Sharp SDW6506JS Dishwasher Review
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Last updated October 31, 2026
The Sharp SDW6506JS is a good buy for a kitchen remodel or a replacement on a working budget, and for a rental or second home where a third rack, heated drying and a sanitize option matter more than smart features. It is a 24-inch built-in with a hybrid tub (stainless walls, plastic floor), 12 place settings, a 49 dBA rating and a 1-year warranty on parts and labor.
Buy it if you want a third rack, heated dry and a sanitize cycle in a standard 24-inch opening. Skip it if you want a full stainless tub, a longer labor warranty or a machine with a long track record behind it. The third rack, heated dry, sanitize cycle and 49 dBA rating are the features that justify it at this level.
What the Sharp SDW6506JS does well
The loading setup is the strongest part of the machine. A removable cutlery and small-items rack sits on top, and the three-section silverware basket splits so it can go in the upper or the lower rack. The upper rack moves 2 inches up or down, the lower tines fold down, and with the upper rack raised, the lower rack clears up to 12.6 inches for pots and tall plates.
Heated drying and sanitizing
A heated dry option runs a heating element instead of relying on condensation alone, and the sanitize option holds 156.2°F, with NSF certification for sanitizing.
Noise and wash control
The 49 dBA rating comes with a sound-reduction system, which is quiet enough for an open kitchen but not the quietest class of dishwasher. Five cycles cover the usual jobs (Heavy Duty, Normal, Delicate, Express Wash, Rinse Only), and Half Load, Sanitize, Heated Dry and a Delay from 1 to 24 hours let you trim a cycle to a partial load or run it at night. A Smart Wash soil sensor adjusts the wash to how dirty the load is.
Running costs and coverage
The machine is ENERGY STAR certified and uses 240 kWh a year, with 3.0 to 7.0 gallons per cycle depending on the cycle you pick. The warranty runs 1 year on parts and labor with in-home service, plus 5 years parts-only on the racks and electronic controls, which is easy to miss and worth knowing before you decide on extra coverage.
Finish and controls
The front is fingerprint-resistant stainless steel, with touch controls on the front panel, a pocket handle and an LED display that counts down the remaining time.
Where the Sharp SDW6506JS falls short
The tub is the main compromise. The walls are stainless steel but the floor is plastic, so this is not a full stainless tub, and that floor is the part most likely to show wear over the years.
Capacity and rack height
There are 12 place settings, and the third rack takes some of the height away from the upper rack. Large dinner plates and tall glasses need the upper rack in its raised position, which then costs you upper-rack clearance.
Noise and drying trade-offs
49 dBA is a rating, not a promise of near-silent operation, so treat it as quiet for the class rather than silent. Heated dry lengthens cycles a lot: Express Wash goes from about 60 minutes to about 115 with heated dry on.
Maintenance and missing features
A three-part filter system (cylinder, fine and micro) has to be cleaned by hand. There is no Wi-Fi, no app, no auto-door-open drying, no bottle jets, no custom panel option, and the machine is not ADA-compliant.
Installation and owner feedback
Included: Dishwasher; Third rack; Adjustable upper rack; Front touch controls; Child lock feature; Heated dry option; Half load option. Buyers on Amazon are divided on overall quality, and their views on cleaning are mixed too, though many say it cleans dishes well. The star ratings are polarized, with a large share of five-star ratings sitting alongside a notable share of one- and two-star ratings. The 1-year labor coverage is short enough that an extended warranty is worth considering.
The product in this review
Sharp SDW6506JS dishwasher
See on AmazonWhat the Sharp SDW6506JS specs mean for your kitchen
| Specification | Figure |
|---|---|
| Type | 24-inch built-in, front-control, slide-in, stainless steel with fingerprint-resistant finish |
| Tub | Hybrid: stainless steel walls, plastic floor |
| Dimensions | 23.63 in wide, 33.63 in high, 22.75 in deep; 70.6 lb |
| Capacity | 12 place settings |
| Noise | 49 dBA |
| Cycles and options | 5 cycles (Heavy Duty, Normal, Delicate, Express Wash, Rinse Only); 4 options (Half Load, Sanitize, Heated Dry, Delay 1 to 24 hours) |
| Racks | Third cutlery rack, upper rack adjustable 2 in up or down, fold-down lower tines, split three-section silverware basket; metal racks, plastic basket |
| Controls | Front touch panel, LED display, pocket handle |
| Electrical | 120 V |
| Warranty | 1 year limited on parts and labor with in-home service; 5 years parts on racks and electronic controls |
| Efficiency | ENERGY STAR certified; 240 kWh a year; 3.0 to 7.0 gal per cycle |
Cycle times
- Heavy Duty: about 151 minutes, about 180 with heated dry
- Normal: about 108 to 146 minutes, about 137 to 175 with heated dry
- Delicate: about 118 minutes
- Express Wash: about 60 minutes, about 115 with heated dry
- Rinse Only: about 20 minutes
Fit and installation
The machine needs a standard 24-inch cabinet opening roughly 34 to 35 inches high and at least 24 inches deep. If you connect through a disposer, check that the old disposer plug has been removed before the first run, or the machine will not drain.
The Sharp SDW6506JS is a well-equipped 24-inch built-in for buyers who want a third rack, heated dry and a sanitize cycle without paying for smart features, as long as they accept the hybrid tub, 12 place settings and a 1-year labor warranty.
Choose it if you are remodeling or replacing on a working budget and value flexible loading and heated drying. Pass if a full stainless tub, a longer warranty or a long reliability record matters more to you than the features.
Frequently asked questions
Fit, drying habits and noise tolerance decide most dishwasher purchases, and each one plays out differently on this machine.
Does the Sharp SDW6506JS include a third rack, and how does that rack affect loading tall items?
A third rack is part of the Sharp SDW6506JS and cuts into the upper rack's vertical room. To fit large dinner plates and tall glasses, the upper rack must be raised; the lower rack then clears up to 12.6 inches, while the upper rack loses clearance.
What kind of tub does the Sharp SDW6506JS use, and which part is not stainless steel?
The Sharp SDW6506JS has a hybrid tub with stainless steel walls and a plastic floor. Only the walls are stainless steel, so the floor is the surface that will age first.
Does the Sharp SDW6506JS offer Wi-Fi, app control, or automatic door opening?
The Sharp SDW6506JS has no Wi-Fi, no app control and no automatic door opening. If you want remote control or auto-door-open drying, you need a different machine.
Is the Sharp SDW6506JS ADA-compliant for a lower counter installation?
The Sharp SDW6506JS is not ADA-compliant. Its 33.63-inch height suits a standard counter, not a lower ADA counter, so a lower installation is not an option.
Can the silverware basket in the Sharp SDW6506JS be moved to the upper rack?
The Sharp SDW6506JS silverware basket splits into three sections and can sit in the upper or lower rack. A separate third rack also holds cutlery and small items.