Small Dishwasher in Israel: Slim, Compact or Countertop

If you have ⁦45 cm⁩ under the counter, get a slim dishwasher; if you have no free cabinet, get a countertop dishwasher; and if there’s no water hookup, get a mini dishwasher with a tank.

The words “small dishwasher” actually cover three completely different appliances, and it’s worth understanding the differences before choosing:

• Slim dishwasher (Slimline): the same height and depth as a full-size dishwasher (about 85×⁦60 cm⁩), but ⁦45 cm⁩ wide. Holds ⁦9–10⁩ place settings. Fits a ⁦45 cm⁩ cabinet or stands alone.
• Countertop dishwasher (compact): a box about ⁦55 cm⁩ wide, ⁦50 cm⁩ deep and ⁦60 cm⁩ high. Holds ⁦6–8⁩ place settings. Connects to the tap through a diverter and drains into the sink.
• Mini dishwasher: even smaller, about ⁦42–⁦47 cm⁩⁩ in each direction. Holds about 3 place settings, and sometimes works with a built-in water tank you fill by hand.

In searches you’ll also see “slim dishwasher” and “countertop dishwasher”. Those are exactly the first two types, and both are covered here.

Who is it for? A slim dishwasher suits a couple, a family with one or two small children, or a kitchen without ⁦60 cm⁩. A countertop dishwasher suits renters, young couples and anyone who doesn’t want to remove a cabinet. A mini dishwasher suits a single person, students, an office, or a second dishwasher, for example for dairy dishes.

How to measure correctly? Measure the width of the opening between two cabinets, or between a cabinet and the wall, at three points: top, middle and bottom, and take the smallest number. Also measure the depth to the wall, including hoses and the angle valve, and the height from the floor to the underside of the countertop. Check that the dishwasher door can open fully without catching on an oven handle, the fridge or a corner. In older Israeli apartments, it’s not unusual to discover that the ⁦45 cm⁩ cabinet is actually ⁦44 cm⁩ net, and then only a ⁦44.8 cm⁩ slim dishwasher, like the Midea WQP8-W7634C, will fit.

Before you start, check whether you really don’t have ⁦60 cm⁩. Sometimes you can move a ⁦60 cm⁩ cabinet and put a full-size dishwasher in its place. Our best dishwasher guide has the full comparison of full-size dishwashers, and the price difference between slim and full-size is usually only a few hundred shekels.

A ⁦45 cm⁩ slim dishwasher usually holds ⁦9–10⁩ place settings and costs about ₪⁦1,000–3,300⁩ in Israel, based on store prices in November 2026.

10 place settings is a full dinner set for four people with a pot or pan, or a meal for three with several pots. In practice, a family of 3 will run a slim dishwasher once a day, and a family of ⁦4–5⁩ will reach two runs a day on Shabbat and holidays.

Prices based on what we saw:

• Midea WQP8-W7634C: about ₪⁦1,020–2,090.⁩
• Beko DVS05026X: about ₪⁦1,450–2,190.⁩
• Bosch SPS2HKI58E (Serie 2): about ₪⁦2,350–3,290.⁩
• Bosch SPS4EMI11E (Serie 4, rating B): about ₪⁦3,100–3,300.⁩

The difference between the ends: the cheaper models are rated E for energy and reach ⁦47–⁦49 dB⁩⁩. A model like the SPS4EMI11E reaches ⁦44 dB⁩ and a B rating per the specs, an uncommon figure for slim dishwashers. That’s a significant difference if the dishwasher is in an open kitchen.

Bosch Israel’s site lists six freestanding slim models, from Serie 2 to Serie 4, plus a slim semi-integrated model (SPI2HKS02E). If you prefer a slim dishwasher hidden behind a cabinet panel, there are also slim integrated dishwashers for a 45×⁦81.5 cm⁩ niche. We cover the options in our integrated dishwasher guide.

What else differs between slim models? Three things. The first is half load: the Midea model has a half-load button, useful if you run the dishwasher before it’s full. The second is a third cutlery drawer, which frees space in the lower basket and is usually found on more expensive models. The third is drying: on cheap dishwashers, dishes, especially plastic, come out wetter. If dry dishes matter to you, add rinse aid and open the door slightly at the end of the program.

A tip on dimensions: a freestanding slim dishwasher is ⁦84.5–⁦85 cm⁩⁩ high, so it fits under a standard countertop. If the countertop is especially low, look for a built-in model at ⁦81.5 cm⁩, and check that the adjustable feet allow fitting.

A countertop dishwasher suits anyone without a free cabinet or who rents, but check that you have at least ⁦55 cm⁩ free on the counter and ⁦62 cm⁩ of height under the upper cabinets.

A dishwasher like this needs no permanent installation: you connect the inlet hose to the kitchen tap through a diverter, and put the drain hose in the sink or connect it to the trap. When you move, you take it with you. That’s its big advantage.

What to check before buying:

• Dimensions: the Electrolux EFC3862MS, for example, is ⁦55 cm⁩ wide, ⁦50 cm⁩ deep and ⁦60.4 cm⁩ high. Measure the distance between the counter and the bottom of the upper cabinet, and leave a few centimeters for ventilation.
• Capacity: 6 place settings is almost the useful minimum for a couple. 8 place settings, as on the EFC3862MS, also leave room for a small pot.
• Water hookup: most models connect to cold water only. Make sure your tap can take a diverter.
• Noise: ⁦49 dB⁩ half a meter from your ear is clearly audible. Run it when you’re not in the kitchen.
• Outlet: it needs a regular outlet near the counter. Don’t plug it into the same power strip as a kettle and toaster.

A mini dishwasher like the Midea WQP⁦4-2605⁩ holds only 3 place settings, but per the price comparison it also works with a built-in water tank. That’s a solution for places without a suitable tap, like an office or a small studio unit.

How practical is it day to day? An 8-place-setting countertop dishwasher holds a couple’s dinner with a small pot and a frying pan, or a couple’s breakfast and lunch. Large pots, baking trays and a large cutting board won’t fit, and you’ll have to wash them by hand. A 3-place-setting mini dishwasher suits one person’s plates, glasses and cutlery, and that’s it. If you cook a lot at home, even as a couple, seriously consider a ⁦45 cm⁩ slim dishwasher instead of a countertop one.

Another common question is whether a countertop dishwasher damages the counter itself. The dishwasher gives off heat and steam when the door opens at the end of the program. Leave clearance from the upper cabinet and avoid opening the door directly under a wooden cabinet, to prevent steam damage over time.

Even a small dishwasher needs salt and rinse aid, because water in most areas of Israel is hard, and limescale damages small appliances faster.

A regular slim dishwasher has a salt compartment and water softener, just like a full-size dishwasher. Set the water hardness level according to your local water utility’s data, or the test strip if one comes with the appliance. Some small countertop dishwashers have no separate salt compartment. In that case, use tablets that contain a softener, add rinse aid, and run a cleaning program with a dedicated descaler once a month.

In a mini dishwasher with a built-in tank, clean the tank regularly and don’t leave standing water in it for days. A bad smell in a small dishwasher usually comes from the filter or the tank.

Signs that limescale is already building up: a white film on glasses, clogged spray arms, and dishes coming out less clean over time. If you see them, raise the hardness level or the amount of rinse aid, and clean the filter and spray holes.

The same principle applies to the washing machine: hard water shortens the life of the heating element. We cover this in our best washing machine guide.

A small dishwasher plugs into a regular 16-amp outlet and doesn’t need a dedicated electrical line, but it’s better not to share the outlet with powerful appliances like a kettle, toaster oven or microwave.

A small dishwasher’s power usually reaches about ⁦1,200–2,000⁩ watts when the heating element is running. If it’s on the same outlet or power strip as another heating appliance, you may trip the breaker. (Israel runs on 230V/50Hz; a 110V US unit would need a transformer.) If your kitchen is old and has few outlets, it’s worth getting an electrician to add a point. In a new kitchen, plan ahead: an outlet for the dishwasher, an outlet for the built-in oven, and if needed a suitable line for an induction cooktop.

Installing a freestanding slim dishwasher: connection to the angle valve under the sink, the drain and power. At most stores this is a paid extra or included in promotions.

Installing a countertop dishwasher: you can do it yourself following the manual, provided you have a suitable diverter for the tap.

Warranty: all the models in this guide appear in stores as official-importer products. Per the product pages, the warranty is provided by BSH (Bosch), Mini Line (Electrolux), Hamilton (Midea) and Hidur Products (General). Hamilton offers an extension to three years for an extra ₪199, and Bosch Israel has a similar offer. On a ₪1,200 dishwasher, consider whether the extension is worth it to you. On a ₪3,000 dishwasher it usually is.

Parallel import (yevu makbil): there’s less parallel import of small dishwashers, but if you come across a model not marked as official importer, find out who repairs it and how quickly.

Energy label: Israeli product pages usually show the new European rating (A to G), sometimes alongside the old one. On small dishwashers the common rating is D–E, and on mini dishwashers you may also see F. The annual electricity cost difference between B and E on a slim dishwasher is usually tens of shekels a year, so the rating is a secondary consideration compared with capacity, noise and warranty.

Carrying to your floor: even a slim dishwasher is a heavy appliance that needs two people. In a building without an elevator, confirm in advance that delivery to your floor is included in the price, and ask whether delivery includes removing the old dishwasher.

On the small dishwashers we checked in this guide, Shabbat mode doesn’t appear in the specs, so if it matters to you, ask for written certification from a halachic institute for the specific model.

One of the common uses of a small dishwasher in kosher homes is as a second dishwasher: a full-size one for meat (basari) and a slim or countertop one for dairy (chalavi), or vice versa. It’s a solution that saves kashering and lets you run both dishwashers in parallel. In that case, an 8-place-setting countertop dishwasher like the Electrolux EFC3862MS or a 10-place-setting slim dishwasher is usually enough for a family’s dairy dishes.

On delay start on Shabbat: almost every dishwasher has a delay of a few hours. Whether and how to use it on Shabbat is a halachic question, and the answer depends on your rabbi. We don’t rule on it.

If you’re planning a whole kitchen with two dishwashers, plan the points too: two water connections, two drains and two outlets. If one of them is an integrated dishwasher, order the panels from the carpenter in advance.

If your family has 4 or more people, or you host on Shabbat, a small dishwasher will work too hard and it’s better to find room for a full-size one.

The logic is simple: a 10-place-setting slim dishwasher versus a 14-place-setting full-size one is a 40% difference in capacity, and the price difference between similar models is small. For example, a full-size dishwasher like the Midea WQP14-W7633C with 14 place settings sells in a price range similar to the same brand’s slim dishwasher. At Bosch, the slim SPS4EMI11E costs about ₪⁦3,100–3,300,⁩ while a full-size Serie 4 like the SMS4ECI28E starts at about ₪2,800.

When to choose small anyway:

• There’s no ⁦60 cm⁩ free and no way to move a cabinet.
• The apartment is rented and you’re not allowed to change the kitchen.
• You’re a couple or single and cook little.
• It’s a second dishwasher, for example for dairy.

When to give up on small: when you find you’re running it twice a day, or washing pots by hand because there’s no room for them. In that case, investing in a small cabinet change will pay for itself. If you’re renovating anyway, also check our Bosch dishwasher guide, where we compared the different series on price and specs.

And another point for a small kitchen: if space is limited, consider the other appliances too. An integrated microwave built into an upper cabinet, or a built-in oven in a tower, can free up counter and lower cabinets. In a particularly small kitchen, a 2-zone induction cooktop leaves more work surface. We cover these considerations in our best microwave and induction cooktop guides.

Recommended steps before buying a small dishwasher: measure the space, decide between slim, countertop or mini, check the water and drain connections, compare prices for the same model at several stores, and make sure the model is marked as official importer. After installation, set the water hardness, fill salt and rinse aid, and run an empty first cycle to rinse out manufacturing residue. That way the small dishwasher will work for years without limescale or odors.

In short: a small dishwasher is the right solution when there’s no space or the apartment is rented, not as a way to save a few hundred shekels. If the space exists, a full-size dishwasher will give you more over the years.