The 8 Best Portable Dishwashers Under $700 for Apartments, Dorms and RVs, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: An 18 inch, ENERGY STAR certified, stainless steel portable that connects to a faucet.

The SD-9263SSC is an 18 inch portable dishwasher with ENERGY STAR certification and stainless steel construction. It is the only faucet-connected, full-size machine in this ranking, and sits in the $500 and up bracket, the highest of the eight.

It takes first place because a full-size unit does what the countertop boxes cannot: it washes a realistic load of dinner plates, pots and glasses in one cycle. The ENERGY STAR mark signals efficiency, and stainless steel is easier to keep clean than painted plastic. The tradeoffs are floor space, since it needs a spot beside the sink, and the hose setup at the faucet, which suits a rental that cannot take a built-in machine.

Buy it if you cook at home daily and want a proper dishwasher without any plumbing work. Skip it if you have only a tiny counter and a small household.

Width

18 inch

Certification

ENERGY STAR

Construction

Stainless steel

Hookup

Faucet connection

Our verdict: A no-hookup mini with a 1.32 gallon tank, six programs, dual spray arms and a 162°F wash.

This COMFEE' mini has a built-in 1.32 gallon water tank, so it needs no hookup, with six wash programs, 360 degree dual spray arms and a 162°F high-temperature wash with air-dry. It is written up for apartments and RVs.

It ranks second because it is the most capable of the countertop models: dual spray arms reach into corners, and a hot wash and an air-dry cycle finish the job without you towelling dishes. The built-in tank is the whole point, since you fill it by hand and the machine drains into a bowl or the sink. The compromise is capacity, which is small, so a family dinner takes two loads.

Buy it if you live in a dorm, RV or small apartment and want a no-fuss machine. Plan to fill and empty it, which is the price of having no plumbing.

Tank

1.32 gallon built-in

Programs

6

Wash temperature

162°F

Spray

360 degree dual arms

Our verdict: Six programs, a listed 40 dB noise level and no hookup, in the $200 to $500 bracket.

The EUHOMY lists six programs, a 40 dB noise level and a no-hookup countertop design. It sits in the $200 to $500 bracket, below the full-size machine by a wide margin.

It ranks third because noise matters more in a small space than in a big kitchen. A dishwasher on a counter in a studio apartment is within earshot of your bed, and a 40 dB listed level is quiet by the standards of the category. Treat the number as a seller claim, but the emphasis on quiet is a real design goal. It sits just below the COMFEE' Mini because the listing says less about spray design and wash temperature.

Buy it if you share a small space and noise bothers you. Check the return policy, since noise perception varies by room.

Programs

6

Noise

40 dB listed

Hookup

No hookup

Bracket

$200 to $500

Our verdict: An Energy Star, 6 place setting countertop unit in black with the most named wash programs.

This COMFEE' countertop dishwasher is Energy Star certified, holds six place settings and comes in black.

It ranks fourth because six place settings is a real capacity figure, enough for a couple's dinner dishes in one go. The Energy Star mark adds an efficiency credential, and the program range lets you pick a quick cycle for light loads and a heavier one for pots. The listing does not describe the water supply, so check whether it needs a faucet connection before ordering.

Buy it if you want a countertop dishwasher with a clear capacity and a certification. Measure your counter, since a six-setting unit is bigger than the mini models.

Capacity

6 place settings

Certification

Energy Star

Finish

Black

Bracket

$200 to $500

Our verdict: A second Energy Star COMFEE' with six place settings, in a plainer listing.

This COMFEE' is Energy Star certified, holds six place settings and has a countertop portable design, in the $200 to $500 bracket. It reads as the earlier twin of the black model above.

It ranks fifth because the listing is lighter on program detail and finish options. The core promise is the same: six place settings and an efficiency mark without a rolling cart. If you find it at a lower price than the black version, it is the better value.

Buy it if you want the Energy Star and six place setting combination for the least outlay. Skip it if you want the widest program menu, where the black model has an edge.

Capacity

6 place settings

Certification

Energy Star

Design

Countertop portable

Bracket

$200 to $500

Our verdict: A large, slim countertop dishwasher with a built-in water tank.

The AIRMSEN Large Slim is a countertop portable dishwasher with a built-in water tank.

It ranks sixth because the listing gives no figures for capacity, noise or programs, so the headline claim cannot be checked against the other models. A slim body is helpful on a narrow counter, and a built-in tank means no faucet connection. Without details, though, the COMFEE' models are easier to compare.

Buy it if a slim footprint matters and you want a tank-fed machine. Read the full listing for capacity before you commit.

Type

Large slim countertop

Water

Built-in tank

Hookup

None needed

Bracket

$200 to $500

Our verdict: A countertop dishwasher with a built-in tank and no hookup, for people who dislike faucet hoses.

This AIRMSEN has a no-hookup, built-in tank design in a countertop portable form, in the $200 to $500 bracket. It is aimed at buyers who would rather skip the faucet hose setup.

It ranks seventh because, like the slim model, the listing gives little detail on programs, capacity or noise. The core idea is simple and sound: fill the tank, press start and drain the dirty water afterwards. That makes it easy to move between a counter and a closet, though it also means refilling for each load.

Buy it if you want a basic, no-plumbing machine for light loads. If you want certainty about capacity and wash programs, the COMFEE' mini is better documented.

Type

Countertop portable

Water

Built-in tank, no hookup

Placement

Counter

Bracket

$200 to $500

Our verdict: A compact unit with a 5L tank, an inlet hose, five programs, a baby-care cycle and an LED light.

The NOVETE has a 5L built-in tank plus an inlet hose, five washing programs including a baby-care cycle, an air-dry function and an LED indicator light. It is written up for small apartments.

It ranks last because the specs are modest for the price bracket and a 5L tank limits how much it can wash in one run. The baby-care cycle is the unique feature, useful for bottles and pacifiers, and the inlet hose gives you the choice between hand-filling and a connection. For heavy plates and pans, though, the other models do better.

Buy it if you have an infant and want a dedicated cycle for bottles. Skip it if you want a general-purpose machine for family dinners.

Tank

5L built-in

Programs

5, including baby care

Extras

Air-dry and LED light

Water

Tank or inlet hose