You wont hear much of a difference between 44 and 42 DB.

The most popular dishwashers are the Bosch, Samsung, KitchenAid, and Miele at the middle prices of $799-$1100. They have decent features and racks.

Samsung has its “Storm Wash” model with premium features in their wash and dry cycles for $549

KitchenAid is a great value at $799, and it is the quietest on this list and offers some great features like Bottle Wash.

Miele is also a great dishwasher.. Their washing, drying, and rack flexibility are the best in the industry.

Thermador's Star Sapphire and Sapphire dishwashers excel and should be considered if you are looking at more Thermador appliances.

Additional Resources

Get our free Dishwasher Buying Guide with tips, trends, and reviews of all the major brands. Over 800,000 people have already found answers in a Yale guide.

Related Articles:

• Most Reliable Dishwashers
• Best Bosch Dishwashers
• Best Miele Dishwashers
• Quietest Dishwashers by Decibel Rating
• KitchenAid vs. Bosch Dishwashers