SPT SD-2224DS ENERGY STAR Compact Countertop Dishwasher with Delay Start, Stainless Review (2026)

Who this countertop dishwasher fits

The SD-2224DS is built for a kitchen with a single free faucet and enough counter or cart space for a machine that is over 21 inches wide and needs roughly 32 inches of clearance when the door swings open. That makes it a better match for a small house or apartment with a normal sink than for a dorm room or RV, where a built-in water tank model is easier to place. Anyone who already runs a faucet-adapter portable dishwasher and wants to replace it with an Energy Star rated unit from an established brand will find this a straightforward upgrade. It is less suited to renters who cannot swap a faucet aerator, since the quick connect adapter needs that access, or to anyone who wants to run wash cycles without being near a sink at all.

Capacity, cycles and power use in plain terms

Sunpentown, the brand behind SPT, lists the unit at 21.65 inches wide, 19.69 inches deep and 17.24 inches tall, weighing about 43 pounds, with room inside for six standard place settings and dishware up to 10.25 inches across. Seven wash programs cover heavy, normal, light, mini party, rinse, speed and soak, so both a full dinner load and a quick glass rinse have a matching cycle. Energy Star certification pairs with the manufacturer's stated 684 watt draw and about 10.8 liters of water on a normal cycle, and the machine runs at 55 decibels, close to steady rainfall. Delay start can be set for 2, 4, 6 or 8 hours, letting you load it in the morning and have clean dishes ready after work or run it overnight.

Setup, daily use and upkeep

Installation is the quick connect faucet adapter rather than a plumbing job: you thread the supplied hose onto a compatible faucet, plug the unit into a standard outlet, and the 4.9 foot power cord and 5 foot drain tube give a bit of reach from the sink. The electronic control panel with an LED display shows remaining time and cycle status, and the automatic detergent and rinse aid dispensers mean you are not measuring either by hand once they are filled. Because the machine draws directly from the faucet during operation, you cannot use that sink for anything else mid cycle, which is worth planning around in a one sink kitchen. Residual heat drying finishes the load without a dedicated heating element, so dishes come out warm rather than bone dry immediately.

Where it falls short of newer rivals

Countertop dishwashers with a built-in water tank, such as the COMFEE models that outrank this one in our comparison, let you wash dishes with zero connection to a faucet at all, which is the main reason SPT lands mid pack here. The SD-2224DS also uses an older control layout with fewer smart features than newer entrants, and its stainless finish is really just a stainless-look front rather than a full stainless cabinet. Compared with NOVETE's tank based portable dishwasher, which ranks just behind it in this guide, the SPT trades tank flexibility for a simpler, tested faucet connection and a longer manufacturing track record from Sunpentown. If having zero hookup at all matters more than proven reliability, a tank model will suit you better.

Verdict and who should look elsewhere

Pick the SPT SD-2224DS if you have steady faucet access, want six place settings and seven cycles from a brand that has made countertop dishwashers for years, and value delay start for off-peak or overnight runs. Skip it if your kitchen sink is shared constantly through the day, if you need a unit that works with zero water hookup, or if you want the newest touchscreen controls and UV or extra sanitizing features that some 2020s tank models now include. For dorms, RVs or kitchens without reliable faucet access, a built-in tank countertop dishwasher is the more practical choice, even at a similar size.

Frequently asked questions