Will a freestanding, under-bench or built-in dishwasher work best for you?

If doing the dishes is your least favourite domestic chore, you’re not alone. You’ve just enjoyed a satisfying dinner, and then comes the post-meal comedown of scrubbing filthy pots and pans. The right dishwasher, though, can make the world of difference.

With various different types of dishwasher available, how do you decide which best suits your needs? Here, we’ll explore the differences between the three main options - freestanding, built under (under bench), and built-in integrated dishwashers - to help you make the right choice for your kitchen.

Freestanding dishwashers are standalone units that can be placed anywhere in your kitchen as long as there’s a water supply and drainage point nearby. Versatile and relatively easy to install, they are a popular choice.

Freestanding dishwashers are typically 60cm wide and around 85cm high, allowing them to easily fit beneath kitchen benchtops, which are usually around 90cm high. A small number of large capacity freestanding dishwashers are over 90cm tall and therefore truly will need to be used as freestanding units in most kitchens.

Renters: If you're living in a rental property and the dishwasher is not the responsibility of the landlord, a freestanding dishwasher offers the advantage of portability and easy install without needing to amend cabinetry. If you need to make changes to existing plumbing, you will still need to seek approval from the landlord.

Flexibility in kitchen design: If you plan to renovate your kitchen in the near future, or want the freedom to change the dishwasher's location, a freestanding model could be the way to go.

Built under dishwashers, also known as underbench dishwashers, are designed to fit beneath your kitchen benchtop or within your kitchen cabinetry, near to a water connection. This gives you a nice streamlined look, but with the front of the dishwasher still visible.

Built under dishwashers are usually 60cm wide and can be up to 86cm high, enabling them to be fitted within cabinetry beneath standard height kitchen benchtops.

Kitchens with limited space: If you have a smaller kitchen and want to optimise the use of your countertop area, a built under dishwasher is a suitable option.

Smart, practical kitchens: If you like to have a cohesive look in your kitchen, a built under dishwasher sits neatly in your cabinetry, without disappearing into it.

Integrated dishwashers, aka built in dishwashers, are designed to be fully or partially integrated into your kitchen cabinetry. They enable a streamlined look, as they are concealed behind a panel that matches the rest of your kitchen cabinets. Semi-integrated dishwashers are mostly covered by a cabinet facade, but have their top control panel still visible.

Integrated dishwashers are 60cm wide and usually around 82cm high, although some are up to 87cm high. These can all comfortably be fully integrated into cabinetry underneath standard height benchtops.

New or remodelled kitchens: If you're renovating your kitchen or building a new one, built-in integrated dishwashers allow for seamless integration and a sophisticated look.

Open plan living: The quieter operation makes integrated dishwashers a good choice for homes in which different living spaces aren’t separated by sound-absorbing walls.

Energy conservation: Built in integrated dishwashers often use less water and have advanced energy-saving features, which can help reduce your utility bills.

Whether a freestanding, built under or integrated dishwasher suits your kitchen depends on a range of factors. By considering your kitchen layout, and preferences in terms of aesthetics, noise level, energy efficiency and water consumption, you can find the best dishwasher type for your kitchen. If you can’t decide which is right for you, Fisher & Paykel’s single and double drawer DishDrawer machines have a unique hybrid design that enables them to be installed as either built under or freestanding dishwashers.