How many decibels is a countertop dishwasher?
Usually 52. A cluster that tight is a clue that these are not precise measurements, and the makers' wording confirms it.
No maker states a cycle, a distance or a test standard. Not one.
Danby words its figure as a target: "Designed to operate at 52 decibels, less noise than a normal conversation." GE files its number under marketing, "Quiet Package: 52 dBA". SPT alone ties the figure to anything, listing it as the noise level in normal operation. Across the category that leaves a practical spread of about four decibels, from Danby's 51 to SPT's 55, with no way to check how any of it was measured.
The ranking therefore runs on the figures first and then on what else each maker was willing to publish. For more on why these numbers rarely line up, see comparing decibel ratings.
Farberware, COMFEE and BLACK+DECKER countertop models carried no noise figure anywhere we looked, and are left out.
Countertop, rolling portable or 18 inch built-in
Whether the machine connects to the faucet or needs a permanent hookup decides more than the decibels do.
| Type | Size | Water connection | Place settings | Notes |
|---|
| Countertop | About 17 inches tall, on the counter | Faucet, quick connect fitting | Around 6 | No plumbing, so a renter can use one and take it along |
| Rolling portable | Full height, 18 or 24 inches wide, on casters | Faucet | 8 to 10 | Needs floor space near the sink; SPT's 18 inch model is 114 lbs and its 24 inch model 123 lbs |
| 18 inch built-in | Cabinet gap | Permanent hookup | 8 or 10 among the picks | For owners, or with a landlord's permission; the lowest figure, Danby's 51 decibels, sits here |
A countertop unit gives up capacity, not quiet: Danby's countertop and its 18 inch portable carry the same 52 decibel figure.
If the built-in route is open to you, our guide to 18 inch dishwashers for an apartment ranks the compact built-ins on their published dBA figures and notes which plug into the outlet a rental sink cabinet already has.
Which faucets work with a countertop dishwasher?
One with a removable aerator. A pull-down sprayer will not work, and neither will any tap whose aerator stays put, so check yours first.
A faucet-connected dishwasher is only as good as the fitting. Danby's manual says to take the aerator off and screw the adapter on, and that it suits male or female threads. SPT prints exact thread sizes for its 24 inch portable: male 15/16 inch, female 55/64 inch.
For a leak, Danby's manual gives an order to try. Fit the washer first. If it still leaks, wrap the threads in teflon tape, and if it leaks with the thick washer fitted, swap in the thin one from the accessory bag. Disconnecting carries its own warning: turning the quick connect off the faucet before releasing the water pressure will spray hot water at the joint.
A flat counter, clear hoses and vinegar
Most of what keeps a small machine quiet comes down to where it sits and what it is connected to.
The counter should be solid and flat, near the water source, as Danby's manual asks. Frigidaire's troubleshooting names "Dishwasher is not level" as a cause of noise and gives "Level the dishwasher" as the fix. The hoses need to run clear: the drain hose goes on the longer port of the quick connect and the inlet on the shorter one, and Danby lists a kinked drain hose as a reason water will not empty. Farberware adds that the drain hose should sit in the sink or a bucket so it cannot leak. Hard water is the last piece, because it deposits scale on the tub, the aerator and the filter, and Danby suggests a rinse cycle with a cup of white vinegar in an empty machine.
Knocking means stop; the drain pump is normal
The manuals split noises into two groups, and the split is useful.
Knocking or rattling means stopping the cycle and rearranging the load. A knock is a spray arm hitting an item and a rattle is badly positioned dishes, Farberware's manual explains, and Danby adds that something may have fallen to the bottom of the tub.
The drain pump is different. Frigidaire lists its sound among the normal ones. If the machine also fails to empty, though, Danby points to a clogged filter, a kinked hose or a pump fault, and that needs service.
Does ENERGY STAR rate dishwasher noise?
No. The criteria cover energy and water and never mention noise.
A standard dishwasher may use up to 240 kWh a year and 3.2 gallons a cycle, and a compact one 155 kWh and 2.0 gallons. By ENERGY STAR's definition, a 6 place setting countertop unit is compact, not standard. Several makers advertise certification on these models, so if it matters to you, look the specific model up in the ENERGY STAR product finder.
Five mistakes that are easy to avoid
| Mistake | Why it goes wrong |
|---|
| Treating 52 and 55 as a real difference | Nobody publishes how they measured |
| Buying a countertop unit for a family | Six place settings is one or two people's dishes |
| Forgetting to check the faucet | A pull-down sprayer rules out every faucet-connected model here |
| Assuming ENERGY STAR means quiet | It covers energy and water only |
| Ignoring weight | The portables here weigh 114 and 123 lbs |
