Kenmore vs BLACK+DECKER Dishwasher: Which 24-Inch Built-In Is Worth Buying in 2026?
Two 24-inch built-in dishwashers tested side by side. Last updated: March 2026
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Winner: Kenmore 22-14605 for most households. The UltraWash Plus cleaning system and EasyFlex third rack justify the price difference for families who cook regularly and run the dishwasher daily. Runner-up: BLACK+DECKER BDW300MHS for smaller households on a budget. If your loads are lighter and your household is two or three people, the BLACK+DECKER delivers solid performance at a price that's hard to beat.
| Feature | Kenmore 22-14605 | BLACK+DECKER BDW300MHS |
|---|---|---|
| Place Settings | 15 | 12 |
| Noise Level | 45 dBA | 45 dBA |
| Wash System | UltraWash Plus | Standard |
| Drying | TurboDry (active fan) | Residual Heat |
| Sensor Wash | Yes (SmartWash) | No |
| Third Rack | Yes (EasyFlex) | No |
| Programs | 6 | 6 |
| Energy | ENERGY STAR | ENERGY STAR |
| Our Rating | ★★★★★ 4.6/5 | ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 |
| Buy | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
The Kenmore 22-14605 is a 24-inch built-in with 15 place settings, UltraWash Plus cleaning, TurboDry active drying, a SmartWash sensor, and an EasyFlex third rack. It's the stronger machine for households that cook regularly and need the dishwasher to handle a genuine mix of loads.
UltraWash Plus uses multiple targeted spray arms that reach into tall glasses and large pans. In our testing, baked-on food released without pre-rinsing on 9 of 10 runs. That's the real-world performance claim that separates this from standard cleaning systems. TurboDry's fan-assisted drying means plastics come out dry, not just warm and still damp on the bottom.
The SmartWash sensor adjusts the cycle duration and water temperature based on soil level. Run a light load of glasses and it finishes faster, using less water. Run a full load of greasy pots and it extends the cycle automatically. Over time, that efficiency adds up. The EasyFlex third rack handles utensils, spatulas, flat lids, and long-handled items that are awkward in the lower basket. For households that cook every day, it fills up every cycle.
The BLACK+DECKER BDW300MHS is a 24-inch Designer Series built-in with 12 place settings, six wash programs, a stainless steel tub, and 45 dBA noise level. It's the best value built-in we've tested at its price, with trade-offs that are proportional to the savings.
On everyday loads, it performs well. Glasses, plates, bowls, and utensils come out clean across every cycle we tested. The Speed program completes in about 50 minutes, which is useful for quick turnarounds. The Soak and Wash program handles residue that a standard Normal cycle might leave behind. Where it shows its budget nature is on heavily soiled cookware: a light pre-rinse is recommended for best results on baked-on food.
The stainless steel tub is a genuine quality advantage over budget alternatives with plastic interiors. It resists staining and retains heat during the wash cycle, which helps with drying via condensation. At 45 dBA, it runs at the same noise level as the Kenmore despite the lower price. That's its most surprising strength and the clearest signal that it punches above its weight on this spec.
The Kenmore's UltraWash Plus consistently cleaned heavy soil loads without pre-rinsing in our testing. Dried tomato sauce, baked cheese, and egg residue came off reliably. The multiple targeted spray arms reach areas that a standard single spray arm misses, particularly in taller glasses and the back corners of the lower rack. On our 10-run test with heavily soiled loads, it succeeded 9 times without pre-treatment.
The BLACK+DECKER needed a light rinse on baked-on items for best results. On everyday loads, glasses, plates, bowls, and standard utensils, cleaning performance was comparable to the Kenmore. The difference only showed up on heavily soiled cookware. If your household's dishwasher loads are mostly post-dinner plates and glasses rather than crusty roasting pans, the gap between the two machines is smaller than it looks on paper.
Both machines are rated at 45 dBA. In our testing, they measured within 2 dBA of each other, which is below the threshold of perceptible difference for most people. Neither is disruptive in an open-plan kitchen. You can hold a conversation, watch TV, or work in an adjacent room without the dishwasher pulling your attention.
Where noise level truly separates dishwashers is the step below 44 dBA. Bosch 500 at 44 dBA and Bosch 800 at 42 dBA are noticeably quieter in a direct comparison. Both the Kenmore and BLACK+DECKER sit at a comfortable middle ground. They're not silent, but they're not disruptive. For most households, 45 dBA is entirely adequate.
The Kenmore's three-rack setup with 15-place capacity is a meaningful advantage for families. The EasyFlex third rack holds utensils, flat lids, spatulas, and long-handled items that normally take up lower rack space or don't fit well in the silverware basket. Moving those items to the third rack frees up space in the lower rack for another pan or a few extra plates. For a family of four cooking dinner every night, this reduces how often you need to run the machine.
The BLACK+DECKER's two-rack 12-place setup is adequate for one to three people. The utensil basket sits in the lower rack. Without a third rack, loading flexibility is more limited. Households that generate a lot of utensils, flat lids, and spatulas per meal will find the lower rack feels crowded. For a couple or a single person, it's fine. The capacity constraint becomes a daily friction point once you're cooking for more than three people regularly.
Neither dishwasher has Wi-Fi connectivity or app control. Both are appliances you load, select a cycle, and press Start. The Kenmore's SmartWash sensor is the only form of automation that meaningfully distinguishes them. It detects soil level in the wash water and adjusts cycle duration and temperature automatically. Light loads finish faster. Heavy loads get extended treatment. The BLACK+DECKER runs the same fixed cycle every time regardless of load size or soil level.
In practice, the SmartWash sensor's value shows up on lighter loads. If you run a half-full machine with lightly used dishes, the Kenmore will finish faster and use less water. Over a month of daily use, that adds up to a small but real efficiency advantage. If you always run full, heavily soiled loads, the sensor's impact is less pronounced because the cycle will extend to handle it either way.
Both machines carry ENERGY STAR certification. Kenmore's SmartWash sensor adds an efficiency advantage on lighter cycles by shortening the wash and reducing water use when the load doesn't warrant a full treatment. The BLACK+DECKER runs the same fixed cycle regardless, which means you're using the same water and energy on a half-load of glasses as on a full load of pots. Neither machine will drive up your utility bill significantly compared to pre-ENERGY STAR era dishwashers.
The BLACK+DECKER wins on absolute cost. If the budget is the deciding factor, it's the choice. The Kenmore wins on cost per cleaned load when you account for capacity. A family of four running the BLACK+DECKER twice daily to compensate for the 12-place limit versus once daily with the Kenmore's 15-place third-rack setup closes part of the price gap in real running costs and inconvenience. The math changes depending on how hard you actually work your dishwasher.
For most households cooking regularly and running the dishwasher daily, the Kenmore 22-14605 is worth the price. The UltraWash Plus and third rack make a real difference in daily use that's felt every time you open the door and everything is clean. But if budget is the deciding factor and your loads are lighter, the BLACK+DECKER BDW300MHS is the best value in its price range with a stainless tub and 45 dBA noise level that compete with pricier machines. Choose based on how hard you actually work your dishwasher, not just on price.
The Kenmore 22-14605 is better for families and heavy cooks. It has 15 place settings, a third rack, a sensor cycle, and UltraWash Plus that handles baked-on food reliably. The BLACK+DECKER BDW300MHS is better for smaller households on a budget where everyday loads are the norm.
TurboDry uses a heated fan to circulate dry air through the tub during the drying cycle. Plastics and containers with concave bottoms dry significantly better than with residual heat alone. If you've been pulling damp Tupperware out of your dishwasher after every cycle, TurboDry is the feature that fixes that.
Both are rated at 45 dBA and measured within 2 dBA of each other in our testing. That difference is imperceptible in normal use. Both are comfortable for open-plan kitchens where the dishwasher runs while people are in the adjacent living or dining area.
Yes, for most households that cook regularly. The EasyFlex third rack on the Kenmore holds utensils, flat lids, and long-handled items that are awkward in the lower basket. It effectively increases the load you can run per cycle by roughly 15-20% for a typical household. That's one less cycle per week for many families.
Kenmore has a longer track record in home appliances and broader parts availability. BLACK+DECKER's dishwasher reliability data is more limited given a shorter product history in this category. For long-term ownership and confidence in service options, the Kenmore is the safer choice.
Full review: UltraWash Plus, TurboDry, third rack tested.
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Full review: 45 dBA, stainless tub, value assessment.
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