The Bosch Serie 2 SPS2IKW04G is our best slimline dishwasher: a 45 cm-wide machine that brings Bosch's clean wash to kitchens that simply can't take a full-size 60 cm appliance. Here's where it shines — and the capacity trade-off you'll need to accept.
Not every kitchen has room for a full-size dishwasher, and that's where a slimline machine earns its place. The Bosch Serie 2 SPS2IKW04G is a 45 cm-wide unit that fits the narrow gap in a galley kitchen or compact flat while still delivering the dependable cleaning Bosch is known for. For anyone choosing on size rather than maximum capacity, it's the obvious pick — and our best slimline recommendation.
| Model | Price | Type | Place settings | Energy rating | Rating | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ★ Top pick Bosch Serie 2 SPS2IKW04G Slimline Dishwasher | £429.00 | Slimline freestanding (45 cm) | 10 | F | ★ 4.3 | View → |
£429.00
Slimline freestanding (45 cm) · 10 · F
The verdict from Aisha Rahman, home appliance tester
The best choice for a small kitchen. The Bosch Serie 2 SPS2IKW04G is a 45 cm slimline machine for the kitchen that simply can't take a full-size 60 cm dishwasher. Within that brief it's excellent: you still get Bosch's clean wash and reliability, just in a narrower body that holds 10 place settings instead of 13. For a couple or a compact flat it's exactly right; for a big family, choose a full-size machine instead.
Slots into a tight gap and washes as cleanly as its full-size siblings.
The Serie 2 slimline is the right machine if your kitchen has a 45 cm gap rather than the standard 60 cm, or if you're a couple or small household whose washing-up never fills a full-size machine. It holds 10 place settings — plenty for one or two people, and enough for a small family that runs it more often — in a body narrow enough to fit where a full-size dishwasher won't. For flats, galley kitchens and compact homes, that combination of fit and Bosch reliability is exactly what's needed.
It's the wrong machine if you actually have space for a 60 cm appliance, because a full-size dishwasher costs less per place setting and means fewer cycles — in that case the Bosch Series 4 is the better value. And if you have a busy family producing large daily loads, the 15-setting Hotpoint HF5C2615WG will suit you far better. Choose the slimline only when your kitchen genuinely demands the narrower body.
The good news is that going slimline costs you almost nothing on the wash. The Serie 2 cleans everyday loads to the standard you'd expect from Bosch — plates, glasses and cutlery come out clean, and the auto programme adjusts the cycle to the load. The narrower cabinet simply holds fewer items; the cleaning quality of those items is the same. For a couple or small household, that's the ideal balance: full Bosch results, just in a smaller machine.
Drying is competent for the price bracket. Crockery and glass finish well, while plastics may need a brief air-dry with the door ajar — typical of machines at this level. It's a notch below the ExtraDry performance of the full-size Series 4, but perfectly serviceable for everyday use, and well ahead of the cheapest machines on the market.
At 48 dB the Serie 2 slimline is quiet enough for most settings — noticeable but not intrusive, and easily run overnight on the delay timer. In a small open-plan flat it's worth being aware of, but it's no louder than most mainstream machines and quieter than older slimline units. For the quietest options across sizes, see our quietest dishwashers guide.
It carries the Bosch build reputation through to the slimline format. The cabinet feels solid, the racks roll properly, and the controls are the same clear, logical layout as the larger machines. Buying a slimline machine often means accepting a more basic appliance, but with the Serie 2 you still get Bosch's dependable engineering — which is the whole reason to choose it over a cheaper slimline rival.
The Serie 2 slimline's real trade-off is simply capacity: 10 place settings instead of the 13 to 15 of a full-size machine, which means more frequent cycles for a larger household and a higher cost per place setting. That's the unavoidable nature of a slimline machine, not a fault — you're buying it precisely because a full-size unit won't fit. If your kitchen can take a 60 cm machine, you'll get more dishwasher for your money from the full-size Series 4; if it can't, the slimline format is exactly the right answer.
Yes — in our testing the Bosch Serie 2 SPS2IKW04G slimline earns its place on our list. The full breakdown of where it shines and where it falls short is in the review above, and you can see how it compares with the alternatives on our best dishwasher ranking.
The capacity is listed in the specifications above. As a rule, a full-size (60 cm) machine holds 13 to 15 place settings and suits a family, while a slimline (45 cm) machine holds around 9 to 10 and suits a couple or a small kitchen.
Prices change often, so the price shown here is indicative. The current price is always the one on the retailer's own page — use the button above to check it on Amazon before you buy.
The Bosch Serie 2 slimline is our best slimline pick because it solves a real problem — a kitchen too tight for a full-size machine — without compromising on the wash. You get Bosch's clean results, sensible drying and dependable build in a 45 cm body, at the cost of capacity you don't have room for anyway. For couples, compact flats and galley kitchens it's exactly right. If you do have space for a full-size machine, the Bosch Series 4 is the better value; for big families, the Hotpoint HF5C2615WG. Before you buy, measure carefully and read our size guide and buying guide.