Also known as under bench dishwashers, these are designed to fit beneath kitchen cabinetry and align with your benchtop. They often have exposed sides (for ventilation) and no sleek top panel and are usually secured to the underside of the benchtop and adjacent cabinetry.

Built-under dishwashers fit snugly under the benchtop because they don’t need the ventilation gaps that freestanding models do. However, the more precise size, space and benchtop material considerations can make for a more complex, and costly, installation. They usually cost more than freestanding models but do give kitchens a more sleek, streamlined appearance.

Built-under dishwashers, also known as under bench dishwashers, are connected to the underside of the kitchen benchtop and adjacent kitchen cabinets
Built-under dishwashers are usually fixed in place with brackets and side trim strips. When the dishwasher drawer is closed, these are concealed.

To check if yours is a built-under model, open the dishwasher door and look to see if any brackets are joining the top of the dishwasher to the underside of the benchtop above it, or if side trim strips are connecting it to the adjacent cabinets: if so, or if it doesn’t budge when you try to push it, it’s probably a built-under