Last Updated on April 12, 2022 by
You need the perfect-sized dishwasher for dishes. And this article publication reveals the best dishwasher for family of 5. The focus is on those components that make a dishwasher sizable for the household’s daily demands.
The best dishwasher for a family of 5 would measure 24 inches in width, 24 inches in depth, and 34-36 inches in height. It features at least 12 place settings. Has top, bottom, and third racks, one being an adjustable rack. Foldable tines also increase capacity. Finally, buy a dishwasher with half load support.
Energy efficiency is vital, though not a size criterion. But for a household of 5 members, you want to pay less bills. Meanwhile, note that the number of wash cycles does not determine a dishwasher size.
Read also: For a family of 4, what sized dishwasher?
What size dishwasher for a family of 5?
A large family is made up of 1 to 2 parents with 3 or more children, at least so they are considered. Thus, your family of 5 is a large household.
So, as a family of 5, you need a standard built-in dishwasher that measures 24 inches in width, 24 inches in depth, and 34-36 inches in height. Up to 12 place settings and lower, upper and third racks add more space for multiple dishes.
A standard built-in dishwasher will fit within most standard cabinet dimensions. Typically, this would measure about 24 inches in depth and 33-36 inches in height. The width can vary depending on the model.
Read also: Here are the best countertops
In terms of size, dishwashers can be categorized according to width as follows:
- Compact countertops or tabletops – 18 inches wide.
- Standard-sized or portables – 24 inches wide.
- Oversized – 30 and 42 inches wide.
Dishwasher widths correspond with the cabinet cutout sizes. However, the cabinet needs to be slightly spacious to allow the dishwasher installation.
In your case, you need a standard-sized dishwasher for your family of 5. Moreover, standard-sized dishwashers are commonly used in residential apartments.
The cabinet’s rough opening is an aspect to look into. If you plan to buy a new dishwasher for your newly built or remodeled kitchen, round up the dimensions of the dishwasher for a spacious cutout.
However, if you plan to replace your existing dishwasher, measure the cabinet rough opening to know what dishwasher size will fit it.
How to choose the right size dishwasher
You now know the dimensions you need to consider for a dishwasher. The important thing is that you need a standard-sized dishwasher.
Read also: dishwasher dishes won’t dry because…
When buying a dishwasher for a family of 5, size should be considered in terms of the following:
Place settings
Dishwasher dimensions can have different place settings, so you want to consider more place settings depending on the number of meals you do daily.
For a family of 5, you need a dishwasher that holds up to 12 or 14 place settings for your saucers, dinner plates, glass, cutlery, cups, and bowls.
Adjustable racks and tines
Buy a dishwasher with an adjustable rack. The top rack could be adjustable, this means it can be lowered or raised for additional space when loading taller items such as deep pots, pans, pitchers, and blender jars.
More tines also increase the capacity for shallow dishes to fit in. If your 5-member family regularly has to wash pots, woks, and pans, you need foldable tines.
Increased rack height
Some dishwashers have larger lower and upper racks for bigger and smaller dishes. If you regularly need to clean pots and pans, buy a dishwasher with additional height on the second rack.
An increased second rack height on a dishwasher provides generous space for bulky dishes.
Third rack
A third rack can be an extra dishwasher rack for more space and flexible loading of dishes. Third rack designs vary in size, depending on the model of the standard dishwasher.
Read also: a sandwich in fridge good for how long?
Slim third racks or utensil racks keep serveware and cooking utensils out of the way while bigger third racks can accommodate dishes such as bowls and mugs. Racks are typically expensive, so maintain yours well.
Best Dishwasher for Family Of 5
For this section of this publication, we reviewed 3 dishwashers best for a family of 5. We also consider the dimensions, place settings, and racks. Below are the dishwashers to buy:
Kalamera Built in Dishwasher, 24 inch Dishwasher with 14 Place Settings, 6 Wash Cycles, and 4 Temperature Option, Energy Save with Low Water Consumption and Quiet Operation – Stainless Steel
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Kalamera is the first best dishwasher for family of 5 on this compilation. Not that we rank these selections on merit though.
The features you will enjoy include the following:
Capacity
This Kalamera dishwasher measures 23.9 x 25.6 x 33.7 inches, perfect dimensions for a family of 5, and holds 14 place settings for dishes.
Racks
Another space factor is the racks. This dishwasher features an adjustable upper rack you can raise or lower for additional space if you have taller items.
On the top rack, you can toss your forks, knives, and spoons.
Filtration
It uses a 4 filter meshes system that separates clean and soiled water in multiple chambers. This feature saves water and energy bills.
Smart wash
We are particularly intrigued by the unique smart wash system of this dishwasher. It uses a wash cycle sensor that determines a suitable wash cycle your dishes require.
You only have to load the dishes, then the dishwasher picks a cycle according to the stain.
What we like:
Noise
49 dB sound level is not the quietest but quieter than a normal human conversation, which is about 60 dB.
Material type
This is a stainless steel dishwasher, a finish that can withstand long-term use.
What we don’t:
Tub
The tub of this model is plastic. When we asked Kalamera, they replied, “We will introduce stainless steel version in the future.”
No pods
Kalamera advises against pods but from surveyed user reviews, more than a third say that pods work great. Make sure to run a longer cycle for the pods to dissolve fully.
No power cords and water inlet
We did not receive a power cord and water inlet for this dishwasher. So, you have to buy them separately.
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Galanz GLDW12TS2A5A Built in Dishwasher, 12 Place Setting, 24 Inch, 6 Cycles, 3 Options, Stainless Steel
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Galanz GLDW12TS2A5A is perfectly sized for a family of 5 or more. Its features needed in your family of 5 include the following:
Capacity
This is a 12 place setting dishwasher with an adjustable top rack basket for large pots. You can load your dishes on the lower basket. Meanwhile, the cutlery basket is removable when necessary.
6 wash cycles
Galanz GLDW12TS2A5A features 6 wash cycles, including normal, heavy, express, rinse, delicate, and light.
24h delay
With this feature, we could schedule the dishwasher to wash for up to 24 hours.
Sanitize
The sanitize option works with all cycles, except the rinse program, and helps to enhance the drying results by increasing the rinse temperature.
Half load
Galanz GLDW12TS2A5A is one such dishwasher with a half load option. We leveraged this functionality to lower water and energy consumption.
Indicators
Thanks to the indicators, you can tell when this machine is low on rinse aid, detergent, and water softener.
What we like:
Energy Star
You have been advised to buy Energy Star dishwashers. Galanz GLDW12TS2A5A is one such, and only consumes 0.74kWh daily. We classify this dishwasher as one of our best reviewed dishwashers with low water consumption.
Color/finish
The color is stainless steel, as well as the finish.
Noise
Its 49 dB sound level rating is great but not the quietest. It is louder than your whisper but quieter than a normal human conversation.
What we don’t:
For its abilities, it is almost good to go but cannot be perfect. You may encounter leak and drain problems. Contact the manufacturer for repairs.
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Cosmo COS-DIS6502 24 inch Top Control Built-in Tall Tub Dishwasher, Fingerprint Resistant, Low Noise 45dB in Stainless Steel
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Cosmo COS-DIS6502 is a 24-inch dishwasher suitable for a family of 5 members. Its features include:
4 wash cycles and options
The wash cycles include heavy, express, normal, and auto. Additional options included are the heated dry and sanitize rinse. Use the sanitize rinse sparingly to save energy.
The heavy wash is excellent for your child’s toys.
Delay start
Using the delay start, you can schedule this machine to work at a set time while you are busy.
Capacity
The capacity is decent for a family of 5. It measures 24 inches in height and holds up to 12 place settings for multiple dishes.
The top rack holds large or irregular-sized dishes while the bottom rack holds your bowls, plates, and cookware.
Filtration
This is a multiple-filter system dishwasher for your water and energy saving. It works by separating soiled and clean water in different chambers.
What we like:
Noise
Its noise level of 45 dB is quite quiet, quieter than when you have a conversation with people.
Here’s the trick homeowners use to silent their dishwashers.
Certification
A dishwasher certified by Energy Star and UL.
Material
It is a stainless steel dishwasher, a finish that can withstand longer uses in the family.
Tub design
The tub is built with stainless steel and is uniquely coated to resist fingerprint and smudge.
What we don’t:
Limited installation kits
The only installation items we received for this dishwasher include the drain hose/line, anchor clips, and screws. Nevertheless, most dishwashers do not arrive with a water supply line needed for installation.
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Other features to consider when buying a dishwasher
In one of the sections, we discussed choosing a dishwasher based on a dimension and size suitable for a family of 5. This section, however, discusses other significant features to look for:
Warranty
Most dishwasher manufacturers provide a warranty package. You may have to subscribe to it to protect your machine against future damages and repairs.
Water and energy economy
You want a dishwasher that is energy and water-efficient. Otherwise, you would be spending more money than necessary on these bills.
An Energy Star or related certification should be a selling point. Look for these certifications to be sure you would not be spending more than necessary.
Some dishwashers also use an energy-saving mode like eco or economy. This cycle will use less water and energy but the water temperature is typically low. Ensure to use this cycle when your dishes are lightly soiled.
Half load
For a family of five, you may not always have to wait for a full load. A dishwasher with half load means you can clean a small number of dishes as available.
Depending on the model, the half load may be available in the top or bottom rack. This feature also ensures efficiency in the bills.
Filtration
A dishwasher filter holds back food debris, and we have manual and self-cleaning filters (hard food disposer).
The self-cleaning automatically pulverizes the debris and flushes it down the drain. For a manual filter, however, you have to manually clean or replace it as necessary.
The dishwashers reviewed here tend to have multiple filtration systems that separate water and soil in different chambers for efficiency.
You want to always clean the filter to prevent dishwasher clogging and leaking.
Washing cycles
Most standard-sized dishwashers for a family of 5 feature at least 6 wash cycles, typically including normal, heavy, rinse, light, fruit, etc.
You should buy a dishwasher that also uses additional options such as sanitize and delay start to improve cleaning.
Measuring the opening dimensions for a dishwasher
Dimensions also determine the interior capacity of a dishwasher. Below is how you measure the dimensions:
Width
When measuring the cabinet opening width with tape, take it from one edge of the inside edge to another.
Measure the width at the cabinet top and bottom, taking any variations into account.
Allow at least a 2-inch gap between the wall to accommodate the dishwasher door opening.
Depth
Keep in mind that the closed dishwasher door still extends past the cabinets when measuring it. Hold the tape from the back wall inside the cabinet opening and extend it to the front of the cabinet.
Height
The space height will depend on whether the floor is level. Take up to 3 measurements – left centre and right of the opening. Measure from the floor level and then the bottom of the counter over the space.
