Best Dishwasher Brands of 2026

To determine which brands make the best dishwashers, we developed a statistical model that incorporates the Overall Score of each dishwasher we’ve tested. We specifically looked at brands with at least three models in our ratings.

At Consumer Reports, we provide three crucial pieces of information that can help you find the best dishwasher for your kitchen.

Model performance: Our dishwasher ratings indicate the performance of each dishwasher in our tests. If you’re interested in a particular model, you can search to see how well it compares with other models in our ratings in cleaning performance, drying performance, energy efficiency, quietness, and ease of use. These model-by-model evaluations are the best indication of how well a dishwasher will work in your kitchen. We also highlight models with the best performance in articles like the best dishwashers of the year and the best dishwashers for $500 or less.

Reliability and owner satisfaction: We surveyed CR members about dishwashers they purchased between 2015 and 2025 (and received feedback on 77,011 purchases) to learn how well the appliances hold up over time. We used any problems or breakdowns they reported to predict how reliably new dishwashers from each brand will operate in the first five years of service. To determine owner satisfaction with a brand, we also asked our members whether they would recommend their dishwasher to others. Both the predicted reliability and owner satisfaction results can be found in our dishwasher ratings, and we have more analysis and advice in our roundup of the most and least reliable dishwasher brands. Before you purchase a dishwasher, check the predicted reliability and owner satisfaction scores.

Brand-level performance: These scores, as shown in this article, indicate how well dishwashers from a given brand perform in lab tests and surveys. Brands that manufacture models that perform well at a lower price than their competitors are given an advantage in our analysis. These scores aren’t model-specific, and they’re most helpful if you’re interested in a particular model we haven’t tested. Note that a high brand score doesn’t mean every model is a winner; it simply means the brand offers better odds of choosing a dishwasher that’s high-performing and reliable at a great price.

Every dishwasher in our ratings was bought at retail by our secret shoppers and has undergone performance assessments in our labs for washing, drying, noise, and energy efficiency.

For the washing test, our engineers run dishwashers in their default mode to see how well they clean a full load of dishes with baked-on food. In our drying test, we run ceramic, glass, and plasticware through a wash-and-dry cycle and inspect how dry each item is at its conclusion. We pay close attention to plastic items in particular because dishwashers typically have a harder time drying this material.

In the noise test, a panel of judges listens through an entire dishwasher cycle, noting the general noise level of the dishwasher and taking note of any loud intermittent noises, such as clanging or gurgling. Models that make the least overall noise throughout the cycle get the highest score in the noise test.

Energy efficiency is measured by the amount of water a dishwasher uses and its energy consumption in its default wash cycle. If your goal is to find an eco-friendly dishwasher, you can also consult our ratings for dishwashers bearing the Green Choice symbol, a designation created by Consumer Reports to highlight products with a lower environmental impact compared to others.

Ease of use is assessed based on how easily the dishwasher can be operated using its control panel, racks, and door. We also consider the number of helpful features it has, including a third rack, adjustable racks, adjustable tines, roomy flatware slots, hidden controls, a lighted interior, a delay-start feature, a status indicator, and more.