7 Best Eco-Friendly Dishwashers to Save the Environment (and Your Wallet)

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Best Overall Eco-Friendly Dishwasher

Bosch 300 Series Top-Control Dishwasher

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The Bosch 300 Series is one of the best eco-friendly dishwashers, complete with an advanced precision washing system for the optimal amount of water to clean your dishes. The PureDry technology pulls water off plates and cups and onto the stainless steel interior without a heating element, which means it can easily wash and dry plastics, like baby bottles.

Moreover, the dishwasher has five cycle options, including a National Sanitation Foundation-Certified Sanitization cycle to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria. We’re also big fans of the third rack for silverware, and the adjustable upper rack and flexible tines for larger pots and pans.

Pros

• Precision washing system
• Has a third rack
• Includes flexible tines
• Quiet 48-decibel (dB) sound rating

Cons

• No pre-soak cycle

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Best Budget Eco-Friendly Dishwasher

Whirlpool Front-Control Dishwasher

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The Whirlpool front-control dishwasher offers great value on a budget. A quick cycle washes and dries dishes in under an hour, and it has enough space to fit 13 place settings. It also features a heated dry option and a soil sensor for a thorough clean each time. Customers were shocked at how well this affordable eco-friendly dishwasher cleaned dishes without pre-soaking.

Two more huge bonus points is you can easily install the dishwasher on your own, and it’s designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.

Pros

• Entry-level price
• Quick setting cleans dishes in under an hour
• Has a soil sensor
• Easy installation

Cons

• 55-dB sound rating is on the louder side

Pro Tip: Check here how to install a dishwasher and avoid the most common mistakes while you put them.

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$289.99 at Amazon

Best Eco-Friendly Dishwasher for Small Spaces

Comfee Countertop Dishwasher

$289.99 at Amazon

The Comfee countertop dishwasher is the ideal solution for those in studio apartments, college dorms or RVs. Fit up to six place settings (though the dishes can’t be larger than 10 inches in diameter) and choose from eight different cycles. Many shoppers also use this for cleaning baby toys and toddler dishes since it reaches temperatures that inhibit bacterial growth.

Here’s the best part: This best eco-friendly dishwasher is easy to use. Simply place it on a stable surface, connect it to a water source (there’s an optional adapter to connect it to the faucet) and plug it in. Since it only weighs 46 pounds, storing this portable dishwasher is doable when it’s not in use.

Pros

• Compact and portable
• Has eight washing cycles
• Features an extra-drying option
• Affordable

Cons

• Can’t fit full-sized dinner plates

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$647.99 at Lowe's

Best Smart Eco-Friendly Dishwasher

Sharp Top-Control Smart Dishwasher

$647.99 at Lowe's

“Alexa, turn on the dishwasher.” That’s how easy it is to start the Sharp smart dishwasher. But wait, there’s more—you can also set up your Alexa, aka Amazon’s virtual assistant, to alert you when you’re running low on detergent. The LED interior lighting is a nice touch, as well.

This modern eco-friendly dishwasher comes with an adjustable upper and third rack to accommodate larger pots and pans. It also has a Power Wash sprayer that eliminates the need for pre-soaking dishes. The fingerprint-resistant stainless steel keeps the dishwasher looking nice—a big plus for anyone with children.

Pros

• Can control via Amazon Alexa
• Includes Amazon Dash replenishment service
• Adjustable upper and third racks
• LED interior lighting

Cons

• On the pricier side

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$1849 at Lowe's

Best Splurge Eco-Friendly Dishwasher

Miele Top-Control Smart Dishwasher

$1849 at Lowe's

The customer reviews for the Miele smart dishwasher assure us that this high-end dishwasher is well worth its hefty price tag. Our favorite feature is the automatic dishwasher detergent-dispensing system with PowerDisk, which pulls just the right amount of soap needed for each load (each PowerDisk lasts about a month). It also has a built-in water softener to reduce cloudiness, and an automatic door-opening system for dry dishes. Control the dishwasher through the Miele app, available for iPhone and Android.

Pros

• Automatic detergent-dispensing system
• Door-opening system for perfectly dry dishes
• Can delay washing for up to 24 hours
• Quiet 43-dB sound rating

Cons

• More difficult installation

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$747.99 at Lowe's

Most Quiet Eco-Friendly Dishwasher

Samsung Linear Wash Top-Control Smart Dishwasher

$747.99 at Lowe's

Did you know the Samsung smart dishwasher is so quiet that several customers thought it wasn’t working? Some even say they had to put their ear on the machine to hear anything. It clocks in with a sound rating of 39 dB, which is quieter than most modern refrigerators. Plus, the linear wash system reaches every corner of this reliable dishwasher, leaving no mess untouched. There’s no heated dry option, though the door opens at the end of each cycle to promote airflow to dry dishes.

Pros

• Whisper-quiet 39-dB sound rating
• Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel
• Zone Booster area efficiently cleans caked-on messes
• Flexible third rack

Cons

• No heated drying option

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$497.99 at Lowe's

Best Eco-Friendly Dishwasher for Drying

Frigidaire Top-Control Dishwasher

$497.99 at Lowe's

Say goodbye to water droplets on your plates and glasses with the Frigidaire dishwasher. It has EvenDry technology that’s similar to a convection oven, as it circulates heat around the dishwasher to prevent wet dishes fresh from the cycle. Buyers say there’s no need for a post-wash towel dry with this best eco-friendly dishwasher.

This dishwasher boasts a BladeSpray arm for even coverage, an adjustable upper rack, a third rack for silverware and a sanitizing option. Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned that you get all that for a value price.

Pros

• Fan-assisted EvenDry system
• Has a sanitize option
• BladeSpray arm for better water coverage
• Features an adjustable upper rack

Cons

• Tines are not flexible

What to Consider When Buying an Eco-Friendly Dishwasher

The first and most important thing to consider when buying an eco-friendly dishwasher is whether it has an Energy Star certification. This mark proves that the appliance meets the strictest standards for water and energy usage, which are set by the U.S. Department of Energy. If it doesn’t have an Energy Star mark, it can’t be considered an eco-friendly dishwasher.

Moreover, look for the decibel level, which tells you the dishwasher’s noise level. Ideally, you want a dishwasher that’s around 40 to 50 decibels or less. Other things to consider include price, how many place settings it can fit, how many cycle options it has, the size and the warranty.

How We Found the Best Eco-Friendly Dishwashers

As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.

FAQ

What makes a dishwasher eco-friendly?

An eco-friendly dishwasher meets or exceeds the water and electricity standards set by the U.S. Department of Energy. On average, these appliances use less than 4 gallons per load and cost under $40 per year to operate. You’ll cut down on your utility bill with an eco-friendly dishwasher that has an Energy Star certification.

How much do eco-friendly dishwashers cost?

Eco-friendly dishwashers can cost up to $1,500, depending on their size and features, though they can last for up to 20 years if well maintained.