When you think of kitchen must-haves, a dishwasher probably ranks high on the list – right up there with a good coffee machine and a decent non-stick frypan. But if you’re living in a small apartment, renting, or simply don’t have the space for a full-size unit, a benchtop dishwasher could be the ideal solution. They’re made for small households, giving you the same convenience as a standard dishwasher, just in a much smaller footprint.
That said, benchtop dishwasher models vary greatly in design, features and price. You’ll find everything from ultra-portable, tank-fed units that don’t need any plumbing, to integrated machines that blend seamlessly into your kitchen cabinetry. To help you find the right fit for your household, we’ve put together this detailed guide.
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Better Homes & Gardens recommends:
After tracking down and comparing a wide variety of models, we believe that Artusi 55cm benchtop dishwasher, Linarie 45cm Gavarnie portable benchtop dishwasher and Omega 55cm compact benchtop dishwasher are the best benchtop dishwashers options currently in Australia.
This week’s best benchtop dishwasher deals
- Woolworths is discounting its Devanti 6 Place Settings Benchtop Dishwasher from $389.95 to $363
- Kogan is offering 50% off its Portable Benchtop Dishwasher
- Big W is offering its Midea Mini 2nd-Gen Benchtop Portable Dishwasher for $384, down from $399
If you’re shopping for a benchtop dishwasher with specific features, you can find your perfect fit by looking for our ‘best for’ endorsements, as part of our detailed sofa bed overviews.
How did we select the best benchtop dishwashers on this list?
The Better Homes & Gardens team has collectively assessed and tried a selection of sofa beds to develop a clear set of criteria for our top picks. We regularly review furniture and home brands, including the range of sofa beds on the market, then narrow it down based on the following criteria:
- Ease of assembly and setup
- Cleaning performance
- Internal design
- Width and length
- Warranty coverage and maintenance
- Reviews and real-world reliability
- Delivery prices and lead times
- Trial periods
- Other notable features
We also consider different price points, sales and availability of stock to help ensure you can get a benchtop dishwasher that suits your home.
The best benchtop dishwashers to shop in Australia 2026
Benchtop dishwashers are usually easy to set up (most plug into a regular power point and connect to your tap), and many models are surprisingly roomy inside, with some holding up to eight place settings or even fitting large pots and pans. There are even ultra-portable versions with built-in water tanks, so you don’t need to mess around with plumbing at all. Whatever your need, there’s an option for you.
BHG’s edit of the best benchtop dishwashers by category
- Best large capacity benchtop dishwasher: Artusi 55cm benchtop dishwasher, $922 at Appliances Online
- Best for quiet operation: Devanti benchtop dishwasher 6 place settings, $399.95 at Woolworths
- Best budget benchtop dishwasher: Kogan 8 place benchtop dishwasher, $349 at Kogan
- Best benchtop dishwasher without plumbing: Linarie 45cm Gavarnie portable benchtop dishwasher, $499 at Appliances Online
- Best for everyday practicality: Omega 55cm compact benchtop dishwasher, $599 at Bing Lee
So which benchtop dishwasher is right for your household? Here, we outline some of our top picks, based on factors including design, performance and customer reviews.
The best benchtop dishwashers to shop in Australia 2026
01
Artusi 55cm benchtop dishwasher
$922, Appliances Online
Best for: Stylish stainless steel option with serious capacity
Boasting a sleek stainless steel finish and generous capacity, the Artusi benchtop dishwasher proves that small doesn’t have to mean basic. This fuss-free unit fits up to eight place settings and has six versatile wash programs, including Eco, Intensive and Glass.
Its thoughtful design includes two cutlery racks for easy loading, plus a removable upper rack if you need to make room for taller plates or cookware. A delay-start function lets you set it to run while you’re out or overnight, and with a quiet 49dB operation, it won’t interrupt your day.
Shoppers at Appliances Online love how surprisingly spacious this benchtop dishwasher is, with plenty of room for dishes and a handy tray for cutlery. Some say it cleans well and that they appreciate the eco-friendly wash settings. They also mention the two shelves are a great bonus, though a few found the cutlery racks a bit tricky compared to the baskets they’re used to.
“After my last benchtop dishwasher died, I couldn’t live without one and came across this one for a great price and it was the best decision. It looks amazing and washes really well. I love it,” shared a five-star customer.
Colour: Stainless steel
Key features:
- Capacity for eight place settings
- Six wash programs including Eco, Intensive and Glass
- Two cutlery racks and removable upper rack for taller plates
- Delay start function (two, four, or six hours)
- Natural drying system
- Quiet operation (49dB)
- 3.5-star water rating, 2.5-star energy rating
- Two-year manufacturer’s warranty
02
Devanti 6 place setting benchtop dishwasher
$399.95 at Woolworths
Best for: Quiet operation
With all the attributes and features of a conventional dishwasher, this benchtop dishwasher by Devanti is the perfect option for small kitchens. Featuring seven different cleaning programs and enough space for all your crockery and cutlery, it’s small but exceptionally mighty.
Better yet, it’s quiet, with an operating noise level of 49 decibels (dB) that’s quieter than normal conversation. So you can put it on before bed without any unusual noises in the night.
“Absolutely love this product,” shared a five-star reviewer on the Woolworths website. “Its functionality is outstanding. Spotless dishes every time. A little bit fiddly to attach to sink tap but perseverance pays off. Delivery was SUPER FAST. Better than expected. You won’t be disappointed with this machine.”
Colours: Silver, black
Key features:
- Six place settings
- Five cleaning programs
- LED display
- 360 degrees rotatable spray arm
- Removable cutlery basket
- 3.5-star water rating and 2.5-star energy rating
- 2-year warranty
Also available at:
- $379.95 at Big W
- $439.95 at Amazon
- $459.95 at Kitchen Warehouse
- $502 at Temple & Webster
- $435.19 at Myer
03
Kogan 8-place benchtop dishwasher
$349, Kogan
Best for: Family-sized cleaning power on a tight budget
If you want the cleaning power of a dishwasher without sacrificing space, this 8-place Kogan model is a solid bet. With a stylish stainless steel finish and six versatile wash programs, it’s designed for busy couples, roommates or small families.
Despite its compact footprint, this benchtop unit fits standard dinner plates up to 25.4cm and includes a removable cutlery basket for easy loading and unloading. It’s also relatively quiet at 49dB and has a delay-start function so you can run it when it suits you – whether that’s overnight or during off-peak hours.
Colour: Stainless steel
Key features:
- Eight place settings
- Six wash programs including ECO, Glass and 90-min
- Delay start function
- Quiet operation (49dB)
- Removable cutlery basket
- 3.5-star water rating (9.2L per wash)
- 2.5-star energy rating
- Compact, freestanding design
- One-year manufacturer’s warranty
Also available at:
- $349 at Dick Smith
04
Linarie 45cm Gavarnie portable benchtop dishwasher
$499 at Appliances Online
Best for: A benchtop dishwasher without plumbing
This portable benchtop dishwasher is made for tiny kitchens, apartments, boats, or anywhere space is tight. With a three place-setting capacity and a built-in 7.5L water tank, you can use it wherever you are – no plumbing needed if you manually fill it.
Choose from six wash programs like Intensive, Eco, Glass and even Fruit Cleaning. It features a dual high-pressure spray system for a thorough clean, plus a turbo fan and PTC drying system that helps dishes come out dry and fresh. It even sterilises at up to 70°C, making it safe for baby bottles.
One five-star reviewer at Appliances Online wrote: “Love my new mini dishwasher! Although small, it runs well and has all the cycles that I would want to use.” Another added: “Brilliant, good looking little unit that doesn’t need to be plumbed in. Washes quickly and effectively, so doing a couple of quick loads is easy. Very impressed.”
Colour: White
Key features:
- Three place settings
- Built-in 7.5L water tank + faucet connection option
- Six wash programs including Intensive, Eco, Glass, Rapid and Fruit Cleaning
- Dual high-pressure spray arms with 21 water ports
- Turbo fan and PTC drying system for quick drying and fresh smell
- True Steam technology for 99.999 per cent bacteria reduction
- Delay start (one-24 hours)
- Child safety lock and auto power off
- Quiet operation (58dB)
- No installation required
- Two-year manufacturer’s warranty
Also available at:
- $499 at Big W
- $499 at Woolworths
05
Omega 55cm compact benchtop dishwasher
$599, Bing Lee
Best for: Everyday practicality
The Omega benchtop dishwasher was highlighted by Choice as one of the most popular choices for small kitchens. With six wash programs, and one of the higher water ratings for dishwashers, it is both water and cleaning efficient. With a two-year warranty, and all the space you could need for a dishwashing load, many have dubbed this benchtop dishwasher as ‘small but mighty!’.
“Being a renter, this was a perfect solution for us,” wrote a Bing Lee reviewer. “It’s super quiet to run and easy to connect. Do be realistic and keep in mind, it comes with hoses suitable for under bench instead of benchtop installation, but for us its functionality outweighs the messy appearance. I purchased tap connectors I needed at Bunnings for under $10.”
Colour: White
Key features:
- Six wash programs
- Option for 30 minute rapid wash
- 3.5 stars water rating
- 2.5 stars energy rating
- Simple electronic controls
- Easy to connect to a kitchen or laundry tap
- Noise level: 51dB
- 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
06
Midea 3rd Gen benchtop mini dishwasher
$449 at Big W
Best for: simplicity
This small benchtop dishwasher not only saves you space and time, but also has its own water tank so you can pretty much use it straight out of the box (once you fill up the tank). It’s got enough room to wash up to three place settings, with a choice of wash settings that includes intensive, glass, eco mode and rapid.
We also discovered Midea is a popular benchtop dishwasher brand on Reddit, with one person saying their Midea mini dishwasher “changed my world” in an Aussie Frugal Subreddit.
Colours: White
Key features:
- Three place settings
- Six programs with easy to use controls
- Compact size: 56 x 53 x 55cm
- Fan drying system ensures dishes come out ready to use
- 3-star water rating, using 5 litres per wash
- Includes water tank, cutlery basket, water jug, water tray and hoses
- 1-year warranty
Also available at:
- $449 at Woolworths
07
Domain 6 place electronic benchtop dishwasher
$399, Big W
Best for: Affordable simplicity for couples or solo households
This Domain benchtop dishwasher keeps things simple and efficient. Featuring space for six place settings and a nice stainless steel interior, it’s a reliable pick for couples or small households.
It comes with six wash programs – including Intensive, Glass and Soak – plus a delay-start option and LED indicators to show where your cycle’s at. You’ll also find foldable plate racks, a cutlery basket and a max plate diameter of 25.4cm.
“Due to restrictions where I live I was unable to install a full-size dishwasher but this compact little counter-top machine was definitely the next best option,” said a reviewer on the Big W website. “It’s quite small but more than adequate. I have now mastered the best way to stack my dishes to get the best out of each wash.”
“It’s quiet and very efficient and does a great job. I am very happy with this dishwasher and can honestly recommend it for singles or couples whose daily needs are small.”
Colours: White, silver
Key features:
- Six place settings
- Six wash programs: Intensive, Heavy, Normal, Glass, Rapid, Soak
- Delay start (one–24 hours)
- LED time and program indicators
- Stainless steel interior tub
- Foldable plate racks and cutlery basket
- Residual drying system
- Water sensor and antiflood protection
- 3.5-star water rating (7.4L per wash)
- Two-year parts and labour warranty
Also available at:
- $399 at Woolworths
What is a benchtop dishwasher?
A benchtop dishwasher is a compact dishwasher that sits on your kitchen bench or countertop, rather than being built into cabinetry like full-sized or drawer models.
While smaller in size, many benchtop dishwashers can still handle between three to eight place settings, making them a practical option for apartments, small kitchens, or even RVs. Some models even include removable racks or dedicated cutlery trays to maximise space.
Most benchtop dishwashers connect easily to a standard power outlet and can hook up to a kitchen tap using a supplied hose. Others come with a built-in water tank, so you don’t need plumbing at all – just fill and go. Wastewater is typically drained via a second hose into your sink.
What are the benefits of a benchtop dishwasher?
While the main benefit of a benchtop dishwasher is its size, there are also many other advantages, including:
- More affordable to buy and run
- It doesn’t use as much water as a standard dishwasher
- Easy to install
- Portable, in the sense that you can take it with you when you move
How to connect a benchtop dishwasher
A benchtop dishwasher needs to be connected in two different ways: electronically and by water. For most benchtop dishwashers, the electronic connection is simply done by plugging it into an outlet, like you would a microwave.
For a water connection, benchtop dishwashers are usually connected to your kitchen sink tap with an inlet hose. There is also a second hose that is placed into your sink, so that the dirty or ‘grey’ water can be drained from the dishwasher.
Some benchtop dishwashers have their own built-in water tank, so you do not need to attach it to your tap.
Do you need a professional to install a benchtop dishwasher?
You do not always need a professional to install a benchtop dishwasher. You can connect the water yourself; however, it is best to check that your kitchen tap is a standard size before attempting it.
If you wish to have a more streamlined look in your kitchen, you can attach the water inlet hose directly to the drain under your sink. If you are unsure how to attach the water inlet hose, it is always best to seek the help of a plumber.
The electronic connection should be as simple as plugging it straight into a power point. As long as a licensed electrician installed the power point, you should be good to go!
Should I buy a benchtop dishwasher?
If you have just moved into a new place or are looking to upgrade, then it may be a great idea to look at a benchtop dishwasher. Although it may not suit every space or situation, a benchtop dishwasher would be good for:
- A smaller household with only one to two people.
- A small kitchen that does not have the space for a full-size, under-the-bench dishwasher.
- A rental situation that does not allow the installation of a full-size dishwasher.
- An RV, motorhome or caravan.
Looking to save money on dishwasher? Check out our coupon codes for Big W, Appliances Online and more.
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