18 inch dishwasher: the narrow format, measured
77 certified dishwashers on the ENERGY STAR list are about 18 inches wide. Enter your opening: the tool counts the ones that fit and prices their energy.
Example for 18 inch models and a cabinet 24 in deep — change any figure to see your own result
Certified 18 inch dishwashers that fit
73
of 77 certified 18 inch dishwashers
| Typical place settings (sets of dishes) | 8 |
| Typical energy use | 234 kWh a year |
| Typical running cost at the U.S. average price | $42 a year |
| Typical water per cycle | 3.1 gallons |
| Left out: deeper or wider than your space | 4 |
kWh (kilowatt-hour) is the unit on your power bill. The list gives no height: standard built-in units are made for the opening under a 36 inch counter. Check the model’s sheet.
| Model | Width × depth | Settings | kWh a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miele G 5892 SCVi SL | 17.80 × 21.80 in | 10 | 200 | $36 |
| Miele G 5482 SCVi SL | 17.80 × 21.80 in | 10 | 220 | $40 |
| AEG F8242FI-18 | 17.60 × 21.70 in | 10 | 234 | $42 |
| Danby DDW1832ESS | 17.60 × 22.40 in | 10 | 234 | $42 |
| FULGOR MILANO F4DWS18FI1 | 17.60 × 21.70 in | 10 | 234 | $42 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · How the figures are built
An 18 inch dishwasher is the narrow built-in format for small kitchens. The ENERGY STAR list of November 12, 2026 holds 77 certified models from 32 brands wider than 16.5 and up to 18.5 inches. They measure a median 17.60 in wide and 22.50 in deep and hold 8 place settings, against 15 for the median 24 inch model. They do not save much energy: a median 234 kWh a year against 240 for a 24 inch model, and 3.1 gallons of water a cycle against 3.2. Per place setting, the narrow model uses more: 29.3 kWh a year for each setting it holds, against 16 for the 24 inch model. At the U.S. average home price of August 2026, the median 18 inch dishwasher costs $42 a year to run. Choose it for the space it saves, not for the energy. The list gives no height; like 24 inch models, these fit under a standard counter.
18 inch dishwasher against the 24 inch size
The table sets the two built-in widths side by side, with the medians of the certified models. The capacity and energy columns show the trade: six inches less width costs about a third of the dishes and saves little energy.
| 18 inch class | 24 inch class | |
|---|---|---|
| Certified models | 77 | 499 |
| Typical width | 17.60 in | 23.80 in |
| Typical depth | 22.50 in | 23.70 in |
| Typical place settings | 8 | 15 |
| Typical kWh a year | 234 | 240 |
| Water per cycle | 3.1 gal | 3.2 gal |
| kWh a year per place setting | 29.3 | 16 |
When the narrow model is the right choice
An 18 inch dishwasher makes sense when the kitchen has no 24 inch space to give: a galley, a studio, a kitchen where a 24 inch base cabinet is more useful as storage. It also suits a household that runs it rarely with few dishes. A family that would run a narrow model twice a day is better served by a 24 inch one run once, which the per-setting figure in the table shows.
If you can free 24 inches: 24 inch models for your depth
Example for 24 inch models and a cabinet 24 in deep — change any figure to see your own result
Certified 24 inch dishwashers that fit
330
of 499 certified 24 inch dishwashers
| Typical place settings (sets of dishes) | 15 |
| Typical energy use | 239 kWh a year |
| Typical running cost at the U.S. average price | $43 a year |
| Typical water per cycle | 3.2 gallons |
Fitting an 18 inch model
Measure the opening between the cabinet sides at the narrowest point, the depth from the wall to the front of the cabinets and the height to the underside of the counter, which the list does not give and the model sheet does. Water, drain and power usually come through the cabinet beside it. Replacing a 24 inch dishwasher with an 18 inch one leaves a six inch gap that a filler panel or a narrow pull-out cabinet can close.
Running cost
At the prices homes paid in August 2026, the median narrow model's 234 kWh a year cost $110 in Hawaii, $51 in Pennsylvania and $30 in Nevada. The dishwasher electricity page explains the yearly figure; the 24 inch page lists the wider models by depth.