All DW's are roughly the same size. Marketing gurus and sales weasels like to play the mine is bigger game if they have nothing else to tempt you with or have a hidded adgenda like a contest or spiff.

You really need to focus on the racks and how a specific model's will accomodate what YOU want to wash. Some will be better for pots and casserols while others excel at allowing more plates and silverware.

Foush, if I were you, I'd take your measuring tape. About six months ago we were in the market for a new DW and wanted to get the Bosch and the sales guy was happy to push it but I kept thinking it looked small. He said "all DW's are about the same". When I measured my KA and then the Bosch it turned out that there was a measurable difference...I've forgotten now exactly what it was but I think the Bosch was about 3" smaller on each rack than my Bosch. In our case, we are a family of 3 that gets one day's worth of dishes (usually) exactly into our KA and I did not want to suddenly go to having overnight dishes waiting for the next day's load so I opted to keep those three inches and got the top of the line KA and we are very happy with it. For others, perhaps that difference is negligible but in our case it was just big enough to make a difference.

As with washing machines, no matter what you get there'll ALWAYS be a time/circumstance when you won't be able to get in it what you want to get in it. Among washing machines there are some pretty big differences. Among dishwashers they're much less. I'd shop for quality and features.

However if whatever little extra you can find is important to you, by all means go for it.

FWIW, I have a couple of Whirlpool Golds at two different locations. The capacity is huge. However, I still frequently wash partial loads and still often have things that I can't fit into the existing load. Perfection in machines and procedures is ever-elusive.

I really don't see how any standard DW could have racks 3" larger than the Bosch. Mine are nearly 21" wide -- that leaves only 1-1/2" on either side for the drum, insulation, walls and slide in room.

I think checking dishes in a DW and looking at the styling of the rack is a better one that simply measuring the racks. I had a DW (Whirlpool or KA) the same size in this house pre-remodel. The tines on the racks were spaces so that I could get very few glasses or mugs in it. It also didn't clean well and was looud. I hated that DW. The KA I left in the previous house was perfect spacing for all my dishes, quiet, cleaned well and I loved it.

The Bosch is different that the A racking I liked, but it is working well. I think every DW requires a little adjusting, but you don't want to get one and then find your bowls don't fit well and you can only get 3 of them in a load, your glasses are too broad and can only fit in staggered rows, or the curve of the plates means that you can only use every other set of tines, etc. If the KA racks are larger, I am certain that I got less in a load with the old DW here than I did in either the one at the last house or the Bosch.

Thanks for all of the great feedback. I like the idea of taking a tape measure to the store. I think I will try that. Seems like all DWs seem to have some sort of issue. Venting in wrong place (KAs), latch not closing (Kenmores), or not reliable or too small. My search continues. I was really excited about the Bosch but I don't want to force myself into a DW that is too small either.

Foush,

Hopefully I can add my experience that will help you decide.
I originally ordered the Bosch DW. We are a family of 5 and I had a hard time adjusting to what appeared a smaller dish rack. It is either smaller or the rows are more tightly together.

It arrived with a dent on the door and they left it for me to use until a replacement came. In the meantime I was able to use it. It is an extremely quiet DW, I just wasn't able to figure out a full dishload of dishes. Including plate, pots, pans, bowls for breakfast and lots of cups.
The Bosch DW was on backorder 3-4 times. They said that was common with Bosch. I did miss the drying element, because with a busy household, I wanted to put my dishes away at the end of the cycle and have it empty first thing in the morning. With the Bosh, it is best to keep the dishes overnight for complete drying. Eventhough after 5 hours I think you are safe.

I eventually traded it for a KA DW and I feel I am able to load our family's dishes with better ease. The venting on top is not an issue, it's not lock steam is coming out of it the entire cycle. I rarely notice any venting or heat coming from it.

I hope this helps with your DW decision. It it was based on quietnes only, the Bosch wins hands down.

Thanks mis3hijos. That helps a ton. I will look more at the KA. What model was it that you have?

Foush, in another house I had a Bosch. It most certainly has a smaller capacity. The size of the machine overall is smaller all the way around. As mentioned earlier, the racks are smaller both widthwise and especially from front to back. Regular dinner plates will overlap or the edges will touch when loaded. There are no provsions for large cake pans, lasagne pans or saute pans to be propped up on their side, so they end up laying face down hogging a lot of space. The Bosch silverware basket is toylike in my opinion. The drying was results were quite poor. That said, it was quiet.

We replaced that machine with a Kitchenaid 'S' model and I really enjoyed that machine as it loaded easily, washed and dried thoroughly. Plus it was quiet and a whole lot more user friendly.

We built a new home and reselected the latest version of that Kitchenaid model, now known as KUDT03 ArchitectII. Just as before it is a beautiful machine and it is very easy and unfussy to use. The multiple racking options and adjustments are wonderful. These models have the top level cutlery-silverware trays in addition to the baskets in the lower rack. There is a pot scrubbing jet at the rear of the tub that surprisingly really works. This also adds to the loading flexibility. I use my machine to wash just about everything. So these details mean a lot. Definitely take some of your everyday things and oversized items and try them out in the machines you are considering.

You'll also hear people claim that you can't wash plastic in the lower rack. Not true, good quality Tupperware or Rubbermaid items wash and dry without warping or distorting in the lower rack.

Also, the vent at the top of the door is talked about in the instruction manual. It is closed at the beginning of a cycle until 4 or 6 hours after the cycle ends. So no steam is released while the machine is running. Furthermore is stated that the vent is there for air circulation when the machine is off to prevent any odors. The Kitchenaid 800# told me that it was also there to prevent suffocation of a small child if it somehow got trapped in the machine.

There is a good 5 year warranty on the machine as well.

I looked at Bosch vs. KA at Sears on the weekend... Did not see this thread until today so I was not prejudiced going in. I can tell you that the Bosch racks *are* shallower (at least the upper is, anyway) by about the size a coffee mug. Thus the capacity of the upper rack alone is 5-6 mugs less than the KA.

Foush,

I bought the KUDB03CTBS0 at sears. I think this model # is only unique to sears. Good luck and let us know what you ended up buying. It has a handle and the disply is on the outside vs. on the top of the door.

I've been looking at the Bosch and Miele and found this guy's blog to be interesting as he compares the capacity of the Bosch and Miele, stating the Miele will hold quite a bit more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link: Miele Dishwasher Just Fits More

Was just out looking at DWs yesterday, considering the KA and Bosch. The sales guy said the Bosch will be slightly smaller because it is built to European standards as opposed to American made. I will go with the KA - got great user reviews on Consumer reports. Although CR didn't love it, the people using it did!

Great posts! Thanks for all of the insight. I am leaning towards at KA now but am having a difficult time trying to understand the different KA models. Anyone know the difference between U and M and T, etc? I see that U is only 12 place settings but seems to be more quiet (more insulation). Which is the largest and the quietest? AGAIN thanks for all the help!!