Budget Dishwashers

Best-value dishwashers

Reviews indicate that you don't have to spend over $1,000 to get clean dishes. A Kenmore dishwasher, the Kenmore 13742 (*Est. $560), performs well in tests and is notably quiet, but it skips a stainless-steel tub. This Kenmore dishwasher is also Energy Star-rated. It has an adjustable and removable upper rack, a self-cleaning filter, automatic temperature control, food disposer and a delay-wash option. The rotating spray jets eliminate the need for soaking or scrubbing very dirty dishes, and there's an extra-hot rinse feature. Other conveniences include adjustable tines and a large flatware basket. The Kenmore 13742 is available in four colors: white, black, bisque and stainless steel (which costs an extra $100). Interestingly, we found a handful of complaints from owners reporting that this dishwasher simply does not get dishes very clean. Some owners have also had problems with parts failing or breaking on this model. To be fair, however, we did find a smattering of such complaints about every dishwasher, regardless of price. User reviews are more mixed at ConsumerReports.org than they are at Sears.com.

For about $200 more, the Kenmore Elite 13122 (*Est. $755), is Energy Star-rated with a stainless-steel tub, sensor wash cycle, self-cleaning filter, hard-food disposer, fold down tines, delay wash, quick-wash cycle and sanitary rinse. But at 52 decibels, it's quieter than most dishwashers in this price range. This dishwasher performs well in professional tests but owner reviews at Sears.com are less than impressive, with many complaints about the motor failing and flimsy plastic parts that fall off or break.

A few less expensive dishwashers have hidden controls -- a streamlined look that's popular right now. The controls are mounted along the top of the door, so they're invisible when the door is closed. Some owners like the look, but experts say hidden controls are harder to use. The LG LDF6920WW (*Est. $630) is one of the more reasonably priced dishwashers with hidden controls. It also has a stainless-steel washtub, an adjustable upper rack, adjustable tines, sensor cleaning, a self-cleaning filter and a food disposer. This model comes in black or white. A stainless-steel version, the LG LDF6920ST (*Est. $750), costs more. LG is new to dishwashers, so long-term reliability ratings for this brand are not available.

An even less expensive dishwasher with hidden controls is the Kenmore 13892 (*Est. $470). It meets Energy Star criteria and has a heated drying cycle, a self-cleaning filter, a food disposer, fold-down tines and a sanitary rinse cycle. The wash tub is plastic and there's no gentle cycle for china or delicate glassware. This dishwasher performs well in professional tests and owners posting reviews at Sears.com say it is quiet and does a good job getting dishes clean. However, there are quite a few reports of early breakdowns for this model and a few owners say it doesn't dry well. This Kenmore dishwasher is available in white, black and stainless steel (for $80 more).

If you don't care about a stainless-steel washtub, adjustable tines or other extras, you can still get a good dishwasher for considerably less money. The Whirlpool DU1055XTVQ (*Est. $400) has good features for the price. It meets Energy Star standards and has four wash cycles, adjustable tines and a delayed-start option. The tall plastic tub lets you load tall items in both racks, and the auto soil sensor measures dirt in the wash water and automatically adjusts the cycle. It performs well in one professional test, and we found a handful of mostly positive user reviews at Amazon.com and ABT.com. Reviews are more mixed at AJMadison.com, where users don't agree on this dishwasher's noise level. The Whirlpool is available in white, black-on-black and biscuit. The universal silver finish costs about $50 more, and the stainless-steel version costs about $100 more. This dishwasher has a soak-and-scour option that soaks, cleans, and then re-soaks dishes to remove tough caked-on food.

Another decent, inexpensive choice is the Amana ADB1500AW (*Est. $350). The Amana dishwasher has a tall plastic tub that can fit a dozen five-piece place settings, and the top rack can be removed to accommodate large dishes. The electronic touchpad controls make it easy to use, and the cycle status indicator lights let you know how much time is left in a load. There is a delay start, a food disposal and a dirt sensor. The Amana ADB1500AW is Energy Star-compliant. A handful of reviewers at Epinions.com have mixed opinions about the Amana dishwasher. One says it washes great but that the heated drying did not meet expectations. Another reviewer says the handle broke twice. The Amana comes in white, black and bisque. A stainless-steel version, the Amana ADB1500AWS (*Est. $480), is also available.

Experts say that many inexpensive dishwashers are so-called builder's grade models that you'll sometimes see advertised for less than $200. These units spray water only from the bottom and do not get dishes as clean as regular dishwashers do. They also tend to be noisier, because they aren't as well insulated. Contractors seem to like the Whirlpool DU850SWPQ (*Est. $330), because it's an improvement over builder's grade dishwashers, with three wash levels instead of just one. Although it doesn't get the best scores for washing ability, it is efficient and easy to load. Dirtier dishes may need a pre-rinse before loading in the dishwasher, something that's no longer necessary on even slightly more expensive models. However, if you plan on light duty and don't plan on washing heavily soiled pots and pans, the Whirlpool is a good no-frills choice.

Portable dishwashers

If you're not replacing an existing built-in dishwasher or planning a new kitchen, a portable dishwasher might be a worthwhile choice. These units connect to the kitchen tap for their water supply and roll out of the way when not in use. Portable dishwashers are not generally designed for the high end of the market, so don't expect all the bells and whistles. However, you should look for the same marks of quality found in a built-in dishwasher.

If you live in an apartment or have a small kitchen without a dishwasher hookup, the Danby DDW1805W (*Est. $400) is a portable dishwasher that attaches to your kitchen faucet. It has wheels so you can roll it out of site when not in use. The Danby portable dishwasher is Energy Star-rated, has a stainless-steel tub, holds eight place settings and has three wash levels. This model is very popular at Walmart.com, where it receives more than 300 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of five). At Buzzillions.com and Epinions.com, it earns well above average ratings from a combined total of more than 50 reviewers. Owners say it's a quiet, sturdy unit and that it cleans well, but that the cycle takes a long time to complete. A few owners dislike the faucet attachment, which requires you to install an adapter.