BBy Bikram Nath·Researched from UK Amazon listings·Updated 2026-07-24·6 products compared
The short answer
Our top pick for Dishwashers Under £400 in the UK is the COMFEE' Dishwasher Freestanding with 13 Place Settings, New Upgraded Full Size Dishwasher 60cm Width, CDWPF1301PBD-UK, Auto Door Open Drying, Quick Wash, Hygiene Wash, Delay Start, Half Load -Black.
This full-size COMFEE' packs the most useful features for the money: 13 place settings, six wash programs, a 30-minute quick wash and auto door-open drying, all in a 60cm freestanding cabinet.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This guide contains Amazon affiliate links, and we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you — but it never changes our rankings.
A dishwasher is one of the few appliances that pays you back in time every single day, and you don't need to spend £600 to get a good one. Under £400 in the UK you can buy a full-size 60cm freestanding machine with 13 or 14 place settings, or a slimline 45cm model if your kitchen is tight on space. We've compared six freestanding dishwashers currently on Amazon UK — looking at place settings, wash programs, noise levels, energy class and build reputation — to help you match the right machine to your household. Brands here range from the well-known Bosch and Russell Hobbs to value-focused names like COMFEE', HYE and Abode. Our top pick balances capacity, features and price, but the best choice depends on your kitchen width, household size and how much you care about running costs.
Buying guide
What to look for in Dishwashers Under £400
1Start with width, because it dictates everything else. Standard freestanding dishwashers are 60cm wide and typically hold 12–14 place settings — enough for a family. If your kitchen is narrow or you live alone or as a couple, a 45cm slimline model with around 10 place settings frees up worktop space while still clearing a day's dishes. Measure the gap and check the height (most are around 84–85cm) before you buy.
2Place settings are the honest measure of capacity. A 'place setting' is one person's full set of plates, bowls, glass and cutlery. 12 settings suits most couples and small families; 13–14 is better if you cook a lot or run the machine only when full. Bear in mind a bigger machine used half-empty wastes water and energy, so a half-load function is genuinely useful.
3Energy class matters more than the sticker price at this budget. Under the current UK A–G scale, most affordable dishwashers land in the D–E band, and running costs over a five-to-ten-year life easily outweigh a £30–£50 difference at purchase. Look for stated water use per cycle and a dedicated ECO program, which uses less water and heats less aggressively at the cost of a longer run time.
4Noise is worth checking if you have an open-plan kitchen or run the machine overnight. Anything around 49dB is comfortably quiet; louder budget models can be intrusive in a living space. A delay-start timer (often up to 24 hours) lets you run cycles overnight on cheaper off-peak electricity if you're on a time-of-use tariff.
5Finally, weigh brand support against features. Established names like Bosch and Russell Hobbs offer easier access to spares and servicing, which counts over a decade of use. Value brands often pack in more features — auto door-open drying, hygiene washes, adjustable baskets — for the same money, but with a shorter track record in the UK. Decide whether you're paying for peace of mind or for specification.
Our process
How we choose our picks
We don’t lab-test products ourselves. Instead we synthesise the strongest independent evidence — current Amazon UK listings, verified-buyer feedback, published specs and UK pricing — into clear, honest recommendations. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, but that never changes which products we rank.
Current UK availability
We only shortlist products actively listed and in stock on Amazon UK, checked against live catalogue data — not last year’s models.
Publicly visible buyer feedback
We look at how each product is received by UK shoppers — its overall rating standing and the praise or complaints that recur in public reviews — rather than relying on a single reviewer’s opinion.
Published specs & value
We compare manufacturer specifications, typical UK price bands, warranty and running costs so each pick is right for a real budget and use-case.
UK-specific fit
We factor in UK voltage, plug/fitting standards, CE/UKCA marking and Consumer Rights Act cover — details that generic global lists miss.
COMFEE' Dishwasher Freestanding with 13 Place Settings, New Upgraded Full Size Dishwasher 60cm Width, CDWPF1301PBD-UK, Auto Door Open Drying, Quick Wash, Hygiene Wash, Delay Start, Half Load -Black
This full-size COMFEE' packs the most useful features for the money: 13 place settings, six wash programs, a 30-minute quick wash and auto door-open drying, all in a 60cm freestanding cabinet. The half-load function trims energy use on smaller loads, and the black finish suits modern kitchens. It's the strongest all-round value under £400.
Place Settings
13
Width
60cm
Wash Programs
6
Quick Wash
30 minutes
Colour
Black
What we like
+Full-size 13 place settings for family loads
+Auto door-open drying improves results without a heated element
+72℃ hygiene wash and a 30-minute rapid cycle
+Half-load function uses 30% less energy than a full cycle
Worth noting
–COMFEE' has a shorter UK track record than Bosch
–Auto door-open drying only works on certain programs
Russell Hobbs Freestanding Dishwasher, Class D, 14 Place Settings, 6 Wash Programs, 24-Hour Delay Start, Auto Door Open, 1 x Height Adjustable Basket and Mini Cutlery Tray in White, RH60DW00D2W
With 14 place settings and flexible loading — a height-adjustable basket, foldable spikes and a mini cutlery tray — this Russell Hobbs is built for households that fill the machine every day. Six programs and a 24-hour delay start cover most needs, and it comes from a familiar UK brand. The D energy rating is the main compromise at this capacity.
Place Settings
14
Energy Class
D
Wash Programs
6
Delay Start
24 hours
Colour
White
What we like
+Largest 14 place-setting capacity, ideal for busy families
+Height-adjustable basket, wine stem supports and mini cutlery tray
+Six wash programs including Eco and a Rapid 30 cycle
+Recognised UK brand with a D energy rating
Worth noting
–D energy class means higher running costs than an A–C model
HYE Dishwasher - Freestanding Dishwasher With 14 Place Settings, 60cm, Full Size Design, White, ECO Program, Quick Wash, Quiet (49 dB) - DW0114PW25
The HYE undercuts almost everything here on price while still offering 14 place settings, a quiet 49dB rating and low 11.5-litre water use. That combination of capacity, quietness and efficiency makes it the standout value buy if you're comfortable with a newer UK brand. It's the machine to pick for overnight cycles in an open-plan kitchen.
Place Settings
14
Width
60cm
Noise Level
49 dB
Water Use
11.5 litres
Colour
White
What we like
+14 place settings at one of the lowest prices here
+Quiet 49dB running suits open-plan and overnight use
Bosch Series 2 SMS26AW08G Freestanding Dishwasher, 60cm, White
The Bosch Series 2 is the trusted-brand choice here, and for many buyers the reassurance of Bosch's servicing network and long-run reliability is worth the premium. It's a straightforward 60cm freestanding machine in white. Just be aware you're paying largely for the badge and durability rather than a long feature list.
Width
60cm
Colour
White
Series
Series 2
Type
Freestanding
What we like
+Bosch's established reputation for reliability and spares
+Standard 60cm freestanding fit for most kitchens
+Clean white finish that suits any decor
Worth noting
–Sits close to the £400 ceiling
–Fewer headline features listed than value rivals at half the price
COMFEE' Freestanding Dishwasher CDWEF1034BW-UK 45cm Width, Slimline Dishwasher with 10 place settings, Quick Wash, Hygiene Wash, Delay Start, Half Load, Adjustable Basket - White
If a full-size 60cm machine won't fit, this slimline COMFEE' is the sensible answer: 45cm wide but still holding 10 place settings, with the same quick wash, hygiene wash and half-load features as its bigger sibling. It's the pick for small kitchens, flats and couples who don't need family capacity.
Place Settings
10
Width
45cm
Quick Wash
30 minutes
Hygiene Wash
72℃
Colour
White
What we like
+Slimline 45cm width fits narrow kitchens and small flats
+Still holds 10 place settings for singles and couples
Abode Freestanding Dishwasher Class E with 12 Place Settings, 6 Wash Programs, 24-Hour Delay Start, Removable Cutlery Basket & Deep Clean Function in Black A60DW00E1B
The Abode covers the essentials well — 12 place settings, six programs, a deep-clean function and a 24-hour delay start — in a smart black cabinet. Its E energy rating and lesser-known brand keep it lower in the ranking, but it's a solid choice if you want a black machine with a half-load option at a value price.
Place Settings
12
Energy Class
E
Wash Programs
6
Delay Start
24 hours
Colour
Black
What we like
+12 place settings with flexible drawer and shelf loading
+Deep clean function for baked-on messes
+24-hour delay start and half-load option
+Black finish for a modern look
Worth noting
–E energy class is the least efficient in this group
Slimline 45cm dishwashers — If worktop space is tight, a 45cm slimline model is worth prioritising over squeezing a full-size 60cm machine into a gap it doesn't fit — you sacrifice a few place settings but keep the same core wash programs.
Editor's Note
At this budget the real trade-off is brand reliability versus feature count: a Bosch Series 2 sits close to the £400 ceiling and lists fewer headline features, while value brands offer more for less. COMFEE' packs in a hygiene wash and auto door-open drying, Russell Hobbs adds auto door-open drying and a height-adjustable basket, and HYE gives you 14 place settings with quiet 49dB running and low water use — all well under the ceiling. Auto door-open drying (where the door pops open at the end of the cycle) genuinely improves drying without a heated element, so it's a feature worth having. If you run cycles overnight, prioritise a quieter model and a delay-start timer.
Our Take
For most UK households, a full-size 60cm machine with 13–14 place settings from a value brand gives the best return under £400 — you get family capacity and modern features without touching the price ceiling. Spend up near the price ceiling on the Bosch only if long-term spares availability and brand track record matter more to you than raw specification. If your kitchen is genuinely tight, the 45cm slimline COMFEE' is the sensible compromise rather than squeezing a full-size unit into a gap it doesn't fit.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
How many place settings do I need in a dishwasher for a family?
For a family of four or more, look for 13–14 place settings so you can run the machine once a day when it's full. Couples and small households are well served by 10–12 settings, and a slimline 45cm model with 10 settings suits flats and narrow kitchens.
Is a Bosch dishwasher worth the extra money under £400?
The Bosch Series 2 sits near the top of this budget and lists fewer headline features than value rivals, so you're mainly paying for Bosch's reliability record and easier access to spares and servicing. If long-term durability and support matter most to you, it's worth it; if you want maximum specification per pound, a value brand offers more.
What energy class should I expect from a dishwasher under £400?
Most freestanding dishwashers under £400 fall in the D–E band on the current UK A–G energy scale. Running costs over the machine's life usually outweigh a small purchase-price difference, so favour a model with a dedicated ECO program and lower stated water use per cycle where you can.
Are freestanding or slimline dishwashers better for a small kitchen?
A slimline 45cm freestanding dishwasher is the better fit for small kitchens and flats, freeing up worktop space while still holding around 10 place settings. Choose a full-size 60cm model only if you have the width and regularly wash larger family loads.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. UKPicks earns a small commission from qualifying purchases made via links on this page. This does not affect our editorial recommendations or the price you pay.
COMFEE' Dishwasher Freestanding with 13 Place Settings, New Upgraded Full Size Dishwasher 60cm Width, CDWPF1301PBD-UK, Auto Door Open Drying, Quick Wash, Hygiene Wash, Delay Start, Half Load -Black
