- Best Built In Dishwasher
- Best Value Built In Dishwasher
- Best Luxury Built In Dishwasher
- What Features to Look for in a Dishwasher
You may not realize it, but there is more than meets the eye when it comes to shopping for a new built in dishwasher. In most residential kitchens, built in configurations have become standard—they not only exude a flush-inset appearance, but they also offer more premium- and luxury-tier features compared to more affordably priced portable dishwashers. That said, you don’t have to break the bank to reap the benefits of hard-hitting wash cycles, flexible organization, and more.
Check out our product previews and in-depth descriptions of the best built in dishwashers:
Best Overall:
Frigidaire Professional 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher - FPID2498SF ($999) – “Convenient features include an extra rack for utensils and miscellaneous items, green and blue LED floor beam indicators to alert you when your dishes are washing and when they’re done, and foldable rack dividers that allow you to fit variably sized items.”
Best Value:
Frigidaire 24” Black Built In Dishwasher - FDPC4221AB ($339) – “You can expect a complete clean with a five-level wash system that features an upper spray nozzle, a middle spray arm, and a lower spray arm.”
Best Luxury:
Miele PG 8133 SCVi 24” Panel Ready Built In Dishwasher - PG8133SCVI120V ($4,299) – “Teeming with professional-grade features, this luxury built in dishwasher is economical and efficient, offering low operating costs, very short cycle times, and quality construction you can count on.”
Honorable Mention:
Whirlpool 24” Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher - WDT710PAHZ ($649) – “This Whirlpool built in dishwasher offers five cycles, including the Normal cycle for day-to-day messes, the Heavy Duty cycle that takes care of stuck-on grime, and the Soak & Clean cycle that combines the presoak and wash cycles in one.”
Our Best Built In Dishwashers
1. Best Overall: Frigidaire Professional 24” Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher
You can wash smarter with the Frigidaire Professional FPID2498SF dishwasher. Among its wash capabilities, this built in dishwasher boasts PrecisionPro Wash Zones™ that target the hardest-to-clean dishes; a OrbitClean® Wash System that quadruples water distribution for a deep clean; and multiple cycle options for loads large and small, ranging from light debris to baked-on messes.
Other convenient features include an extra rack for utensils and miscellaneous items; green and blue LED floor beam indicators to alert you when your dishes are washing and when they’re done; and foldable rack dividers that allow you to fit variably sized items. Best of all, this Frigidaire Professional dishwasher can save you money on your water bill, as it efficiently cleans a full load with 15 percent less water. It’s no wonder the FPID2498SF earns our top spot as the best built in dishwasher.
2. Best Value: Frigidaire 24” Black Built In Dishwasher
Our best price built in dishwasher is the Frigidaire FDPC4221AB dishwasher. You can expect a complete clean with a five-level wash system that features an upper spray nozzle, a middle spray arm, and a lower spray arm. In the spirit of stretching your wallet, this Frigidaire built in dishwasher offers an Energy Saver Dry Option that reduces energy use with zero heat.
3. Best Luxury: Miele PG 8133 SCVi 24” Panel Ready Built In Dishwasher
If you have a taste for the finer things, you might be interested in the Miele PG8133SCVI120V dishwasher. Teeming with professional-grade features, this luxury built in dishwasher is economical and efficient, offering low operating costs, an ultra-flexible cutlery tray, a large interior capacity, very short cycle times, and quality construction you can count on for a long service life.
Other premium amenities include the patented AutoOpen assisted drying, which automatically opens the dishwasher door at the end of a program; the Perfect GlassCare cycle that ensures your glassware is thoroughly and gently cleaned; and four BrilliantLight LEDs that illuminate the entire interior for easy loading and unloading.
Honorable Mention: Whirlpool 24” Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher
Outside of our awarded categories, the Whirlpool WDT710PAHZ dishwasher earns a spot on our list of the best built in dishwashers, thanks to its slew of premium features that sell at a low-budget price.
The Sensor cycle automatically sets the right wash and dry settings for each load with two smart sensors that measure temperature, soil level, and load size during the prewash and wash cycles. Speaking of wash cycles, this Whirlpool built in dishwasher offers five of them, including the Normal cycle for day-to-day messes, the Heavy Duty cycle that takes care of stuck-on grime, and the Soak & Clean cycle that combines the presoak and wash cycles in one. Most conveniently, you can get cleaned plates, pans, and glasses in half the time with the 1-Hour Wash Cycle.
What Features to Look for in a Dishwasher
If you’d like to explore other built-in dishwasher models, it might be helpful to first identify which features are becoming increasingly popular for their convenience. Check out our list of must-have dishwasher features:
Sanitize Option
Sanitation in dishwashers is more important than ever, so you’ll be happy to learn that many mid-end dishwashers, including models from offer a sanitize option that runs higher-temperature water of at least 150 degrees along with longer wash times to eliminate food-soil bacteria. Typically, this wash option increases the heat during the main cycle and finishes with an even hotter rinse.
Flexible Third Rack
Many mid-end dishwashers, including models from Bosch, Samsung, LG, and KitchenAid, feature a height-adjustable third rack. Flexible third racks give you the luxury of space to fit everything from tall wine glasses to tiny espresso cups so you can get more done in fewer loads.
Thanks to this premium feature, you can accommodate items that are normally difficult to load, like soup ladles and grill tongs, with ease. Not only that, but a flexible third rack also gives you the option to forgo bulky silverware baskets, as some models are stocked with a dedicated cutlery tray in this top compartment.
Delicate Wash Cycle
If your dishwasher can clean your crystal serving platter without leaving a scratch, then you know you’ve got a keeper on your hands. Delicate wash cycles are designed for lightly soiled delicate items, employing less hot water and a shorter fill time to preserve your fanciest dishware. In addition, these cycles operate with a wash action that is softened by pumping air along the water to protect your items.
That said, it should be noted that this feature assumes different names across brands and models. For instance, GE dishwashers term their delicate wash cycles as either “Light,” “China,” or “Crystal” whereas Thermador patents theirs as “Crystal Protection.”
WiFi Compatibility
What if we told you that you don’t even have to get up from the couch to get the dishes done? A smart dishwasher is engineered to do more than just wash your dishes, as many luxury models can deliver push notifications to your smartphone or tablet when your dishes are done. If that’s not enough, you can also troubleshoot issues, receive recommendations for dishware cycles, start or stop your dishwasher remotely—all from your smart device.
Quiet Operation
Do you hear that? No? Good. With a low-noise dishwasher, you can rest assured you won’t be abruptly thrown off your groove.
According to industry experts, the decibel level of a quiet dishwasher is anywhere between 38 to 44. For reference, a whisper is around 15 decibels and a typical conversation is estimated to be about 50 decibels. So, when you consider the fact that most dishwashers range from about 46 to 60 decibels, we can imagine it would be difficult to even hold a conversation in the kitchen while running a load.
Shop Built In Dishwashers at Spencer’s
Don’t forget to shop local! If you have other questions about any of our best built in dishwashers, don’t hesitate to call or visit your friends in the business at Spencer’s TV & Appliance. Proud to have served our customers since 1973, we have 10 locations in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale regions. Call or visit us today!