A Bosch 800 Series dishwasher is the top line on our model pages that is not a custom-panel Benchmark: 24 inches wide, 16 place settings, a stainless steel tub, CrystalDry with Zeolite drying, six wash cycles, Home Connect Wi-Fi and a noise rating between 39 and 42 dBA. The differences between the six models we list come down to the handle or panel style, the type of third rack and the decibel figure, so the buying decision is mostly about how you want the front of the dishwasher to look and how you load the top.
What is a Bosch 800 Series dishwasher?
It is the upper tier of the standard Bosch dishwasher lineup. Our dishwasher series comparison compares the 100, 300, 500, 800 and Benchmark lines as a whole. This guide narrows it to the one line and the specific models on our site. All six listed 800 Series models share the same core: a 24-inch width, 16 place settings, a stainless steel tub, CrystalDry with Zeolite, six wash cycles and Home Connect Wi-Fi. They are Energy Star listed.
You will not find a big performance gap between them in our listings, so we do not rank them. If two models look identical on paper, choose by the parts you touch every day: the handle, the top rack and the sound. They differ in how the door looks, how the top rack works and how loud they are rated to be.
How do the six models differ?
Start with the front. The SHPM88Z75N has a pocket handle. The SHX78CM5N has a bar handle, which suits kitchens with a professional look. The SHP78CM5N and SHP9PCM5N are listed in stainless steel with a top-control layout. The SHVM78Z53N and SHV78CM3N are panel-ready, which means they accept a cabinet panel so the dishwasher is hidden when the door is closed.
Next, the third rack. Three models, the SHPM88Z75N, SHP9PCM5N and SHVM78Z53N, list the MyWay flexible third rack. The other three list a standard third rack. Our SHPM88Z75N page says MyWay accommodates cereal bowls, large utensils and ramekins, so it suits you if you load bigger pieces on top.
Last, noise. The listed range is 39 dBA on the SHP9PCM5N, which our page calls the quietest in the lineup, to 42 dBA on the SHP78CM5N, SHX78CM5N and SHV78CM3N. The SHPM88Z75N and SHVM78Z53N are listed at 40 dBA. These are figures from our model pages, not measurements we have taken in a kitchen.
What is CrystalDry, and does it matter?
CrystalDry with Zeolite is the drying system listed on every model above. Our comparison guide explains that Bosch dishwashers use condensation drying rather than a heated element, and that CrystalDry uses zeolite minerals in a separate chamber to absorb moisture and release heat. Our CrystalDry glossary goes through the idea in more detail.
If you wash a lot of plastic, drying is the feature to weigh most. If you mainly wash glass and ceramics, the difference between a mid-range and an 800 Series dishwasher is smaller, and you may prefer to spend your attention on the rack layout.
What else do the model pages mention?
A few extras show up on individual pages. The SHVM78Z53N and SHV78CM3N describe InfoLight, which projects a dot onto the floor to show a cycle is running, a useful feature when the front is a plain panel. The SHX78CM5N lists TimeLight, which shows the remaining cycle time on the floor, and a RackMatic adjustable upper rack with three height levels and nine possible positions. PrecisionWash sensors, which adjust water distribution for each load, are named on several pages; see our PrecisionWash glossary.
A missing mention on one page does not mean the feature is absent. Ask the seller, or check the owner’s manual for the model, before you pay for a feature you care about.
What should you check before you buy and install?
Confirm the cutout is the right width for a 24-inch dishwasher and that there is a place for the water supply, the drain and the power. Our dishwasher installation requirements guide covers what the opening needs, and our drain hose high loop guide covers a part of the drain that people often get wrong.
If you buy a panel-ready model, plan the cabinet panel and the handle before delivery. A panel-ready dishwasher has no handle of its own. If you choose a pocket handle or bar handle, check the clearance with your adjacent cabinets so the door can open fully. Also decide where the cycle indicator should show, because a model with no visible display relies on a floor light to tell you it is running.
Should you buy it new, used or from a display floor?
A new unit comes with the manufacturer’s warranty terms, which we do not list, so read those at purchase. A used or floor-model dishwasher is a gamble on its past, so ask for the model number and run a full cycle if you can. Look at the tub for rust or damage, at the door seal for tears and at the racks for broken tines.
We are an independent repair company, not the manufacturer. If you already own an 800 Series dishwasher and it needs attention, Bosch dishwasher repair starts with a diagnostic visit and we confirm the estimate before any work begins.
