Discover the Best Time to Buy a Dishwasher for Maximum Savings

Knowing when to buy a dishwasher can save you hundreds of dollars. Retailers and manufacturers follow predictable sales cycles, offering deep discounts during specific times of the year. By aligning your purchase with these periods, you can secure a high-quality dishwasher at a fraction of the regular price. This guide explores the best times to buy, key features to consider, top product recommendations, and practical tips to maximize savings.

Best Times to Buy a Dishwasher

Holiday Sales Events

• Memorial Day: Retailers aim to meet consumer expectations and provide solid discounts during this three-day holiday since many consumers prefer to test out large appliances in person prior to purchasing.
• Labor Day Weekend: This falls during the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Retailers frequently offer discounts and promotions on major appliances, including dishwashers, to make space for winter and holiday products.
• Black Friday and Cyber Monday: These two days mark the start of the holiday shopping season, and you’ll find retailers slashing prices on a wide range of products, including dishwashers. These events often feature doorbuster deals, limited-time promotions, and bundle offers, allowing shoppers to enjoy substantial savings. Discounts during dishwasher sale events can vary widely, ranging from percentage discounts to dollar amounts off the retail price.
• New Year’s Sales: These extend into the first week of January and are advertised well in advance. These sales are the result of retailers trying to clear out their remaining holiday sales inventory.

Model Year Clearance

If you don’t mind having last year’s model rather than the latest release, you could save a lot of money by shopping right after new models are released. Typically, new kitchen appliance models start selling from September to December. Retailers will discount older models to make more room for the newer (and more expensive) models. Watching for new models of dishwashers to come on the scene is a great time to keep an eye out for dishwasher sales and closeout dishwashers of last year’s models.

Promotional Events

• Maytag Month: This is an annual rebate promotion from appliance brand Maytag that offers rebates on common appliances.
• Amazon Prime Day: There are several optimal times of year to buy a dishwasher in the United States, including Amazon Prime Day, usually in July. You can take advantage of sales during these holidays and save hundreds of dollars on high-quality dishwashers.

Key Features to Consider When Buying a Dishwasher

Configuration Types

There are four “types” of dishwashers depending on how it’s installed in your home: Standard built-in, panel ready, compact and portable. Most people have standard built-in dishwashers in their homes. To meet your style preference, they can come with an exterior handle or a pocket handle. Whirlpool® front-control dishwashers have visible buttons on the exterior and top-control dishwashers hide the buttons on the top lip of the door. Compact dishwashers have a slimmer profile to fit small spaces, offering the convenience of not having to wash everything by hand. Portable dishwashers are mobile versions of standard dishwashers that can move around within your space if there isn’t a pre-dedicated spot for installation.

Energy and Water Efficiency

Look for dishwashers with the ENERGY STAR label to reduce your water and energy bills and to help protect the environment. These dishwashers meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. If your old dishwasher was made before 1994, you could save hundreds of gallons of water and hundreds of dollars in utility bills over the lifetime of your new dishwasher. For a dishwasher, energy use is almost entirely tied to water use. The less water it uses, the less energy it consumes. All new dishwashers use less water per cycle than those made 10 or even five years ago and can be considered efficient, especially since they have to pass federal energy efficiency standard tests.

Specialized Cycles

• NSF Certified Sanitizing Rinse: This heats the final rinse water to a very high temperature to kill germs on dishes and cookware, which is great for cleaning baby bottles or cutting boards and provides an extra measure of prevention during cold and flu season.
• Steam Clean: Dishwashers with steam-cleaning options use steam in different ways, depending on the manufacturer. Some have a cycle that pre-scrubs the dishes, using steam to soak and melt away caked-on food.
• China, Crystal, or Glass-Care Cycle: This provides shorter wash and rinse cycles with cooler water for delicate dishes.

Smart Features

Smart dishwashers also detect the size of the load. Sensing how many dishes are placed inside them helps them adjust the water consumption and length of the cycle. Properly adjusting cycle length can save you time and energy and eliminate the hassle of finding the right setting. Some dishwashers even have voice control systems that use Amazon Alexa or Google Home to lock, unlock, and start wash cycles. Smart connectivity is ideal for busy families who have their hands full – literally.

Testing Scenarios and Performance Insights

Consumer Reports Testing

In our labs, we put each dishwasher through around 30 hours of tough trials to evaluate its performance on both counts. CR’s dishwasher tests now consider how clean a machine gets dishes on both the top and bottom racks. We measure both the amount of water and energy consumed in a standard wash cycle to assess how energy-efficient a dishwasher is. Prior to testing the cleaning performance of various cycles, we uniformly apply, then bake-, dry- and burn-on mac and cheese, hamburger, oatmeal, egg yolk, milk and more to cookware, dishes, glasses and utensils.

Good Housekeeping Institute Testing

To evaluate the cleaning performance of the steady stream of new dishwashers we have coming and going in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab, we meticulously soil multiple place settings of plates, bowls, cups and saucers, glassware and cookware with our standard greasy, starchy messes and make sure everything we’ve applied is dry and baked on (and yes, we skip the pre-rinse!).

Wirecutter Stress Testing

We’ve stress-tested more than 30 dishwashers, and we recommend the Miele G5008 for its strong cleaning performance, features, and reliability for the price. We have researched hundreds of dishwashers and tested more than 30 since 2022 (14 in 2024). It is louder than our other dishwasher picks. This dishwasher clocks in at 47 decibels, which is quieter than moderate rainfall but still the loudest of the dishwashers we tested. It fits only 13 place settings. This is the fewest of all our picks, which might feel limiting if you clean a lot of dirty dishes regularly.

Top Dishwasher Recommendations

Pros and Cons of Popular Dishwasher Models

Miele G5008

• Pros: This Swedish-made dishwasher has other intriguing features, the most unusual and interesting being its four racks. In testing, the Asko DBI786IXXLSSOF cleaned very well and was incredibly quiet.
• Cons: It is not Energy Star–certified. This dishwasher lacks Energy Star certification and uses an estimated 270 kWh of energy annually. It is not Wi-Fi–connected.

Bosch 500 Series

• Pros: The best dishwashers can get dishes squeaky clean and almost completely dry while using minimal water and energy and running quietly enough that you forget they’re running at all.
• Cons: The quality of the new 100 leaves a lot to be desired. It just feels flimsier and cheaper. The new rack configurations are steps backward.

Whirlpool WDT750PAHZ

• Pros: This Whirlpool 24” built-in dishwasher utilizes every inch of space for all your dishes with the convenient door silverware basket eliminating the space that a bottom rack basket uses. Cleaning with twice the number of jets that spray during the wash cycle and cleaning from every angle ensures that your dishes get clean the first time.
• Cons: Less advanced features compared to premium models, may not match high-end kitchen aesthetics.

Buying Guide: Tips to Save More

• Shop Floor Models or Open-Box Deals: Floor models offer a fantastic opportunity for savvy shoppers to save money. These are the display units that have been showcased in stores for demonstration purposes. While they may have minor cosmetic imperfections or signs of wear from handling, they typically function perfectly and come with full manufacturer warranties.
• Bundle Purchases: You nearly always have the opportunity to save during sales by buying bundles of large appliances. Retailers frequently offer larger rebates if you buy multiple pieces, so buying a dishwasher, stove, and fridge all at once, for example, can be beneficial.
• Negotiate: It may feel a little awkward, but it’s worth trying to negotiate. You can sometimes negotiate free shipping, a discount if you buy a second appliance or price cuts for expensive models (on which the store’s profit margin is higher).
• Check Rebates: Brand rebates typically serve as an incentive for shoppers to buy in-store or online. The federal government, in contrast, allots rebates by household. At the state level, energy providers may offer rebates on larger appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, washers, and dryers.
• Use Price Tracking Tools: If you don’t want to wait for an appliance to go on sale at a certain time of year, you can always price-track the model of your choice using well-known and free tracking tools such as Camelcamelcamel and Keepa, which can help you make informed decisions when shopping.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to buy a dishwasher?

The best times are during major holiday sales like Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and New Year’s, as well as model year clearance periods from September to December when retailers discount older models.

Are Energy Star dishwashers worth the investment?

Yes, Energy Star dishwashers use less water and energy, saving you on utility bills over time. They also meet strict environmental standards, making them a sustainable choice.

Should I buy a used dishwasher to save money?

Buying a used dishwasher can save money upfront, but it may lack modern features, energy efficiency, and a warranty. If you’re on a tight budget and can verify the unit’s condition, it’s a viable option, but new models often provide better long-term value.

How much can I save during dishwasher sales?

Discounts vary, but you can typically save 10% to 30% or more during major sales events. Floor models, open-box deals, and scratch-and-dent options can offer even deeper savings, sometimes up to 50%.

What features should I prioritize in a dishwasher?

Focus on energy efficiency (Energy Star certification), specialized cycles (like sanitizing rinse or steam clean), adjustable racks, and smart features if you value convenience. Consider your kitchen size and aesthetic preferences for configuration and finish.

External Resources for Further Reading

• Consumer Reports Dishwasher Buying Guide
• Good Housekeeping Dishwasher Reviews
• Wirecutter’s Best Dishwashers

This comprehensive guide equips you with the knowledge to time your dishwasher purchase strategically, select the right model, and maximize savings through smart shopping tactics.