Best Dishwashers for $1,000 or Less
These midpriced models offer top-notch performance and plenty of advanced features, like a self-cleaning filter and stainless steel interior
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More expensive dishwashers tend to offer impressive performance and a lot of bells and whistles, but you’d be surprised by how many midrange models can match wits with those in the premium tier.
Based on our lab tests of more than 120 dishwasher models and our member survey data about more than 69,000 dishwashers bought between 2022 and 2024, we’ve determined that the sweet spot for dishwashers is $500 to $1,000.
Within that range, you’ll find a selection of high-performing machines equipped with the features that people care most about—like adjustable racks and tines, room for more place settings, self-cleaning filters, and multiple cycle options.
Best Dishwashers for $1,000 or Less
These moderately priced dishwashers perform well in our lab tests and come with a nice array of useful features, including a stainless steel tub and more rack space.
How CR Tests Dishwashers
We spend 28 hours evaluating each dishwasher in our lab. Our testers load each machine with 10 white ceramic dishes with baked-on food and run the normal cycle or its equivalent. Afterward, they use a photo-imaging machine to determine precisely how clean each dish is. They also test a dishwasher’s drying capabilities, judge noise levels, record cycle time, and calculate water and energy use.
We also incorporate feedback from Consumer Reports members who have shared their experiences with us in our annual surveys.
How CR Picks the Best Dishwashers Under $1,000
If you’re shopping for a dishwasher between $500 and $1,000, you should expect the following:
Quieter performance: If you hang out in or sleep near your kitchen, it can be worth upgrading to a dishwasher that runs quietly. Plenty of models that cost between $500 and $1,000 earn our top rating for noise. Those are very difficult to hear, says Larry Ciufo, CR’s head of dishwasher testing. “You can stand next to it and not hear a thing.”
Better drying: Most dishwashers have no trouble with drying ceramic or metal items. But the top performers can almost completely dry plastic, too, even when their door isn’t opened promptly to let steam escape at the end of a cycle.
A stainless steel tub: The metal walls contribute to quieter performance and better drying. They’re also much better than plastic tubs at resisting the chalky, unsightly limescale stains that sometimes build up over time, especially if you have hard (mineral-rich) water.
More rack space and adjustments: Several dishwashers in this price range come with space for more place settings and a third rack. This low-profile tray sits at the top of the tub and can hold utensils and other small or relatively flat items, freeing up extra space for the bigger dishes on the bottom and middle racks. Height-adjustable upper (or middle) racks are also pretty standard, as are multiple sets of folding tines.
Powerful fast-wash cycles: Even inexpensive dishwashers usually have a quick cycle for lightly soiled dishes. But some midpriced models have cycles that can thoroughly wash (and sort of dry) a load in an hour or less, as long as there isn’t too much dried-on gunk. (Though they’re less energy-efficient than the standard normal, auto, or sensor cycles.)
A higher-end look: A stainless steel finish is the norm in this price range. Stacy Canova-Turner, CR’s market analyst for dishwashers, says that shoppers can also find black stainless and “panel ready” (customizable-front) models. “Dishwashers with bar handles rather than pocket handles are becoming more common at this price, too,” Canova-Turner says. That design is usually paired with integrated control panels, also known as hidden or top-mount controls, which offer a cleaner look.