What’s the best Bosch dishwasher? Here’s how to figure it out

Bosch dishwashers are incredibly popular, but — like most home appliances — they can have confusing names.

To the average customer, Bosch’s 500 Series looks just like the 800 Series, and model numbers like SHP78CM5N and SHE53C85N all blend together. And more recently, the different numbered series have been broken up further, into three meta-series.

What do all these different designations mean, how are you supposed to decide between the Bosch 300 vs 500 vs 800, and why do they matter when you’re shopping for a dishwasher?

If you’re looking at buying a Bosch dishwasher, either at a store or by shopping online, the editors at Reviewed are here to help you tell the difference between a 100 Series from a Benchmark, and break down the Bosch 300 vs 800.

Over the years, Bosch's line-up has been (somehow) both more and less complicated, but today, there are seven total Bosch selections to choose from. Each has its own colors, handles, and special features. Generally speaking, you get more advanced features when you spend more money.

Here are the differences between the Bosch dishwasher series, and how you can tell them all apart.

Bosch dishwasher product series

Bosch has revamped their line-up recently and now divides their dishwashers into three categories: Core, Deluxe, and Premium.

The Core line-up consists of the 100 Series, 100 Plus, and 100 Premium. Deluxe has the 300 Series and 500 Series. Premium contains the 800 Series and Benchmark Series.

Features that every Bosch dishwasher offers

All Bosch dishwashers have a few things in common: They can be mounted flush with cabinetry for a built-in dishwasher look, they have a detergent dispenser designed for tablets, and all modern Bosch dishwashers also come equipped with HomeConnect, Bosch's companion app, are Energy Star-certified.

Additionally, the 300, 500, 800, and Benchmark series use the same motor and pump system.

Every Bosch from 100 Plus on up comes equipped with RackMatic. This adjustable rack has three height levels and nine tilt positions to allow users to accommodate taller items on the lower or middle rack. Adjustable racks like this provide more flexibility for loading your dishwasher, ensuring you can fit everything you need to wash. This flexible movement also helps when you need to wash the dishwasher.

You'll find a standard third rack on 100 Premium through the 300 Series, which gets upgraded to a flexible third rack starting with the 500 Series.

The standard 3rd rack is a simple pull-out shelf, while the flexible 3rd rack has wings on either edge that can be lowered to accommodate larger items and also sports adjustable tines. A third rack is helpful because it provides a dedicated area for larger utensils that are too big to fit in the utensil basket.

The 100 Premium Series on up features Bosch's InfoLight, which beams a small red light down onto the floor to let you know when the dishwasher is operating—it’s helpful, considering most Bosch dishwashers operate so quietly. Some Benchmark Series dishwashers have TimeLight, which projects the actual time remaining in the wash cycle onto the floor.

While the actual decibel level varies across different Bosch dishwashers, in general, they all keep noise levels low. In fact, Bosch is perhaps the quietest dishwasher brand on the market.

There are a few Bosch models on our list of the best quiet dishwashers. The 100 Series are the loudest of the bunch, though at 50 dBA, they're still quieter than the volume of a normal conversation. The Benchmark Series produces the least noise: just 38 or 39 dBA.

Bosch 800 Series dishwashers

The 800 Series consists of some of the best dishwashers we've ever tested, and are the most popular of Bosch's line-up. They offer excellent performance, lots of customization choices, and a huge feature set, all at a reasonable price—relative to other high-end machines, at least.

While our list of the best dishwashers is always changing, the 800 Series has perennially earned one of the top spots, with the SHP78CM5N currently holding the crown.

An 800 Series model currently costs between $1,049 and $1,549.

If you're looking for some high-tech dish-drying technology, the 800 Series has your back.

Models like the SHP78CM5N leverage the power of zeolite, a mineral that can turn water into heat—a method that is much more energy efficient than a traditional heating element.

Based on our testing, the zeolite technology works well and was even able to get plastics dry. Two Bosch models sit at the top of our list of best dishwashers that dry dishes.

The new 800 Series also features the PowerControl Spray Arm, which allows users to single out quadrants within the dishwasher to receive a deeper clean.

Bosch 500 Series dishwashers

The 500 Series is at the higher end of Bosch's Deluxe models, with a stainless steel tub, three racks, and a sound rating of just 44dbA. Models are available in black, white, and stainless steel.

The 500 Series features AutoAir, which pops open the dishwasher door after a cycle to help vent steam and ensure dryer dishes. Though somewhat lower tech than zeolite drying, we found this method was effective at producing dry dishes.

The pricing for 500 Series models ranges from $1,099 to $1,249, and includes models with either a pocket handle or a bar-handle model.

Bosch 300 Series dishwashers

Bosch's 300 Series has an all-stainless tub, standard 3rd rack, and RackMatic. The 300 Series is the lowest-numbered Series to feature the EasyGlide racks, which slide more smoothly and have a more robust build quality than those found on the 100 Series models.

The 300 Series dishwashers’ prices range from $949 to $1,099, with sound ratings between 44 dBA and 46 dBA.

Bosch 100 Series dishwashers

The Bosch 100 Series, 100 Plus, and 100 Premium dishwashers are more entry-level than the options above, but that doesn't mean they lack features.

The 100 Series runs from $549 to $749, while 100 Plus models cost between $699 and $899. These models all feature hybrid tubs, PrecisionWash, and PureDry. PureDry uses hotter water during the final rinse to promote evaporation. The 100 Plus and 100 Premium Series both feature RackMatic. 100 Premium also has InfoLight.

These dishwashers are slightly louder than their sister models, capping out at 50 dbA, but that's still very quiet compared to the average dishwasher.

Bosch Ascenta Series dishwashers

The Ascenta line of dishwashers used to be Bosch's entry-level line of products, but were discontinued in 2023. The 100 Series has replaced Ascenta as Bosch's new entry-level product.

Bosch’s Benchmark Series dishwashers

Benchmark sits at the pinnacle of Bosch’s dishwasher lineup. Most of the Benchmark dishwashers are made in Germany, and they have every feature from the 800 Series, and more, like an LED-lit interior.

With Benchmark, you get your choice of hidden handles or color LCD displays, and many models have built-in water softeners. Sound ratings are exceptionally quiet—as low as 38 dBA, which is the quietest dishwasher on the market.

Of course, the prices match the luxury quotient, ranging from $1,799 to $2,299. These are generally only available from independent retailers.

Here’s how to understand a Bosch dishwasher model number

In the past, we've had a small walkthrough here to help you actually understand all the different Bosch model numbers. Unfortunately, Bosch has thrown a wrench into our tidy guide by recently updating how they label their model numbers.

This has led to their current active line-up now spanning several slightly different naming conventions. Let's go over what's stayed the same and what's changed, so you can find the right Bosch dishwasher for your needs.

• The initial S in both models tells us that the product is a dishwasher. (A model number starting with a B is a fridge, and an H is a microwave.)
• If the second letter is an H, it’s a standard 24-inch model. If it’s a G, it’s a 24-inch ADA-compliant model. If it’s a P, the dishwasher is a compact, ADA-compliant 18-inch model.
• The third letter tells us what the handle and display combination is. An E, for instance, means external controls. X means the dishwasher has a bar handle, while a P means the dishwasher has a pocket handle. A V means the dishwasher is panel-ready.
• Here's where we run into trouble because the convention seems to have shifted multiple times recently. In the past, the fourth digit would tell us what series the dishwasher is in, where M = 100 Series, 3 = 300 Series, A = Ascenta, 5 = 500 Series, 8 = 800 Series, and P = Benchmark Series. Using this, we can see the SHE33T55UC is from the 300 series. More current Bosch models, like the SPE68B55UC, use the fifth digit, while others, like the SHPM78Z54N, use the 6th digit.
• The eighth digit tells what color the machine is. 2 = white, 3 = panel ready, 4 = black stainless, 5 = stainless, and 6 = black.