Top 10 Countertop Dishwashers in 2027 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best overall countertop dishwasher in 2027 is the Danby DDW631SDB at $357, which pairs eight wash cycles with a genuine heated-style extra dry option and tidy 6-place-setting capacity that most rivals can't match. The best value pick is the BLACK+DECKER BCD6W at $199, a faucet-hookup 6-setting machine that runs at a quiet 54 dBA for roughly half the price of the premium models.

This list is for renters, RV and boat owners, dorm dwellers, tiny-house builders, and anyone with a small kitchen who wants clean dishes without permanently plumbing in a full-size unit. Below are ten real, currently-shipping models ranked on cleaning, capacity, water source, and price-to-performance.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted the things that actually decide whether a compact dishwasher earns its counter space, then cross-checked manufacturer spec sheets against independent lab and hands-on reviews. We leaned on testing and buying guidance from Reviewed, Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping, CNET, The Spruce, and Bob Vila, plus the official Danby, Farberware, hOmeLabs, COMFEE', BLACK+DECKER, and Midea spec pages.

Our scoring breakdown:

• Cleaning performance — 25%
• Capacity (place settings) — 20%
• Water source (tank vs faucet hookup) — 15%
• Cycle options & drying — 15%
• Noise & build — 15%
• Price-to-performance — 10%

A high score required real-world stain removal, not just a long cycle list, and we rewarded machines that give you both a built-in tank and a faucet hookup so you aren't locked to one water source.

1. Danby DDW631SDB 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Price: $357 | Best for: small kitchens that want full-size cleaning in a compact body

The Danby DDW631SDB is the most complete compact machine you can buy, and it's why Reviewed has long named a Danby its top countertop pick. It holds 6 place settings, runs a rare 8 wash cycles (a feature found in only a sliver of models), and uses just 2.85 gallons per normal cycle.

It connects to your kitchen faucet via quick-connect rather than a tank, and its standout extra-dry option pulls excess water off dishes far better than the air-only competition. Noise sits in a reasonable 52–55 dB range, and Danby pegs operating cost near $29 a year on hot-water supply.

Pros:

• Eight wash cycles — more versatility than nearly any rival
• Genuine extra-dry option that actually removes water
• Stainless interior and proven cleaning in lab testing
• Low water use at 2.85 gallons per cycle

Cons:

• Needs a faucet hookup — no built-in tank for off-grid use
• Premium price among compacts

Verdict: The all-around champion — buy it if your sink has a hookup-friendly faucet and you want the cleanest dishes in this class.

2. Farberware FDW05ASBWHA

Price: $300 | Best for: households that want both tank and hookup flexibility

The Farberware FDW05ASBWHA is the dual-source workhorse: it has a 5-liter built-in water tank so you can run it with no plumbing at all, or use the included quick faucet connector when a sink is handy. It fits 6 place settings, offers 5 programs including dedicated Baby Care, Glass, and Fruit Wash modes, and in Reviewed testing it cleared over 99% of test stains — better than many full-size dishwashers.

It's wider-friendly at 16.5 inches but runs louder at 62 dBA, the trade-off for that flexible water system.

Pros:

• Built-in 5L tank AND faucet hookup — total placement freedom
• 99%+ stain removal in independent testing
• Specialty cycles for baby items, glass, and produce
• No installation required out of the box

Cons:

• Loud at 62 dBA versus quieter rivals
• Air-dry only, so expect some residual moisture

Verdict: The best tank-or-hookup hybrid — pick it when you can't count on a permanent faucet connection.

3. BLACK+DECKER BCD6W 💎 BEST VALUE

Price: $199 | Best for: budget shoppers who have a faucet to hook up to

The BLACK+DECKER BCD6W delivers the core compact experience for the lowest price worth recommending. It seats 6 place settings, runs 7 wash programs (intensive, normal, eco, glass, 90-minute, rapid, and soak), and stays quiet at 54 dBA. It uses a quick-connect faucet assembly, adds a 24-hour delayed start, and finishes with condensation plus air dry.

A built-in grip handle makes it easy to stash in a cupboard between uses, and the stainless tub holds plates up to 10 inches.

Pros:

• Lowest sensible price at around $199
• Seven cycles plus 24-hour delay start
• Quiet 54 dBA operation
• Carry handle and stainless tub for easy storage

Cons:

• Faucet hookup only — no tank option
• Bulky 21.5-inch footprint for the capacity

Verdict: The value king — the smartest buy for anyone with a hookup-ready sink and a tight budget.

4. COMFEE' Portable Mini (5L Tank)

Price: $320 | Best for: apartments and RVs that need zero installation

The COMFEE' Portable Mini is the off-grid favorite, built around a 5-liter built-in tank with no plumbing required, though you can still hook it to a faucet. It manages 6 place settings, packs 8 washing programs including Speed, Baby-Care, ECO, and Glass, and uses 360° dual spray with 11 nozzles at high pressure.

It sips only 1.6 gallons of water and 0.35 kWh per cycle, and its Hygiene cycle heats to a sanitizing 162°F. An auto-door-open air-dry finish helps moisture escape.

Pros:

• No-hookup 5L tank plus optional faucet connect
• Eight programs with a sanitizing 162°F cycle
• Very low water and energy use per load
• Auto-door-open drying for better moisture release

Cons:

• Tank refills add a step for big loads
• Plastic-heavy build versus stainless rivals

Verdict: The best truly portable pick — ideal for RVs, boats, and apartments with no dishwasher line.

5. Midea MDC22P2ASS

Price: $280 | Best for: small households wanting quiet, efficient faucet washing

The Midea MDC22P2ASS is a quiet, efficient faucet-hookup machine with a stainless finish and one of the best capacities here — 6 place settings holding up to 70 pieces of tableware. It runs 6+2 washing cycles (Auto, Heavy, Normal, Quick, Rinse, Delicate plus Extended Dry and Power Wash), draws just 2.77 gallons per load, and stays calm at 52 dBA, among the quietest in this guide.

Its heated-dry option puts it ahead of the air-only crowd, and it connects straight to your kitchen faucet.

Pros:

• 52 dBA — one of the quietest models tested
• Heated dry for cleaner, drier results
• Holds 70 pieces across 6 settings
• Energy Star efficient at 2.77 gallons per cycle

Cons:

• Faucet hookup only, no tank
• Larger 22-inch width

Verdict: A quiet, efficient sleeper — a great Danby alternative if you prize low noise.

6. HOmeLabs 6-Place Digital

Price: $290 | Best for: dorms and small apartments that want a sanitizing high-temp wash

The hOmeLabs 6-Place Digital dishwasher is a faucet-hookup model with a clear digital LED display and touch controls. It fits 6 place settings, runs 7 wash cycles (Heavy, Normal, Eco, High Temp, Quick Wash, Glass, and Rinse), and includes a built-in rinse-aid dispenser for streak-free results.

It's Energy Star certified, operates around 50 dB, and accepts plates up to 10 inches. The quick-connect assembly with adapters ships in the box.

Pros:

• High-temp sanitizing cycle for tough loads
• Roughly 50 dB — quiet operation
• Built-in rinse-aid dispenser for streak-free drying
• Energy Star certified efficiency

Cons:

• Faucet hookup required — no tank
• Tall 21.6-inch body needs clearance

Verdict: A polished, quiet hookup machine — strong for dorms and one-bedroom apartments.

7. NOVETE Portable (5L Tank)

Price: $330 | Best for: apartment dwellers who want a fast wash and a compact footprint

The NOVETE Portable is Bob Vila's "Best Apartment" pick, built around a 5-liter built-in tank with an included inlet hose for faucet use. Its compact 16.86 × 16.75 × 18.05-inch body is among the smallest here, and a Speed mode cleans a load in just 29 minutes with automatic air circulation for drying.

It offers 5 washing programs including a Baby Care cycle, a clean LED touch panel, and an automatic water-level indicator so the tank never overfills.

Pros:

• Smallest footprint of the tank models
• 29-minute Speed mode for fast turnarounds
• Built-in tank plus inlet hose for either water source
• Baby Care cycle and tidy LED controls

Cons:

• Only 5 programs versus 7–8 on rivals
• Air-dry only leaves some moisture

Verdict: The best small-footprint tank model — perfect when counter space is the constraint.

8. Magic Chef MCSCD6W5

Price: $350 | Best for: kitchens that need it to tuck under upper cabinets

The Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 wins on fit: at just 17.2 inches tall, it slides under most upper cabinets where taller units won't. It holds 6 place settings in a stainless interior with a sliding rack, silverware basket, and cup shelf, and runs 6 wash cycles plus a hard-food filter that handles messier loads.

Controls are push-button electronic with an easy-to-read LED display, and it connects to your kitchen faucet with the included quick-connect.

Pros:

• 17.2-inch height fits under cabinetry
• Hard-food filter for heavier soils
• Stainless interior with cup shelf
• Energy Star certified

Cons:

• Six cycles, fewer than the leaders
• Faucet hookup only

Verdict: The under-cabinet specialist — choose it when vertical clearance is your problem.

9. Frigidaire FMP330RGB

Price: $329 | Best for: small households wanting a slightly larger portable with high-temp wash

The Frigidaire FMP330RGB steps up to an 18-inch portable body for a bit more room than the 6-setting compacts, while still rolling where you need it. It runs 4 cycles with a High-Temp Wash option for sanitizing tough loads, a delay-start timer, and a stainless steel interior with a standard silverware basket.

The black-on-black finish hides fingerprints, and the wider tub swallows bigger pots that smaller cubes can't.

Pros:

• Larger 18-inch capacity than the cube models
• High-Temp Wash for sanitizing
• Delay-start scheduling
• Stainless interior and fingerprint-resistant finish

Cons:

• Only 4 cycles
• Bulkier than true countertop cubes

Verdict: A roomy step-up portable — pick it if 6-setting cubes feel too small.

10. COMFEE' Mini (1.32 Gal Tank, Air-Refresh)

Price: $260 | Best for: the smallest single-person setups and odor-prone loads

The COMFEE' Mini rounds out the list as the most compact, lowest-cost tank model. It carries a 1.32-gallon (5L) built-in tank with no hookup needed, runs 6 programs with 360° dual spray, and heats to 162°F on its high-temp cycle. Its party trick is an Air-Refresh function that periodically ventilates the tub to keep dishes and the interior from going stale between washes.

It's the right tool for a single person, a dorm, or a small RV galley where space is at an absolute premium.

Pros:

• Lowest tank-model price around $260
• No hookup needed — fill-and-go convenience
• 162°F high-temp sanitizing cycle
• Air-Refresh keeps the tub fresh between loads

Cons:

• Smallest capacity — not for families
• Plastic build and air-dry only

Verdict: The tiny-space budget pick — best for one person who values portability over capacity.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One's Right for You?

What to Look For When Buying a Countertop Dishwasher

• Capacity in place settings — most countertop cubes hold 6 place settings; mini units drop to 3–4. Match this to your household, not the marketing photo.
• Water source: tank vs faucet — a built-in tank lets you run anywhere with no plumbing; a faucet hookup means no refills but ties you to a sink. The most flexible models (Farberware, COMFEE') offer both.
• Cycle options — look for at least Normal, Eco, and a high-temp or sanitizing cycle; specialty Baby Care and Glass modes are bonuses.
• Drying method — a true heated or extra-dry option (Danby, Midea) beats air-dry only machines, which leave residual moisture you'll towel off.
• Noise — quiet units land near 50–54 dB; louder ones hit 62 dBA, noticeable in an open studio.
• Footprint and dish-height clearance — measure your counter depth and the plate diameter (most cap at 10 inches) before buying.
• Under-cabinet height — if it lives under uppers, the 17.2-inch Magic Chef-style height matters.

What matters less than marketing implies: sheer cycle count. A machine with eight programs isn't automatically better than one with six — real stain removal and a working dry cycle decide satisfaction far more than the length of the program menu.

FAQ

Do countertop dishwashers actually clean as well as full-size models? Yes, the better ones do. The Farberware cleared over 99% of test stains in Reviewed testing, beating many full-size units, and the Danby's eight cycles handle baked-on messes. Capacity is the real limit, not cleaning power.

Do I need to hook it up to my faucet, or can I just fill a tank? It depends on the model. Faucet-hookup units (Danby, Midea, BLACK+DECKER, hOmeLabs) connect via quick-connect to your sink. Tank models (COMFEE', NOVETE) and hybrids (Farberware) let you pour water in with no plumbing — ideal for RVs and apartments.

How many dishes fit in a 6-place-setting unit? Roughly 70 pieces of tableware, per Midea's spec — enough for a couple or a small family running it once a day. Plates up to 10 inches fit most models.

Are countertop dishwashers loud? The quietest here run 50–54 dB (hOmeLabs, Midea, BLACK+DECKER), about as loud as a quiet conversation. The Farberware is the loudest at 62 dBA, which you'll notice in an open-plan studio.

Do they dry the dishes, or come out wet? Air-dry-only models leave some moisture. For drier dishes, choose a unit with a real extra-dry or heated-dry option like the Danby DDW631SDB or Midea MDC22P2ASS.

How much water do they use? Far less than handwashing. The COMFEE' uses about 1.6 gallons per cycle, the Midea 2.77 gallons, and the Danby 2.85 gallons — roughly a third of what a sink full of dishes consumes by hand.

Bottom Line

For the best all-around compact dishwasher in 2027, the Danby DDW631SDB at $357 earns the top spot with eight cycles, real extra-dry performance, and proven cleaning — the pick to buy if your sink supports a faucet hookup. If you want to spend less, the BLACK+DECKER BCD6W at $199 delivers six place settings, seven cycles, and quiet 54 dBA operation for roughly half the price, making it our best value.

Need a no-plumbing option for an RV or apartment? Walk the decision tree above to route yourself to the right tank model.

Sources

• Reviewed — The Best Countertop Dishwashers of 2026
• Bob Vila — The Best Countertop Dishwashers
• WashDryDazzle — Danby DDW631SDB Review
• Amazon — Farberware FDW05ASBWHA Spec Page
• Lowe's — Farberware FDW05ASBWHA Spec Sheet (62 dBA)
• BLACK+DECKER — BCD6W Official Product Page
• Amazon — COMFEE' Portable Mini 6 Place Setting Dishwasher
• Midea — MDC22P2ASS 22" Portable Countertop Dishwasher
• hOmeLabs — Digital Countertop Dishwasher 6 Place Settings Review
• NOVETE Portable Countertop Dishwasher (5L Tank) Spec Page
• Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 — The Home Depot Spec Page

*Countertop dishwasher review — countertop dishwasher reviews, rating, best countertop dishwasher 2027, and a review of the top compact picks for small kitchens.*