A dishwasher for the kitchen you have

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The kitchen makes the first choice

A dishwasher can disappear behind a cabinet door or stand in full view, and that choice is usually settled by the kitchen before a review enters the picture. I would begin with the Miele G5651 SCVi Active for a 60cm integrated space, the Bosch SMS4EMI06G for a 60cm freestanding space, and the Bosch SPS4HMW49G if the gap is 45cm. Those are starting points from the reviews and labels, not machines I have used. I have read the tests, compared the makers' figures and checked the shops.

Fully integrated means hidden by a cabinet door, with the controls along the top edge of the dishwasher door. Which? notes that you cannot see those controls at a glance, though some machines project cycle information on to the floor. A freestanding machine has a visible front panel; Good Housekeeping Institute says it is easier and cheaper to install, move and repair. Semi-integrated models leave the controls visible, but Which? says the choice is limited and they are often more expensive. If a cabinet front is already part of the kitchen, I would settle the door question before comparing programmes.

The fitting bill makes the distinction real. Which?'s retailer survey, last checked in October 2026, puts integrated fitting at £115 to £140 against £30 to £50 for freestanding fitting, with recycling at £25 where it was not included. Which? also says a freestanding model can go wherever there is access to a drain and plug socket, and can come with you when you move. The difference is part of the cost of choosing a hidden machine, not a detail in its energy rating.

This is a useful first question for anyone still working out what the kitchen allows.

Lords Electrical's shop video walks through the integrated choice before you get to individual machines.

Does a slimline earn its place?

The tape measure answers the next question: Which? puts a full-size machine at about 60cm wide, with 120 to 150 items and at least 12 place settings, against about 45cm, 90 to 100 items and nine or 10 settings for a slimline. If the gap is 45cm, I would start with the freestanding Bosch SPS4HMW49G. Good Housekeeping Institute named it its best slimline dishwasher and scored it 93/100, finding full marks for cleaning on normal and eco cycles. Its cutlery drawer also frees plate space, which matters in a narrower basket.

I would not choose a slimline simply to use less electricity. Which?'s lab finds slimlines use about the same energy and water as full-size machines for fewer dishes, and says they can be harder to load. The labels put numbers to that: the SPS4HMW49G uses 76 kWh per 100 eco cycles for 10 settings, or 7.6 kWh per setting; the 60cm SMS4EMI06G uses 65 kWh for 14, about 4.64 per setting. That division is a way to compare capacity, not a bill for one place setting. Good Housekeeping Institute has also found that some slimlines struggle to take all the place settings they claim.

There is a fair counterpoint for a household that rarely fills a large machine. Which? says an unfilled dishwasher wastes water and electricity, while a half-load option saves only 10 to 25% of the energy despite washing half as many dishes. That makes the gap and the dishes you actually produce more persuasive than the word slimline. Bosch's sheet gives the SPS4HMW49G 10 settings, 9.5 litres per eco cycle and 44 dB. HughesHughesHughes is a family-run electrical retailer from East Anglia that sells across mainland UK online. Its strengths are big white goods, where delivery and installation can be booked i17 current offers · View store → and Sonic DirectSonic DirectSonic Direct is an online discount retailer focused on home appliances. Its range, as described by the merchant, centres on branded domestic appliances, small kitchen and householdBuying guide · View store → had it in stock when I checked on 3 November 2026. This panel shows their live prices with delivery.

Prices at UK shops / 1 product

Bosch 45cm slimline

Bosch · 2 shopsBosch SPS4HMW49G Series 4 45cm Slimline Dishwasher in White 10 Place S

From £449.97 at Hughes, with delivery

1. HughesIn stock£449.97 with deliveryShop at Hughes
2. Sonic DirectStock at the shop£468.95 with deliveryShop at Sonic Direct

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Prices, stock and delivery as each shop listed them, checked 7 hours ago. Some shops pay us when you buy through these links; that never changes the order. How that works.

What does the label actually say?

The letter catches the eye, but I would read the kWh number first. The dishwasher label gives kWh per 100 eco cycles, water in litres per eco cycle, place settings, eco duration and noise in dB with a class from A to D. Its energy letter compares each machine with a standard for its size, and a narrow machine has its own smaller standard. So an E on a 45cm model and a B on a 60cm one do not by themselves tell you which uses fewer kWh to wash a load. The number per 100 cycles and the capacity make the comparison more useful.

Noise deserves its own look in an open-plan room. The label's noise class A is under 39 dB, B covers 39 to 44 dB, C covers 45 to 50 dB and D starts at 51 dB. Bosch gives the integrated SMV6ZCX10G 40 dB in class B and 39 dB on its silence programme; the freestanding SMS4EMI06G is 42 dB in class B and 41 dB on silence. The Bosch SMH4HVX14G is 46 dB in class C, while the Hotpoint H8IHP42L is 42 dB in class B. I would compare the actual dB as well as the class, then ask whether a quieter programme matters in the room where it will run.

Water is on the same eco label, but it is a separate number from energy. The Miele G5651 uses 8.2 litres per eco cycle; the SMV6ZCX10G and SMS4EMI06G use 9 litres; the Bosch slimline uses 9.5. Which? says its tests of full-size machines find about half a litre of water per place setting, and its tests using the programmes people use most find big differences between the best and worst machines regardless of the label. That is one reason the reviews have to sit beside the label.

For your next machine, the trade-off is worth making explicit here.

Drying changes the verdict

Cleaning scores alone would make this an easier list. Good Housekeeping Institute tests stained glassware, crockery, cutlery and pans on standard, eco and intensive cycles, recording water and energy as it goes. Its results make drying a more useful dividing line. Good Housekeeping Institute found the Miele G5651's eco load spotless but a little damp, while normal and intensive left plates very dry. Its Fisher & Paykel DW60U4HI2 washed strongly on every cycle, especially eco, but dried less consistently on eco than on normal and intensive.

Bosch gives the SMV6ZCX10G PerfectDry with Zeolith. Bosch says independent droplet testing on household plastics in the Eco 50 programme found PerfectDry (Zeolith drying) dried plastics better than its dishwashers without it. I would consider that claim if plastics are the nuisance in your current machine, alongside Which?'s public account naming this model its pick and noting that its eco mode is a little slow. Which?'s detailed scores are for members, so the public judgement is the one I can use here.

The plainer freestanding Series 2 SMS26AW08G takes the opposite bargain. Good Housekeeping Institute found strong cleaning, particularly on the normal cycle, but many items were still wet after every cycle. I would only favour it if air-drying dishes is an acceptable part of the routine. The model's 12 settings and cutlery basket also make it a different loading proposition from the 14-setting Series 4. A label letter cannot tell you whether opening the door to wet crockery will irritate you.

How much does it cost to run?

The eco label turns into a comparable sum at a dated electricity rate. Ofgem gives an average Direct Debit rate of 26.32p per kWh across England, Scotland and Wales for 1 October to 31 December 2026. I multiplied each model's label kWh per 100 eco cycles by that rate, rounded to the penny. The standing charge is left out because it is payable whichever dishwasher you choose. This table gives the six results; our appliance running-cost guide puts the method in a wider household context.

The spread from 54 to 92 kWh is 38 kWh per 100 cycles: at 26.32p that is £10.00 per 100. Five washes a week means 260 in a year, so the gap becomes £26.00 a year. Water is smaller in this calculation: at Good Housekeeping Institute's roughly 0.3p per litre, a 9.5-litre eco cycle costs £2.85 in water over 100 cycles.

These are eco label figures, not a promise about a household bill. Programme, load and water hardness affect the result; normal and intensive cycles can use more. Good Housekeeping Institute's separate illustration puts an A-rated machine at around £17 a year and an E-rated one at around £36 a year in energy and water, running eco twice a week with its own energy rate. Which?'s range is £42.97 to £99.94 a year for full-size machines at five normal washes a week; the normal washes explain why it is higher than the eco sums. Ofgem says the next cap, for January to March 2027, will be announced on 25 November 2026, so the rate here has a clear shelf life.

Which integrated models would I shortlist?

For a cabinet-front kitchen, the Miele G5651 SCVi Active remains my starting point. Good Housekeeping Institute made it runner-up overall at 92/100, one point behind the more premium G5851, and said there was very little between them, calling the G5651 the better value model. Good Housekeeping Institute's testers gave it full marks for water and energy efficiency, measuring 18p for an eco cycle and 26p for normal. The 54 kWh label is the lowest figure among these picks. Its progress indicator does not stay lit throughout the cycle, and its eco load was a little damp, so I would weigh its cleaning and running cost against that everyday inconvenience.

The Bosch Series 6 SMV6ZCX10G makes a case for a quieter integrated machine and better drying on plastics. Which? calls it “Our pick” on its dishwasher deals page, liking its energy efficiency while finding eco a little slow. Its sheet gives 14 settings, 65 kWh per 100 eco cycles, 40 dB and the 39 dB silence programme. Appliance CityAppliance CityThis is Appliance City, a family-run appliance retailer in Bunny, near Nottingham, trading since 1986. You get cooking, laundry, dishwashing and fridge appliances, plus TVs, with a16 current offers · View store →, HughesHughesHughes is a family-run electrical retailer from East Anglia that sells across mainland UK online. Its strengths are big white goods, where delivery and installation can be booked i17 current offers · View store → and Sonic DirectSonic DirectSonic Direct is an online discount retailer focused on home appliances. Its range, as described by the merchant, centres on branded domestic appliances, small kitchen and householdBuying guide · View store → showed both machines in stock on 3 November 2026. Their current prices with delivery are in this panel.

The cabinet door itself can complicate fitting. Good Housekeeping Institute says the Bosch SMH4HVX14G's VarioHinge lets the door slide as it opens, helping clear a low plinth. The ao.com video shows the sliding and fixed hinge arrangements, which makes that physical distinction easier to picture.

The SMH4HVX14G is Good Housekeeping Institute's best value integrated dishwasher at 90/100. Good Housekeeping Institute's testers liked everyday cleaning and drying and the eco wash, but found the intensive programme less consistent and tall wine glasses hard to fit. Its InfoLight shines red on the floor while it runs. The Hotpoint H8IHP42L offers a different reason to choose a hidden machine: three drawers, a soil sensor that adjusts cycle length, and a floor light. Good Housekeeping Institute tested it as H8IHP42LUK, scoring 84/100; most items came clean on all three cycles, though wine glasses were tight in the middle drawer. Appliance City and Sonic Direct had the Bosch in stock; they and Hughes had the Hotpoint. This panel compares those two integrated choices.

The Fisher & Paykel Series 7 DW60U4HI2 is the larger integrated option at 16 place settings. Good Housekeeping Institute scored it 87/100, praising washing on every cycle and its adjustable racks and top cutlery tray. Good Housekeeping Institute found eco drying less consistent, and the countdown available only in the app. Its listed features include automatic door opening, fan-assisted drying and a floor light. Appliance City and ElectricshopElectricshopElectricshop is an online retailer of home appliances, televisions, hi-fi, home audio and wireless music systems, stocking a mix of well-known brands. Because the range spans large7 current offers · View store → had it in stock when checked. Their prices with delivery appear here.

Prices at UK shops / 1 product

Fisher and Paykel for bigger loads

Fisher + Paykel · 2 shopsFisher and Paykel DW60U4HI2 Series 7 Fully Integrated Dishwasher 16 Settings

From £745 at Appliance City, with delivery

1. Appliance CityIn stock · Lowest price here£745 with deliveryShop at Appliance City
2. ElectricshopIn stock£745 with deliveryShop at Electricshop

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Prices, stock and delivery as each shop listed them, checked 7 hours ago. Some shops pay us when you buy through these links; that never changes the order. How that works.

The freestanding choice

The silver Bosch Series 4 SMS4EMI06G is where I would begin without a cabinet door. Good Housekeeping Institute named the white SMS4EMW06G its best freestanding dishwasher at 91/100, finding excellent cleaning on every cycle, good drying and easy loading. The silver model in our comparison is its twin: Bosch's spec sheets give both the same 65 kWh per 100 eco cycles, 9 litres, 14 settings and 42 dB. The white model was awaiting stock at Appliance CityAppliance CityThis is Appliance City, a family-run appliance retailer in Bunny, near Nottingham, trading since 1986. You get cooking, laundry, dishwashing and fridge appliances, plus TVs, with a16 current offers · View store → when I checked on 3 November. That distinction matters because the lab tested white and the live panel shows silver.

Good Housekeeping Institute's testers found tall wine glasses did not fit the Series 4 and said it cost more than many freestanding machines. For a simpler choice, its best value freestanding model was the Bosch Series 2 SMS26AW08G, scoring 88/100 for strong cleaning but leaving many items wet. It has 12 settings and a cutlery basket, while its label rises to 92 kWh per 100 eco cycles. I would choose that trade-off only with room and patience for air-drying. Appliance CityAppliance CityThis is Appliance City, a family-run appliance retailer in Bunny, near Nottingham, trading since 1986. You get cooking, laundry, dishwashing and fridge appliances, plus TVs, with a16 current offers · View store → and Sonic DirectSonic DirectSonic Direct is an online discount retailer focused on home appliances. Its range, as described by the merchant, centres on branded domestic appliances, small kitchen and householdBuying guide · View store → showed the silver Series 4 in stock; they and HughesHughesHughes is a family-run electrical retailer from East Anglia that sells across mainland UK online. Its strengths are big white goods, where delivery and installation can be booked i17 current offers · View store → had the Series 2. This panel shows their live prices with delivery.

When would I wait for a sale?

The model is the first decision; a Black Friday banner is only timing. On 3 November 2026 I opened the listings behind these eight picks and kept shops that said the machine was in stock. A special order or an “available to order” listing did not enter the panels. I would compare the same model's live price with delivery at the shops beside it, then use our Black Friday guide to decide whether to wait. A sale on another model still leaves the fit and drying questions open.

Some reviewed favourites have no useful two-shop comparison here. Good Housekeeping Institute's overall winner, the Miele G5851 SCVi, and its integrated slimline Smeg DI4522 were not in stock at two of our shops; Trusted Reviews' integrated favourite, the Hotpoint H8I HT59 LS, had a special-order listing at one and was unavailable at another. That is why the panels favour the reviewed machines I can actually compare across shops.

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I would buy the kitchen's type and width first, then let cleaning, drying and the eco sum distinguish the models that fit. The Miele G5651 is a strong integrated starting point, the silver Bosch Series 4 a strong freestanding one, and the slimline Bosch answers a real 45cm constraint. A sale is useful when it lands on that model, with a live choice of shops beside it.

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