Our pick
With its third rack and quiet performance, this reliable, efficient, and effective dishwasher is a great choice. But it doesn’t fully dry plastic.
Of the models we tested, the Bosch 300 Series SHE53C85N delivers the strongest combination of cleaning performance, useful features, and value. We’ve been recommending the 300 Series since 2017. (The older model, the Bosch 300 Series SHEM63W55N, is our former top pick. And we still think it’s a great choice, as long as it’s available.)
The adjustable, roomy racks on the 300 Series SHE53C85N provide extra loading flexibility, so you can wash everything from dishes to taller pots and pans in one load. In addition to its bottom-rack cutlery basket, this dishwasher has a third rack that accommodates cutlery, as well as ramekins or larger spoons in its deeper middle trough.
When it’s running, this dishwasher is quiet enough to go unnoticed, unless you’re standing right next to it.
Like many dishwashers, this model struggles to fully dry plastic items. If bone-dry plastic is a priority for you, this might be a drawback.
The 300 Series SHE53C85N has a recessed handle with a touch-sensitive control panel that worked well in our testing even when wet. The dishwasher is designed to work more seamlessly with Bosch’s Home Connect app (which we had no problems connecting to); you can use it to track the timing of a cycle, or to optionally save your most frequently used dishwasher settings.
Bosch has a strong reliability track record. This model comes with a one-year warranty for parts and labor.
Also great
This model cleans almost as well as our top pick, and it’s better at drying. But the heated-dry cycles run long, and its racks aren’t quite as user-friendly.
The Maytag MDB8959SKZ is a solid machine and a strong cleaner: In our testing, it performed almost as well as our top pick. Notably, this dishwasher dries plastic items better than most models (including our pick), thanks to its optional heated-dry cycles (but this can add 30 to 60 minutes to a wash cycle).
The MDB8959SKZ’s adjustable racks offer a bit more loading flexibility than the racks in our top pick. But the racks lack stemware holders, which our other picks include, and they don’t move quite as smoothly.
This dishwasher’s third rack is significantly deeper than our pick’s third rack. It’s designed to cradle mugs, glasses, and bowls, as well as larger flatware, like spatulas, but it doesn’t have as much space for flatware. It comes with only one style of handle.
The MDB8959SKZ is manufactured by Whirlpool Corporation, a company known for its reliability and easily replaceable parts. It has a one-year warranty for parts and labor and a 10-year warranty for its racks and stainless steel tub.
Upgrade pick
This ultra-quiet model is an exceptional, speedy cleaner with upgraded features. Miele is known for its reliability and durability.
The Miele G7106 is nearly twice as expensive as our top pick. However, this model’s exceptional cleaning ability and elevated features—along with Miele’s reputation for reliability—make it worth the investment.
It delivered exceptionally clean dishes in the least amount of time, thanks to Miele’s QuickIntenseWash technology and the dishwasher’s Express Mode option (which shortens any cycle you choose). When this combo was used, the G7106 completely cleaned even baked-on eggs—something no other dishwasher we tested could do.
Its sturdy racks are roomy, and we found they were easier to load than racks in other dishwashers we tested.
The G7106 was the quietest model we tested, at 43 decibels, and we could barely tell it was on.
At the end of a cycle, its door automatically opens, which expedites drying (plastic items included) and gives you a visual cue; this is helpful if a typical beep or light isn’t sufficient.
The G7106 has a two-year warranty for parts and labor. This is the longest initial warranty of all of our picks.
