Where Should Your Dishwasher Go? Should the Dishwasher Be Placed in the Kitchen Island?

Deciding where to put your dishwasher comes down to a whole range of factors, starting with your personal preferences, your kitchen layout, whether you’re happy to change your existing plumbing, and where it makes sense given the positions of your sink and other appliances.

However, it’s also something you don’t want to get wrong! Having the dishwasher in an awkward spot can make loading and unloading dishes a nuisance, and our designers often work with clients to ensure they’ve considered workflows, rather than installing the dishwasher in a kitchen island purely because they’ve seen this elsewhere.

Smile Kitchens designs kitchens based on your household, how you cook and entertain, and a layout that is natural to use, rather than having a standard layout or a template that is right for every home.

Let’s take a look at where you might want your dishwasher to go, and when an island might, or might not, be the perfect spot.

Where Is the Best Place for a Dishwasher in a Kitchen?

The simple answer is that there isn’t one! The sensible place to put your dishwasher is usually near your sink, since most people rinse dishes before loading them. Having the two features next to each other makes sense, as it avoids the need for plumbing outlets in two places.

A dishwasher shouldn’t be in a corner as it restricts access from on the sides and it should be accessible from all 3 sides. 

Lots of people like the concept of having a standalone island with a sink and dishwasher, and this might work well if:

• The island, or planned island, will be large enough to accommodate both features.
• You have a large or open-plan kitchen and want to be able to load the dishwasher without being away from your family or guests, or needing to go into a separate utility room.
• The island has ample storage space and can accommodate a dishwasher, as well as drawers or cupboards for dishes.

In other situations, we might suggest an alternative location, such as when the main or only sink is positioned along a main run of cabinets, or when alterations to your plumbing would be costly and exceed your budget.

If your kitchen island is mainly used for seating, or opening a dishwasher door could block walkways, the island also might not be the recommended place for the appliance.

Where Can a Dishwasher Go Other Than the Kitchen Island?

There are multiple options depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, but a starting point is to think in terms of the activities you’ll be doing in each part of the room, which can clarify where the dishwasher will be easiest to use. 

As an example, you could have:

• A food preparation zone, with the fridge, worktops and space for chopping
• A cooking area, with the hob, oven and utensils
• Areas for cleaning, with the sink, dishwasher, bin, recycling and cleaning products

Approaching kitchen design with both design and functionality in mind helps ensure that the finished room will flow nicely, without having to carry dirty, wet dishes from one end of the space to the other to load the dishwasher!

Alternative Places to Install a Dishwasher

Beside the sink remains one of the most common options, ideally with cupboards for cutlery and dishes also in the same part of the kitchen.

Dishwashers are commonly positioned within the main cabinets under a worktop where the plumbing is straightforward.

This is great for galley, L-shaped, U-shaped and one-wall kitchens where an island might not be practical or might be intended primarily for sitting and eating.

You could also consider placing the dishwasher next to a pull-out bin, so plates can be scraped and loaded right away, or putting the appliances at the end of the cabinets, so your main food prep area isn’t interrupted. 

Need help with kitchen layout planning and where to install a dishwasher? Smile Kitchens’ design teams specialise in creating bespoke spaces that provide the right balance between style, storage and practicality.

What to Consider Before Deciding Where to Put Your Dishwasher

Before you decide on a final layout, it’s well worth running through a few details to ensure you’re 100% happy that this will work well:

• Door clearance: You need space for the door to open fully without obstructing walking routes or blocking other cupboards.
• Plumbing: Existing water and waste connections are often a key deciding factor, as adding or relocating plumbing incurs additional costs.
• Storage: Appliances take up space, and if your island is a main storage area, you might want to keep it free for cupboards and drawers, and place appliances elsewhere.

It’s also important to consider how many people normally use your kitchen at the same time.

If you have a busy household or a large family, you may want to put the dishwasher somewhere it can be loaded and unloaded without interfering with someone cooking or with those sitting around an island or table.

Our design team notes that ‘Having the dishwasher too far from the sink, prioritising appearance over functionality, or having an appliance that is awkward to use every day can make a beautiful kitchen a headache.

That’s why layouts are so important, and why great design should always consider both how the kitchen looks, but also how usable it is.’

Browse Smile Kitchens storage, appliance and layout solutions for more ideas about the right place for your dishwasher or book a free kitchen consultation to speak with our professional kitchen designers today.

Related reading: 

• Should a kitchen sink go under the window or on the island? 
• Should I add a hob or a sink to my kitchen island?
• Where should the fridge go in the kitchen?

Frequently Asked Questions

Should the Dishwasher Always Be Next to the Sink?

In most kitchens, yes, but the final decision is always down to what works best for you! Keeping the dishwasher close to the sink does, though, make sense in terms of workflow and plumbing simplicity. 

Can I Install My Dishwasher in a Kitchen Island?

Yes, if your kitchen island has the space, is the main cleaning zone in your kitchen, or also has a sink, it might be a great idea to put the dishwasher here!

How Much Space Should You Leave Around a Dishwasher?

Having enough room to open the door fully without interrupting other household members is essential. We’ll help with measuring your dishwasher during the design phase and plot the positions of other cupboards, features, and appliances to ensure they’re all easy to access.