— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.Washing dishes is easily one of the least fun chores we have to do around the house. But given the necessity, there are options to make it less time-consuming and more convenient. High-end dishwashers offer a number of helpful capabilities that make cooking for one or many more fun.
Finding the right dishwasher can be a challenge, and when you’re looking to dish out the dollars on a kitchen essential you want to be sure that you’re putting your money into something that holds up over time and can handle whatever life throws at you.
To help you find the right dishwasher, we researched thousands of reviews and narrowed it down to five of the best high-end dishwashers you can get online right now.
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
What You Should Know Before Buying a High-End Dishwasher
Did your dishwasher just die, and you need to replace it ASAP because the stack of dirty plates in your sink is starting to smell? If it can't be repaired, we recommend taking the time—yes, despite the stink—to look for a new dishwasher that's going to address all your needs, clean your dishes well, and fit into your budget, tiny or unlimited.
How Wide Is a Dishwasher?
Unlike other large appliances (think refrigerators), dishwashers are all the same size: 24 inches wide by 24 inches deep by 35 inches high. This means that it's super easy to shop for a dishwasher online, because you can guarantee it'll fit the space you already have open in your kitchen.
How Long Do Dishwashers Last?
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the average dishwasher lasts about nine years. Appliance lifespans are shorter these days for a few reasons, among them broad economic factors that affect all durable goods, production of individual components that are frequently outsourced to the least-expensive third-party manufacturers, and machines being made with more plastic and less metal.
Since most consumers don’t buy appliances very often, a decreased lifespan can seem all the more dramatic when a dishwasher breaks down after just 10 years, even though its predecessor chugged along for 30.
How Long Does a Dishwasher Run?
Dishwasher cycles can run the gamut from 30 minutes to four hours. Shorter cycle times are much more convenient, especially when it comes to large dinner parties, where you may need to reuse dishes from dinner when it's time for dessert.
Incidentally, what happens inside a dishwasher is interesting, and kind of like a car wash.
In short, the best dishwashers have short cycles.
How Much Water Does a Dishwasher Use?
Reviewed's lab operations manager Jonathan Chan says, "The amount of water a dishwasher uses varies greatly on type and cycle selected. Normal cycles on compact models can use as little as 2.5 gallons, but larger entry-level models can use up to five gallons."
And, although it may surprise you, dishwashers use far less water than you would by hand-washing your dishes.
If you're environmentally- or money-conscious, the prospect of using less water and energy may be appealing to you. Be sure to check out the Energy Star rating for a dishwasher to give you an idea of what you can expect your utility bills to look like.
If you want a premium dishwasher that looks as good as it cleans, look no further than the Thermador Sapphire DWHD770WFM. With its elegant design, blue interior lighting, quiet operation (42 dBA), cycle timer that’s projected onto the floor, and Home Connect implementation, this dishwasher has a lot of luxury touches that match its price point. The StarDry (which is based off of Bosch’s zeolite drying method) drying feature and the ability to open the dishwasher with either a push or a pull, it’s clear that this dishwasher is also trying to solve common issues people have with their dishwashers.
When it comes to actually cleaning and drying your dishes, the DWHD770WFM gets the job done right the first time. The Normal and Pots & Pans cycles give you near-perfect stain removal and dish drying in two to two and a half hours, and that’s without using StarDry. Using the StarDry gives you dried dishes that are perfectly table- or cabinet-ready. If you have a big budget, and need a luxe dishwasher that can keep up with the demands of hosting large gatherings, be sure to check out the Thermador DWH770WFM dishwasher.
Pros
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Excellent cleaning performance
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Gets dishes dry
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Great customizability options
Cons
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None that we could find
The Thermador Emerald is a great addition to any smart home and works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings. Energy Star qualified, this dishwasher has a three stage advanced filtration to recirculate water for sparkling results in any of the six available cycles and cleans up to 15 place settings with ease. A good looking dishwasher, the Emerald also does a great job at getting dishes and utensils their cleanest, and it’s so quiet at 48 dBA that some reviewers mentioned that they’ve had to check and see if the indicator light is on to be sure it’s even running.
While this dishwasher comes equipped with three racks, it doesn’t have a food disposal, and the drying power’s said to be lacking, which could get frustrating when you’re looking for a dishwasher that does it all. The Thermador Emerald comes with a two-year manufacturer's warranty for additional peace of mind.
Pros
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Quiet
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Cleans well
Cons
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Dry cycle isn’t great
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No food disposal
Touchpad controls and an LCD display allow ease of use with this sleek Viking dishwasher. While this dishwasher only has two racks, it also includes adjustable stemware shelves, making it easy to create more space for cups and utensils. Quiet at 45 dBA, this dishwasher has condenser drying, so while it won’t completely dry your dishes, it’s said to produce very clean dishes. And the 24-hour delayed start lets you set the dishwasher to start running at any time.
Pros
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Quiet yet powerful cleaning
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Touchscreen display
Cons
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Won’t dry dishes completely
Said to have great build quality, the Jenn-Air Rise runs at just 38 dBA, making it extraordinarily quiet. Three racks accommodate 15 place settings for easy everyday use as well as special occasions and the TriFecta Wash System cleans dishes in about an hour. Adjustable tines in the middle and lower racks allow space reconfiguration to handle uncommon or unwieldy cookware, making it easy to cook new recipes without worrying about cleaning up after.
Heated drying and leak detection are the stars of the show when it comes to the Jenn-Air Rise, and the delayed start allows you to start your wash cycle in hourly increments up to 24 hours. The Rise is Energy Star certified and has six cycle options for a clean that fits your family.
Pros
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Great build quality
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Quick wash
Cons
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Expensive
No need to pre-wash your dishes with this dishwasher from Bosch, as it cleans without any extra help. Seven quiet wash cycles are just one of the endless bells and whistles included in this dishwasher, and a full sized third rack and adjustable upper rack are helpful in accommodating additional dishes. Utilize the delayed start or the quick-wash setting for the ultimate convenience; it’s easy to minimize noise by running your dishwasher at off-peak times.
While this Bosch model is leak safe and sure to give you peace of mind that you won’t have to worry about annoying messes, some people have had trouble with the extra-dry setting; it may not actually get dishes any dryer than the normal cycle, so don’t let that feature be a huge selling point for you.
Pros
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Leak safe
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Lots of options
Cons
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Extra dry option is questionable