400mm vs 500mm vs 600mm Commercial Dishwashers: Which Size Is Right for Your Kitchen?

If you’re running a commercial kitchen in the UK - whether it’s a pub, restaurant, hotel, café or care-home facility - choosing the right width or basket size for your dishwasher is a decision that affects throughput, space, utility cost, and hygiene. At Dishwashers Direct, we’re specialists in supplying, installing and servicing commercial dishwashing equipment for busy kitchens. Our extensive range and experience mean we’re well-placed to help you select the ideal machine for your site.

Here’s a breakdown of the key sizes, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, and how to decide which best fits your operation.

Types of Commercial Dishwashers

Undercounter Dishwashers: Are compact and would fit well into small to medium-sized establishments such as cafés, village pubs, and small restaurants. Undercounter dishwashers can typically wash up to 500 plates per hour.

Pass-Through Dishwashers: Are large commercial units similar to undercounter dishwashers. However, the shape is designed so that plates can be pre-rinsed and loaded onto dishwashing racks during washes, speeding up the process. Pass-Through dishwashers can typically wash between 600 and 1200 plates per hour.

Conveyor / Rack Dishwashers: Offer the most automated, high-volume cleaning. This type of machine is perfect for busy schools or staff canteens. With these machines, crockery and glassware are channelled through a large chamber. Conveyor / Rack Dishwashers can typically wash between 1700 and 2300 plates per hour.  

Typical Sizes of Commercial Dishwashers

Glasswashers:
•    350mm basket – up to 16 glasses
•    400mm basket – up to 20 glasses
•    450mm basket – up to 25 glasses
•    500mm basket – up to 30 glasses

Small Dishwashers:
•    400mm basket – up to 500 plates per hour

Large Dishwashers:
•    500mm basket – up to 800 plates per hour

Pass-Through Dishwashers:
•    500mm basket – up to 1200 plates per hour
•    500mm x 600mm basket – up to 1440 plates per hour

Summary Comparison

Commercial Dishwasher Comparison Guide

400mm Commercial Dishwashers

•    Basket Size: 400mm x 400mm
•    Best For: Small kitchens, cafés, small bars, and bistros with limited space and lower volume dishwashing needs. 
•    Typical Use Cases: Ideal for washing smaller items, such as snack plates, side plates, saucers, cups, and cutlery. They can also be used for glassware.
•    Limitations: The entry height may restrict washing larger crockery, pots, or pans.
•    Key Feature: Often designed as compact, undercounter units that can run off a standard 13-amp plug for easy installation.

500mm Commercial Dishwashers

•    Basket Size: 500mm x 500mm
•    Best For: Standard restaurants, pubs, and busy cafés with medium to high volume dishwashing needs.
•    Typical Use Cases: Can accommodate full-size dinner plates, bulkier items, and larger quantities of glassware. They’re suitable for both undercounter and pass-through installations. 
•    Advantages: Offers greater capacity and versatility than 400mm models, enhancing productivity in high-volume operations. 
•    Power Requirements: May require a 3-phase power supply for higher performance, though some models are configurable for single-phase.

600mm Commercial Dishwashers

•    Basket Size: Whilst 600mm can refer to the external width of a full-size domestic dishwasher, in a commercial context, machines of the capacity usually use 500mm x 600mm or larger custom baskets and are typically part of a pass-through or conveyor system.
•    Best For: Large-scale operations such as hotels, canteens, busy schools, or large restaurants where very high volumes of dishes need to be cleaned quickly and continuously.
•    Typical Use Cases: Designed for high-volume, automated cleaning of large quantities of mixed crockery, trays, and potentially pots and pans.
•    Advantages: Maximises throughput and efficiency with continuous or high-speed cycles, often integrated into a dedicated dishwashing area or production line. 

Which One Is Right For Your Business?

1.   Measure Your Space:

Accurately measure the available height, width, and depth of the installation area, allowing extra room for plumbing.

2.    Assess Your Volume:

Consider your peak operating times and the number of plates/baskets per hour you need to wash to avoid bottlenecks.

3.    Consider Item Size:

Ensure the dishwasher’s entry height and basket size can accommodate your largest plates, trays, or pots.

4.    Check Power Supply:

Verify your kitchen’s electrical capacity (single-phase vs three-phase) to match the machine’s requirements. 

You Might Find Useful:

•    Our guide on Choosing The Best Commercial Dishwasher For Your Restaurant
•    Our guide on How Commercial Catering Equipment Can Improve Your Kitchen Workflow
•    Our guide on Commonly Asked Commercial Dishwasher Questions

Selecting the right basket width/size for your commercial dishwasher is not simply about “bigger is better”, it’s about matching the machine to your workflow, space, budget and future-proofing needs. Get the right size, and your kitchen runs more smoothly; if you’re too small, it can’t keep up, and you’ll find dishes backed up, staff waiting, and inefficiencies creeping in.

At Dishwashers Direct, our team is ready to help you assess your operation and recommend the ideal machine size, from 400mm basket units to high-capacity 600mm+ equivalents. Contact us for a site survey or quote, and ensure your kitchen is equipped for reliable, efficient dishwashing every service.