ADA Dishwasher Dimensions: Which Class Fits
An ADA dishwasher is 32 to 32.5 inches tall so it tucks under a lowered accessible counter, in a nominal 18 or 24-inch width. The measurement that decides it is your rough opening height from the finished floor: under 32 inches, none of the three classes here fits.
How big is an ADA dishwasher?#
An ADA dishwasher stands 32 to 32.5 inches tall — lower than a standard machine — so it clears the underside of a lowered accessible counter, and it comes in a nominal 18 or 24-inch width at about 24 inches deep. Height is the whole point of the class, which makes the rough opening from the finished floor the one measurement worth taking twice. The table below reads that height, and your cabinet gap, back as a class.
ADA dishwasher dimensions by configuration#
| Configuration | Width (in) | Height (in) | Depth (in) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADA-compliant built-in dishwasher | 24 | 32–32.5 | 24 | a lower ADA counter height |
| ADA 18-inch dishwasher | 18 | 32–32.5 | 22–24 | a narrow ADA kitchen |
| Short tall-tub dishwasher | 24 | 32.25–33.5 | 24 | a slightly lower opening than a standard tub |
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The opening under your counter, read back as a class#
Measure floor to the underside of the counter, and the gap between the base cabinets. Both have to agree before a machine goes in.
| What you measured | Class it takes | What still has to check out |
|---|---|---|
| Rough opening height under 32 in | None of the three | Every class on this page is at least 32 in tall — it is the counter or the floor that has to change, not the machine |
| Rough opening height 32–32.5 in | ADA-compliant built-in (24 in wide) or ADA 18-inch | A short tall-tub reaches 33.5 in and will not clear this opening; match the nominal width to your 18–24 in cabinet gap |
| Rough opening height 32.25–33.5 in | Any of the three, short tall-tub included | The short tall-tub buys interior height inside the same footprint — worth it where the counter is only slightly lowered |
| A cabinet gap of 18 in | ADA 18-inch only (22–24 in deep) | Both 24-inch classes are exactly 24 in wide; an 18 in gap takes the narrow machine or nothing |
| Less than 25 in of clear floor in front | The machine fits; the approach does not | The door projects 24 to 25 in when open, and an accessible kitchen needs that approach clear for a seated user |
Three classes are counted above, and the heights are what makes them a class at all: an ADA machine is defined by fitting under a lowered counter, not by any interior feature. The rough-opening figures come from manufacturer installation sheets and the accessible counter-height convention rather than from the machines themselves.
Installation clearances for an ADA dishwasher#
- Rough opening height: 32–32.5 in in from floor to the counter underside an ADA dishwasher needs, lower than a standard counter opening.
- Rough opening width: 18–24 in in of cabinet gap an ADA dishwasher slots into, matched to the nominal width.
- Door open projection: 24–25 in in an ADA dishwasher door swings out to when open.
- Supply and drain: An ADA dishwasher still needs a water supply, a drain hose, and a dedicated outlet in the sink cabinet.
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Will your ADA dishwasher fit? Clearances and door swing#
The defining constraint of an ADA dishwasher is height, not width: the case has to slip into a rough opening just 32 to 32.5 inches from the floor to the counter underside, lower than the 34 to 35 inches a standard dishwasher expects. Match the width to your cabinet gap — 18 inches for the narrow model, 24 inches for the full-size — and confirm the opening is square top to bottom. When the door drops open it projects 24 to 25 inches into the room, so keep that aisle clear of an island or opposite cabinet. Behind the tub you still need a water supply, a drain hose looped up under the sink, and a dedicated outlet in the adjacent sink cabinet.
ADA dishwasher sizes by type: ada-compliant built-in dishwasher, ada 18-inch dishwasher, short tall-tub dishwasher#
The three accessible options trade capacity for opening size. The ADA-compliant built-in dishwasher is the workhorse at 24 inches wide and 32 to 32.5 inches tall, giving a full rack count under a lowered counter. The ADA 18-inch dishwasher narrows to 18 inches for a galley or accessible kitchenette, keeping the same short 32 to 32.5 inch height while sacrificing a rack. The short tall-tub dishwasher splits the difference at 24 inches wide and 32.25 to 33.5 inches tall — a taller interior than a strict ADA tub but still lower than a standard opening. Start from your counter height, then pick the width your run allows.
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ADA dishwasher dimensions: common questions#
What is the height of an ADA-compliant dishwasher?#
An ADA-compliant dishwasher is 32 to 32.5 inches tall, roughly two inches shorter than a standard dishwasher. That reduced height is what lets it fit beneath a lowered accessible countertop.
How is an ADA dishwasher different from a standard one?#
The key difference is height: an ADA dishwasher measures 32 to 32.5 inches tall versus 34 to 35 for a standard model. Width and hookups are the same, so the shorter tub is the only fit change.
What rough opening does an ADA dishwasher need?#
An ADA dishwasher needs a rough opening 18 to 24 inches wide, matched to its nominal size, and only 32 to 32.5 inches tall. Confirm the counter underside is at that lower height before ordering.
Does an ADA dishwasher come in 18 inches?#
Yes. The ADA 18-inch dishwasher pairs the narrow 18-inch width with the compliant 32 to 32.5 inch height, ideal for a galley or accessible kitchenette that cannot spare a full 24 inches.
How deep is an ADA dishwasher?#
An ADA dishwasher is about 24 inches deep, the same as a standard built-in, so it sits flush in a 24-inch cabinet. The door adds 24 to 25 inches of projection when open.
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