18 inch vs 24 inch Dishwashers

[WalnutCrunch]

I am renovating a small kitchen. We don't use the dishwasher a lot, and I am wondering if we can get away with having just an 18-inch model. Just wonder if anyone has had experience with the smaller dishwashers. So far I've figured for an 18 inch vs a 24...

Pros:
- saves precious space in small kitchen

Cons:
- less capacity, does not fit bigger pots and pans
- more difficult to find, fewer models to choose from
- lowers resale value of the house???

[frankeng2003]

18" wide dishwashers were meant for retrofitting into a cabinet. I'm sure replacement parts are more expensive than their 24" a counterpart. If you are putting in new cabinets, i'd go with the 24".

[lapse]

When I bought my house, it came with a 12" (YES that small) wide dishwasher. It was about 20 years old. I had to run it almost every day otherwise it would get too full.

Recently replaced with a 24" (and a new kitchen) and I couldn't be happier. It runs once every three or four days.

[JAC]

Space can always be created by adding more cabinets, but I have to think that an 18" may not be as attractive to future buyers.

[1yellowdog]

An 18" is better than nothing but I would really try to steal some space and go for a 24".