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No matter how many dishes you go through daily, whether you’re living solo or cleaning up after a large family, doing the dishes by hand can be a tiring and annoying chore. Not to mention time-consuming! But if you want clean dishes, it has to be done. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to pawn them off on someone else every night?
Well, with a dishwasher, you can! With great capacities, diverse wash cycles, and even heat-dry options, dishwashers are the perfect solution for saving time and manual effort when cleaning your dishes. They can clean all sorts of things for you — plates, cups, bowls, and cutlery are the staples, but they also do great with cooking utensils, baking sheets, and more. They’re also efficient with their energy and water usage!
If you’re looking to replace a broken dishwasher, upgrade your existing one, or install one in a new home, we’re here to help. Dishwashers will vary in things like price, size, wash cycles, heat-dry functionality, smart features, number of racks, capacity, and more. To find the best fit, we recommend thinking about every feature.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best dishwashers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Upgrade Pick: Bosch SHP65CM5N 24" 44dB Built-In Dishwasher
Budget Pick: GE GDT225SGLWW 24" 51dB Built-In Dishwasher
Alternative Budget Pick: Frigidaire FFCD2413UW 24" 60dB Built-In Dishwasher
We like everything about the Maytag MDB4949SKW 24" 50dB Built-In Dishwasher and we think you will too. The versatility is unbeatable thanks to the five unique wash cycles and four unique dry cycles — you’ll always have the right settings on hand for your dish load. And since the control panel has a child lock, your curious kiddos won’t be able to make changes that you haven’t approved! Thank goodness.
You’ll be impressed by the cleaning effectiveness, too. We sure were! Its dual-power filtration system makes sure even the smallest food particles are eliminated from your dishes and cutlery pieces — there will never be a need for a rewash! Plus, since the top rack has some extra clearance height, you’ll be able to fit your bulkiest items with ease.
While there isn’t anything blatantly wrong with this dishwasher, there are a couple of things missing that you might be hoping to enjoy. First, it doesn’t offer a third rack, so you won’t have a special place to organize your smaller items. Also, there aren’t any smart features built into this one, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if that’s a priority for you.
All in all, the Maytag MDB4949SKW 24" 50dB Built-In Dishwasher is our number one choice this year, for obvious reasons (we hope). No matter what expectations you have for a dishwasher, this one will probably meet and then exceed them. It’s that good.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a high opinion of the Maytag MDB4949SKW 24" 50dB Built-In Dishwasher. The versatility of the wash and dry cycles means they always have the right settings to get the job done, and they’ve never had a problem with dishes coming out dirty. There’s tons of space for all of their items, even the bulky ones, and the child lock gives them peace of mind.
Buy If…
You want a guaranteed clean for all of your utensils
You need to fit large items frequently
A diverse range of wash and dry cycles would be nice
You live with kids
Don’t Buy If…
You’d prefer a third rack
You’re looking for some smart features
Dimensions: 23.9” x 34.5” x 24.5”
Weight: 104.9 lbs
Colour: Black, white, or silver
Number of Racks: 2
Maximum Place Settings: 14
Noise Level: 50 dB
Wash Cycles: 5
Warranty: 1 year
The Maytag MDB8959SKZ 24" 47dB Built-In Dishwasher is another amazing option. Since it’s available in all three standard colours (black, white, and stainless steel), it’ll fit in well with any decor scheme, and since it’s so quiet, it won’t disrupt your day-to-day living. A 15-place-setting capacity also means you won’t need to run the dishwasher back to back, even if you host a dinner party or fall a bit behind on cleanup for a few days.
We’re also really impressed with the level of organization this dishwasher offers, and that’s all because of the third rack. An extra layer for dish distribution isn’t anything to scoff at! You’ll be surprised by how useful it is for smaller items. We think you’ll also love the Vent Dry feature — it releases all of the trapped moisture and hot air to help your dishes dry faster without any additional power demands.
You’ll be happy to hear that we don’t have any complaints about the quality or functionality of this one. The third rack limits the amount of space you have for bulkier items, but those are easy to wash by hand, right? The only other potential concern is the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity. You won’t be able to enjoy any smart features with this one.
Overall, the Maytag MDB8959SKZ 24" 47dB Built-In Dishwasher was a no-brainer addition to our top five this year. It’s versatile, effective, easy to use, and looks great in every kitchen. It’s even offered at a great price. What’s not to love?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Maytag MDB8959SKZ 24" 47dB Built-In Dishwasher. They love that they don’t need to dry their dishes by hand anymore, and it’s quieter than they expected it to be. They’ve never run into trouble with the capacity of the dishwasher, and the versatility of the wash cycles is something they’re taking advantage of.
Buy If…
You’d love an extra-quiet dishwasher
You’ll need to fit in a lot of items at once
You like to stay organized
You’d appreciate an efficient drying feature
Don’t Buy If…
Smart features are important to you
You need space for bulky items
Dimensions: 23.9” x 34.5” x 24.75”
Weight: 105 lbs
Colour: Black, white, or silver
Number of Racks: 3
Maximum Place Settings: 15
Noise Level: 47 dB
Wash Cycles: 5
Warranty: 1 year
We are big fans of the Bosch SHP65CM5N 24" 44dB Built-In Dishwasher. It’s one of the quietest dishwashers out there, so if you thrive in quiet spaces, it’s perfect for you. It has a high capacity of 16 place settings and a third rack to help you stay organized, too. You’ll be able to host dinner parties and still have no manual cleanup to take care of!
The versatility of this dishwasher is also something we admire. It offers eight wash cycles and a triple filtration system to make sure your dishes always come out perfectly clean no matter what they looked like going in. And the AutoAir option opens the door to let all of the excess moisture out automatically. How fun! Throw in Wi-Fi connectivity for smart features and you’ve got a nearly flawless dishwasher on your hands.
Luckily, we only have a couple of complaints with this one. Its price tag is a bit higher than other options, but it’s still reasonable, especially considering its quality. It’s also only available in stainless steel, so if you’re after a white or black option to match your kitchen, you’re out of luck here. The main concern is the lack of a hard food disposal system. You’ll need to rinse off any extra-hard bits of food to keep your dishwasher safe.
All in all, the Bosch SHP65CM5N 24" 44dB Built-In Dishwasher is one of our all-time favourites. With built-in Wi-Fi, exceptional cleaning versatility, and an energy-free dry system, this dishwasher has pretty much everything you need! You won’t regret this one.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are blown away by the quality of the Bosch SHP65CM5N 24" 44dB Built-In Dishwasher. They never want to use another dishwasher again. The Wi-Fi connectivity makes things really simple, and they hardly ever notice it when it’s running, it’s that quiet. It washes and dries the dishes very well, and the extra rack helps them fit every dish in while keeping things organized. In short, they love it.
Buy If…
You’d like the quietest possible dishwasher
You like to keep your dishwasher organized
You’d love Wi-Fi connectivity
An energy-free dry system would be nice
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t want to spend a lot
Your kitchen would look better with a white or black appliance
You put a lot of hard food bits through your dishwasher
Dimensions: 24” x 33.9” x 23.75”
Weight: 94.8 lbs
Colour: Silver
Number of Racks: 3
Maximum Place Settings: 16
Noise Level: 44 dB
Wash Cycles: 8
Warranty: 1 year
The GE GDT225SGLWW 24" 51dB Built-In Dishwasher is an easy recommendation for us to make to budgeted shoppers. Despite its affordable price tag, it offers some of the best cleaning performance you can find! This is thanks to the Piranha hard food dispenser that can crush up the hardest bits of food debris to ensure an excellent clean and no clogged lines!
The efficiency of this machine is also something to admire. It’s Energy Star certified, so you won’t spend a lot to power it, and CleanSensor technology optimizes its water usage. Perfect! An AutoSense wash cycle also adjusts the time and water temperature based on the soil level of your dishes. Talk about efficiency! With a seamless aesthetic as the final touch, this dishwasher is easy to love.
However, a few things are missing from this dishwasher that might be dealbreakers. First, it has no heated dry or vent dry system, so you’ll need to dry all of the dishes by hand afterward. It has a smaller capacity with room for only 12 place settings, so you might not be able to fit everything at once if you’re a bit behind. The limited wash cycles might also be a concern for you.
All in all, the GE GDT225SGLWW 24" 51dB Built-In Dishwasher is an amazing option if you’re looking to spend less and get a lot of value in return. It doesn’t have all the best features, but it’s efficient, effective, and easy to use. That’s enough for us!
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very pleased with the quality of the GE GDT225SGLWW 24" 51dB Built-In Dishwasher, and they were really happy with the price, too. Its simplicity makes it really easy to use, so they’ve been able to get the kids involved, and they’re pretty impressed by how well the dishwasher cleans even when they don’t rinse/soak their extra-messy dishes.
Buy If…
You don’t want to rinse or soak your dishes
You’d appreciate an extra-efficient machine
An affordable price tag is a priority
A seamless exterior would be nice
Don’t Buy If…
You like a lot of variability in wash cycles
You need a dishwasher with a high dish capacity
You don’t want to dry any dishes manually
Dimensions: 23.75” x 32.25” x 23.5”
Weight: 145 lbs
Colour: White or silver
Number of Racks: 2
Maximum Place Settings: 12
Noise Level: 51 dB
Wash Cycles: 3
Warranty: 1 year
Considering the highly affordable price tag, the Frigidaire FFCD2413UW 24" 60dB Built-In Dishwasher offers a lot more than you’d expect. In addition to three efficient wash cycles to meet the soil demands exactly, it also has a heated dry function to make sure you don’t need to dry your dishes by hand before putting them away. Every bit of time saved matters, right?
This dishwasher also offers tons of convenience. An informative little display feature lets you know what stage of the cycle the dishwasher is currently performing, and you have a 4-hour delay start to take advantage of as well. The door will hold its position at any angle to make it easier to access in smaller spaces, and we think you’ll love the self-cleaning filtration system — you won’t ever have a mess to clean in the bottom!
There are a few things we’d change about this dishwasher if we could. First, it doesn’t offer sanitization, so you’ll want to look elsewhere if that’s something you’re set on having. Also, it’s a pretty loud option compared to the competition, so it might be a bit of a disruption while running. Lastly, it’s missing a third rack that offers better organization opportunities.
Overall, the Frigidaire FFCD2413UW 24" 60dB Built-In Dishwasher is a really great option for people who are shopping on a tight budget. It won’t let you down in any of the important areas, and it has tons of convenient extras. Awesome!
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers are quite happy with the Frigidaire FFCD2413UW 24" 60dB Built-In Dishwasher. It’s a bit louder than other ones they’ve used in the past and offers fewer features, but for the price, they really can’t complain. The door really does stay put at any angle, and they appreciate the effective washing and drying. The self-cleaning doesn’t hurt, either.
Buy If…
You want to spend as little as possible on a dishwasher
You’d prefer not to dry dishes by hand
A hold-in-place door sounds like a nice addition
User-friendliness is a priority
Don’t Buy If…
You thrive in a quiet household
Extra organization is what you need
Dimensions: 24” x 35” x 25”
Weight: 73 lbs
Colour: White or silver
Number of Racks: 2
Maximum Place Settings: 14
Noise Level: 60 dB
Wash Cycles: 3
Warranty: 1 year
Some dishwashers cost less than $500, and others can be as expensive as $6,000+. Most people won’t need to spend more than $2,000 for a perfect fit, though. In general, more expensive dishwashers will have larger capacities, better cleaning performance, more versatility, quieter operation, and smart features.
Every dishwasher will offer at least a handful of wash cycle options — three is usually the minimum — but some dishwashers offer as many as eight. The more wash cycles you have, the better you’re able to maximize your cleaning efficiency while minimizing the energy and water demands.
The capacity of a dishwasher is measured in place settings. Some dishwashers tap out around 12 place settings, others can hold as many as 16 or more. A higher capacity is usually more desirable, but you’ll need to balance that with the increase in price. Many of the higher-capacity dishwashers offer a third rack at the top to provide a unique space for smaller items and help with organization.
The noise level of a dishwasher will usually fall between 40 and 60 dB. Of course, the quieter it is, the less disruptive it will be to daily living, but you’ll also have to pay more for those models. Most people won’t mind even the louder options, but if you’re sensitive to noise, it might be worth spending more on a quieter dishwasher.
Some dishwashers come with extra features that will make their use more enjoyable and more effective. Some dishwashers will offer Wi-Fi connectivity with assorted smart features, others have special hard food disposal systems to limit the rinsing and pre-soaking you need to do. Some also have special doors that stay put at any angle instead of falling all the way open. There are other extras to discover as well.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.