Top 4 Dishwashers under $400 – Your Guide to Hassle-Free Dishwashing

If you’re sick of seeing dirty dishes piled high in your kitchen and the thought of filling up the sink to scrub away at them fills you with dread, you may be thinking now is the time to invest in a dishwasher. What may surprise some people is how many quality dishwashers are on the market at under the $400 mark.

Most people who purchase a dishwasher for the first time usually find that once they’ve got one of these products installed in their home, they can never imagine their life without it! Better still, the best dishwasher under $400 makes a perfect addition to the kitchen and really earns its place in the home as one of the most used and practical of appliances in the kitchen area. With all this in mind, we spent 36 hours on research to find dishwashers that won’t disappoint you.

This review looks at four dishwashers here, each one considered one among top dishwashers under $400. Using a table to highlight the critical information you need to search for, we’ve compiled a review of each model, looking at features such as dimensions, which allow you to choose where to place it and how big a load it will wash, alongside standard cycle types and energy efficiency. We finish with a buying guide to help you further understand those essential features such as size, capacity, consumption and running costs before you make that final purchase.

Top 4 Dishwashers under $400

What to expect from a dishwasher under $400?

These dishwashers offer an excellent all-round cleaning experience as well as the added benefit of being small and rather compact in size. This means they can be easily placed around the kitchen on a selection of surface types, or even in an RV, meaning you don’t need a specific gap in your kitchen to install them in.

However, it’s worth remembering here that because of the smaller and more portable design of these dishwasher types, you won’t be able to place as many dishes in them as if you would, say with a larger freestanding dishwasher. However, they will still offer a cleaning experience to the same specifications as their bigger counterparts.

Key features to look for in a dishwasher under $400

There are many additional features in each dishwasher of which you need to get an idea to ensure your product ticks all of your boxes and is the perfect final purchase for your requirements.

Dimensions

Though all of these products are the more portable and therefore more accessible for smaller living spaces and kitchen areas, you may still need to get an idea of the space you want your dishwasher to fill before buying it. This is because though each countertop dishwasher may claim to be smaller in size than the average standalone dishwasher, they all differ in their final measurements.

For a smaller kitchen, you might want to get a somewhat compact 18-inch dishwasher that will quite easily fit into practically any layout. Moreover, there are many integrated dishwashers on the market today, so you can install it right into your kitchen cabinet. Keep in mind, though, that such models are on the pricey side.

Capacity

The number of place settings you can use as a maximum in your dishwasher will significantly affect how much washing you can get done in the one cycle. Alternatively, you may want a model which has adjustable or extra loading racks, baskets or space aids to work with the types of kitchenware which you predominately use. While most portable dishwashers will state how many specific place settings they can accommodate, if you tend to accumulate a lot of pots and pans, you may find yourself needing to do an additional wash for these, alongside your usual plate and cutlery wash.

Number of cycles

These counter-top dishwashers are naturally limited in the number of cycles they offer, but you need to ensure that your dishwasher can perform the sequence you require or are most likely to use on a regular basis. As standard, dishwashers will come with six primary cycles including normal, heavy, Eco, glass, speed, and rinse. The more extensive the dishwasher, the more cycles it will offer, but as long as you have these six cycles, you can be assured of a decent clean each time. It is worth noting however that some machines don’t always offer the Eco wash, which can be a concern for many regarding saving water and conserving energy.

Hot water connection and water heating

Something that may affect where you place your dishwasher is the availability of your hot water connection. Because of the permanent location of their sinks, many people have no choice other than to put their portable dishwasher right next to this for it to work. This place, however, is not always where they would have preferred it to go and, many a time isn’t the most practical of solutions when looking at storing the dishwasher permanently.

Water consumption

The water consumption of your dishwasher may become vital information, in particular if you are on a water meter and need to keep an eye on your water usage. Those Eco-friendlier of products, as well as those with high energy star ratings, will naturally consume less water in the cleaning process. Look at whether your dishwasher offers a quick wash, express wash, or an Eco-friendly cycle if water consumption is a major concern for you. Otherwise, strive for A-rated where possible. Some products will these days inform you of the expected amount of money running your portable dishwasher will cost you over a year, based on an average amount of usage.

Warranty

Some manufacturers will offer product warranties or aftercare and support once you have purchased your dishwasher. Check the terms of each supplier carefully if you think this would be a good idea. This may include looking at whether you can get parts replaced or call outs to fix or replace your product should you need it. This can consist of replacement filters and washers, for example, which are all vital to the continued and successful running of your dishwasher over many years.  Again, such warranties may all depend on your usage and if you are willing to pay a little extra for continued ongoing support, or whether you intend to fix it yourself should any problems arise.

Safety and care

Water and electricity do not go together. Therefore, when purchasing your dishwasher and subsequently using it, make sure that you are careful and keep the plug away from the sink area. This is especially important for those portable dishwashers which will need to be placed right next to the sink. You’ll also need to keep an eye on where the drainer hose goes, keeping it away from any other electrical appliances in the process.  Additionally, if you’re more than likely to move your portable dishwasher around, take care when picking it up and moving with it, ensuring it is empty as you do so.

FAQ

Our Verdict

This guide should give you a clearer idea of what a portable dishwasher does, helping you to select the best one.  All four products are great at offering solutions to those areas limited on space and unable to install standard dishwashers, with all offering the six cycles you’d expect from such products.

What we like most about our two top-rated products is their ability to offer higher-grade cleaning solutions while being quiet during operation. The Ivation is one of the most powerful portable products on the market while the Sunbeam model encourages more efficient use of space in its layout.

Our best budget pick, the Ensue, not only offers an additional 60-day period for a part replacement but also gives customers a great indication of the amount they can expect to pay on average when using this dishwasher, and all at a price to suit even the tightest of budgets.