Dishwashers

What's the Best Bosch Dishwasher for Your Kitchen?

The popular brand offers an array of models. Here's how to find the ideal machine for your budget and needs.

By Molly Bradley
Home & Appliances Writer

Updated by Pang-Chieh Ho

Updated January 31, 2025

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Bosch Benchmark SHP9PCM5N dishwasher in kitchen — Bosch's dishwashers are high-performers in our tests—but which one should you buy?

If you’re looking to buy a dishwasher, Bosch might be one of the top brands you’re considering. It’s a manufacturer that consistently makes great dishwashers, earning it the best brand score among the dishwasher brands in our ratings. Bosch models typically perform well in our lab tests, and they also land the highest marks for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in CR’s member surveys.

But even if you’ve decided on getting a Bosch dishwasher, you still need to consider which Bosch series and model is most suitable for your kitchen. All of that can be a lot of information to wade through, so we’re here to help. Here’s what you need to know about Bosch dishwashers—and how to figure out which one may be right for you.

In this article

Bosch's Dishwasher Lineup
Series Summary: 100 Series 300 Series 500 Series 800 Series Benchmark Series

Bosch's Dishwasher Lineup

Bosch’s dishwashers are now organized into five tiers: the 100 Series, the 300 Series, the 500 Series, the 800 Series, and the Benchmark Series. The five tiers of dishwashers differ in the features they offer and, accordingly, their prices. But there are a couple of things all Bosch dishwashers have in common: They all include WiFi connectivity, which allows you to connect to your dishwasher from an app on your phone to customize cycles, monitor their progress, and start or stop your dishwasher remotely.

What’s more, all Bosch dishwashers have a system of sensors that scan and check dishes throughout the cycle to make sure they’re getting clean. There are sensors to detect leaks, too, and, once detected, the machine can shut off the water and drain the tub. Almost all also feature hidden controls—located on the top of the dishwasher door so that you can’t see the controls when the door is closed—and they’re digital touch controls rather than mechanical buttons.

One of the big differences between the Bosch series is that not all of the dishwashers are Energy Star certified—a designation from the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency that means they meet a certain standard of water and energy efficiency. Almost all the models from the 100 Series and 300 Series aren’t Energy Star certified, so if you’re looking for an Energy Star machine, it’s easier to choose from the 500 Series, the 800 Series, and the Benchmark Series.

As you’ll see below, the main differences between the dishwasher tiers are the nice-to-have features—quieter performance, better drying technology, roomier and more flexible rack design—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 in our ratings costs $698, while its priciest model comes in at $1,614.

100 Series: The core series, with solid performance but more basic features and hybrid plastic/stainless steel tubs. The series is divided into two sub-tiers: the 100 Series and 100 Premium, which progressively offer small feature upgrades and more finish options.

300 Series: Fully stainless steel tubs, more rack flexibility, and more exterior finish and handle options.

500 Series: Quieter operation, a roomier third rack, more sophisticated leak protection technology, and an extra drying feature.

800 Series: Features Bosch’s new motorized wash arm, which you can program to give a heavier or lighter wash in different areas of the dishwasher. The brand claims its drying technology is more effective, utilizing natural minerals to collect moisture and transform it into heat.

Benchmark Series: In addition to the new motorized wash arm and premium drying technology, this series features the quietest operation, an even more flexible and roomy rack design, and a more sophisticated indicator light. It also has a built-in water softener that ensures spot-free dishes.

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, plus ratings and test scores of the models we’ve tested from Bosch’s new lineup so far.

We tested one model from each of Bosch’s tiers. Like other dishwashers that have come through our labs, these Bosch models underwent at least 28 hours of tough testing. We’ve also collected reliability and owner satisfaction data on more than 80,000 individual dishwashers in use in real homes through our member surveys, and that data contributes to each dishwasher’s Overall Score in our ratings.

CR members can read detailed ratings 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, where we include a list of important questions to ask before deciding on a model.

Bosch 100 Series: Basic Features and Solid Performance

The 100 Series is what Bosch calls its “core” dishwashers. These models wash well but come without the bells and whistles of models in the higher series, so they’re priced accordingly.

The 100 Series is divided into two sub-tiers: the 100 Series and 100 Premium. The dishwasher that CR’s engineers tested is a 100 Premium model.

100 Series
Tub: Hybrid—stainless steel interior walls and plastic bottom

Washing technology: PrecisionWash, in which sensors detect levels of soil throughout the cycle and wash accordingly.

Drying technology: PureDry, which relies on the heat of the wash cycle so that when the water stops, the stainless steel walls cool down and pull heat and moisture away from the dishes.

Racks: Two non-adjustable racks

Cycle indicator light: None

Noise: Rated at 50 decibels (about the noise level of rainfall)

Energy Star certified: Model SHE3AEE5N only

Finishes: Stainless steel, white, or black

100 Premium
Tub: Hybrid

Washing technology: PrecisionWash

Drying technology: PureDry

Racks: Three racks, middle rack height-adjustable

Cycle indicator light: InfoLight, which shines a red light on the floor to indicate that the cycle is running.

Noise: 46 decibels

Energy Star certified: No

Finishes: Stainless steel, black stainless steel, white, or black

Bosch 300 Series: Small Upgrades

The 300 Series is the first tier of Bosch’s “deluxe” category of dishwashers. It introduces fully stainless steel tubs, plus some small design upgrades that allow the racks to roll out more smoothly. The noise level is on a par with the 100 Premium tier.

Tub: Stainless steel

Washing technology: PrecisionWash

Drying technology: PureDry

Racks: Three racks, middle rack height-adjustable, adjustable tines, and easier rack gliding on smooth-rolling ball bearings with EasyGlide

Cycle indicator light: InfoLight

Noise: 46 decibels

Energy Star certified: Model SHE53CE5N only

Finishes: Stainless steel, white, and black; three handle styles; option for front controls; custom panel option

Bosch 500 Series: Quieter Operation and a Drying Upgrade

The 500 Series is also a “deluxe” tier, and it includes a boost in rack flexibility and drying.

Tub: Stainless steel

Washing technology: PrecisionWash

Drying technology: In addition to the natural benefits of the stainless steel walls, the 500 Series introduces AutoAir, which automatically pops the door open at the end of the cycle to allow steam to escape and fresh air to enter the dishwasher, helping dry dishes.

Racks: Three racks, middle rack height-adjustable, adjustable tines, EasyGlide, and a more-adjustable and roomier third rack

Cycle indicator light: InfoLight

Noise: 44 decibels

Energy Star certified: Yes

Finishes: Stainless steel, white, and black; two handle styles

Bosch 800 Series: Advanced Wash Technology

The 800 Series is part of the “premium” category and introduces Bosch’s latest washing innovation: a motorized spray arm on the bottom of the dishwasher that can be programmed via a phone app to wash more heavily or lightly in four different quadrants of the bottom rack. Our lab testers experimented with this feature and found that when they programmed the wash arm to run a heavy wash, it got the dishes 5 percent cleaner than a standard cycle that made use of the automatic soil sensors.

Tub: Stainless steel

Washing technology: PowerControl, which uses the motorized spray arm.

Drying technology: CrystalDry, which uses a mineral called Zeolite to transform moisture into heat without a heating element.

Racks: Three racks, middle rack height-adjustable, adjustable tines, EasyGlide, flexible and roomy third rack

Cycle indicator light: InfoLight

Noise: 42 decibels—close to the noise level of a quiet library

Energy Star certified: Yes

Finishes: Stainless steel, black stainless steel, white, and black; two handle styles; custom panel option

Bosch Benchmark Series: Refined Design and Tech Perks

The Benchmark Series is Bosch’s top-of-the-line “premium” category, with all the features of the 800 series and then some. The main differences are subtle—an even roomier third rack (vertically deeper than typical third racks), smoother rack gliding with even more refined ball bearings, and a cycle indicator light that not only shows that a cycle is running but also projects the time left in the cycle. The Benchmark series is also the only one to include interior lighting in the dishwasher and built-in water softening, which can help prevent clouding and water streaks if you have hard water.

Tub: Stainless steel

Washing technology: PowerControl

Drying technology: CrystalDry

Racks: Three racks, middle rack height-adjustable, adjustable tines, EasyGlide Plus, roomiest and most flexible third rack

Cycle indicator light: TimeLight

Noise: 39/38 decibels

Energy Star certified: Yes

Finishes: Stainless steel; two handle styles; custom panel option