Best Quiet Dishwashers 2020 Reviews and Where To Buy
Since living areas and kitchens no longer occupy separate spaces, it can be a problem if you have a really loud dishwasher. When you are catching up on your favorite program, the last thing you want is to miss out on an important scene because your dishwasher is making too much noise. It’s not always easiest to know how quiet an appliance is going to be until you use it, but there are a few ways you can get an idea of what you are buying. Here are a few tips and reviews to help you find the quietest dishwasher for your home.
Decibel Ratings
If an appliance has a decibel rating of 60, you will have a hard time having a conversation in the same room. You want to look for units that are rated between 38 and 44 decibels to be able to watch tv without being interrupted.
To give you a better idea of where a decibel rating falls, here are some common sounds and their ratings:
- Whisper – 15 decibels
- Typical human conversation – 60 decibels
- Lawnmower – 90 decibels
- Car horn – 110 decibels
- Firecrackers – 140 decibels
So, the lower your dishwasher’s decibel rating, the quieter it will be. Even though you may think that a difference of a few decibels won’t be that much, a dishwasher that is only a decibel more can be almost 30% louder. And, a dishwasher that if just four decibels more can be twice as loud.
When considering dishwasher decibel levels, keep in mind that if you only need to find a dishwasher that is 44 decibels. That level is quiet enough. It is not worth paying more for a dishwasher that is less than 44 decibels.
What Makes a Dishwasher Quiet?
- Insulation quality will help to reduce noise levels.
- Disposals make dishwashers louder.
- Look for sound dampening material on the outside of the tub.
- Dishwashers with stainless-steel tubs are often quieter than those with plastic tubs because the sound is dampened when water is sprayed inside.
- Dishwashers that have a filter instead of a disposer are quieter.
Best Quiet Dishwasher Reviews
1. hOmeLabs Compact Countertop Dishwasher
- A convenient and small Energy Star certified dish washing machine for cleaning the dishes after dinner or cooking. Simply load the dishes in the dish basket and cutlery rack and let this white dishwasher do the dirty job. Easily sits on countertops or tabletop requiring less space
- With simple to use control panel and light indicators. Program selector has 6 wash cycle options: heavy, normal, ECO, glass, speed, and rinse for your different dishwashing needs. Delay button light to postpone wash cycle
Efficient and quiet, the hOmeLabs Compact Countertop Dishwasher provides intimate cleaning by mimicking human hands and rubbing the dishes clean. With this process, it gets rid of germs and bacteria to ensure your dishes are clean. You can easily place it on your countertop and push it off to the side when you aren’t using it.
Measuring only 18-inches, this dishwasher is anything but small. It comes with a filter, rinse aid, typical basket, spray arms, cup rack, detergent dispenser, and cutlery basket. This product is super easy to operate, but just make sure it is correctly hooked up to a water line before running it.
The controls offer six modes to operate the machine including a normal mode, an eco-mode to save you money and power, a glass mode that washes delicate dishes, and a speed mode that lets you do a quick wash. You also get an indicator light to let you know when to refill the detergent. And, the rinse aid dispenser is comparable to that on automatic dishwashers helping to prevent marks and streaks on glassware.
The hOmeLabs Countertop Dishwasher is also super quiet. It has a noise level of 55 decibels when operating normally. That is a decibel level under a typical human conversation, so you will barely notice the machine while it works.
Pros
- This is an easy to install and use machine with very little assembly needed
- It holds a good amount of dishes including reasonably sized pans
- It makes everything really clean and works well with detergent packs
Cons
- It takes a while to work
- If your kitchen is really small, it will take up more room than you expect it to
2. Frigidaire FFBD1821MW Built-In Full Console Dishwasher
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This affordable console dishwasher is packed with lots of features. The Frigidaire Console Dishwasher is super quiet at only 55 decibels meaning you can only hear it if you are standing next to it. This is the perfect sized unit for those with small kitchens that also want all the typical features of a dishwasher.
The Frigidaire gives you several control modes allowing you to clean various dishes like plastic cups, mugs, and plates. You also get stainless-steel parts in the interior giving the machine longevity and durability. And, the replaceable and cleanable water filter helps to keep the inside from getting messy.
With the four different modes, you can wash your dishes using the normal mode, energy-saver mode, light wash mode, or heavy wash mode depending on your needs. You can also combine some of the modes for added versatility. With the energy saver mode, you can clean your dishes using less power, but still get the same performance.
With the china/crystal cycle, you can clean fragile dishes with water pressure that is reduced by 30%. This provides a careful washing cycle along with a gentle rinse. The delay timer can also be set for those that prefer to delay washing their dishes for several hours.
Using the Ready-Select controls, you don’t have to navigate a complex menu. There is also heat provided by the dishwasher to dry the dishes, which you can increase if you need the process to be done faster. You can also use any detergent with the Frigidaire and are alerted to when the detergent is low by the low rinse indicator.
Pros
- This is a super quiet machine that cleans really well
- This is a great looking dishwasher that comes with a cleanable water filter
- It comes with an energy saver mode that uses heatless drying
Cons
- The silverware caddy placement is horrible
- The top shelf doesn’t hold a lot of dishes and glasses
3. SPT SD-9241SS Energy Star Portable Dishwasher
- 6 Wash Programs: All-in-1, Heavy, Normal, Light , Rinse and Speed
- Automatic detergent and rinse agent dispenser
With an impressive faucet adapter, the SPT Portable Dishwasher allows you to pair the unit with a standard aerator opening. The lightweight dishwasher is very portable and easy to maintain with its stainless-steel interior. You can use detergent as well as cold or hot washes with this dishwasher.
Easy to install and setup, you don’t have to worry about doing any direct plumbing, just connecting a few lines. With the ability to withstand water temperatures up to 154-degree Fahrenheit, you can load 3.65 gallons of water each time you wash the dishes. It also comes with a delay timer in case you want to set the wash cycle for a few hours later.
Even though this is a portable dishwasher, you can clean plates of all sizes with the included eight plate settings. This is a super quiet machine that works on normal mode at 55 decibels. And, it is energy start certified making it a definite help to saving on your annual energy bills.
The SPT also gives you several modes to choose from including normal, all-in-one, speed, rinse, light, and heavy. Plus, you get a Residual Heat Drying feature that will warm up your dishes to let the water evaporate off them. This prevents you from having to hand dry all your dishes.
Pros
- This is an easy to operate machine that is quieter than other dishwashers
- It only uses three gallons of water to clean a full load of dishes
- It also comes with a large drawer for storage under the machine
Cons
- It can’t be readily connected to standard fittings, so hard to install
- The quick-connect hose feature has an odd diameter
4. Bosch SPE68U55UC 800 Series Energy Star Rated Dishwasher
Our next dishwasher is built-in under a cabinet. The 18-inch Bosch Dishwasher not only helps to cut down on your annual energy bills, but it is super quiet. Emitting just a low amount of noise while it works, it only reaches 44 decibels, which is lower than a human conversation.
This compact dishwasher will fit under most typical kitchen counters seamlessly. You get a flexible silver dish basket and a complete console that gives you easy access to control every feature of the Bosch Dishwasher. You get several modes and a delay timer, plus an LED marker that can tell you how much wash time is left.
Included in the mode options are express, economic, automatic, heavy, and normal options allowing you to choose the right mode for your preferences. With the integrated AquaPlus® leak protection system, your dishwasher is guarded against dripping in four areas. And, you also get a glass protector, your unit is protected from damage due to an accident.
The Bosch Dishwasher also comes with a third rack that helps to increase the unit’s capacity by 30% in comparison to earlier models. Using technology called the RackMatic, you get your choice of three different height options as well as nine different rack placement options. With this type of versatility, you can place several different dish sizes inside the machine and still get a good cleaning.
And, Bosch has also installed Water Softener technology allowing you to choose your preferred water movement mode. With this type of control, you can ensure that you get spot-free cleaning and that the water will every utensil.
Pros
- It makes your dishes sparkling clean while being super quiet
- It has nice rack placement options in comparison to a typical dishwasher
- You can control the water flow, so it can hit different areas
Cons
- The instructions are not helpful
- The kick plate does not cover the area it is intended to
5. EdgeStar DWP62SV Energy Star Rated Portable Countertop Dishwasher
- Six (6) standard place setting capacity / Includes dish rack, cup shelf, and cutlery basket
- Holds plates up to 10.5″ in diameter / Seven (7) wash cycles / Quick connect adapter fits standard sized kitchen faucets / Beautiful digital display
Measuring only 17-inches tall, the EdgeStar Countertop Dishwasher doesn’t require permanent installation. Instead, you just take it out when you need it, connect it, use it, and maintain it. With a QuickConnect faucet adapter, you can easily hook up this dishwasher to a standard faucet within a few minutes. Once you are done using it, you can simply store it under a cabinet.
Not only is this a very quiet dishwasher, but it is also energy efficient saving you lots of money on your annual energy bill. You also get six different places to put utensils including the cutlery basket, mug shelf, and dish rack. There are also seven different wash cycles including a heavy wash to get rid of germs and bacteria, plus you can increase the interior temperature to up to 149 degrees Fahrenheit for a higher disinfectant level.
The EdgeStar also comes equipped with a spray arm that has enough power to spray detergent all over your utensils. The interior is made of stainless steel to prevent reactions from most detergents, and you only need to use 2.85 gallons each time you run a load.
This machine only makes 52.3 decibels of noise when it runs. This is below the average conversation level between two people. Not only does the compact size make it a great option if you live in an apartment, but the low noise level also makes it very apartment friendly.
Pros
- This is the perfect dishwasher for a small kitchen or apartment
- It is very easy to set up and does a great job
- This is a super quiet machine that you only notice when it discharges water
Cons
- It doesn’t dry very well
- The rack placement isn’t a very good design
The winner of the quiet dishwasher roundup is the Bosch SPE68U55UC 800 Series Energy Star Rated Dishwasher. This dishwasher only reaches 44 decibels making it the quietest dishwasher on our list. It is compact enough to fit under most kitchen counters, and it is energy efficiency allows you to save money on your annual energy bills.
One of the best features is the integrated AquaPlus® leak protection system that protects your dishwasher from dripping in four areas along with a glass protector that protects the dishwasher in case of accidental breakage. And, since it is a Bosch product, it comes with a Water Softener technology that lets you choose your preferred water movement mode to guarantee water reaches every dish inside. The definite winner of the quiet dishwasher roundup is the Bosch SPE68U55UC 800 Series Energy Star Rated Dishwasher hands down.