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ADA dishwasher guide · 16 labelled records · 2010 ADA Standards

ADA dishwashers, measured against a 34-inch counter.

An ADA dishwasher is one built to sit under an accessible counter, which the ADA Standards cap at 34 inches. With a 1 1/2-inch countertop, that leaves 32 1/2 inches for the machine; measure your own top. The label does not certify anything, and plenty of unlabelled models need less room. Below: what the standard asks, every ADA-labelled record we hold, and the ones that fit the same space without the label.

What the ADA Standards ask of a dishwasher

• Counter height. Where a dwelling unit must comply, at least one 30-inch section of counter is a kitchen work surface 34 inches maximum above the finished floor, or adjustable between 29 and 36 inches (804.3 and 804.3.2). Under an accessible-height counter, that height minus your countertop is the opening the dishwasher has to fit. That height, minus your countertop, is the opening the dishwasher has to fit.
• Controls. Appliance controls must meet the operable-parts rules: within the reach ranges, usable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching or twisting, and with no more than 5 pounds of force (804.6.2 and 309). Appliance doors and latches are exempt from the force rule, and a bottom-hinged door in the open position from the reach rule.
• Floor space at the door. A clear floor space sits beside the dishwasher door, and the open door must not block the clear floor space for the dishwasher or for the sink (804.6.3).

ADA-labelled dishwashers in our catalog

16 records carry an ADA label: 2 by installation document, 2 by retailer listing, 2 by manufacturer page, 10 by model number. The “ADA label from” column links the evidence. Ordered by brand and model.

Low enough without the label

11 records with no ADA label need 32 1/2 in of height or less. If your counter is accessible-height, they belong on the list too.

Questions about ADA dishwashers

What makes a dishwasher ADA compliant?

The ADA does not certify appliances; its 2010 Standards for Accessible Design govern the installed kitchen. For a dishwasher they require a kitchen work surface no higher than 34 inches (804.3.2), controls that meet the reach and one-handed operation rules (804.6.2 and 309), and a clear floor space beside the dishwasher door that the open door does not block, nor the sink's (804.6.3). An "ADA" label means the maker designed for that installation; whether a kitchen complies depends on how it is built and installed.

How tall is an ADA dishwasher?

It has to fit under a counter no higher than 34 inches. With an example 1 1/2-inch countertop that leaves 32 1/2 in; measure your own top. Of our 16 ADA-labelled records, the documented minimum opening height runs 32 3/8 to 32 11/16 in, and 7 have no verified opening height yet.

Do I need an ADA-labelled dishwasher for a low counter?

No. The opening decides fit, not the label. 11 records without an ADA label need 32 1/2 in of height or less; the lowest documented minimum in the catalog is 32 1/8 in. Width, depth and the maximum height still have to match.

Will an ADA dishwasher fit an opening under 32 inches?

Not one we have verified. The lowest documented minimum opening height for a full-height built-in in our catalog is 32 1/8 in. Under that, look at the exact model's maximum height and leveling range with an installer, or at a single drawer, which is a different installation.

Are there 18-inch ADA dishwashers?

Yes. 7 of our ADA-labelled records are in the 18-inch category; their documented minimum opening width runs 17.7 to 18 in. An 18-inch machine in a 24-inch opening is a cabinet conversion, not a direct replacement.

Openings under 32 inches · Every model’s dimensions · 18-inch dishwashers · How to measure. This guide explains published requirements; it is not legal advice or an accessibility inspection. Standards quoted from the U.S. Department of Justice 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.