If you’re running a cafe, restaurant or bar, then you will need one of the best commercial dishwashers on the market. These are fast-acting, reliable, durable and performative appliances that will ensure sparkling clean dishwashers so no customer is disappointed.
Are you looking for something quiet, budget-friendly or a conveyor dishwasher? Either way, we have seven awesome recommendations for you.
- Useful sound alerts
- Cleans 30 racks an hour
- Low water consumption
- Washes 243 racks per hour
- Four stage washing
- NSF certified
- Self-draining pump
- Indicator lights
- Double wash arms
- Compact design
- LED display
- Quiet noise level
- Two-minute cycles
- Sanitizes every load
- Triple filter system
- Anti-scale feature
- Has peristaltic pumps
- Thorough & distributed washing
- Has 2 dish drawers
- Independent wash feature
- Eco-friendly
What Are Commercial Dishwashers?
Commercial dishwashers differ from regular dishwashers due to their speed. Most commercial dishwashers can do a load of dishes in less than a couple of minutes. That way, you’re never short on tableware for your customers. Home dishwashers usually take between 1.5 and four hours — so commercial dishwashers are a must-have product.
Speed isn’t the only advantage to commercial dishwashers. They’re also easy to use so all staff can master it without extensive training. These dishwashers also meet sanitary requirements so you can adhere to high health standards.
Types of Commercial Dishwashers
Let’s look at the different types of commercial dishwashers so you know the pros and cons of each kind. This way, you’ll be able to narrow down which type is the best for your business.
Undercounter
Undercounter dishwashers don’t take up too much space, so they’re a good choice for smaller businesses. You can install them under a counter, rather than finding a dedicated spot elsewhere in the kitchen. They look quite similar to home dishwashers, but they work faster and better.
Pros
- They can fit under the counter, so they are space-saving.
- They’re easy to install.
- They don’t take up important countertop space.
- Quite affordable.
- They work fast.
Cons
- They hold fewer dishes than other types of commercial dishwashers.
Door Style
Door style, or door-type, dishwashers have a big door that can remain open. Fill it up, slide it in, close the door and a few moments later, you’ll have clean dishes.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Very fast.
- Great for busy kitchens.
- High capacity.
Cons
- They take up a bit of space.
- They use more water and energy than other types.
- Expensive.
Conveyor
This high capacity dishwasher is great for larger businesses where there is high traffic daily. For example, it’s ideal for schools, hotels and hospitals.
Pros
- High capacity.
- Cleans quickly.
- Powerful job.
- Best for high traffic businesses.
Cons
- They take up a lot of space.
- Most expensive type of dishwasher.
Glass Washer
Glass washers are great for bars, since there is a lot of glassware that needs washed. They are gentle on more fragile types of glassware like wine or crystal glasses.
Pros
- Ideal for bars that use glasses.
- Gentle on fragile glass.
- Works for other tableware.
- They come in a variety of styles.
Cons
- Not good for pots and pans.
- You may need this in conjunction with another commercial dishwasher.
High Temperature
You’ll also find high and low-temperature dishwashers. High-temperature dishwashers use high heat which sanitizes dishes at 180°F. This meets health standards and keeps your business at its most hygienic.
Pros
- Most hygienic.
- Sanitizes dishes.
- They don’t need to use harsh chemicals.
- Clean dishes really well.
Cons
- More expensive.
- They require more energy to run.
Low Temperature
Low temperature dishwashers don’t get as hot, so they can’t sanitize dishes on their own. Instead, you have to use chemical cleaners to make sure the dishes are bacteria free.
Pros
- Less expensive.
- They use less energy.
Cons
- You have to use chemical cleaners, which is bad on the environment and drainage system.
- The harsh chemicals can damage certain types of dishes.
Going Low?
How to Choose the Best Commercial Dishwashers
Ready to take your business to the next level with one of the best commercial dishwashers? Here’s what to look out for so you find one that ticks all your boxes.
Size
Consider the size of the dishwasher and make sure you have space for it. Measure the dimensions to be sure it will fit. Undercounter dishwashers are the most space-saving, but we do have one countertop version if you want something very small.
Type
What type do you need for your business? Choose between undercounter, door style, conveyor, glass washer, high temperature or low temperature.
Versatility
If you’re running a restaurant, you’ll need one that’s versatile. Consider if the dishwasher can handle all types of tableware and cookware, including pots, pans, and delicate glasses.
Noise
Dishwasher noise is measured in decibels, so consider how loud or quiet the dishwasher is. The higher the number, the louder the dishwasher. 39 is currently the quietest on the market.
Anything over 60 decibels will be pretty noticeable. But since it’s likely to be in a kitchen and not disturbing customers, a high decibel rating isn’t too much of a drawback.
Speed
Speed is arguably the most important factor of a commercial dishwasher.
How Fast Is a Commercial Dishwasher?
Many commercial dishwashers can clean dishes within 90 seconds, but some go on for longer. If you run a high traffic business, you’ll need something super quick.
Why Are Commercial DIshwashers So Fast?
They need to be fast so chefs are never left waiting on clean dishes for customers.
Capacity
The capacity of the commercial dishwasher is so important. Some are smaller than others, so don’t choose one that can’t handle the large number of dishes you’ll have. Capacity is often measured in place settings, so look out for that.
Budget
Unfortunately, commercial dishwashers are a huge investment, often stretching into five-digit numbers. However, undercounter and glass washers are on the more affordable side.
We do have one budget-friendly option, but it is a countertop dishwasher, and isn’t as fast as other appliances. But if you run a little cafe with a minimal amount of tables, and handwash most dishes, this is still a great professional appliance.
Performance
Consider the different features on the washing machine to get a good idea of how it will perform. Can it dry, as well as wash? What about sanitize?
What Temperature Should a Commercial Dishwasher Be?
If it’s going to sanitize, it should reach 180°F. However, if you’re going for a low-temperature dishwasher, the chemical cleaners will do the sanitization. So anything over the standard dishwasher temperatures of 120°F is fine.
Eco-Friendliness
Consider the eco-friendliness of the dishwasher. Since you’ll be using it often, the more eco-friendly the better, for you and the environment.
How Much Electricity Does a Commercial Dishwasher Use?
It depends if the model is Energy Star rated. On average, an Energy Star rated dishwasher will use around 4000 kilowatts of energy annually (1).
How Many Gallons of Water Does a Commercial Dishwasher Use?
Each model is different. Some use less than a gallon per cycle, but commercial dishwashers use around 70 or 80 gallons per cycle depending on the brand.
Warranty
Finally, look at the warranty. Because these are used commercially, a lot of damage can happen. Therefore, the warranties are usually pretty short, at around 12 months.
However, you can definitely take time to study different warranties to find one that’s more generous. Otherwise, make sure your appliances are insured!
The Best Commercial Dishwashers of 2021
Hobart LXER-2 Undercounter Dishwasher
This undercounter Energy Star stainless steel commercial dishwasher is a great option for your business.
It’s a great size, which takes up minimal room in a kitchen since it can go underneath the countertops.
With the option to clean up to 30 racks an hour, it’s great for high traffic businesses, cafes and restaurants.
Why We Love It
Useful Alerts
In busy kitchens, it’s a huge bonus that this dishwasher has alerts that catch your attention when you’re otherwise occupied. It’s a high-temperature dishwasher, so it alerts you if the water temperature is too low.
It also sounds alerts if the water is dirty, so you can sort that out before giving customers these dishes.
Lastly, it has a clogged wash arm notification so you don’t have to troubleshoot tons of issues before discovering this.
Many Racks Per Hour
This dishwasher is super speedy, cleaning up to 30 racks an hour. That’s less than two minutes per cycle. However, if you want to do more intensive washes, then you can set this. The dishwasher will still manage 13 or 24 washes per hour which is very beneficial.
Low Water Consumption
This dishwasher uses 0.62 gallons of water per cycle. This keeps the water usage low, but it’s still enough for super clean dishes so every single customer is satisfied.
Keep In Mind
Low Capacity
It’s not the most spacious dishwasher in the world. It’s designed for six place settings, but depending on what kind of tableware is used, it can sometimes only hold four place settings with a few other pieces.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 31 x 29 x 38 inches |
| Type | Undercounter |
| Wash Cycles | Three |
| Speed | Between 120-275 seconds |
| Gallons per Cycle | 0.62 gallons |
CMA EST-66 Conveyor Dishwasher
In the market for a conveyor dishwasher? These are the ideal dishwashers for busy restaurants, hotels and hospitals. They make washing and drying dishes easy, delivering super quick results.
In fact, this dishwasher can clean 243 racks per hour! That’s insanely fast. It’s almost a no brainer to have this in your business. While it’s expensive, it’s not the most extortionate on the market, either.
Why We Love It
243 Racks Per Hour
We can’t gloss over this fact. 243 racks per hour is so speedy. You’ll never be without clean dishes for customers, no matter how busy the restaurant is. It’s also ideal for hospitals to clean all the dishes quickly after meal times. Same with schools!
Four Stage Washing
You might be thinking that 243 racks per hour means that dishes don’t get clean. But you’re wrong. This dishwasher uses a four-stage washing system which includes pre-washing, a dual power wash and a final rinse.
NSF Certified
It’s important to keep tableware free from germs, bacteria and viruses. This dishwasher is NSF certified so you can sanitize your dishes, making them super safe for your customers.
Keep In Mind
One Year Warranty
For such an expensive product, a one year warranty is never ideal. However, you can insure your kitchen appliances to make sure if anything goes wrong, you’re covered.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 66 x 25.125 x 56.5 inches |
| Type | Conveyor |
| Wash Cycles | Two |
| Speed | As little as 25 seconds |
| Gallons per Cycle | 0.94 gallons |
Jackson Conserver XL Door-Type Dishwasher
This door style dishwasher is a popular one for businesses. Made of durable stainless steel, it’s very effective. It cleans 39 racks per hour using only 1.02 gallons of water per rack during each cycle.
The Jackson Conserver is a workhorse in the kitchen, great for high traffic areas. It’s pretty easy to use, thanks to its cool features. Some of these include a low product indicator light and a self-draining pump, making your life easier as you wait tables.
Why We Love It
Self-Draining Pump
The self-draining stainless steel pump is a great feature of this dishwasher. Because it uses chemical cleaners, due to being a low-temperature dishwasher, this pump comes in handy. It ensures there is no dishwasher detergent leftover between wash and rinse cycles. So when items are rinsed, it’s using 100 percent water.
Indicator Lights
This dishwasher lets you know when you’re low on cleaning chemicals. The indicator lights will come on, taking the guesswork out of monitoring the appliance.
Double Wash Arms
With two wash arms, one for the lower and one for the upper rack, you can enjoy a thorough clean each time. Plus, the arms are interchangeable, so if you find other arms you’d prefer, you can just swap them out.
Keep In Mind
Scrape and Pre-Rinse Plates
It’s essential that you scrape and possibly even pre-rinse your plates. There should be absolutely no food on the plates before they go into this dishwasher. Otherwise, the food will just fly around and land on other items.
Chemical Sanitization
If you’re wanting to cut out harsh chemicals, you may want to opt for a high-temperature dishwasher. This low-temperature dishwasher has to use chemicals rather than hot water which is harsh on the environment, even if it does mean the appliance is cheaper.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 25.25 x 25.25 x 65.05 inches |
| Type | Door style |
| Wash Cycles | One |
| Speed | 90 seconds |
| Gallons per Cycle | 1.02 |
Farberware Professional Countertop Portable Dishwasher
This budget-friendly option is an ideal commercial dishwasher for small businesses. While not suitable for high-traffic cafes, this would work well for your staff in a small office, for example.
It has six place settings, so staff can put their daily dishes in here to be cleaned before they leave the office for the day. It saves precious time that could be spent doing important tasks during the work day. Of course, it would also be a good addition to a small cafe in conjunction to hand-washing dishes.
Why We Love It
Compact Design
This is a countertop portable dishwasher. You can easily move it from room to room, or move it around when you redecorate the kitchen area. It also sits on the countertop, taking not much more space than a microwave. This compact dishwasher means you have more space for other appliances.
LED Display
The nice, user-friendly display, has simple controls that read different programmes. You can easily select the proper washing cycle for your needs. There are many cycles including eco, intensive, normal, glass, 90 minutes, rapid or self-cleaning.
Quiet Noise Level
The decibel rating isn’t specified, but customers say that it’s quiet. For a countertop dishwasher, that’s a big bonus! If you’re working in a small or quiet space, this won’t interrupt your focus.
Keep In Mind
Small Capacity
Six place settings is fine for a couple of people — but for high traffic businesses, this is not a good option. Unfortunately, if you need a proper commercial dishwasher, you’ll not be able to find one this budget-friendly.
Not Consistent Cleaning
You may need to pre-rinse your dishes, which is an extra step. The heavy cycle works really well for cleaning dishes, but if it’s too full, it won’t do a good job.
Lastly, this isn’t the most effective on grease and grime. So if you’re serving grease-heavy foods like bacon, burgers and hot dogs — this may not give you spotless dishes.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 21.7 x 19.7 x 17.2 inches |
| Type | Countertop |
| Wash Cycles | Seven |
| Speed | Between 45 and 110 minutes |
| Gallons per Cycle | N/A |
Blakeslee High Temperature Glasswasher
This undercounter glass washer is a must-have for bars, restaurants and hotels. Anywhere that uses glassware, basically!
Not only will it clean your glassware safely and effectively, but it’s also compact and beautiful in your kitchen.
It has a newly designed control panel, a big loading capacity and all for a reasonable price.
Why We Love It
Two-Minute Cycles
On busy weekends, you need a dishwasher that can keep up with the pace of your hotel, restaurant or bar. This is the one. With short two minute cycles, you can get up to 30 loads per hour, meaning you’re never out of glasses for thirsty customers.
Sanitizes Every Load
If you want to meet super high health standards, this is the glass washer to consider. It uses a 185°F rinse every wash to ensure the dishes are spotless and germ-free.
Triple Filter System
The triple filter system is super practical, especially if you make cocktails at your business. The extra ingredients, fruit and those cute little umbrellas now get caught in the triple filter system so they don’t filter back into the dishwasher.
Keep In Mind
No Silverware Basket
We can’t forget that many hot drinks come in a glass, such as lattes and hot chocolates. These come with a spoon — but unfortunately, this dishwasher doesn’t have a silverware basket for these utensils.
Magnet Closing Mechanism
This door closes on a magnet, which is fine, but it’s not very strong. Some customers found they had to replace the magnet every year or so. Not a big job, but it’s a nuisance.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 23.5 x 24 x 33.25 inches |
| Type | Glasswasher |
| Wash Cycles | Two |
| Speed | Two to three minute cycles |
| Gallons per Cycle | 0.74 |
Hobart LT1-1 Low Temp Door Type Dishwasher
Eco-friendly dishwashers are an important part of businesses, especially if you’re already working on sustainability. This Hobart door type dishwasher is Energy Star certified and only uses 1.7 gallons of water per rack during the cycle.
That’s not all that we love about this dishwasher. It’s ideal for heavy traffic businesses because it can do 37 racks per hour! Each cycle is less than 90 seconds, so you can fly through the dirty dishes like never before.
Why We Love It
Anti-Scale
If you’re in a hard water area, then you’ll be familiar with mineral build up on your dishes. Thankfully, this de-scales during the cycles to get rid of limescale and other buildup. Customers will love their sparkling clean tableware.
Peristaltic Pumps
This is a low-temperature dishwasher so it uses chemicals to clean and sanitize dishes, rather than hot water. However, it has three peristaltic pumps. These have individual switches that automatically inject the right amount of chemicals for each cycle so that you don’t use too much or too little.
Thorough Washing
This dishwasher has a revolving upper and lower ball-bearing rinse arms. Therefore, you get a thorough clean of all dishes since water is evenly distributed between all racks.
Keep In Mind
Low-Temperature
While this is a bit more affordable due to being a low-temperature dishwasher, it’s still a drawback for some. It uses 140°F water which doesn’t sanitize dishes on its own. Therefore, you’ll need to use chemical cleaners which cost money, too. Plus, they’re not as kind on the environment.
One-Year Warranty
This is a pretty short warranty, even if it’s average for commercial dishwashers. After this, you can buy parts and do repairs yourself, but the parts and shipping are expensive.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 24 x 26 x 68 inches |
| Type | Door style |
| Wash Cycles | One |
| Speed | Less than 90 seconds |
| Gallons per Cycle | 1.7 |
Fisher Paykel Professional Series Dishwasher
This professional dishwasher is a nice and quiet option to have in the kitchen. It goes down to 44 decibels, which is similar to the sound of washing your hands. So if your business is already on the quieter side, this won’t interrupt anybody’s flow.
Just keep in mind that this is better for small businesses that don’t have super high traffic. It doesn’t have the speedy cycles that other dishwashers have. In fact, the speed cycle is 46 minutes maximum, and the normal cycles are over two hours long.
Why We Love It
DishDrawer
This dishwasher has two drawers, known as DishDrawer. These two drawers are easy to open and close so all staff can easily stack the dishwasher.
You can also position them at bench height so people don’t have to bend over too far. Finally, take advantage of the flexible racking which allows you to customize certain elements of the racks to fit in a variety of dishes.
Independent Wash
With this dishwasher, you can use the drawers together or independently. Now, you can select different wash programmes for either drawer. So in the top drawer, wash heavily soiled pots and pans. In the bottom drawer, wash delicate glasses.
Eco-Friendly
Remember when we said that commercial dishwashers use around 4,000 kilowatts of energy per year? This one only uses 276! With less than two gallons of water per drawer, and an Energy Star rating, this is an environmentally friendly appliance to have for your business.
Keep In Mind
Longer Cycles
As mentioned, the cycles on this dishwasher are longer, despite it being a commercial dishwasher. It is intended for smaller businesses with less traffic. The fast cycle is just under 46 minutes, whereas the other main cycles are all over two hours long.
Chaotic Control Panel
Customers have mentioned that the control panel has a mind of its own. It will make random decisions, have error messages when there aren’t errors, or automatically go on child lock, even if you haven’t clicked that. It can make it difficult to use this dishwasher.
Additional Specs
| Dimensions | 22.75 x 23.8 x 36.4 inches |
| Type | Undercounter |
| Wash Cycles | 15 |
| Speed | Between 46-145 minutes |
| Gallons per Cycle | Under four gallons |
| Product | Best | Dimensions | Type | Wash Cycles | Speed | gal. per Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart LXER-2 Undercounter Dishwasher | Undercounter | 31 x 29 x 38″ | Undercounter | Three | 120-275 s | 0.62 gal. |
| CMA EST-66 Conveyor Dishwasher | Conveyor | 66 x 25.125 x 56.5″ | Conveyor | Two | 25 s | 0.94 gal. |
| Jackson Conserver Door-Type Dishwasher | Door Style | 25.25 x 25.25 x 65.05″ | Door style | One | 90 s | 1 |
| Farberware Pro Countertop Portable Dishwasher | Budget Pick | 21.7 x 19.7 x 17.2″ | Countertop | Seven | 45 & 110 min | N/A |
| Blakeslee High Temperature Glasswasher | Glass | 23.5 x 24 x 33.25″ | Glasswasher | Two | 2-3 min | 1 |
| Hobart LT1-1 Low Temp Door Type | Eco-Friendly | 24 x 26 x 68″ | Door style | One | <90 s | 1.7 |
| Fisher Paykel Professional Series Dishwasher | Quiet | 22.75 x 23.8 x 36.4″ | Undercounter | 15 | 46-145 min | <4 gal. |
Go Big or Go Home
When it comes to your business, it’s super important to invest in a dishwasher that can handle your needs. Some businesses need super quick dishwashers that can handle high traffic and busy days. Others can get away with a slower countertop dishwasher at a fraction of the price.
Whatever your needs are, always remember to consider the size and type of dishwasher. Finally, watch out for how many wash cycles it has, the speed and how much water it uses per cycle.
