Whether your kitchen is without a dishwasher, or your existing unit is nearing its final load, handwashing the dishes may seem like a tempting solution to save a few bucks before purchasing a new appliance. Unfortunately, this is one of the rare circumstances when makeshift thinking could actually end up costing you more. If you weren’t aware, washing your dishes by hand can potentially use up to four gallons of water per minute, whereas most standard dishwashers use around the same amount of water (if not less) for an entire load. Luckily for you, finding a powerful cleaning solution for your kitchen doesn’t have to break the bank. See for yourself in this guide of the best dishwashers under $600, including some of the most reliable brands on the market like Samsung, GE, and more.
What to Look For in an Affordable Dishwasher
There’s no reason to rule out or underestimate budget dishwashers. Although more affordable dishwashers are designed to get the job done without the added bells and whistles, many lower priced units can still come equipped with surprising incentives. Some of those features include heated drying, hard food disposers, and an array of wash cycles that all make fantastic add-ons. To ensure you get the best bang for your buck, consider these dishwashing factors when making your search:
Capacity: The largest capacity most dishwashers provide are on units with 16 place settings. However, 12 to 14 place settings can be quite suitable for an average household.
Racks: Flexible dish loading options are a luxury no matter what your budget is. Look for dishwashers with adjustable racks, fold-down tines, and additional cup racks to get as much usable space inside as you can.
Wash Features: At the bare minimum, every dishwasher model comes equipped with a Normal and Heavy Wash Cycle. However, speed , sanitize , and other specialty cycles are always a plus.
Finishes: Once upon a time, standard dishwashers only came in one sole finish. But nowadays, many come in popular aesthetics, including stainless steel and black stainless steel. Occasionally, different finishes may even cost less (or more in some cases), so make sure to explore all of your options to see if any extra savings can be made.
Our Best Dishwashers Under $600
To give your dishes the proper care they deserve and make after-dinner cleanups an absolute breeze, check out our best dishwashers under $600 that simply make life in the kitchen easier.
Best Overall: Frigidaire® 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher (FFCD2418US)
Washing substantial loads of dishware after meals will be a total piece of cake with this stainless-steel Frigidaire dishwasher under $600. You’ll never have to worry about a mountain of dishes stacking up in your sink thanks to this affordable dishwasher’s 14 place settings that offers ample amounts of capacity. Speaking of savings, this Frigidaire dishwasher can help save you even more thanks to its Energy Star Certified efficiency as well as an energy-saver no-heat drying option. To put the cherry on top, you’ll barely notice when this dishwasher is operating (even if you’re in the same room), running at a super-quiet 55 dBAs.
Key Features:
- ENERGY STAR® Certified
- Multiple cleaning cycle options
- 14 place settings
- Cycle indicator LED lights
Best Value: Hotpoint® 24" Black Built In Dishwasher (HDF310PGRBB)
This Hotpoint dishwasher under $600 will have you instantly saving month after month with a durable design and powerful washing features. With a 12-place setting racking capacity, you’ll have all the flexibility you could ever want to efficiently clean a variety of dishware. And with the Piranha Hard Food Disposer, food blockages and clogs don’t stand a chance due to this mechanism, grinding them down into minuscule particles that are easily washed away without a pre-rinse.
Key Features:
- Piranha Hard Food Dispenser
- Active Flood Protect water leak sensor
- 12 place settings
- Quiet operation at 60 dBA
Best Samsung Dishwasher Under 600: Samsung 24" Stainless Steel Built-In Dishwasher (DW80R2031US)
Just because this Samsung dishwasher isn’t priced as high as some of the brand’s other models doesn’t mean it holds back on its value. This affordable dishwasher from Samsung includes an Auto Cycle option that determines wash times based on how dirty the dish load is. And then, the unit automatically selects the optimal cycle so that every dish comes out sparkling clean ― using less energy and water along the way. To top it off, at 55 dBAs, this Samsung dishwasher creates less noise than a laid-back conversation meaning it won’t disrupt anything else going on around the home.
Key Features:
- ENERGY STAR® Certified
- Digital touch controls
- Height-adjustable upper rack
- Quiet operation at 55 dBA
Best Crosley Dishwasher Under 600: Crosley® 24" White Built In Dishwasher (XDF350PGRWW)
This Crosley built-in dishwasher helps give your kitchen pure flexibility without the steep price tag. With simple-to-operate user controls and a state-of-the-art boosted drying option, this dishwasher under $600 is chock-full of modern washing features that help you make light work of after-meal messes. This Crosley dishwasher’s recessed handle offers your kitchen a sleek aesthetic and is also Energy Star certified, meaning you’ll be saving more on your monthly utilities while receiving some of the highest-quality dish cleaning results every time.
Key Features:
- Boosted drying
- Dedicated silverware jets
- Hard food disposer
- ENERGY STAR® Certified
Best GE Dishwasher Under 600: GE® 24" Built In Dishwasher-Stainless Steel (GSD3360KSS)
This GE dishwasher under $600 combines contemporary style with modern functionality and comes equipped with several groundbreaking features to help simplify after-meal cleanups. Dishes of all varieties will always be ready and available thanks to powerful bottle wash jets wiping out leftover food messes that ensure a spotless look every time. And with the Piranha Hard Food Disposer built right in, you’ll never have to worry about food particles getting clogged due to stainless-steel blades rotating at 3,600 RPM, which pulverizes food waste to smithereens and keeps your dishwasher looking immaculate.
Key Features:
- ENERGY STAR® Certified
- Piranha Hard Food Dispenser
- 12 place settings
- Two-stage filtration with Extra Fine filter
Shop Dishwashers Under $600 at Aztec Appliance
Discover the best dishwashers under $600 that deliver the optimal performance you can need at Aztec Appliance. As always, don’t forget to shop local! At Aztec, we take pride in being San Diego’s leading independent retailer for home appliances since 1972. If you have any questions about our large selection of affordable dishwashers or any other kitchen appliances or accessories, please feel free to reach out to our reliable team of experts at (858) 987-5777 or visit our showroom in sunny San Diego, CA. More accessible than ever, our experts can also be reached via chat for the quickest response time!