Best Dishwasher for a Large Family in 2022

If you’ve got a large family, then you obviously have a lot of dishes that always need washing. Instead of washing them by hand, getting a good dishwasher for a large family is recommended.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, the fact of the matter is that dishwashers use less water than washing dishes by hand.

That said, not all dishwashers are ideal for large families. Luckily for you, this is exactly what we are here to help you with today. Let’s get to it and take a look at the five biggest contenders for the best dishwasher for large families.

Best Dishwashers for Large Families: Reviews

GE 24’ Stainless Steel Tall Tub Dishwasher

If you are looking for a large dishwasher with plenty of space, then this might just be it. Of course, being very spacious is not the only thing that this dishwasher does very well. Let’s take a closer look.

Review

Here we have a very spacious 24-inch dishwasher that should definitely be ideal for a large family. It has enough room on the inside for up to 16 place settings, which isn’t too bad at all. Moreover, it also comes complete with dual racks.

The lower rack is very large and can fit virtually any type of dish or pot. What is however very cool is that the upper rack is adjustable for size. It can be lowered to the point where it can fit plates up to 10.5 inches in diameter. In terms of spaciousness and organizational capabilities, this unit is definitely at the top of the list.

The exterior of this unit is made with very durable and scratch-resistant stainless steel. The exterior is also designed to be smudge resistant and fingerprint resistant. This is of course important when you have a large family with messy children.

To ensure that your children can sleep at night while this machine is running, it is designed to be very quiet. It produces just 48 decibels of noise while maintaining maximum washing power. It also comes complete with active flood protect, which is an internal sensor that prevents the dishwasher from overflowing.

What also stands out is the piranha hard food dispenser. This is a stainless steel blade that rotates at 3600 RPM. This pulverizes food particles and prevents you from having to pre-wash your dishes. It’s also ideal for children who decide to put dishes that still have food on them inside of the dishwasher.

This unit also comes complete with bottle jets, which are designed to clean inside of hard to reach items, such as tall and narrow glasses. Here, you also get a steam and sanitizer function. This is designed to loosen even the toughest of stuck on foods, while also killing all possible bacteria.

When you have to do stuff with your kids and you don’t have much time, use the one hour wash function. In case you need to wash some dishes quickly, but the machine is not full, you can also use the half load function. You may also appreciate how this unit comes complete with dual wash zones.

The other function that is worth mentioning here is the auto sense cycle. This allows this dishwasher to sense exactly how dirty your dishes are. It will then adjust its water pressure and temperature output to match this soil level. What this means is that you can save as much energy as possible while still ensuring that all of your dishes are perfectly clean.

Pros

• Superior durability (exterior)
• Smudge and fingerprint resistant
• Fairly energy efficient
• Auto sense wash cycle
• Many wash cycles to choose from
• Efficient at drying dishes
• Plenty of space with great organization
• Bottle jets included
• Integrated piranha hard food disposer

Cons

• Interior is made with relatively cheap plastic
• Some small issues with the soap dispenser

Frigidaire 24” Stainless Steel Front Control Tall Tub Dishwasher

Here we have a very spacious yet affordable dishwasher. This unit comes in at a price point that is ideal for large families who are working on a tight budget. It might not be the most expensive unit in the world, but it still gets the job done just fine. It’s not the most advanced unit in the market, but it does everything you need it to do.

Review

thanks to the fact that this dishwasher features a tall tub design, it is very spacious. This particular dishwasher from the Frigidaire brand name can hold up to 14 place settings. This makes it ideal for families between four and six people.

The lower rack confit dishes up to 10.5 inches, which is fairly large. Moreover, it also comes complete with an 8-inch upper rack that can accommodate most standard glasses and dishware. It’s not the number one largest unit on the market, although it should be large enough for fairly large families. Keep in mind that it does also come with an easy to remove silverware basket.

To ensure that your dishes are perfectly clean, this Frigidaire dishwasher features a five-level wash system. It does also feature a dual spray arm for double the cleaning power. While it doesn’t have a bladed food disposal system, it does have a trap for small items. This should help this dishwasher from becoming clogged.

What you may also like about this unit is that it is fairly quiet. It produces 60 decibels of noise while in operation. Now, it’s not the number one quietest unit on the market, but is still quiet enough to run during the night.

We do really like how the exterior of this dishwasher is made with solid stainless steel. It looks very nice and it’s also very easy to clean. Being easy to clean is of course important when you have messy children around. The stainless steel used here is also quite durable, which is another bonus.

Do keep in mind that the interior is made out of plastic. It is durable enough to last for quite some time, although obviously not quite as durable as a stainless steel interior.

You may also appreciate how this unit is Energy Star certified. Having kids is already expensive enough, so you don’t need to waste needless amounts of energy washing your dishes.

In terms of wash cycle options, this unit comes complete with three standard cycles. This includes a light wash, and normal wash, and a heavy wash.

There are also two additional options, one of which is a high heat wash. This high heat wash uses very high water temperatures to remove stuck on foods and to kill germs. There is also a high heat wash that features a no heat to dry period, which means that you can save energy by not using heat to dry your dishes.

Pros

• Spacious enough for a large family
• Durable stainless steel exterior
• Low rinse aid indicator
• Dual spray arm
• Removable silverware basket
• Five-level wash system
• Fairly quiet
• Energy efficient
• Various wash cycles to choose from
• Budget friendly

Cons

• Not as quiet as some other comparable models
• Controls are a bifold wont hard to utilize

LG Studio 24” Printproof Stainless Steel Dishwasher

If you’re looking for a super roomy and spacious dishwasher, then this might just be it. It’s definitely not the cheapest dishwasher around, although it does come with a wide variety of useful features.

Review

What is cool for busy people is that this unit is smart home enabled. This means that you can connect it to your Wi-Fi to monitor its progress. You can also use the phone application to troubleshoot any issues that you may have with it.

In terms of spaciousness, the interior can fit up to 14 place settings. Do keep in mind that this is a 24-inch dishwasher. This should be more than enough for a family of five or even six. The lower rack is more than large enough to fit even the largest of dishes.

Here you also get a middle rack that has plenty of space. However, what really stands out is the height adjustable third rack. This is a very flexible and adjustable rack that can fit a variety of cutlery and small dishes. This dishwasher is definitely ideal for organization and in terms of spaciousness.

Although quite expensive, this is an investment worth making, particularly due to the direct drive motor. This is an extremely durable and long lasting direct drive motor, that even comes with a 10-year warranty. Do keep in mind that this unit is crafted using only the most premium of materials.

This premium design can be seen by the high quality stainless steel exterior. Not only is this stainless steel very resilient towards all sorts of damage, but it also looks very nice. There is also the fact that it features a fingerprint-proof coating to ensure that it doesn’t smudge or get covered in fingerprints.

This high quality design can also be seen by the stainless steel interior which is designed for long lasting durability. What you might also appreciate is the true steam technology integrated into this unit. It features four steam jets that allow for maximum theme coverage. The result is that you get 60% less water spots on your dishes.

This particular model is also Energy Star certified to ensure that you can save as much money as humanly possible. Moreover, this is also one of the more silent dishwashers out there. It produces just 40 decibels of sound. This is ideal for families because you can run the dishwasher at night without disturbing your children.

In terms of the washing options, you get an auto wash, delay start, delicate, high temperature, pots and pans, and a quick wash option as well. In terms of overall cleaning power, this unit comes with so called QuadWash technology. It has four multi motion spray arms that provide amazing coverage throughout this dishwasher.

To round things off, this unit also comes complete with an advanced three-stage filtration system. It’s very tough on food residue and dirty dishes, and you don’t even have to prewash.

Pros

• Many wash cycles
• Efficient drying
• QuadWash technology
• Smart home enabled
• Plenty of interior space
• Super design quality
• Very durable
• Print proof exterior
• 10-year warranty on the motor

Cons

• Not exactly budget friendly
• For the price, it could do with a sensor wash mode

Bosch 500 Series Stainless Steel Dishwasher

Here we have a fairly high-end dishwasher that is more than large enough for big families. It’s not the cheapest out there, although far from being extremely expensive. It does also come with all the features you need to clean dishes for your whole family.

Review

One of the things that stands out here is the precision wash feature. This unit comes complete with special sensors that see exactly how dirty your dishes are. The unit will then automatically adjust its output in terms of pressure and temperature, as well as the direction of the water, to ensure that all dishes are thoroughly cleaned.

This unit does come complete with all of the basic wash cycles that you would expect. These include an automatic wash, a quick wash, high temperature wash, and more. What is nice is that you can save money using the half load option. it features dual washing zones so you don’t have to feel bad about running the dishwasher at half full.

You might also like how this unit comes complete with a sanitize option. This super high temperature wash removes 99.99% of all bacteria. It also has the ability to remove stubborn stuck on foods. There is also a rinse and hold function, as well as a delay start function.

What you may also appreciate is that this dishwasher comes complete with a special drying system. Yes, it dries your dishes very efficiently. However, what really stands out is the fact that it is safe for soft plastics. It will dry those soft plastics without melting them.

In terms of spaciousness, this particular dishwasher has enough room for up to 16 place settings. This should be more than enough for a family of six or even seven people. This unit comes complete with a very large lower rack that features adjustable tines. These tines can be laid down to accommodate very large pots and pans.

There is also a second rack that is adjustable for height. You then also get an adjustable third rack. This third rack also features fold down sides that add up to 30% more loading area. Between these three racks, you get more than enough room to accommodate dishes for the whole family.

We do also appreciate how the exterior of this unit is made with high quality stainless steel. This stainless steel is fingerprint and smudge resistant, as well as very durable overall. On that same note, the interior is also made with high quality stainless steel. Keep in mind that this unit is also designed to be extremely quiet and it is Energy Star certified too.

Pros

• Superior durability
• Looks sleek and elegant
• Sensor washing to save water
• Energy star certified
• Designed to be very quiet
• Super high capacity with adjustable racks
• Dry function that is safe for large plastics
• Many wash cycles to choose from

Cons

• Not all that budget friendly
• Some issues with the filter becoming clogged

LG Electronics Stainless Steel Top Control Dishwasher

If you are looking for a budget friendly dishwasher that is large enough for your whole family, this might just be it. It’s not the most expensive unit out there, yet it still comes with some impressive features, nonetheless.

Review

This unit also comes complete with that same QuadWash technology that LG dishwashers are known for. It features four high powered spray arms that help to clean your dishes from multiple angles at once. This means that no angle goes uncovered. These arms spin in a circle and rotate back and forth for maximum cleaning power.

You may like how this unit is made out of very durable stainless steel. The exterior is designed to be scratch-resistant, rust-resistant, and impact-resistant. It also features a so-called print proof finish that resists smudging and fingerprints. This is something that does of course come in handy when you have a lot of messy kids around.

Speaking of the quality of stainless steel, the interior tub is also made out of stainless steel. It resists rusting really well and it’s also resistant to extremely high temperatures.

In terms of overall durability, this unit features a direct drive motor. It has fewer moving parts, it uses less energy, and it lasts a lot longer too. LG is so confident in its direct drive motor that it comes complete with a 10-year warranty.

This dishwasher comes complete with many cycles to choose from. These cycles include an auto cycle, a crystal cycle, delay start, delicate, half load, high temperature wash, and a pots and pans feature. We especially like the high temperature sanitize function, as it kills up to 99.99% of all germs. It also works really well at loosening food on even the dirtiest of dishes.

This LG dishwasher also comes complete with an extra dry function that efficiently and quickly dries all of your dishes.

The fact that this dishwasher is Energy Star certified and features a Tier One energy efficiency rating is a bonus too. It means that you use as little energy as possible, and therefore you can save money.

On that same note, this dishwasher is also extremely quiet. It produces only 48 decibels of noise, thus making one of the quietest units on the list today. This makes it ideal for families as you can run it during the nighttime without disturbing your children.

In terms of spaciousness, this is a 24-inch dishwasher. It comes complete with plenty of interior space and it can fit up to 15 place settings. What is really cool is that the bottom two racks feature adjustable tines. You can lay these down to accommodate much larger pots and dishes than most other machines.

This unit also comes complete with a height adjustable third rack. You can easily raise and lower it to accommodate a wide variety of dish sizes and types.

Pros

• Plenty of interior space
• QuadWash system
• Extra dry feature
• Many wash cycles to choose from
• High temperature and half load options
• Easy to read LED display
• Durable stainless steel build
• Exterior is print proof
• Very quiet
• Energy efficient

Cons

• May start making loud sounds with prolonged use

Buyers Guide

Before you go out and buy a dishwasher for your large family, there are a few important considerations that you should keep in mind.

1. Capacity

If you’ve got a large family, then you obviously need a dishwasher that has a large internal capacity. You should look from one that can accommodate anywhere from 14 to 18 place settings. Moreover, having a dishwasher with three racks, and adjustable racks, is important too.

2. Energy Efficiency

Raising a family is already expensive enough, so you don’t want to be wasting electricity. For this reason, you always want to look for a dishwasher that is Energy Star certified. Anything that uses over 275 kilowatt hours of electricity per year is not recommended.

3. Noise levels

Getting kids to go to sleep is already hard enough. This means that you don’t need a dishwasher that is so loud that your kids won’t ever be able to sleep. Therefore, you should look for a silent dishwasher that produces 55 decibels of sound or less.

4. The Exterior

Kids can be really messy and dirty, which means that your dishwasher needs to be easy to clean. Here, specifically, we are talking about the exterior, with stainless steel being the best choice. Moreover, you do also want to look for some kind of smudge-resistant or print-proof coating. You don’t want little fingerprints all over your washing machine that you have to clean off on a daily basis.

5. Wash Cycles

The other thing that you want to look for here is that your dishwasher has a number of useful wash cycles. This can include but is not limited to an automatic cycle, a sensor wash cycle, a sanitized cycle, high temperature cycle, a rinse and hold cycle, a delicate cycle, and a crystal cycle. Being able to choose the proper cycle for the job at hand is always important.

FAQ

1. How large of a dishwasher do I need for a family of four?

Generally speaking, your regular 24-inch dishwasher should be large enough for a family of up to six people.

2. How many place settings should a dishwasher for a large family be able to hold?

At the very least, your dishwasher for a large family should be able to hold 12 place settings. However, as you can see from our reviews, most units can hold either 15 or 16 place settings.

3. Do they make larger dishwashers?

If you have a very large family, you may consider investing in an extra-large 30-inch wide model. These can hold 20 or more place settings and are ideal for very large families.

Conclusion

If you are looking for the best dishwasher for a large family, it’s the GE 24’ Stainless Steel Tall Tub Dishwasher we recommend. That said, all five of the dishwashers reviewed today are more than large enough for big families.