The Best Budget Dishwashers

Hand-washing is a cheaper, practical alternative that we’re used to, but if you’re on a budget and want the best dishwasher there are many budget dishwashers out there that are not only inexpensive to buy but cheaper to run. If you’re busy and cannot commit much time to washing dishes, a dishwasher can help pick up the arduous chore. Though it's yet another appliance to take care of, dishwashers are simple to maintain.

When looking at how to choose a dishwasher, you want to make sure you’re investing in something that lasts and suits you and your kitchen best. Reputable brands like Bosch may be your best bet. If you are a fan of throwing dinner parties, a dishwasher would be a saving grace because you’d be able to get back to your guests without spending time at the sink.

Best budget dishwashers at a glance

• Best budget full-size dishwasher: Hotpoint H2FH626 14-Place Dishwasher – View on Very
• Best budget dishwasher for an eco-friendly household: Russell Hobbs RHDW3SS Wide Freestanding Dishwasher – View on Robert Dyas
• Perfect budget dishwasher for a sleek, white kitchen: Samsung DW60M6050FW Freestanding Dishwasher – View on Marks Electrical

If you have children or have a larger household, sometimes a time-consuming task isn’t viable when you’ve got an abundance of housework on your to-do list. On the other hand, if you're a smaller household and are lacking space in your kitchen, you could always consider a slimline dishwasher.

Best Budget Dishwashers UK 2023

This is where the best budget dishwashers for your kitchen can help.

VERDICT: What Is The Best Budget Dishwasher?

A Modern Kitchen has chosen the Hotpoint H2FH626 14-Place Dishwasher. Why? It's superb value for money at less than £300 from a trusted brand. With 14 place settings and a decent range of features for quiet and efficient washing, this dishwasher is intuitive to use. The interior cavity has well-designed (adjustable) racking and a cutlery tray that's logical and easy to stack.

FAQs

What To Look For In The Best Budget Dishwasher For Your Kitchen

If you’re on a budget, the priority is going to be the price you pay for a dishwasher. Prices of dishwashers vary; some can be around £300 – others can climb up to £1,000 and prices differ also if they are integrated dishwashers or freestanding. In our product selection below, we’ve only chosen dishwashers that are under £500.

Quality is a good thing to keep in mind. When researching for budget dishwashers, make sure to keep your eye out for the manufacturer’s guarantee and consider how long they last. Generally, it might be worthwhile to pay £100 more for a dishwasher that has a longer guarantee.

Lastly, in order to make your dishwasher purchase cost-effective, you need to be looking at energy efficiency. Companies are manufacturing appliances that use less energy, and are generally less wasteful; therefore, they keep the costs of your household bills down. With energy prices going up in the UK, we need to be saving our pennies. So, look for energy ratings.

What Is Dishwasher Salt – And Do I Need It?

According to manufacturers, dishwashers require very soft water to achieve good cleaning results. If you live in an area of hard water, dishwasher salt is essential to keep your appliance running. The salt compartment of your dishwasher is normally at the bottom of the machine, near the filter. Make sure to keep it full. Most appliances will let you know if there’s a shortage.

Some All-in-One dishwasher tablets will contain some salt for cleaning, but it is recommended to top up the dishwasher for the best results, especially in hard water areas. Also, Rinse-Aid is recommended for use in dishwashers as it prevents water spots and helps with faster drying.

Want to see how hard your water is? Aqua Cure will have the answer based on your postcode. How hard is my water?

How Much Do Dishwashers Cost To Run?

Energy ratings can have a big impact on how much energy is used each time you use your dishwasher. The energy ratings were revised in 2021 to ensure there was space left on the scale for improvement. On the old energy efficiency scale, appliances were rated between A+++ to D. But with modern technology, most appliances were maxing out the scale. The new energy ratings now go from A to G and are much less confusing.

You’ll find now that there are much fewer A and B-rated appliances. Those that were previously A+++ may now be an F. This is to give the opportunity for higher ratings in the future and encourage manufacturers to make their machines even more sustainable.

However, if you came for some numbers and figures, we’ve done a little maths for you.

Dishwashers run on electricity and can use around 1.8kW per cycle. According to official figures, the unit cost of electricity will be 28p per kW. This means it’ll cost around 50p to run for a cycle. If a household switched on the dishwasher for a cycle, one day a week, the bill would be around £3.50.

Are Dishwashers Bad For The Environment?

Of course, like everything else, they do contribute to carbon gas emissions and use about four gallons of water and around 1.8kW. However, dishwashers have good energy ratings, often boasting eco-cycles and maximising cleanliness while using the smallest amount of energy.

Further, biodegradable dishwasher pods are the way to go. Make sure to check the label.

Here are some tips, courtesy of Blueland for keeping your dishwasher runs eco-friendly:

Run the dishwasher only when fully loaded, and don’t use settings like half loads and pots and pans (they waste two more gallons of water on average).

Scrape your plates into the compost before washing or loading them into a machine (compost is better than trash since food that breaks down in landfills can release methane gas).

Choose an eco-setting or lower temperature, if available.

When it comes to buying a new dishwasher, check for energy efficiency, running costs, and CO2 emissions, and consider the longevity of a machine.

Try Blueland’s Dishwasher Tablets, which come naked, with no PVA (plastic).

Piper Huxley is a Homes, Gardens and Wellness Product Writer for A Modern Kitchen, specialising in cookware. When she’s not cooking up a storm in the kitchen, Piper is re-watching a TV show or listening to a podcast.