Third Rack Dishwashers: Worth It?

Third racks first appeared as small flatware shelves in the early 2000s and have grown into full-width trays with adjustable heights, water jets, and dedicated bottle-wash inserts. The pitch is simple: move flatware out of the lower basket so the lower rack can hold more dishes, and let small items (espresso cups, ramekins, lids) wash in their own zone with their own spray arm rather than competing for water with the rest of the load.

Whether the third rack actually delivers depends on how you load. If you treat it as a flatware tray and lay knives, forks, and spoons flat across it, the third rack is transformative — you free up the bottom basket completely for plates and pots. If you ignore it and continue loading flatware in a basket on the lower rack, the third rack mostly catches drip and adds to your unloading time. Most owners report that the first month feels awkward and the second month feels like a permanent upgrade.

Shape and adjustability vary widely. Bosch's MyWay rack is full-width and adjustable for height, with deep contours that fit espresso cups and small bowls. KitchenAid's third rack tilts so that taller items in the middle rack still fit. Samsung's StormWash third rack adds dedicated water jets aimed at the rack itself, which makes a real difference for greasy items. Look for a rack you can see clearly and adjust without removing it from the unit; the worst third racks are awkward to slide and require lifting clear of the dishwasher to reposition.

Cost positioning is straightforward: third racks appear at the $700+ tier and become standard above $1,000. They are not available as retrofit accessories — the upper rails and the dishwasher's interior height must be designed around the third rack from the start. If you are buying for the long haul, the third rack pays back in everyday convenience faster than almost any other dishwasher feature.