The Bosch Benchmark SHP9PCM5N sits at the top of Bosch’s dishwasher lineup. Its price at Masters Wholesale is now far lower than the one in our older review. That changes the value story. We refreshed this Bosch SHP9PCM5N review with the price we saw in October 2026. We also used Bosch’s own documents for this exact model.
Our take: this Bosch Benchmark dishwasher makes the most sense in two kinds of homes. The first has an open kitchen, where the dishwasher shares space with the living area. The second has hard water.
Bosch SHP9PCM5N review verdict
At $1,299 at Masters Wholesale, the SHP9PCM5N is a strong buy for open-plan kitchens and hard-water homes. Bosch rates it at 38 dBA. It adds a built-in water softener, a certified sanitize option, TimeLight and smooth ball-bearing racks. It has trade-offs, too. Some cycles live only in the app, and there’s no child lock button. Some owners also say plastics come out wet.
| Best for | Open kitchens, hard water and big daily loads |
| Think twice if | You want every cycle on buttons or need a child lock |
| Price checked | $1,299 at Masters Wholesale, October 2026 |
We based this verdict on Bosch’s documents, the current listing and a small set of owner reviews. We have not run this unit through our own tests.
Current price at Masters
We checked the Bosch Benchmark SHP9PCM5N in October 2026. Masters Wholesale listed it at $1,299. The same page showed a compare-at price of $1,999. So the selling price sat $700 below the compare-at price on the page.
We call $1,999 a compare-at price because that’s how the page shows it. We could not confirm it as Bosch’s official MSRP. So we don’t present the $700 as a sure saving off list price. Our older review quoted a much higher price, and its savings figures no longer hold.
Prices change, so check the price before you order. Your final total also depends on sales tax. It depends on any delivery, install or haul-away you need, too. We haven’t confirmed which of those services this listing includes. Ask for a full quote. The unit comes with a plug-in cord. If you plan to hardwire it, add Bosch’s SMZPCJB1UC junction box, which is sold separately. This listing is marked ONLY IN NORCAL. Ask whether your address is served before you order.
Who the Benchmark is built for
Start with your kitchen layout. Does the dishwasher sit a few steps from the couch or the dinner table? Then give the sound rating extra weight. Bosch rates the SHP9PCM5N at 38 dBA. That’s the lowest rating of the three models we compare in this review. It makes this our first pick of the three for open layouts. Still, how much you hear in your own home depends on the room and the install.
Hard water is the second reason to look at this model. The SHP9PCM5N has a water softener built in. Its closest Bosch sibling, the 800 Series SHP78CM5N, doesn’t have one.
It also suits homes that run full loads every day. Bosch rates it for 16 place settings. The Flexible 3rd Rack holds utensils and small bowls. The middle rack moves up and down to make room for tall items.
Parents who wash baby bottles will like the sanitize option. It carries NSF/ANSI 184 certification, the standard for home dishwashers. You pick it right on the control panel. Bosch’s manual names baby bottles and cutting boards as good uses for it.
This model is a weaker fit for some buyers. Look elsewhere if you:
- Want every cycle and option on buttons.
- Need a child lock button because small kids can reach the controls.
- Don’t want to set up Wi-Fi to reach extra cycles like Rinse or Delicate.
Features that matter day to day
PowerControl for dirty pots
The SHP9PCM5N uses Bosch’s PrecisionWash system with a PowerControl spray arm. Bosch says it targets your dirtiest dishes with a deeper clean. You can load them anywhere on the bottom rack. In plain terms, you can aim extra spray at the casserole dish. You don’t have to blast the whole load. PowerControl options sit on the control panel. You don’t need the app for this one.
Racks that adjust to your dishes
The Flexible 3rd Rack has fold-down sides and tines you can adjust. Bosch claims it adds 30% more loading area than a Bosch dishwasher with two racks. Bosch says it’s made for utensils and ramekins.
The middle rack uses Bosch’s RackMatic system. The Masters listing shows three heights and up to nine rack positions. That helps when you fit tall wine glasses up top and large platters below. All three racks ride on EasyGlide Plus ball-bearing wheels. They slide out smoothly even when full.
All that freedom comes with a learning curve. Some of the low-star reviews we read mention rack troubles. One five-star reviewer’s headline called silverware loading “tedious.”
TimeLight and the interior light
The controls hide on top of the door. That keeps the front clean, but you can’t see a display while the door is closed. TimeLight shows the time left below the handle while it runs. So you can check how far along it is without opening the door. A light inside makes loading and unloading easier in a dim kitchen.
Built-in water softener
Bosch’s spec sheet confirms a built-in water softener on this model. The Bosch SHP9PCM5N Use and Care Manual explains its job. It’s a Bosch-written PDF hosted on a retailer’s site. Hard water leaves limescale on dishes and inside the machine. The softener uses special dishwasher salt to treat the water.
Whether you need it depends on your water. Measure how hard it is first. Bosch suggests you ask your water utility or use a water hardness tester. Then find your number in the manual’s hardness table.
- 0 to 8 °E: The manual says you can leave out the salt and switch the softener off in this range. The table calls some water soft even when it’s above 8 °E. So go by the number, not the label.
- Whole-house softener: The manual says the built-in one may not be needed. It also lists the conditions for switching it off safely.
- Above 8 °E: Enter your hardness during setup and keep the salt filled. The exception is water that meets one of the manual’s switch-off conditions. One of them covers combined detergents with salt replacement substances. Detergent makers say you can use those without salt up to 26 °E.
Say your hardness falls in that 0 to 8 °E range, or your water is already treated. Then this feature gives you less reason to pick the Benchmark over the 800 Series.
Bosch lists water softener salt (part SGZ9091UC) as an optional accessory. The manual says to use only special dishwasher salt, never table salt. It also says to add salt when the salt indicator lights up, right before you start a cycle.
AquaStop leak protection
Bosch lists 24/7 AquaStop leak protection, its system for guarding against leaks. It’s a comfort if it sits next to wood floors or cabinets.
NSF-certified sanitize option
Yes, this model has a sanitize option. Some product listings say the SHP9PCM5N has none. Bosch’s spec sheet lists an NSF/ANSI 184 certified sanitize option, and we go with Bosch. NSF certification is a sanitizing standard, though. It doesn’t rate how well the dishwasher cleans. Bosch’s manual also notes that Sanitize makes the cycle longer and uses more energy.
Cleaning and drying expectations
We haven’t tested this unit ourselves. So we lean on what Bosch documents and what the owners in our review sample said. On cleaning, all five positive reviews we picked praised the results. One four-star owner wrote, “The cleaning and drying do not disappoint, but what slightly does are the controls.” In the low-star reviews we read, drying and the app drew more complaints than cleaning did.
Drying is where you should set your hopes with care. The SHP9PCM5N uses Bosch’s CrystalDry system, which Bosch says turns moisture into heat. Bosch claims it gets dishes 60% drier than its PureDry system. That figure comes from a mixed load of plastics, glass, steel and porcelain. Bosch’s own footnote says drying varies by dish type. The manual adds that the CrystalDry option makes drying take longer.
Plastics drew complaints in the low-star reviews. One owner wrote, “Even then the plastics are still wet.” Another said dishes, “especially plastics, emerge dripping,” even with extra drying turned on. If plastic tubs make up much of your load, take those reports seriously.
Rinse aid plays a part. Bosch’s manual recommends it for the best drying results. It says to refill it when the rinse-aid light comes on. It also says a higher rinse-aid setting cuts water spots and helps drying.
What the 38 dBA rating means
Bosch rates the SHP9PCM5N at 38 dBA. For context, Bosch rates the 800 Series SHP78CM5N at 42 dBA. KitchenAid rates its KDTM604KPS at 44 dBA. All three numbers come from the brands that make them. We didn’t measure any of them.
On paper, the Benchmark has the lowest rating of the three. What you hear at home depends on your room, your cabinets and the install. It also depends on whatever else is making noise in the house. No rating can promise you won’t hear a dishwasher. Will yours run in an open living space? Then the lower rating is still a fair reason to favor this model.
Owners in our sample didn’t all agree on noise. One five-star reviewer called it “by far the most quiet dishwasher we’ve ever owned.” One low-star reviewer wrote, “The major drawback is the sound.”
We won’t call it the quietest dishwasher on the market. We can say it has the lowest sound rating of the models we compared here.
Controls, cycles and the app
The app is the biggest trade-off with the SHP9PCM5N. It runs its daily cycles without Wi-Fi. The extra cycles and options need Bosch’s Home Connect app.
On the control panel, you get five cycles: Heavy, Auto, Normal, Speed60 (a 1-hour wash) and Favorite. The panel options are Sanitize, CrystalDry, PowerControl and Remote Start. You use Remote Start with the app.
Four more cycles live in the app only: Express, Rinse, Delicate and MachineCare. Four options are app-only, too: Half Load, SpeedPerfect, ExtraScrub and Eco. The manual notes that the options you can use depend on the cycle you choose.
If you never want to touch your phone, the panel cycles cover most daily loads. You’ll miss Half Load, Eco and a rinse-only cycle, though. App and Wi-Fi trouble was the most common complaint in the low-star reviews we read. One owner wrote that they “can’t use all functions without the app.” Another wrote, “Can’t link it to my phone.”
Plan for long cycles. Bosch’s manual lists Normal at 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes. That’s under the conditions it describes. Real run times change with water temperature, load size and how dirty the dishes are. The options you add change them, too. Speed60 is the one-hour choice.
A few control details matter for some homes:
- No child lock button. Bosch’s spec sheet lists none. That’s worth weighing if toddlers can reach the top of the door.
- Changing cycles. The manual says to cancel the running cycle before you switch to a new one.
- Opening the door. Hot water or steam can escape during a cycle or right after one. The manual says not to open the door fully until the water noises stop and the steam dies down.
Installation, connections and upkeep
The SHP9PCM5N fits a standard 24-inch opening. Bosch lists the cutout as 24 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 33 7/8 inches high. The height adjusts from 33 7/8 to 35 inches. Some listings show a slightly wider cutout. Bosch’s spec sheet says to check the install instructions for final sizes before you cut.
Bosch’s spec sheet lists these hookup details.
- Power: 120 V, 60 Hz, 12 A, 1440 W.
- Power cord: 67 inches long, 3-prong plug included.
- Drain hose: 78 3/4 inches, pre-connected.
- Minimum water pressure: 14 psi.
The box includes the drain hose, a toe-kick and the power cord. To hardwire it, you’ll need the SMZPCJB1UC junction box, sold separately. Bosch also lists optional supply hose kits and a drain hose extension (SGZ1010UC). Your setup may call for them.
The SHP9PCM5N weighs 117 pounds. Plan for two people or a pro installer.
Upkeep is mostly about the filters and refills. Bosch’s manual says to check the filters for leftover debris after each wash. It also walks you through how to take them out and rinse them. MachineCare is an app-only cleaning cycle. The rinse-aid dispenser needs topping up. So does the salt, if you use the softener. You’ll find cleaners and other supplies in our dishwasher accessories section.
SHP9PCM5N specs
| Spec | SHP9PCM5N |
|---|---|
| Series | Benchmark |
| Width | 24 in nominal (23 9/16 in actual) |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 33 7/8 x 23 9/16 x 23 3/4 in |
| Required cutout (H x W x D) | 33 7/8 x 24 x 24 in |
| Sound rating | 38 dBA |
| Capacity | 16 place settings |
| Tub | Stainless steel |
| Finish | Anti-fingerprint stainless steel, pocket handle |
| Controls | Top, concealed |
| Wash system | PrecisionWash with PowerControl |
| Drying | CrystalDry |
| Racks | Flexible 3rd Rack, RackMatic, EasyGlide Plus |
| Water softener | Yes |
| Sanitize | NSF/ANSI 184 certified option |
| Wi-Fi | Home Connect |
| Leak protection | 24/7 AquaStop |
| Child lock button | No |
| ENERGY STAR | Yes, 240 kWh per year, 3.2 gal per cycle |
| Electrical | 120 V, 12 A, 1440 W |
| Net weight | 117 lbs |
Specs come from the Bosch SHP9PCM5N spec sheet. Our research used an earlier copy of this sheet dated 2/26. The file at this link now shows a 9/26 date. The specs we list here match in both.
SHP9PCM5N vs similar models
Two models came up most often when we looked at close alternatives. We compared them on the brands’ own specs only. For the wider Bosch lineup, our best Bosch dishwashers guide covers more options.
| Bosch SHP9PCM5N | Bosch SHP78CM5N | KitchenAid KDTM604KPS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Benchmark | 800 Series | KitchenAid |
| Sound rating | 38 dBA | 42 dBA | 44 dBA |
| Built-in water softener | Yes | No | No |
| Drying | CrystalDry | CrystalDry | Fan-enabled ProDry |
| Third rack | Flexible 3rd Rack | Flexible 3rd Rack | 360 Max Jets third rack |
| Status light | TimeLight | InfoLight | Not confirmed |
| Rack glides | EasyGlide Plus | EasyGlide | Not confirmed |
Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N
The 800 Series shares a lot with the Benchmark. Both use CrystalDry and PowerControl. Both hold 16 place settings, have the Flexible 3rd Rack and connect to Home Connect. They also list the same overall size.
The gaps come down to comfort and hard-water care. The 800 Series is rated at 42 dBA against the Benchmark’s 38. It has no built-in water softener. It uses InfoLight, which shows that it’s running. It doesn’t have TimeLight’s time-left display below the handle. Its racks use EasyGlide in place of EasyGlide Plus.
We see no evidence that either model washes better. They share the same core wash and dry systems. The 800 Series makes sense when three things are true. Your water measures in the manual’s 0 to 8 °E no-salt range, or it’s already treated. The dishwasher sits in a closed-off kitchen. And a simple running light is enough for you. In that case, let the real quotes you get decide it. We don’t assume either model costs less. With hard water or an open layout, the Benchmark’s extras are the reason to choose it.
KitchenAid KDTM604KPS
The KitchenAid takes a different approach. Its ProDry system uses a heating element plus a fan. Its third rack has 360 Max Jets. These aim spray at items up top, such as glasses and mugs. Both Bosch third racks also hold small pieces like ramekins. So the difference is those jets, not what fits. KitchenAid also claims its filter cleans itself. Bosch’s manual, by contrast, asks you to check the SHP9PCM5N’s filters after each wash.
KitchenAid rates it at 44 dBA, and it has no built-in water softener. We found no outside evidence that ProDry or CrystalDry dries better than the other.
It’s a fit if you want a third rack with its own wash jets for cups and glasses. It also suits you if you want a filter KitchenAid says cleans itself. When we looked, KitchenAid’s own online store listed it as out of stock. That doesn’t tell you what’s in stock through us. Get a quote before you plan around it.
How we reviewed the SHP9PCM5N
This Bosch Benchmark dishwasher review is built on documents and data. We checked the current Masters product page for price. We used Bosch’s spec sheet and product page for this exact model. They gave us the features, specs and hookup details. The Bosch SHP9PCM5N Use and Care Manual linked above covered cycle times, softener setup and upkeep. Our copy is dated 2023, so we don’t claim it’s the newest edition. We did not have an install manual for this exact model. So we don’t give install steps.
We did not test this unit ourselves. Figures like 38 dBA, the 60% drier claim and the 30% extra loading area are Bosch’s claims. We label them that way.
We also read 21 owner reviews of this exact model. They come from review records stored in the Masters product database. Those records are tagged as syndicated from Bosch’s website. We picked 16 low-star reviews to find complaints. We picked 5 positive ones to check what owners praise. They date from August 2023 to November 2025. Nine reviewers said they got a promotion tied to their review. None were marked as verified buyers. A hand-picked group this small shows what some owners ran into. It can’t tell you how often a problem or a strength shows up.
Past versions of this review cited test scores and reliability figures. We couldn’t verify them for this exact model, so we removed them. We also chose to leave out third-party awards and rankings. We kept this review on Bosch’s documents and the current listing. Where Bosch’s documents and retailer listings disagreed, we used Bosch’s spec sheet. That covered sanitize, the drying system, Wi-Fi, weight and cutout width.
Bosch SHP9PCM5N FAQs
Does the Bosch SHP9PCM5N have a sanitize cycle?
It has a sanitize option. Bosch’s spec sheet lists it as NSF/ANSI 184 certified. You pick it on the control panel, so it works without the app. Some product listings say otherwise, but Bosch’s own document confirms it.
Do you need Wi-Fi to use the SHP9PCM5N?
Not for daily use. Heavy, Auto, Normal, Speed60 and Favorite all run from the panel. You need Wi-Fi and the Home Connect app for Express, Rinse, Delicate and MachineCare. You also need them for options like Half Load and Eco.
Do you have to use dishwasher salt?
It depends on your measured water hardness. Check it with your water utility or a tester first. Say your water measures 0 to 8 °E. Bosch’s manual says you can then leave out the salt and switch the softener off. The table in the manual calls some water soft even when it’s harder than that. So the label alone isn’t enough. Some combined detergents have salt replacement substances. If you use one, the manual allows switching it off up to 26 °E. It cites detergent makers for that. With a whole-house softener, you may not need it either. Check the manual’s switch-off conditions first.
How loud is the Bosch Benchmark dishwasher?
Bosch rates the SHP9PCM5N at 38 dBA. That’s lower than the 42 dBA rating on the 800 Series SHP78CM5N. It’s Bosch’s own rating, not a number we measured.
What cutout size does the SHP9PCM5N need?
Bosch lists a cutout 24 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 33 7/8 inches high. The height adjusts up to 35 inches. Check Bosch’s install instructions before you cut cabinets or order.
Is the Bosch SHP9PCM5N ENERGY STAR certified?
Yes. Bosch lists it as ENERGY STAR certified. It lists energy use at 240 kWh per year and water use at 3.2 gallons per cycle.
What warranty comes with the SHP9PCM5N?
We couldn’t verify the warranty terms for this review. Bosch’s spec sheet sends buyers to the Use and Care manual or the Bosch website. That’s where you’ll find the limited warranty statement. You can also ask our team before you order.
Final verdict
At $1,299 at Masters Wholesale, the SHP9PCM5N is easier to justify than its $1,999 compare-at price suggests. You get the lowest sound rating of the models we compared and a built-in water softener. You also get a certified sanitize option and premium racks. And it uses the same wash and dry systems as the 800 Series.
Buy it if an open-plan kitchen, hard water or flexible loading tops your list. It’s the Bosch we’d point open-plan homeowners toward first.
Skip it if you want every cycle on buttons or need a child lock. Skip it, too, if you wash mostly plastics and want them fully dry out of the machine. If you’re also weighing a Miele, our Miele vs Bosch dishwashers comparison walks through the differences.
Prices move after we publish, and stock and lead times aren’t guaranteed. The Bosch Benchmark SHP9PCM5N listing shows today’s price. Our team can answer questions about fit and install. We can also put together a full quote.