This popular brand dominates the top of our dishwasher ratings. Here's how to find the best model for your budget and needs.
Bosch dishwashers can get dishes reliably clean, but some features may be more helpful to you than others.
By Liam McCabe, Molly Bradley
Bosch is one of the leading brands for dishwashers, with more than 50 models and machines that perform exceptionally well when it comes to cleaning dishes and reliability, among other factors. That’s exactly what can make choosing a Bosch dishwasher so daunting: How do you choose the right one for you?
Bosch’s dishwashers are organized into six tiers, which differ in the features they offer and, accordingly, their prices. But first, we can establish what all Bosch dishwashers have in common: They carry the Energy Star certification, which means they meet certain standards of water and energy efficiency that can save up to 3,800 gallons of water over their lifetime and save you up to $35 a year on your electricity bill. All of Bosch’s dishwashers have what’s called PrecisionWash, which allows sensors to scan and check dishes throughout the cycle to make sure they’re getting clean.
You also won’t find a Bosch dishwasher with a fully plastic interior. Plastic is more susceptible to stains and wear than stainless steel, but a plastic tub can make a dishwasher more affordable. Dishwashers in Bosch’s two entry-level tiers have stainless steel walls and ceilings with a plastic base, while the dishwashers in all tiers above those have fully stainless steel tubs. And all of the dishwashers allow some amount of upper rack adjustment.
As you’ll see below, the main differences between the dishwashers are the nice-to-have features—quieter overall performance, better drying technology, roomier and more adjustable racks—and aesthetics, like the dishwashers’ exterior finishes, handle styles, and displays. As you ascend in the tiers, the price also increases: Bosch’s least expensive dishwasher costs $549, while its priciest model comes in at $2,299.
- Ascenta: The entry-level series, with solid performance but only basic features
- 100 Series: Mostly similar to Ascenta, but with some upgraded features
- 300 Series: Quieter and with more capacity—and often still under $1,000
- 500 Series: A sharper look, faster drying, and upgraded racks
- 800 Series: Style refinements, the best plastic drying and touch control, and not as noisy
- Benchmark: A premium look and feel, the quietest performance, improved leak prevention, a water softener, and more features
Below, we’ve put together a detailed but easy-to-scan overview of the important features you’ll get as you step up through each tier.
We’ve included a rundown of Thermador dishwashers, too, because they’re manufactured by the same parent company as Bosch (BSH). Thermador dishwashers put a greater emphasis on high-end looks than practical features and cost much more than many Bosch models. But the two brands have a lot in common otherwise.
Consumer Reports has tested at least one model from each Bosch and Thermador tier. Each dishwasher that comes through our labs undergoes at least 28 hours of tough testing. We’ve also collected reliability and owner satisfaction data on more than 100,000 individual dishwashers in use in real homes through our member surveys.
CR members can read detailed ratings for performance, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction for all of the Bosch dishwashers we’ve tested, along with ratings for dozens of other machines from more than 20 brands in our dishwasher ratings. And check out our dishwasher buying guide before you shop. There, we explain how we test and rate dishwashers and include questions you should ask before deciding on a model.
Bosch Ascenta: Basic Features and Solid Performance
This is Bosch’s entry-level dishwasher. The Ascenta washes nearly as well as any of the pricier Bosch models and should be just as reliable, too. But we found that its drying performance is mediocre, probably due to its partly plastic tub. Its feature set is also relatively sparse compared with the rest of the Bosch lineup. Here’s what to expect:
- Racks: Two racks and manual height adjustment
- Tub: Stainless walls and ceiling, and a plastic (stain-susceptible) base
- Noise: Louder than other Bosch tiers (rated at 50 decibels, about the noise level of rainfall)
- Controls: Front
- Finishes: Stainless steel, white, or black
Bosch Ascenta SHE3AR72UC
Bosch 100 Series: Small Upgrades
We mentioned above that Bosch’s tiers are mostly well organized. The 100 Series is the exception.
A couple of the 100 Series models are barely different from the Ascenta series. We haven’t tested these, so we’re not sure if they perform more like the Ascenta or more like the other 100 Series models (and up). These dishwashers have a “3” in their model name, and the minor upgrades over the Ascenta include:
- Racks: Two racks and a fold-down tray on top for small items
- Fast Cycle: 1-hour wash and dry
But other 100 Series models include some substantial upgrades. And we know for sure that they outperform the basic Ascenta line, particularly when it comes to drying plastic. These dishwashers have a “4” in their model numbers and add the following features:
- Racks: A third rack for utensils and other relatively flat items, and a quick height-switching system on the middle shelf
- Noise: Quieter performance (rated at 48 decibels)
- Fast Cycle: 1-hour wash and dry on the bar-handle model
- Controls: Hidden
- Handle: Bar
- Finishes: Stainless steel or a panel-ready front to match cabinetry
Bosch 100 Series SHXM4AY55N
Bosch 300 Series: Quieter and With More Rack Space
The 300 Series has a long list of useful upgrades over the lower-end models, including:
- Racks: A third rack for utensils and very short items, and a quick height-switcher on the middle rack
- Tines: Adjustable tines on the lower rack, great for large pots and casserole dishes
- Fast Cycle: 1-hour wash and dry
- Noise: Barely audible from one room away (rated at 44 decibels)
- Tub: A roomier, fully stainless steel tub
- Safety: Better protection against water leaks
- Controls: Front or hidden
- Handles: Recessed or bar
- Finishes: Stainless steel or a panel-ready front to match cabinetry
Bosch 300 Series SHEM63W55N
Within the 300 Series, there’s also the DLX line, available through certain retailers. Models include small differences in the silverware baskets and cycle selections that aren’t very meaningful. The 300 Series also includes several models in a compact 18-inch width. There’s also a standard 24-inch model that’s compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), though this one doesn’t include a third rack. All of these “specialty” models (as Bosch calls them) include a tray that can hold water-softening salts.
Bosch 500 Series: Upgraded Looks and Feel
The short (but mighty) list of improvements in the 500 Series includes:
- Racks: A third rack with expandable wings to hold deeper items and ball bearings on the middle rack for smoother action
- Drying: An optional automatic door-opening feature to help dry plastic better
- Controls: Hidden
- Handle: Pocket
- Finishes: Stainless steel or white
Bosch SHXM65Z55N
Bosch 800 Series: Refinements and Clever Tech
The 800 Series has more handle styles and finishes available than the 500 Series and a few other upgraded features. They include:
- Noise: Very quiet performance (rated at 42 decibels, similar to the noise level in a library)
- Drying: Heat-releasing mineral tech that gets plastic bone-dry
- Controls: Hidden touch-sensitive panel (rather than physical buttons)
- Handles: Pocket or bar handle
- Finishes: Stainless steel, black stainless, or panel-ready front to match cabinetry
- WiFi: One model can connect to a companion app for easier troubleshooting
There’s also the 800 Series Premium, with a few noteworthy upgrades, including:
- Racks: An extra-deep third rack, large enough for certain cereal bowls
- Style: Metallic-finish handles on the racks
- Noise: Even quieter (rated at 40 decibels), though the improvement may be hard to notice
800 Series models are also available in a compact 18-inch width. Several ADA-compliant models—machines that meet the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act—are available as well, including a 24-inch-wide option. Each of these specialty models includes a tray for water-softening salts.
Bosch 800 Series SHXM88Z75N
Bosch Benchmark: Luxury Level
In the Benchmark series, the upgrades are mainly about a premium look and feel. You really need to check out these dishwashers in person to appreciate how refined the fit and finish are. Here’s what’s different compared with the 800 Series, beyond aesthetics:
- Racks: Telescoping rack arms for super-smooth action
- Controls: Front with LED screen or on top
- Handles: Recessed or bar
- Finishes: Stainless steel or a panel-ready front to match cabinetry
- Safety: Even better protection against water leaks
- Water-Softener Tray: Included
Bosch Benchmark SHX88PZ55N
Thermador Emerald: Like a Midrange Bosch but Better-Looking
The most affordable option in the Thermador lineup is the Emerald series. The feature set is a bit of a mishmash of perks you’d get from the Bosch lineup. But like the Benchmark series, the style is the point of the upgrade here. Thermador models also earn a slightly lower owner satisfaction rating than Bosch models, based on responses to our member surveys. Here’s what you’ll get:
- Noise: A 48-decibel noise rating, like the Bosch 100 Series
- Racks: A standard third rack and adjustable middle rack, like the Bosch 300 Series
- Controls: Touch-sensitive controls, like the Bosch 800 Series
- Handle: Rounded bar
- Finishes: Stainless steel or a panel-ready front to match cabinetry
- WiFi: Connectivity to a companion app
Thermador DWHD650WFM
Thermador Sapphire: Top of the Line
This is the top-of-the-line series from the Bosch and Thermador brands. (Their parent company BSH also manufactures Gaggenau dishwashers, but they’re substantially different and quite expensive, and CR hasn’t tested them.) The Sapphire is stuffed with just about every feature that BSH has up its sleeve. It’s like a combination of the features in the standard Bosch 800 Series with the looks of the Emerald. Here are the important differences compared with the Emerald:
- Noise: A very quiet 42-decibel noise rating
- Racks: A third rack with adjustable wings
- Drying: The souped-up, great-for-plastic, mineral-assisted drying system
- Style: A blue-tinted interior light
Thermador DWHD770WFM
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