Thermador Star Sapphire 24-inch Dishwasher review
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- StarDry with Zeolite
- Crystal Protect water softener
- Multi-color Star Glow interior light
- Adjustable Chef's Tool Drawer 3rd rack
- Zone Control
Thermador · Dishwasher · Built-in
$2,499 list price
- $2,499 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 2-yr full warranty
- Noise (dBA): 42
- Place settings: 16
The Thermador Star Sapphire dishwasher (DWHD661) is the entertainer's dishwasher in our lineup. It holds 16 place settings, runs at 42 dBA, dries with StarDry using zeolite, softens water with Crystal Protect, and lights the tub with a multi-color Star Glow. At about $2,499 MSRP it sits between Bosch Benchmark and Cove. It isn't the quietest, but it offers a longer full warranty than Bosch and a Chef's Tool Drawer that helps after big dinners. For a Thermador kitchen, it's the natural fit.
Best for: Quiet operation · Entertainers · Design-forward kitchens
What we like
- 16 place settings with an adjustable Chef's Tool Drawer
- StarDry with Zeolite for improved drying
- Crystal Protect water softener built in
- 2-year full parts-and-labor warranty, longer than Bosch's 1 year
- Stainless with Professional or Masterpiece handle, or panel-ready
Watch out for
- 42 dBA, louder than Bosch Benchmark's 39
- About $500 more than Bosch Benchmark with similar core specs
- Multi-color lighting is more show than function
Design and build of the Thermador Star Sapphire dishwasher
Star Sapphire comes three ways: DWHD661EFP with a Professional handle, DWHD661EFM with a Masterpiece handle, and DWHD661EPR panel-ready. That lets you match Thermador's Pro ranges or Masterpiece wall ovens, or hide it behind cabinetry.
The Star Glow interior light uses multiple colors. It's a fun detail when you open the door during a party, but it won't make dishes cleaner. The adjustable Chef's Tool Drawer is the more useful touch, holding spatulas, ladles and other utensils in a third rack.
Performance on paper
Sixteen place settings match Bosch Benchmark and are generous for a 24-inch dishwasher. At 42 dBA, the Star Sapphire is quiet, equal to Miele's AutoDos and 3 dBA louder than Bosch. Decibels are logarithmic, so you may notice that gap in a silent kitchen, but not over conversation.
StarDry uses zeolite, a mineral that absorbs moisture and releases heat, to improve drying, especially on plastics. Crystal Protect softens hard water to reduce spots and film on glassware. Zone Control lets you intensify washing in part of the dishwasher for pots and pans.
AquaStop provides leak protection, and Home Connect adds app control. Energy Star certification and 240 kWh a year match Bosch Benchmark, which makes sense since both come from BSH.
Who it's for (and who should skip it)
Buy it if you entertain often, want 16 place settings and better drying, and value a 2-year full warranty over Bosch's 1 year. It fits naturally in a Thermador kitchen.
Skip it if you want the quietest machine or the best value. Bosch Benchmark is quieter for about $500 less, and Thermador's own step-down Sapphire DWHD660 lists at about $1,999 with a 44 dBA rating.
Price, warranty and service
Thermador lists the DWHD661EFP and DWHD661EPR at about $2,499. Thermador's Gift With Purchase Sales Event, valid January 1 to December 31, 2026, offers up to three complimentary appliances or upgrades with qualifying cooking or refrigeration purchases. Ask your dealer whether a dishwasher can be part of that bundle, and request a package quote.
Coverage is 2 years parts and labor, then electronics and racks parts-only through year 5, plus lifetime parts-only rust-through coverage on the tub and door.
How the Thermador dishwasher compares
Thermador vs Bosch dishwasher weighs the BSH siblings. The Miele G 7000 AutoDos dishwasher review shows automatic dosing at the same 42 dBA, and the Bosch Benchmark dishwasher review covers the quieter value pick. See our best luxury dishwashers and the dishwasher hub.
Our verdict
The Thermador Star Sapphire DWHD661 is a strong entertainer's dishwasher: 16 place settings, StarDry with zeolite and a 2-year full warranty for about $2,499, plus potential 2026 bundle value. It isn't the quietest or the cheapest. Buy it for a Thermador kitchen; choose Bosch Benchmark if quiet and value matter more.
Specifications
| Model numbers | DWHD661EFP (pro handle), DWHD661EFM (Masterpiece handle), DWHD661EPR (panel-ready) |
|---|---|
| Width | 24″ |
| Installation | Built-in |
| Noise (dBA) | 42 |
| Place settings | 16 |
| Annual energy kwh | 240 |
| ENERGY STAR | Yes |
| Water softener | Yes |
| Finishes | stainless steel (Professional or Masterpiece handle), panel-ready |
| Wi-Fi / app | Yes-Home Connect |
| Warranty | 2-year parts & labor; electronics & racks parts-only through year 5; lifetime parts-only rust-through on tub/door |
| List price | $2,499 |
Specs and prices checked Oct 7, 2026 against Thermador’s site and authorized retailers. Configurations, panels and installation change the price: confirm with a dealer. How we rate.
Thermador promotion: Gift With Purchase Sales Event (successor to 'One, Two, Free'): Up to three complimentary appliances/upgrades with qualifying cooking or refrigeration purchases; other appliances at regular price, one order, authorized dealers, no substitutions., Valid January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026. Confirm eligibility with an authorized dealer.
Questions about the Thermador Star Sapphire 24-inch Dishwasher
Is Thermador Star Sapphire better than Bosch Benchmark?
They share 16 place settings, 240 kWh a year and a water softener. Thermador adds StarDry with zeolite, a Chef's Tool Drawer, Star Glow lighting and a 2-year full warranty for about $2,499. Bosch is quieter at 39 dBA and about $500 cheaper. Choose Thermador for warranty and features, Bosch for quiet and value.
What is StarDry with Zeolite?
StarDry uses zeolite, a mineral that absorbs moisture and gives off heat in the process. Thermador uses it to improve drying, particularly on plastics, which often stay wet in dishwashers. It's one of the main functional differences between Star Sapphire and Thermador's step-down Sapphire DWHD660.
Does the Thermador Gift With Purchase apply to dishwashers?
Thermador's Gift With Purchase Sales Event runs January 1 to December 31, 2026, and offers up to three complimentary appliances or upgrades with qualifying cooking or refrigeration purchases through authorized dealers. Whether a dishwasher counts, as a qualifying item or a complimentary one, depends on the event terms, so ask your dealer which models qualify before you order.
Head-to-head comparisons
Where it ranks
- Best for entertainers - The Best Panel-Ready and Luxury Dishwashers, Ranked
Similar dishwashers to consider
| Spec | Thermador Star Sapphire 24-inch Dishwasher | Miele G 7000 Series Fully Integrated Dishwasher with AutoDos | Cove 24-inch Dishwasher, Panel Ready |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Thermador | Miele | Cove |
| Category | Dishwasher (built-in) | Dishwasher (integrated) | Dishwasher (built-in) |
| Width | 24″ | 24″ | 24″ |
| Fuel | - | - | - |
| Installation | Built-in | Integrated | Panel-ready |
| List price (MSRP) | $2,499 | $2,199 | $2,935-$3,160 |
| Full warranty | 2-yr full | 2-yr full | 2-yr full |
| Made in | - | - | - |
| Wi-Fi / app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Noise (dBA) | 42 | 42 | 41 |
| Performance rating | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Design rating | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Features rating | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Value rating | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Where to buy | Check price | Check price | Check price |
Prices are manufacturer or retailer list prices when we last checked; luxury brands set minimum advertised prices, so savings usually come from dealer packages and rebates. Ratings are editorial estimates: see how we rate.