Dishwasher water hardness settings, by brand.
A dishwasher with a built-in water softener needs to be told how hard your water is. Each brand uses its own scale: Bosch uses codes such as H03, Gorenje uses 4:00 to 4:09, Beko uses levels 0 to 5, AEG uses levels 1 to 10, Whirlpool uses settings 1 to 5 (or up to 7), LG uses H0 to H4, and Miele asks for the hardness value itself. This page shows each brand’s published table, taken from the manual or support page linked beside it, and a calculator that finds your row.
Find your setting
Enter your hardness from a city page, your water supplier’s report or a test strip. Use total hardness, not a TDS reading.
Bosch
Bosch’s quick reference guide for the SMU4HCS48E (source 1) lists hardness in mmol/L against a setting value. The guide says a table of country-specific units is in the instruction manual, and other Bosch models use different codes or levels.
| Band (Bosch label) | mmol/L | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | 0 – 1.1 | H00 |
| Soft | 1.2 – 1.4 | H01 |
| Medium | 1.5 – 1.8 | H02 |
| Medium | 1.9 – 2.1 | H03 |
| Medium | 2.2 – 2.9 | H04 |
| Hard | 3.0 – 3.7 | H05 |
| Hard | 3.8 – 5.4 | H06 |
| Hard | 5.5 – 8.9 | H07 |
To set it, Bosch’s guide says to open the basic settings by holding the indicated button for 3 seconds until the display shows Hxx, press repeatedly until the right hardness shows, then hold for 3 seconds to save. The buttons are shown as icons and differ by model.
Gorenje
Gorenje’s user manual for the GV673C60 (source 2) gives one table in four units. It says water above 5 °dH (0.9 mmol/L) must be softened, and recommends an external softener above 50 °dH (8.9 mmol/L).
| Setting | mmol/L | °dH | °fH | °eH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:00 | 0.0 – 0.9 | 0 – 5 | 0 – 9 | 0 – 6 |
| 4:01 | 1.0 – 1.4 | 6 – 8 | 10 – 14 | 7 – 10 |
| 4:02 | 1.5 – 2.0 | 9 – 11 | 15 – 20 | 11 – 14 |
| 4:03 | 2.1 – 2.5 | 12 – 14 | 21 – 25 | 15 – 18 |
| 4:04 | 2.6 – 3.4 | 15 – 19 | 26 – 34 | 19 – 24 |
| 4:05 | 3.5 – 4.3 | 20 – 24 | 35 – 43 | 25 – 30 |
| 4:06 | 4.4 – 5.2 | 25 – 29 | 44 – 52 | 31 – 36 |
| 4:07 | 5.3 – 7.0 | 30 – 39 | 53 – 70 | 37 – 49 |
| 4:08 | 7.1 – 8.8 | 40 – 49 | 71 – 88 | 50 – 61 |
| 4:09 | 8.9 | 50 | 89 | 62 |
Gorenje notes that the softener regenerates regularly, which lengthens the programme and uses more energy and water, and that how often depends on the setting.
Beko
Beko’s user manual (source 3) uses six levels. It says mains water above 7 °dH must be softened, that salt is not needed below 13 °fH, and that above 90 °fH or with well water you should use water purification devices and special filters.
| Level | °dH | °dE (English) | °dF (French) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 – 4 | 0 – 5 | 0 – 8 |
| 1 | 5 – 7 | 6 – 9 | 9 – 13 |
| 2 | 8 – 12 | 10 – 15 | 14 – 22 |
| 3 | 13 – 15 | 16 – 19 | 23 – 27 |
| 4 | 16 – 19 | 20 – 24 | 28 – 34 |
| 5 | 20 – 50 | 25 – 62 | 35 – 90 |
Beko’s manual also says that if the level is set to 1, the “no salt” indicator stays lit even though salt is not needed, and that you should re-adjust the level after moving house. It includes a test strip with the machine.
AEG
AEG’s support article (source 4) gives ten levels, with level 5 as the factory default and level 1 meaning no salt.
| Level | °dH | °fH | mmol/L | Clarke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (no salt) | < 4 | < 7 | < 0.7 | < 5 |
| 2 | 4 – 10 | 7 – 18 | 0.7 – 1.8 | 5 – 12 |
| 3 | 11 – 14 | 19 – 25 | 1.9 – 2.5 | 13 – 17 |
| 4 | 15 – 18 | 26 – 32 | 2.6 – 3.2 | 18 – 22 |
| 5 (factory) | 19 – 22 | 33 – 39 | 3.3 – 3.9 | 23 – 27 |
| 6 | 23 – 28 | 40 – 50 | 4.0 – 5.0 | 28 – 35 |
| 7 | 29 – 36 | 51 – 64 | 5.1 – 6.4 | 36 – 45 |
| 8 | 37 – 42 | 65 – 75 | 6.5 – 7.5 | 46 – 52 |
| 9 | 43 – 46 | 76 – 83 | 7.6 – 8.3 | 53 – 57 |
| 10 | 47 – 50 | 84 – 90 | 8.4 – 9.0 | 58 – 63 |
Whirlpool
Two Whirlpool documents give different tables, which shows how much the scale depends on the model. Both use ppm and settings in the 1 to 5 range, but the boundaries and the factory default differ.
Water softener user instructions W10665624
This quick reference (source 8) comes with a test strip and lists US and Canadian customer-service numbers; it matches the strip result to a setting. The factory default is setting 3, and the sheet says hardness can vary by season, so you may need to adjust it.
| Water hardness | ppm | Softener setting | Salt needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | < 70 | 1 | No |
| Moderately hard | 71 – 124 | 2 | Yes |
| Hard | 125 – 249 | 3 (factory default) | Yes |
| Very hard | 250 – 380 | 4 | Yes |
| Extremely hard | > 380 | 5* | Yes |
*The sheet adds that if you think your water is much harder than the highest setting, you can set 6 (above 500 ppm) or 7 (above 625 ppm).
Stainless steel tub owner’s manual W11589935
This owner’s manual (source 9) has a different table. The water softener is off by default (level 0) and you turn it on by choosing a level in the settings menu. The table prints shared boundaries (for example 100 ppm appears in both level 1 and level 2), so check the manual for edge cases.
| Level | Grains per gallon | ppm |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Water softener off (factory setting) | |
| 1 | 0 – 6 | 0 – 100 |
| 2 | 6 – 12 | 100 – 200 |
| 3 | 12 – 18 | 200 – 300 |
| 4 | 18 – 36 | 300 – 600 |
| 5 | > 36 | > 600 |
This manual warns that if you have very hard water (above 15 grains per gallon) and no whole-house softener, the dishwasher’s water softener and heating element can be damaged by limescale, so the built-in softener should be used. To set it, hold the Hi Temp button for 5 seconds, then press Start/Resume within 2 seconds, and follow the menu. Whirlpool’s product help (source 11) says a typical salt refill is about once every 6 to 8 weeks at the default setting 3, that the container holds about 4½ cups (1.0 kg), and that you should avoid table, sea, rock and de-icing salt.
LG
LG’s owner’s manual for a softener-equipped dishwasher (MFL70282471, source 12) has five softening levels, H0 to H4, and says the appliance is set at the factory to H2. The table prints shared boundaries (for example 1.3 mmol/L appears in both H1 and H2), so check the manual for edge cases.
| Level | °dH | °eH | °fH | mmol/L (Ca+Mg) | mg/L (Ca only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H0 (soft) | < 4 | < 5 | < 7 | < 0.7 | < 29 |
| H1 | 4 – 7 | 5 – 9 | 7 – 13 | 0.7 – 1.3 | 29 – 50 |
| H2 (factory) | 7 – 14 | 9 – 17.5 | 13 – 25 | 1.3 – 2.5 | 50 – 100 |
| H3 | 14 – 21 | 17.5 – 26 | 25 – 38 | 2.5 – 3.8 | 100 – 150 |
| H4 (hard) | > 21 | > 26 | > 38 | > 3.8 | > 150 |
To change the level, press Power and Half Load together, press Delay Start to choose a value from H0 to H4, then press Start to save. At H0 the salt-refill icon stays off even with no salt, so use H0 only if you do not use salt. LG’s manual gives the number of Auto-programme cycles one 1 kg salt fill lasts: about 130 at H1, 50 at H2, 20 at H3 and 10 at H4. It says never to put detergent in the salt compartment, and to run a rinse cycle without dishes after filling. LG’s help page (source 10) says its dishwasher starts at H0 and that you may want a higher level in months of low rainfall, so defaults vary by model and region.
Miele
Miele does not use coarse levels. Its operating instructions (source 5) ask you to enter your actual hardness, in °dH or mmol/L, and say:
- The dishwasher is set at the factory to 2.5 mmol/L (14 °dH).
- If your hardness fluctuates, for example between 1.8 and 2.7 mmol/L (10 to 15 °dH), set the higher value.
- Mains water above 0.9 mmol/L (5 °dH) must be softened. The integrated softener is suitable up to 12.6 mmol/L (70 °dH).
- Below 0.9 mmol/L (5 °dH) you do not need to add salt, and the salt indicator switches off once the hardness is set accordingly.
- With combination detergents, dishwasher salt is not required below 3.8 mmol/L (21 °dH).
Your value in Miele’s units appears in the calculator above.
Fisher & Paykel and Samsung
Fisher & Paykel (New Zealand and Australia). The DW60U user guide (source 6) has no setting table. It says to contact your local water company, to fit a household water softener if your home’s hardness is above 250 ppm (14.6 gpg), and, in hard water, to use more detergent, turn rinse aid to at least setting 5, and descale the machine regularly.
Samsung. Samsung’s support page (source 7) says some models use levels L0 to L5 and others H1 to H6, and that the default level 3 corresponds to 2.1 to 3.0 mmol/L. Defaults differ by model: H3 on the DW60A60, DW60M6043F, DW5043F and DW60M5042F, H3 or H4 on the DW60A80 and DW60R70, and H4 on the DW50R40. If your supply’s hardness is unsteady, Samsung says to set the highest measurement; for example, a reading that ranges from 6.7 to 9.0 mmol/L means setting 9.0 mmol/L. It does not publish one table for all models, so use the manual for your model.
Rules that apply across brands
- Use dishwasher salt only. Beko warns that salts that do not dissolve completely, such as table salt or rock salt, can degrade the system over time, Bosch says never to add detergent to the salt dispenser, and Miele warns that detergent will damage the water softener.
- Add salt before a wash. Bosch says to add special salt just before the programme starts, to avoid damage to the appliance.
- Re-check after moving. Water supplies differ; Beko tells you to re-adjust the level for a new location.
- Soft water can still cause problems. Fisher & Paykel warns that excess detergent in hot soft water can etch glassware.
Unit conversions
| To get… | From mg/L (ppm) |
|---|---|
| °dH (German) | ÷ 17.848 |
| °fH (French) | ÷ 10 |
| °eH / Clarke (English) | ÷ 14.254 |
| grains per US gallon | ÷ 17.118 |
| mmol/L | ÷ 100.0869 |
These are the factors used throughout Waterdial; see the methodology. Brand tables round differently, so a value near a boundary can fall in either row. In that case follow the manual’s instruction for boundary values.
Sources
- Bosch. Quick reference guide, Dishwasher SMU4HCS48E (9001617907).
- Gorenje. GV673C60 User manual, Dishwasher.
- Beko. Dishwasher user’s manual (document 18 7437 0100_AA_BEKO_B6_EN, 2019).
- AEG. How to adjust water hardness level in dishwasher.
- Miele. Operating instructions, Dishwasher, “Water hardness” and “Settings” chapters.
- Fisher & Paykel. User guide NZ AU, Dishwasher DW60U2I and DW60U6I, “Water hardness and dishwashing”.
- Samsung. White residue appears on dishes after washing in Samsung dishwasher.
- Whirlpool. Dishwasher Water Softener System User Instructions (W10665624A).
- Whirlpool. Stainless Steel Tub Dishwasher Owner’s Manual (W11589935C), “Water Softening System” and “Water Hardness Table”.
- LG. [LG Dishwasher] Using the Water Softening System / Removing White Residues.
- Whirlpool. Filling the Dishwasher Water Softener.
- LG. Owner’s manual, Dishwasher (MFL70282471), “Water Hardness Table” and “Setting the Water Softening System”.
We do not use retailer websites as sources. If a table here no longer matches your manual, tell me. Related: Match a reading to an appliance manual · Softener sizing · Descaling kettles and coffee machines · Water hardness by city.