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The quietest dishwasher—that's probably right up there with the best cleaning performance on your new dishwasher shopping list. But did you know that noise level wasn't a priority for manufacturers until about a decade ago? Before then, most dishwashers whirred at 60 dB or louder. That's roughly the equivalent of a propeller plane flying overhead. Whoa.

Back then, you could hear the sound of a dishwasher throughout the house, and there wasn't anything you could do about it. It seemed that that was simply the way things would always be.

However, in the early 2000s, Bosch dishwashers changed everything with an advertising campaign that touted the brand as the quietest dishwasher in the world. Suddenly, competing brands throughout the market were scrambling to find ways to make the best dishwashers quieter, and customers took notice.

Today, our favorite dishwasher, the Miele G7566SCViSF, hums along at a super-quiet 38 dB. They definitely don't need to make a lot of noise to wash your dishes well anymore.

In this guide, we'll highlight the quietest dishwashers on the market today, and we'll explain everything you need to know about judging noise (what is a decibel anyway?) from brand to brand. We've even made an informative video with an actual sound test for decibel comparison, with great visuals and a decibel chart. Let's sound off.

Want to hear the quietest dishwashers in action? Watch our demo with a live audible sound test.

The Quietest Dishwashers in 2023

Best Overall: Miele G7566SCViSF, 38 dB

Miele G7566SCViSF

Who It's For: People who don't want to hear a single peep out of their dishwasher.

Why We Chose It: This Miele's got the trifecta: It's the ultimate in quietness, cleaning, and drying. Upgrades, like the AutoDos automatic detergent dispenser, glass touch controls, and interior lights, make loading and unloading a much more pleasant task. It also has the AutoOpen door, which we consider a total hit. By automatically opening the door a crack at the end of the cycle, it not only enhances drying but helps prevent unwanted smells in your dishwasher.

The Miele G7566SCViSF comes in different styles to coordinate with the other features of any high-end kitchen. You can have a visible control panel, hidden controls with a towel bar, cover the door with a panel to match your surrounding cabinets, or even get the version without any handles and just gently knock on the door to open.

It's ultra quiet, dependable, and super effective.

Key Features:

  • 38 dB noise
  • 12 program cycles
  • Energy Star certified
  • Interior LED lights
  • AutoDos automatic detergent dispenser, lasting up to 20 loads
  • AutoOpen door technology for better complete drying and odor control
  • Advanced rack design to accommodate ladles and ramekins
  • Large interior designed to fit up to 16 place settings
  • Stainless steel or panel ready exterior

It's worth noting that select models have the Knock2Open feature, which allows for a smooth, handleless front.


Best Upgrade: Bosch SHXM88Z75N, 40 dB

Bosch Benchmark Dishwasher SHXM88Z75N

Who It's For: People who want the most luxurious, silent, and high-performance dishwasher on the market.

Why We Chose It: This Bosch 800 series dishwasher clocks in at an ultra quiet 40 dB in sound tests. It incorporates all of the key Bosch technologies, including the CrystalDry feature for a bone-dry finish and a water softener.

You may ask why we picked a 40 dB dishwasher as our best upgrade pick when there are 38 db dishwashers on the market. Well, considering the price point, the features, and the extensive third rack, the Bosch SHXM88Z75N offers the best price-to-performance ratio of them all.

Let's start with the The MyWay third rack. It's large enough to hold bowls and ladles in addition to extra silverware. It saves space in lower racks and utensil basket so you put more in every load.

Bosch priced this dishwasher competitively, and it offers additional sales incentives via seasonal promotions and competitive consumer rebates. Equivalent dishwashers from other brands usually cost $300 more.

Please note that the Bosch Benchmark series SHE89PW75N and SHX89PW75N are technically the quietest Bosch dishwashers around, with an ultra quiet 38 dB noise level.

Key Features:

  • 6 program cycles and options
  • 40 db noise level
  • Energy Star certification
  • Smooth gliding racks, plus the premium MyWay third rack
  • Large interior fits numerous place settings

At this price point, we wish that the Bosch SHXM88Z75N included a water softener to fight hard water deposits. However, Bosch reserves water softeners for its Benchmark series, and the company trimmed its selection considerably in the past few months to make room in its production line for more popular models.


Best Budget: GE Profile PDT785SYNFS, 39 dB

GE Profile Dishwasher PDT785SYNFS

Who It's For: People who want to spend a little less or get a quiet dishwasher as part of a great package deal.

Why We Like It: GE dishwashers are extremely reliable. Although we wouldn't call most models in the GE dishwasher catalog poster children for quietness, this GE Profile series dishwasher is one of the best in the world, at a near-whisper-quiet 39 dB.

Inside, this dishwasher is a like a water park for dishes, utensils, mugs, and serveware, with 140 cleaning jets to cover every corner.

Key Features:

  • Deep clean, dedicated silverware jets
  • Quick wash cycles
  • Dedicated bottle jets, ideal for families with infants
  • Steam and sanitize cycles
  • Large capacity with 16 place settings
  • Convenient half load wash cycle, to focus on the top or bottom rack only

Best Drying Action: Bosch 800 Series SHPM88Z75N, 40 dB

Bosch dishwasher SHPM88Z75N

Who It's For: People who never want to dry a puddle off the top of a drinking glass again.

Why We Chose It: Bosch's CrystalDry technology continually impresses us with its best-in-class drying performance.

This appliance delivers truly amazing drying thanks to its cutting-edge CrystalDry technology. It offers a great price point for a feature-rich dishwasher with a dedicated third rack.

The handleless design allows this dishwasher to blend in any kitchen without clashing with other appliances. So if you have to replace your dishwasher with the best in class, but worry about introducing a new manufacturer brand to your kitchen, this Bosch dishwasher is ideal for you.

Key Features:

  • 40 dB noise level
  • 6 program cycles: heavy, auto, glass, normal, Speed60, and rinse
  • Energy Star approval
  • Standard racks and the premium MyWay third rack
  • Large interior fits 16 place settings
  • Stainless steel with pocket design handles

Best Cleaning Action: Miele G7106SCUSS, 45 dB

Miele G7106SCUSS

Who It's For: People who're meticulous about how they load the dishwasher and don't want to see a streak or spot.

Why We Chose It: It gives you excellent cleaning and drying with the latest in dishwasher technology, including Miele's AutoOpen door. The appliance eliminates musty smells that usually occur on dishwashers from other manufacturers, and the built-in water softerner ensures pristine results.

This machine is very quiet at 45 dB, which means it will not disturb conversations or your favorite TV show. Together with its great cleaning abilities and feature rich functionality, including a spacious third rack, we think it's a great mix of quietness and performance.

Key Features:

  • 45 dB noise level
  • 6 program cycles and options
  • Energy Star certified
  • AutoOpen door for better drying
  • Advanced third rack design
  • Spacious interior fits 16 place settings
  • Ergonomic design with either pocket handles or towel bar handles

Dishwasher Noise Rating FAQs

What does the decibel rating mean?

Manufacturers love to use decibels to describe the noise levels of their machines. But the funny thing is, most of us have no idea how loud decibel levels are or how they compare. Manufacturers simply assume that if they advertise a decibel level with enough vibrancy and excitement, consumers will assume it’s an impressive figure. Then they have the dishwasher installed only to find out they can hear it from their bedroom.

So let’s talk a bit about decibels when it comes to dishwasher ratings...

Decibels are a unit of measurement that is what mathematicians call logarithmic, meaning it goes up in powers of ten. That means a decibel number that’s 10 percent higher than another isn’t going to be 10 percent louder. No, a 70 dB sound is actually twice as loud as a 60 dB sound. And a 50 dB sound is one-fourth quieter than a 60 dB sound.

dishwasher-decibel-levels


How many decibels is a quiet dishwasher?

First, we should point out that all modern models are quieter than 60 dB. You're not going to find one that's louder than crashing waves, even if you buy the least expensive one you can find. And that might be perfectly acceptable for you if your kitchen's far away from the areas of your home where you sleep and like to hang out.

However, we recommend finding one that’s 50 dB or quieter. Remember, this is a quarter the volume of 60 dB. To give you a clearer idea, 50 dB is roughly the noise level of a quiet conversation, and we've found that it’s usually more than quiet enough for most people.

If you have an open floor plan, you might want something even quieter. Those options are available.

Still, the truth of the matter is that paying extra for anything below 44 dB is a waste of money unless you plan on sleeping in your kitchen every night. We’re talking about the volume of a library, so if a brand claims that anything lower than 44db is the only acceptable volume, ignore them.

At 44 dB you may still hear a very slight noise coming from the dishwasher. If you're extra sensitive to sound, there are models available as whisper-quiet as 38 dB. But for most homes that's overkill, too much cost for negligible benefit.


What makes a dishwasher quiet or loud?

The factors that determine how loud a dishwasher sounds are numerous and diverse. The main sources of noise in a dishwasher include:

  • The movement of water through the water pump
  • The drain pump removing water from the extra space
  • Water moving and bouncing off of surfaces
  • The movement of clean dishes, mugs, untensils, or glassware in the racks
  • A hard food disposal system, which some dishwashers still have instead of a filter you can remove and clean

Manufacturers have found effective ways to minimize the sound dishwashers produce and then muffle it. Some of these design innovations involve the washing process itself, using quieter pump systems and variable speeds that keep the dishwasher from constantly running at full power (and full volume).

Another tactic manufacturers use is to add insulation around the unit to keep noise from escaping. This helps isolate noise inside the dishwasher.

Watch our exclusive video review of the best dishwashers in 2023.

Comparing Dishwasher Noise Between Brands

Comparing brands when it comes to their decibel claims can be tough because there's no standardized practice for measuring noise levels. That means one company could be measuring at a distance of one meter while another conducts its tests from across a warehouse or in a different type of room.

Besides, there's no way to know if they're considering the noise levels during water intake or discharge or during wash cycles. What is the soil sensor's reading of the dishes and utensils during the test? You can see from these examples how decibel level readings could be misleading. There's really no way to make an apples-to-apples comparison.

Your only safe bet is making relative comparisons between models offered by the same brand, because you can can expect them to use the same noise testing method from one test to the next.

Bosch and Miele dishwashers are the two brands who make the quietest dishwashers. They have been "battle-tested" and shown to have the best noise ratings across the board. Considering that their testing methods to be the most stringent in the industry, we highly recommend them as a safe bet.

As a side note, we believe Miele dishwashers missed a great opportunity in marketing when it decided not to release its great quietness ratings for more than a decade before circa 2017.

If you’re ever in doubt, ask around to see if any friends or family members can vouch for a certain model’s volume level. That's much better and more reliable than taking brand’s claims at face value.

Watch our exclusive video review of what makes a good dishwasher.

Quietest Dishwasher Brands

1. Bosch Dishwashers

When it comes to quietness, Bosch puts in the most effort. But Bosch makes over 100 dishwashers with industry leading noise levels, and it can be overwhelming to choose one that matches your needs. With that in mind, here are some of the most popular quiet Bosch dishwashers.

Bosch-Dishwashers-Noise-Reduction-Technology-Explained

Most Popular Bosch Dishwashers

Model Description
SHP865ZD5N 500 DLX flush handle dishwasher, 44 dB
SHX878ZD5N 800 DLX Series dishwasher w/bar handle, 44 dB
SHE89PZ55N Bosch Benchmark dishwasher with recessed handle, water softener, and interior lights, 39 dB
SHV88PZ63N Bosch Benchmark dishwasher with water softener and interior lights, 38 dB
For more details on Bosch dishwashers, watch our exclusive video review.

2. Miele Dishwashers

Miele makes the best dishwashers in the world when it comes to cleaning. Similar to Bosch, Miele dishwashers are extremely quiet. But Miele machines aren't just extremely quiet; they're also extremely versatile. They tout a long laundry list of excellent features, including:

  • Hidden controls
  • A full-fledged cutlery basket
  • Water softener technology
  • Express cycle technology
  • Quick wash Technology

These are some of the top all-around Miele dishwasher models:

Popular Miele Dishwasher Models

Model Description
G4948UCLST Futura Classic Plus dishwasher, 46 dB
G4228SCUSS Futura Classic Plus dishwasher, cutlery basket, express cycle, 46 dB
G7156SCViSF New Gen 7000 series, hidden controls, water softener, 45 dB
G7316SCUSS New Gen 7000 series with automatic dispenser, AutoOpen door, and WiFi, 39 dB
G7566SCViSF New Gen 7000 series, elegant interior lights and glass touch controls, 39 dB
Watch our exclusive Miele dishwasher video review

Quiet Dishwasher Runners-Up

Whirlpool Dishwashers for Budget Choices

Whirlpool WDTA50SAKZ

Over the past three years, we've noticed that even low-cost dishwashers are becoming quieter. If you're looking to wash your dishes and utensils without breaking the bank, Whirlpool dishwashers have an acceptable price-to-performance ratio.

For starters, the Whirlpool WDTA50SAKZ is a fully integrated dishwasher with hidden controls and a very quiet 47 dB noise level. However, we must note that the 47 dB rating was clocked on a normal wash cycle, which is geared towards lightly soiled dishes.

We recommend using the pots and pans program for most loads, which might add to the sound levels.


Fisher & Paykel Dishwashers

Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher DD24DAX9N

Dishwasher drawers are becoming more popular in the U.S., and Fisher & Paykel is the only brand that makes them.

The drawer design does has some inherent drawbacks when it comes to distributing water quietly in the tub, but Fisher & Paykel has done a great job keeping the noise to a minimum.

The Fisher & Paykel DD24DAX9N double dishwasher drawer is one of the most popular in the lineup, with a 45 dB silence rating.


Conclusion

More and more manufacturers are developing quiet dishwasher models, but Bosch and Miele are the only two brands that have the best noise ratings across their entire selection. These two brands are always a safe bet.

We also encourage you to ask around to see if any friends or family members can vouch for a certain model’s volume level. We've found that's also a good benchmark rather than solely taking a brand’s claims at face value.