Best Overall
Toshiba Smart Countertop Microwave Oven
- It gives you the ability to heat food up hands-free using your Alexa.
It gives you the ability to heat food up hands-free using your Alexa.
- This microwave is 1.3 cubic feet, so it’s pretty compact.
This microwave is 1.3 cubic feet, so it’s pretty compact.
The Toshiba ML-EM34P (SS) Smart Countertop Microwave is the best overall countertop microwave because of both its basic, tried and true functions (like its power settings and presets), as well as its innovation. It can be controlled via your Amazon Dot or Echo with your voice, which means that you can heat up your food hands free.
You can also program up to 23 preset time menus on the microwave’s accompanying app. For example, if you pop leftover pizza into the microwave, you can just say, “Alexa, reheat my pizza,” and the microwave will heat your pizza for the appropriate time.
The microwave has a capacity of 1.3 cubic feet, which is on the more compact side as far as size goes. But it is small but mighty—it boasts 1,100 watts, which means it is still powerful enough to heat your food quickly.
You can choose from 10 power levels, depending on your needs. It also has preset menus, which includes the microwave staples like popcorn, baked potatoes, pizza, frozen vegetables, and more.
For those who get overwhelmed by kitchen noises, we also appreciate this microwave’s mute setting, which gives you the ability to stop the appliance from beeping when your food is done cooking.
There are also energy saving features like an LED cavity light and an eco-mode that reduces the amount of energy it is consuming. Because of the amount of features for the price, this countertop microwave earned the top spot.
Product Details: Wattage: 1,100 watts | Voltage: 120 volts | Dimensions: 16.6 x 20.4 x 12.4 inches | Space Capacity: 1.3 cubic feet
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best Budget
Black+Decker 0.7 Cu. Ft. Digital Microwave Oven
- It’s affordable, while still featuring multiple settings for food and power.
It’s affordable, while still featuring multiple settings for food and power.
- The wattage is 700, whereas standard microwaves are typically 1000 watts.
The wattage is 700, whereas standard microwaves are typically 1000 watts.
For a more affordable option, the Black + Decker EM720CB7 is the best pick for those on a budget. This compact microwave measures 0.7 cubic feet, with a width of 13 inches, length of 17.3 inches, and height of 10.2 inches.
The glass turntable has a diameter of 10 inches, a small dinner plate or a bag of popcorn will fit perfectly. It also has a push button to open the door, making it easy to open when your hands are full.
This wallet-friendly microwave contains all of the same basic functions of more expensive microwaves, without some of the higher tech perks. The stainless steel microwave has a basic, easy-to-read display and control panel.
It also has 10 power levels, and preset buttons that allow you to easily heat up popcorn, pizza, potatoes, or frozen vegetables. The microwave also allows you to defrost either by time or weight, using a sensor.
Instead of the standard 1000 watts that most microwaves use, this one operates using 700 watts so you may have to heat up your food for longer. But because it's affordable and has all the features you need, it’s one of our top choices.
Product Details: Wattage: 700 watts | Voltage: 110 volts | Dimensions: 13 x 17.3 x 10.2 inches | Space Capacity: 0.7 cubic feet
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best Splurge
Breville Compact Wave Soft-Close Microwave Oven
- It’s sleek and stylish, and comes with a soft-close door.
It’s sleek and stylish, and comes with a soft-close door.
- The door has a handle, not a push button.
The door has a handle, not a push button.
The Breville BMO650SIL Compact Wave Soft-Close Microwave is stylish in a stainless silver finish, and it’s only 0.9 cubic feet.
This countertop microwave is our pick to splurge on not only because of its aesthetics, but because of its function. It has one-touch buttons that can perform oft-repeated tasks, which include making popcorn, heating a beverage, reheating, and defrosting.
It also has more specific buttons that allow you to quickly reheat pizza, defrost frozen vegetables, or cook potatoes. It also uses a dial timer to set the cook time, and has user-friendly “stop” and “add 30 seconds” buttons.
This compact microwave has a soft close door, so you can make less noise while heating up those leftovers. Additionally, if you prefer a quieter microwave, you can mute all of the beeps on the microwave. The microwave also has a child lock that keeps your kiddos from using it when they aren’t meant to.
This microwave operates using 900 watts, which is slightly less than standard microwaves. If you prefer push-open buttons, keep in mind that this microwave has a handle on the door which may make opening the appliance more cumbersome if you are multitasking or your hands are full.
Product Details: Wattage: 900 watts | Voltage: 120 volts | Dimensions: 17.3 x 19.1 x 11.5 inches | Space Capacity: 0.9 Cubic Feet
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best Retro
COMFEE' Retro Microwave with Multi-Stage Cooking
- It has an old school look, without skimping on modern features.
It has an old school look, without skimping on modern features.
- It’s smaller than standard microwaves at 0.9 cubic feet.
It’s smaller than standard microwaves at 0.9 cubic feet.
If you love decorating with retro motifs, this Comfee Retro Microwave will add both visual interest and practicality to your kitchen. It comes in three colorways: retro green, retro apricot, and retro red. To set your cook time, you use a rotary knob instead of buttons, which adds to the retro feel of the appliance.
At 0.9 cubic feet, the Comfee Retro Microwave may be small—it measures 15.41 x 19.09 x 11.51 inches—but it doesn’t skimp on power. It’s a 900 watt microwave, which is slightly less than a standard microwave’s power. The turntable measures 10.62 inches in diameter, so you can easily fit a plate, a bag of vegetables, or a cup of coffee on it.
This microwave has nine preset menus, like popcorn, beverage, or reheat, to make cooking or reheating as easy as pushing a button. It also has a defrosting function, an express cooking function, and 10 power levels for cooking.
If you are worried about other members of your household getting into the microwave unattended, there is a safety lock to help keep your family safe. Additionally, the microwave also features a mute function, which comes in handy if you are sensitive to noise or trying to make a snack late at night.
To help keep your electric bill low, you can switch to eco-mode to use less power. Because of its balance of retro style and useful features, it’s the best retro countertop microwave.
Product Details: Wattage: 900 watts | Voltage: 110 volts | Dimensions: 15.41 x 19.09 x 11.51 inches | Space Capacity: 0.9 cubic feet
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best for Small Spaces
GE Compact Microwave
- It has an electronic control panel, and the beeps can be muted.
It has an electronic control panel, and the beeps can be muted.
- It only has 700 watts, so cooking time may be different compared to other microwaves.
It only has 700 watts, so cooking time may be different compared to other microwaves.
Having limited counter space can be a serious kitchen struggle, especially when you also don’t have space to install a microwave into a cabinet or above the stove. Coming in at just 12.75 x 17.3 x 10.18 inches, and taking up just 0.7 cubic feet, the GE Compact Microwave is the space-saver’s dream.
The turntable for this microwave is 10.75 inches, so it’s perfectly sized for heating or reheating food. It features an electronic control panel, so you can enter your cook time more precisely than a dial. This microwave also makes opening the door easy with a push button instead of a traditional handle.
It has preset options for cooking potatoes, popcorn, or reheating beverages, and it also has reheat and auto defrost settings. Additionally, it features a clock and a timer, so you can use it to help you time your recipes if you aren’t actually using the microwave. You can also manually program the microwave for defrost times.
Like several options on our list, you can also turn the sound off of this microwave so that you don’t wake anyone up while making a midnight snack. This compact microwave packs a smaller punch with 700 watts, which means that your cook times may vary or take a bit longer than a standard microwave.
Product Details: Wattage: 700 watts | Voltage: 120 volts | Dimensions: 12.75 x 17.3 x 10.18 inches | Space Capacity: 0.7 cubic feet
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best Air Fryer Combo
Galanz 4-in-1 ToastWave
- It’s a versatile microwave that does the job of four different appliances.
It’s a versatile microwave that does the job of four different appliances.
- The control panel is horizontal, rather than vertical like traditional microwaves.
The control panel is horizontal, rather than vertical like traditional microwaves.
If you are tired of pulling on multiple appliances or simply don’t have the storage space, this microwave is the perfect solution. The Galanz GTWHG12S1SA10 4-in-1 ToastWave is the best countertop microwave/air-fryer combo, and it even quadruples as a toaster and convection oven.
It has TotalFry 360 technology, which means that it can act as an air fryer and cook whatever you want with little to no oil since it circulates air. It also has inverter technology, which means that it cooks your food more evenly.
Rather than only heating the outside of the food, it cooks the inside at the same rate. It has a capacity of 1.2 cubic feet, meaning it can fit plenty of food, including a 12.6 inch personal pizza.
The multitasking appliance features a humidity sensor, which ensures that your food isn’t under or over cooked. It also has a defrost setting that works by the same principle, using sensors to determine when your frozen food has defrosted.
This four-in-one appliance comes with a silicone mat for toasting ease that also makes clean up easier, plus a non-stick turntable (which is different from the glass turntables you’ll often see in microwaves) and an air fryer kit.
If you’re considering this model, make sure that you have enough counter space in your kitchen for it. While it’s not too tall at 12.56 inches (good for cabinets with a lower profile), it’s 21.25 inches deep and 22.25 inches long. The control panel is also located horizontally toward the top of the appliance, rather than vertically along one side like traditional microwaves.
Product Details: Wattage: 1000 watts | Voltage: 120 volts | Dimensions: 21.25 x 22.25 x 12.56 inches | Space Capacity: 1.2 cubic feet
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ERIC BROCKOB
Best for Large Capacity
Panasonic NN-SN936B Microwave Oven
- This 1250 watt microwave is available in black or white.
This 1250 watt microwave is available in black or white.
- It measures 2.2 cubic feet, so you’ll need plenty of counter space for this large microwave.
It measures 2.2 cubic feet, so you’ll need plenty of counter space for this large microwave.
The Panasonic NN-SN963B Microwave Oven is the best option for someone with a large family or a love of entertaining. With higher power comes shorter cook times, and this 1250 watt microwave cooks food more quickly than the standard microwave. The 2.2 cubic foot microwave is available in two colors: black or white.
Like the other Panasonic microwaves on this list, this large capacity microwave also has inverter technology. Inverter technology microwaves food with a steady stream of power in order to evenly cook it at any temperature.
This means no more hot outsides but lukewarm (or, still frozen) middles or spillage and splatters because your beverage or soups heated unevenly. The microwave also has a “genius sensor” that automatically adjusts power and time by whatever food type you’ve chosen.
It has 14 auto-cook options including: Oatmeal, omelet, quinoa, soup, potatoes, rice, pasta, fresh vegetables, frozen entrees, frozen pizza, and frozen vegetables. If you love to entertain, you can also use the microwave’s ‘Keep Warm’ setting to help keep your food the appropriate temperature while you wait to serve.
Keep in mind that, because this is a large capacity microwave, it’ll also need more counter space. It measures nearly two feet long and 20 inches deep, with a height of 14 inches. It optimizes its internal space, though, with a 16.5 inch turntable.
Product Details: Wattage: 1250 watts | Voltage: 120 volts | Dimensions: 23.8 x 19.4 x 14 inches | Space Capacity: 2.2 cubic feet
Best White
GE 1.6-Cubic Foot 1150-Watt Countertop Microwave
- It has a mid-range size of 1.6 cubic feet, and it has an easy to push button that opens the microwave door.
It has a mid-range size of 1.6 cubic feet, and it has an easy to push button that opens the microwave door.
- It doesn’t have advanced features or app control.
It doesn’t have advanced features or app control.
If you’re looking to match your countertop microwave with other white appliances, the GE 1.6-cu ft 1150-Watt Countertop Microwave is the best option for you. This microwave has a mid-range capacity at 1.6 cubic feet so it’s larger than our best small pick, but smaller than our best large option.
We love that this microwave has a classic and easy-to-use design. It has six sensor cooking settings (which automatically adjust the time and power settings) including dinner plate, reheat, and beverage. There’s also a defrost button—simply enter the weight of your food and the microwave adjusts its settings to defrost it quickly and efficiently.
Instead of a handle, this microwave has a button below the number pad that opens the microwave door for you, which comes in handy when your hands are full. The door swings open to the left, so make sure your space will accommodate this.
While it doesn’t have advanced features and app control like the Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Countertop Microwave, it has all the functions you need to warm up and cook food, and it’s available for an affordable price.
Product Details: Wattage: 1,150 | Voltage: 120 | Dimensions: 21.75 x 12.88 x 17.75 inches | Space Capacity: 1.6 cubic feet