The answer before the details
This countertop dishwasher buying guide compares six researched models. Start with tank versus faucet supply, then check your dishes, counter space and drainage. Use the linked model review to resolve limitations before checking an Amazon offer.
Research editor: Nicholas Bauer, Founder & Research Editor · Research checked October 6, 2026
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See the three checks before you shop
Miles walks through your everyday load, water setup and working space. Then use the model cards below to make a shortlist.
All Miles videos & practical guides →
Compare the six modelsWhich countertop dishwasher should you shortlist?
Choose the row that describes your kitchen, then open the matching comparison. These are starting points based on documented features; a model still has to pass your space and dish checks.
| Your buying constraint | Start here | What could rule it out |
|---|---|---|
| No suitable faucet connection | HAVA R01 vs COMFEE CDC17P2AWW | Tank filling avoids the supply connection. It still needs filling access and a drain route. |
| An opening exactly 18 inches high | Investigate the shorter faucet-fed candidates | HAVA R01 and COMFEE CDC17 are taller than this opening. A shorter body alone is not installation approval. |
| A water softener is a priority | Compare HAVA R01 with R09 | Decide whether the R09 softener justifies its salt maintenance for your water. Compare your upgrade budget. |
| You want a six-place-setting category | Danby DDW631SDB vs COMFEE CDC22P2AWW | Both need an appropriate faucet connection; a capacity label does not confirm your mixed load. |
| Your 11- or 12-inch plates must fit | Resolve plate fit before choosing a model | Our six-model evidence does not establish a clear 12-inch recommendation. |
Buying for one person or two?
Household size is only a starting point. Count one normal meal’s plates, bowls, glasses and cookware, then compare that load with the exact manual. A couple who mainly use mugs and bowls may have a different need from one person who cooks with several pans. Choose for the dishes you want to stop handwashing.
For a rental, “no hookup” describes the water-supply option. It does not settle your building’s appliance rules, electrical setup or drainage. Read the sink-versus-bucket drainage checks before planning a spot away from the sink.
Which models match your non-negotiables?
Filter the six research cards by documented features. Start with the way you can supply water, then your load requirement. These filters do not compare cleaning performance or confirm that a machine fits.
All six models are shown below. With JavaScript enabled, your choices narrow the cards.
A place setting is a standardized load, not a promise about your pans or family meals. “No match” means none of these six meets this combination; it does not mean no product exists. Keep your two finalists and unresolved questions in the worksheet.
Compare the six models
Want to keep your supply tap free? Start with the three tank options. Prefer to avoid manual filling? Start with a faucet-fed model and verify compatibility. Neither path removes the need for drainage and installation checks. Check your exact model’s incoming-water requirement before choosing a hookup.
These are specification-based shortlists, not a tested ranking. We have not named a cleaning winner or scored reliability. See how we research recommendations.
HAVA R01
For a shortlist that keeps the supply tap free.
- Water setup
- 5 L tank; faucet supply is optional.
- Your dishes
- 10.2-inch round plates upright; 10.6 inches angled, per HAVA’s product Q&A.
- Check first
- Both published body heights exceed 18 inches. Leave room to fill from above and open the door.
Danby DDW631SDB
For a faucet-connected, six-place-setting shortlist.
- Water setup
- Faucet-fed; no manual-fill tank is documented.
- Your dishes
- Six-place-setting category; compare your actual dishes with the manual loading diagram.
- Check first
- Verify faucet compatibility and the wider footprint before choosing a permanent spot.
COMFEE CDC17P2AWW
For tank filling with an auto-opening door.
- Water setup
- 6 L tank; faucet supply is optional.
- Your dishes
- Use the exact CDC17 loading diagram; do not transfer capacity claims from CDC22.
- Check first
- Both published heights exceed 18 inches. Allow space for the auto-opening door.
COMFEE CDC22P2AWW
For a wider rack and a compatible supply tap.
- Water setup
- Faucet-fed; different supply arrangement from the CDC17 tank model.
- Your dishes
- Six-place-setting category; mixed bowls, mugs and cookware still need a loading check.
- Check first
- The official depth figures differ. Resolve the drawing for the unit being sold.
HAVA R09
For comparing HAVA’s water-softener option.
- Water setup
- 5 L tank; faucet supply is optional.
- Your dishes
- HAVA’s Q&A lists 10.2-inch round plates upright or 10.6 inches angled; check the review’s source conflict.
- Check first
- Both published heights exceed 18 inches. Top filling and drainage still need space.
BLACK+DECKER BCD6W
For a faucet setup and plates up to the stated limit.
- Water setup
- Faucet-fed with a compatible connection.
- Your dishes
- Brand-stated plate limit: up to 10 inches.
- Check first
- Official dimensions and program names differ. Obtain the matching current drawing and manual.
Each card links to the detailed research and the current Amazon listing. Amazon links open in a new tab. Confirm the exact model, seller, availability and return terms there. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. These specifications do not establish a cleaning or reliability winner.
Your two-model buying worksheet
Compare the actual installation and the dishes you want to stop handwashing. Keep unresolved questions visible before checking an offer.
Before ordering: confirm the exact model, current installation drawing, included fittings, suitable supplies, seller and return terms. Our fit checker screens only HAVA R01 and Danby DDW631SDB; it does not approve installation.
Entries stay in this page while it is open; they are not submitted to us. Print or save a text copy to keep your entries. Small Kitchen Notes · Research-based buying guidance · wearownhours.com
Download the 2-page measurement checklist (fillable PDF, 23 KB). Print it or save your measurements in a PDF reader while comparing exact models.
Start with the problem you want solved
“I need my faucet free.”
Compare manual filling with connecting a supply hose. Think about reaching the fill opening as well as the machine’s width.
Choose a water setup →“My cabinet opening is low.”
Body height is only the first check. Door movement, hoses and the permitted clearance still matter.
Read the height guide →“I want less washing up.”
Record one to seven days of dishes and separate approved, handwash-only and unconfirmed items. Download the list before checking rack fit.
Build your dish-load plan →Make the purchase easy to live with
Imagine where the machine will stay, how you will supply and drain water, and what remains on the counter when its door opens. A useful purchase should reduce work without making cooking awkward.
Next, use our running-cost calculator and budget guide. Include detergent, utilities, setup parts and the work left over. The cheapest listing is not automatically the best value if it leaves your main chore untouched.
Make a shortlist you can act on
Pick two models whose water setup suits you. Open their research reviews to check plate limits and unresolved dimensions, then compare the exact Amazon offers linked there. Choose a machine for the everyday load it can take over, not just a place-setting label.
Our fit checker screens HAVA R01 and Danby DDW631SDB only; use the exact manual and current drawing for the other models. Identify what stays in the handwash pile before deciding how much work a machine will save.
Already know your water setup? Compare the right pair.
Three reasons to pause a purchase
- Your main dish is still an unknown. Check the plate and loading worksheet before choosing by place-setting count.
- Your fit depends on the smaller of two conflicting measurements. Resolve the current model’s drawing before ordering.
- Your faucet is unsuitable. A tank option may solve the supply problem, but filling access and drainage still matter.
A useful choice can be modest: a machine that takes over your daily plates and cups while you keep handwashing a large pan. Decide which repeated chore you want to hand over, then pick the model whose documented routine supports that goal.
Plan the rest of the setup
Check what comes in the box, match supplies to your manual and choose a drying spot for the items you will still handwash.
Choose the right detergent format
The supplies are part of the daily routine too. Our detergent guide explains the different HAVA, Danby and COMFEE instructions, plus the distinction between detergent and rinse aid. Read the detergent guide →
Check the evidence behind the shortlist
Use the exact-model documents to confirm an installation or loading detail: HAVA R01 specifications and questions, Danby DDW631SDB manual, and the manufacturer documents in each review. A model name shared by two listings does not resolve conflicting specifications.
For performance context beyond specifications, read the credited HAVA R01 hands-on reports and Danby test evidence and limitations. These older reports use different conditions; they do not turn this six-model shortlist into a controlled ranking.
