The HAVA R01 is the clearest choice if you need a countertop dishwasher with no permanent plumbing. It has a built-in 5-litre tank, can also be filled from a tap, and was listed at £189.99 on 7 September 2026. If you want more capacity, the Cookology CTTD8WH offers eight place settings, while the six-place Cookology CTTD6WH is a quieter, cheaper tap-connected option.
“Countertop”, “tabletop” and “table top” all describe the same general type of compact dishwasher in the UK. These machines sit on a worktop and are aimed at small kitchens, flats, rented homes, caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes where a full-size dishwasher is impractical.
| Model | Best for | Capacity | Noise | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAVA R01 | No permanent plumbing | Suitable for two to four people | 60 dB | £189.99 |
| DMD Collective 5-litre model | Tank flexibility and high wash temperature | Not stated in the supplied product details | Not stated in the supplied product details | £199.99 |
| Cookology CTTD6WH | Six place settings at a low price | Six place settings | 49 dB | £199.99 |
| Russell Hobbs RHTTDW6B | Six-place model from Currys | Six place settings | 52 dB | £249.00 |
| Russell Hobbs RH6TTDW0D1B | Quieter six-place option | Six place settings | 47 dB | £229.00 |
| Cookology CTTD8WH | Maximum capacity | Eight place settings | 49 dB | £264.99 |
| Russell Hobbs RH2TTDW0D1B | Very small households | Two place settings | 58 dB | £269.00 |
Prices in the table are the listed UK prices checked on 7 September 2026. Retailer and marketplace prices can change, so treat them as a buying snapshot rather than a permanent price promise.
The HAVA R01 is the strongest documented tank-based choice here. Its integrated tank holds 5 litres, and you can fill it with a tap or the supplied pitcher. Waste water leaves through a hose that can run into a sink or bucket, making it suitable for a rented kitchen, utility room or other space without a fixed dishwasher connection.
The R01 has five washing programmes, uses a stated 5 litres of water per cycle and measures 428 × 425 × 458 mm. HAVA describes its capacity as suitable for two to four people, with room for four bowls, four cups, eight plates and seven sets of cutlery. At 60 dB, it is not the quietest option in the table, but its installation flexibility is the main reason to choose it.
The DMD Collective countertop dishwasher is another tank-based alternative. It has a 5-litre tank, six programmes, a tap-connection option and a stated maximum wash temperature of 75°C. Its listed price was £199.99. Choose it when the tank is important but you prefer a product specified with a higher maximum wash temperature.
Marketplace listings also included water-tank options from AIRMSEN, COSTWAY, eklipt and MONZANA. PriceSpy listed them at £219.98, £189.95, £249.99 and £220.10 respectively on the checked results page. These are marketplace listings, so check the seller, warranty and precise specification before buying.
A countertop dishwasher does not have to be permanently plumbed in. Tank models can be filled manually, while other machines connect to a kitchen tap and discharge into the sink. Every model still needs an electrical socket and a safe route for waste water; “no plumbing” does not mean “no water outlet”.
The difference between a tank and tap-connected model matters most in rented accommodation. A tank removes the need for a permanent water connection, but filling it manually adds a task before each cycle. A tap-connected machine may be simpler where the sink adapter fits and the waste hose can drain securely.
The Cookology CTTD8WH has the largest stated capacity in this shortlist: eight place settings. It has eight programmes, a maximum temperature of 65°C and a stated noise level of 49 dB. Tesco Marketplace listed it at £264.99. The product is described as connecting like a conventional dishwasher, with an adapter option for a kitchen tap and a drain route to the sink.
For a smaller household, the Cookology CTTD6WH is a more balanced six-place choice. It has seven programmes, a 49 dB noise rating and a maximum plate size of 250 mm. Its energy rating is F and its stated energy consumption is 0.61 kWh per cycle. Cookology listed the model at £199.99, and it can connect to a standard kitchen tap or fixed mains water supply.
Capacity figures need practical interpretation. Cookology says tabletop dishwashers range from models with two place settings to its largest model with eight. Tall pans, serving dishes and oversized dinner plates can reduce the useful capacity, so measure your most frequently used crockery before ordering.
The Russell Hobbs RH6TTDW0D1B is the best fit among the listed Currys options for buyers prioritising low noise. It has six place settings, a D energy rating, stated water consumption of 6.5 litres per cycle, a 47 dB noise level and dimensions of 440 × 550 × 500 mm. Currys listed it at £229.00.
The Russell Hobbs RHTTDW6B is another six-place Currys option, listed at £249.00. Its specification includes six wash programmes, 6.5-litre water consumption, a 52 dB noise level and a maximum plate diameter of 25 cm. It makes sense when those dimensions and plate clearance suit your kitchen better than the alternatives.
For the smallest load, the Russell Hobbs RH2TTDW0D1B has two place settings, a D energy rating, stated water consumption of 5 litres per cycle, a 58 dB noise level and dimensions of 435 × 420 × 435 mm. Its listed price was £269.00, so its main advantage is its small capacity and footprint rather than price or quiet operation.
A countertop dishwasher is worth considering if you live alone, have a small flat, rent your home, lack cabinet space or need a temporary appliance during a kitchen renovation. It can also suit caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes. The best match is a household that can run smaller loads and has a convenient sink or waste-water point.
The compromises are capacity, loading and running performance. Which? reports that compact-dishwasher tests found generally poor cleaning, relatively high energy and water use, and awkward loading. It also identifies capacity, maintenance, energy use and water use as areas where compact machines can compromise compared with full-size dishwashers.
Water consumption should be compared using the same programme and load size. A tabletop dishwasher can use less water per cycle than hand washing, but the result depends on how you load it and how much washing-up one cycle replaces. For a family producing large loads, a full-size dishwasher is likely to be more practical; for one or two people, a compact machine can remove the daily burden of hand washing.
For broader installation guidance, see our guide to choosing an integrated dishwasher before deciding whether a worktop model is the right category.
Start with installation, then check capacity, plate clearance, noise and consumption. This order prevents the common mistake of buying a machine that fits the shopping list but not the kitchen.
No. Some connect to a tap, while tank models are filled manually. All still need electricity and somewhere for waste water to drain, such as a sink or bucket.
For no permanent plumbing, the HAVA R01 is the clearest choice in this guide because it has a built-in 5-litre tank, pitcher filling, five programmes and a listed price of £189.99. For six place settings with a tap connection, the Cookology CTTD6WH offers a 49 dB noise rating and was listed at £199.99.
Buy the HAVA R01 if you need a tank, the Cookology CTTD6WH for a six-place tap-connected model, or the Cookology CTTD8WH if eight place settings matter most. Check dimensions, plate clearance and waste-water drainage before ordering.
Yes, when space, renting or a temporary kitchen rules out a full-size machine and your household produces small loads. The trade-off is less capacity and potentially weaker cleaning, energy and water performance than a full-size dishwasher.
