An extra top rack adds significant loading space for utensils and smaller dishware items. It’s a total game-changer for how you load your machine. If you’ve ever felt like your standard two racks just aren’t enough, a dishwasher with 3rd rack is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. It frees up so much room down below.
Suddenly, you have a dedicated spot for all those spatulas, whisks, and baby bottle parts. No more awkwardly trying to balance them in the cutlery basket. This simple addition can seriously streamline your whole kitchen routine, making clean-up feel less cramped and more efficient. It’s one of those features you won’t realize you needed until you have it.
Product Comparison Table: 10 Best Dishwasher With 3rd Rack
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
 |
Midea 18 Inch Built-in Dishwasher, Slim Space-Saving Design with…
|
9.9 |
Read Review |
 |
Kenmore 24″ Premium Hybrid Tub Dishwasher – UltraWash, MoreSpace…
|
9.7 |
Read Review |
 |
Kenmore 24″ Premium Hybrid Tub Dishwasher – UltraWash, MoreSpace…
|
9.5 |
Read Review |
 |
Whirlpool WDP540HAMZ 24 Inch Fully Integrated Dishwasher with 12…
|
9.3 |
Read Review |
 |
Sharp SDW6506JS 24-inch Stainless Steel Dishwasher, 49 dB, Third…
|
9.1 |
Read Review |
 |
Sharp SDW6736MS 24-inch Stainless Steel Dishwasher, Third Rack, Library…
|
9.0 |
Read Review |
 |
GE Appliances GDP670SYVFS Built-In Dishwasher, Stainless Steel, Quiet 45…
|
8.8 |
Read Review |
 |
GE GDT650SYVFS 24 in. Top Control Built-in Tall Tub…
|
8.6 |
Read Review |
 |
LG 24″ QuadWash™ Front Control Built‑in Dishwasher LDFN4542S –…
|
8.4 |
Read Review |
 |
Kenmore 22-14589 24″ Built-In Dishwasher – UltraWash, SmartWash, Sanitize…
|
8.2 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 10 Dishwasher With 3rd Rack
Midea 18 Inch Built-in Dishwasher, Slim Space-Saving Design with Stainless Steel Tub, 8 Place Settings & 6 Wash Cycles, Energy Star Certified Dishwasher with Heated Dry & High-Temp Wash, Black
The Midea 18 Inch Built-in Dishwasher is designed for smaller kitchens or households that need full cleaning power without taking up a full-sized space. Its slim profile fits where a standard 24-inch model won’t, making it a smart solution for apartments, condos, or cozy kitchens. Don’t let the size fool you though, it’s packed with features that handle a full day’s worth of dishes. First, the space-saving design is it’s biggest advantage.
The unit is just 17.6 inches wide, but Midea engineered it to hold up to 8 full place settings. The interior is surprisingly flexible, with adjustable racks that can fit taller items like pots, pans, and even plates up to 11 inches high. The stainless steel tub isn’t just durable; it resists stains and odors better than plastic and helps with drying. You get a lot of capacity without sacrificing your precious floor space.
You have six main wash cycles to choose from: Heavy, Normal, ECO, Delicate, Quick, and Rinse. This covers everything from a lightly soiled lunch set to a pot with baked-on food. For tougher jobs, the High-Temp wash function raises the water temperature to a maximum of 136°F. This helps dissolve grease and grime effectively, and it’s a great option for sanitizing baby bottles or plastic items that need a thorough clean.
Kenmore 24" Premium Hybrid Tub Dishwasher – UltraWash, MoreSpace Adjustable Rack, High Temp & SmartWash – 12 Place Settings – 54 DBA – ENERGY STAR Certified – Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel
The Kenmore 24″ Premium Hybrid Tub Dishwasher is designed to handle your daily messes with serious cleaning power and thoughtful flexibility. Its UltraWash system uses two pressurized spray arms to blast away stuck-on food, so you can skip the pre-scrubbing. The cleaning water is continuously filtered by a 3-stage UltraWash Filter that captures particles as small as a grain of fine sand, ensuring dishes are washed with clean water every cycle.
The filter itself is easy to remove for a quick monthly rinse, helping maintain performance.
You won’t need to guess which cycle to choose either. The SmartWash sensor technology automatically detects how dirty your load is and adjusts the water temperature, pressure, and cycle time accordingly. It tailors the wash for you, from lightly soiled glasses to pots with baked-on residue, aiming for a thorough clean every single time.
This takes the guesswork out of loading and helps save water and energy.
Inside, you’ll find a spacious interior that can hold up to 12 standard place settings. The real star is the MoreSpace Adjustable Upper Rack. This rack offers two height levels and can be lifted, lowered, or even removed completely. This flexibility makes it simple to accommodate tall glasses, large serving platters, or awkwardly shaped baking dishes.
Kenmore 24" Premium Hybrid Tub Dishwasher – UltraWash, MoreSpace Adjustable Rack, High Temp & SmartWash – 12 Place Settings – 54 DBA – ENERGY STAR Certified – Black
The Kenmore 24″ Premium Hybrid Tub Dishwasher is designed to handle the daily mess so you can get back to your day. It combines powerful cleaning technology with thoughtful design, making it a practical and reliable addition to your kitchen. At its core is the UltraWash system. It uses two pressurized spray arms to blast away stuck-on food, aiming to eliminate the need for pre-soaking or scrubbing. The cleaning process relies on filtered water, thanks to a 3-stage UltraWash Filter.
This filter traps particles as small as a grain of fine sand and drains them away, helping to ensure dishes come out clean. The filter itself is easy to remove for a simple monthly rinse, which helps maintain performance. Working with UltraWash is the SmartWash sensor technology. It automatically detects how dirty your load is and adjusts the water temperature, pressure, and cycle time accordingly.
This means it aims to use just the right amount of energy and water for each wash, from lightly soiled glasses to pots with baked-on residue. Inside, you’ll find a spacious interior rated for 12 standard place settings. The flexibility comes from the MoreSpace Adjustable Upper Rack. This rack can be lifted or lowered to two different height levels, and it can even be removed entirely.
Whirlpool WDP540HAMZ 24 Inch Fully Integrated Dishwasher with 12 Place Settings, 55 dBA, 5 Wash Cycles
The Whirlpool WDP540HAMZ 24 Inch Fully Integrated Dishwasher is designed to handle your daily loads quietly and effectively, fitting seemlessly into your kitchen cabinetry. With a capacity for 12 place settings, it’s built for households that need reliable cleaning without the constant noise. Let’s start with cleaning power. The Boost Cycle is a standout for tough messes. It tackles dried-on food without needing you to pre-rinse, using extra water, heat, and time compared to the Normal cycle.
It actually runs faster than a Heavy cycle, giving you that added cleaning power when you need it most. This is supported by the Triple Filtration Wash System. This three-stage system uses coarse, fine, and micro-fine filters to trap food particles of all sizes during the wash, helping to prevent them from redepositing back onto your clean dishes for better results. Operation is notably quiet at around 55 dBA.
This sound level means you can run the dishwasher during a meal or while watching TV without significant disruption, and it’s quiet enough for overnight runs too. You have five main wash cycles to choose from: Boost, Extended Soak, Heavy, Normal, and Quick Wash. To further customize, options include a High Temperature Wash for a cleaning boost, Heated Dry and Extended Dry for better drying performance, and a Sani Rinse that heats the final rinse to sanitize.
Sharp SDW6506JS 24-inch Stainless Steel Dishwasher, 49 dB, Third Rack, 12 Place Settings, Front Touch Controls
The Sharp SDW6506JS 24-inch Stainless Steel Dishwasher is designed to handle your daily load while fitting seamlessly into your kitchen routine. Its standout feature is its remarkably quiet operation. At just 49 dB, it runs at a library-quiet level, meaning you can run it during a conversation or while watching TV without it becoming a disruptive background noise.
This peace and quiet is a significant upgrade for open-plan living spaces.
Inside, you’ll find a versatile and spacious layout. It offers three full racks, including a handy third rack at the top specifically designed for silverware, utensils, and smaller items. This frees up considerable space in the lower baskets, allowing you to fit up to 12 standard place settings comfortably.
The flexibility continues with the adjustable upper rack, which you can move up or down by two inches to create room for taller glasses or pots below. For those days when you don’t have a full load, the half-load function is a smart feature that saves both water and energy by focusing the wash on a specific section.
Cleaning performance is robust thanks to its efficient design.
Sharp SDW6736MS 24-inch Stainless Steel Dishwasher, Third Rack, Library Quiet 47 dB, Power Wash Sprayer
The Sharp SDW6736MS 24-inch Stainless Steel Dishwasher is designed to handle your daily dish load with thoughtful features that prioritize flexibility, quiet, and cleaning power. Its standout element is the adjustable third rack. This isn’t just an extra shelf; it slides side-to-side, letting you customize the space to fit long utensils, spatulas, or plenty of flatware, freeing up the main racks for plates and bowls. It’s a simple feature that makes a real difference in how you load everything.
Cleaning performance is boosted by the dedicated Power Wash Sprayer. This third spray arm targets the lower rack, focusing intense water pressure on those tough, baked-on messes you find on pots, pans, and casserole dishes. For days when you don’t have a full load, the Wash Zones feature is a smart helper. You can choose to wash just the upper or lower rack, which saves a significant amount of water and energy compared to running a full cycle.
It’s an efficient choice for smaller households or after a light meal. One of the most appreciated aspects will be its quiet operation. At just 47 decibels, Sharp’s Library Quiet technology means the dishwasher hums along at a whisper. You can easily have a conversation, watch TV, or wind down in the evening without being disturbed by the cleaning cycle. This makes it ideal for open floor plans where the kitchen flows into living spaces.
GE Appliances GDP670SYVFS Built-In Dishwasher, Stainless Steel, Quiet 45 dBATop Control, 3rd Rack
The GE Appliances GDP670SYVFS Built-In Dishwasher in Stainless Steel is designed to handle your daily load while blending seamlessly into your kitchen’s workflow. Its a top control model, giving you a sleek, handle-free look that integrates cleanly with your cabinetry. The stainless steel finish isn’t just for aesthetics; it’s also durable and resists fingerprints, helping it look great for years to come.
One of the first things you’ll notice is how quiet it is.
Operating at just 45 dBA, this dishwasher runs with a near-silent hum, so you can run a cycle during a conversation or while watching TV without it becoming a distraction. This quiet operation pairs with Energy Star certified efficiency. That means it’s engineered to use less water and electricity on every cycle, which is good for your utility bills and the environment. You get a thorough clean without the guilt or noise of excess consumption.
Loading is where this model really shines.
The flexible and spacious design includes a standout third rack. This extra rack is perfect for utensils, spatulas, baby bottle parts, or even small lids, freeing up crucial space in the main lower rack for your larger items. Both the upper and lower racks are adjustable. You can easily move tines up or down to create the room you need for tall pots, awkward baking sheets, or oversized dinner plates.
GE GDT650SYVFS 24 in. Top Control Built-in Tall Tub Dishwasher in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless with Dry Boost, 3rd Rack, and 47dBA
The GE GDT650SYVFS 24-inch Top Control Built-in Tall Tub Dishwasher in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless is designed to handle your daily loads quietly and effectively. Its a full-sized model that fits seamlessly into your kitchen cabinetry, and the fingerprint-resistant finish helps keep it looking clean with minimal effort.
This dishwasher is ENERGY STAR certified, which means its built for efficiency.
It uses roughly 240 kWh of electricity per year and between 8 to 9.5 gallons of water per cycle. This translates to lower utility bills while still providing a thorough clean. The machine includes a Dry Boost option, which enhances the final drying phase for better results on plastics and glass, so you spend less time hand-drying items after the cycle ends.
Inside, you’ll find a durable stainless steel tub.
This material isn’t just about long-term reliability and resistance to rust; it actually helps with drying because stainless steel gets hotter during the dry cycle. The racks are coated in nylon to protect your dishes and are fully adjustable. You can easily move tines up or down to create space for oversized pots, tall glasses, or odd-shaped serving platters.
LG 24″ QuadWash™ Front Control Built‑in Dishwasher LDFN4542S – EasyRack™ Plus, 3rd Rack, Fingerprint‑Resistant Stainless Steel
The LG 24″ QuadWash Front Control Built-in Dishwasher LDFN4542S is designed to handle your daily loads with a focus on cleaning power and flexible organization. It’s a full-sized model built to fit standard cabinetry, offering a suite of features aimed at simplifying your routine.
At its core is the QuadWash cleaning system. This utilizes four multi-motion spray arms, not just the standard two found in many models.
These arms rotate in different directions to send water to every corner of the tub. The idea is to create a more thorough coverage, helping to tackle dried-on or baked-on food that’s left on plates and pans. It’s meant to reduce the need for pre-rinsing, so you can just scrape and load. For tougher jobs, you have access to various cycles that adjust water temperature and pressure.
Loading is where the EasyRack Plus system and the additional 3rd rack come into play.
The upper and lower racks are adjustable. You can fold down tines or raise entire sections to create taller space for big items like pots or serving platters. The dedicated 3rd rack at the very top is perfect for utensils, spatulas, or smaller items like measuring spoons and lids. This frees up significant room in the main racks for plates and bowls, making it easier to fit a full set from a large meal without playing a game of tetris.
Kenmore 22-14589 24" Built-In Dishwasher – UltraWash, SmartWash, Sanitize Rinse, SmartDry, and Leak Detection – 14 Place Settings – 57 DBA – ENERGY STAR Certified – 24" – Black
The Kenmore 22-14589 24″ Built-In Dishwasher is designed to handle your daily load with smart technology that takes the guesswork out of clean. Its a reliable workhorse for any kitchen, built to get dishes spotless and dry without you having to think about it.
At its core is the SmartWash system. This isn’t a dishwasher where you have to guess which cycle to pick. Sensor technology inside automatically detects how dirty your dishes are.
It then adjusts the water temperature, pressure, and how long the cycle runs to match. Whether its lightly soiled glasses or a pot with baked-on food, it tailors the wash for efficient cleaning. Plus, it includes leak detection to help protect your floors from potential water damage.
For the actual washing, the 3-Stage UltraWash Filter is key. It captures tiny food particles, even as small as a grain of fine sand, and flushes them down the drain.
This prevents debris from being redeposited onto your dishes during the cycle. The filter itself is easy to remove for a quick monthly rinse, which helps maintain performance. When you need a deeper level of clean, you can use the Sani Rinse option. This UL-certified cycle uses hotter water to sanitize, giving you an extra layer of confidence for items like baby bottles or cutting boards.
Drying is just as thoughtful with SmartDry Technology.
Dishwasher With 3rd Rack Buying Guide
A dishwasher with a third rack adds crucial space for utensils and small items. It’s a game-changer for freeing up teh main racks for plates and pans. But not all third racks are created equal. Here’s what to look for to get the most out of this clever feature.
Rack Design and Adjustability
Look closely at that top rack. Is it just a flat tray, or does it have fold-down tines and sections? A flexible design lets you lay spatulas flat or angle chef’s knives safely. Some models even let you adjust the height of the middle rack. This is key for fitting tall glasses or stacked bowls underneath when the top rack is full.
Spray Arm Configuration
A third rack can block water flow if the dishwasher isn’t designed for it. Ensure the model has a dedicated spray jet or a well-positioned upper spray arm to reach that top level. You don’t want to unload a rack of still-dirty spoons. Reading reviews can really highlight any performance issues here.
Capacity and Place Settings
Don’t assume a third rack reduces space below. The best designs integrate it without sacrificing the standard rack capacity. Check the stated place setting count—often 14 or more for these models. Think about your daily load: does the rack layout actually match how you load, or does it feel cramped?
Finish and Material
That top rack handles lots of small, metal items. A sturdy, coated wire construction resists rust and chipping better than thin, painted racks. A nylon or silicone coating on utensil holders also prevents clanging and protects delicate finishes on your good cutlery. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in noise and longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dishwasher With 3rd Rack
What is a third rack, and what goes on it?
A third rack is an extra rack at teh very top of the dishwasher. It’s perfect for small or oddly shaped items. You can put things like cutlery, cooking utensils, baby bottle parts, and measuring spoons up there. This frees up a lot of space in the main racks for your plates and bowls.
Does the third rack take away space from the other racks?
It might seem like it would, but usually it doesn’t. The third rack is designed to fit in the previously unused space at the top. The main racks are often adjustable, so you can still fit tall items like glasses on the bottom. Most people find the third rack adds usable space overall.
Can I wash large items with a third rack?
Yes, you typically still can. Many models with a third rack have adjustable middle racks. You can raise or lower them to create more height on the bottom for big pots or mixing bowls. It’s a good idea to check the interior dimensions to be sure it fits your needs.
Are utensils cleaner on a third rack compared to a basket?
Often, yes. In a traditional basket, spoons can nest together and not get fully clean. On a third rack, you lay utensils flat and spaced out. This allows the water spray to reach all surfaces better, leading to a more thorough wash for your forks and knives.
Is a dishwasher with a third rack more expensive?
They can be, as it’s often a feature on mid-range to premium models. However, the price difference isn’t always huge. Considering the added convenience and flexibility, many folks find the extra cost is worth it for their daily routine.
Do all brands offer dishwashers with a third rack?
Most major brands now offer several models with this feature. The design and what thay call it can vary a bit between manufacturers. Some have angled tines or specialized zones for different items on they’re top rack.
Can I retrofit a third rack into my old dishwasher?
Unfortunately, no. The third rack is built into the dishwasher’s specific interior design. It’s not an accessory you can add later. You would need to purchase a new model that includes this feature from the start.
Bottom Line
Maximize your dishwasher’s capacity with a practical third rack. Contemplate these last features for your household needs. Think about how you load dishes now. A third rack adds a dedicated spot for utensils, small lids, and cooking tools. This frees up the main racks for plates and bowls. It makes loading faster and more logical. You’ll run fewer cycles and save on water and energy. It’s a simple upgrade with a big impact on your daily routine.
Consider your kitchen tools and family size. Do you use lots of cutlery or have baby bottles to clean? The right dishwasher with 3rd rack can handle it all. Look for adjustable tines and fold-down sections for odd items. This flexibility ensures you can fit everything from a tall glass to a small measuring spoon. In the end, it’s about making a chore easier and getting more from your appliance. Choose a model that fits the way you actually live.