The Best Countertop Microwaves
If you’ve been putting off replacing that old, sputtering microwave on your counter, we get it — the options out there can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of models crammed into every price range, and most product pages just recycle the same vague specs without telling you how the thing actually performs in a real kitchen. That’s where our team comes in.
We’ve spent a significant amount of time researching, comparing, and testing countertop microwaves to help you cut through the noise. Whether you’re outfitting a tiny apartment, upgrading a family kitchen, or just need something reliable for the office break room, this guide covers what you genuinely need to know — including trade-offs that most other roundups gloss over.
Everything We Recommend
✅ We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that’s designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter to bring you these selections.
⭐ 2.5 million+ people assisted in the last 30 days ⭐
Our Top Pick
1000W output microwave with 1600W input, measuring 20.6×16.0×11.8 inches, 12.4-inch glass turntable internal 13.1×12.4×8.3 inches.
Smart sensor technology automatically adjusts cooking time and power based on food humidity levels precisely.
Six preset menus include pizza, vegetables, sensor reheat, and other popular everyday food options available.
Ten unique power levels with clock and kitchen timer for flexible cooking control settings available.
Easy defrost by weight or time, plus one-touch start from 1–6 minutes full power operation.
Great Runner-Up
Convenient 1000W output microwave enables quick meals with press-and-go cooking for everyday use, and reliable performance.
Ten power levels and multi-stage cooking provide full customization with six one-touch options available.
Compact 1.1 cu ft design fits small spaces with easy-clean interior and exterior surfaces finish.
Clear LED display with kitchen timer, clock, interior lighting, and a child safety lock included.
Farberware microwave offers 1–6 minute express cooking, add 30 seconds, and weight or time defrost.
Also Excellent
1000W output microwave with 1600W input, 20.6×16.0×11.8 inches, 12.4-inch glass turntable included.
Smart sensor technology adjusts cooking time and power automatically based on food humidity levels precisely.
Six preset menus include pizza, vegetables, and sensor reheat for convenient everyday cooking options available.
Ten power levels with clock and kitchen timer provide flexible control for all cooking tasks.
Easy defrost by weight or time, plus one-touch start from 1–6 minutes at full power.
Best Budget Option
700W microwave with 1050W input, 110V voltage, featuring popcorn, pizza, and potato preset cooking buttons.
Ten power settings plus clock, kitchen timer, and 30-second express cooking for fast convenience use.
Large LED display with easy control panel, interior light, and child safety lock are included features.
Compact 17.3×13.0×10.2 inch design with removable 10-inch glass turntable and push-button door release.
UL-approved microwave with a one-year limited warranty ensures safe and reliable everyday kitchen performance.
Best for Tiny Spaces
Two-step child lock system adds enhanced safety protection to prevent accidental or unauthorized microwave use.
Mute function disables all beeps by holding the sound button for 3 seconds for quiet operation.
One-touch cooking offers 1–6 minute express start, +30 seconds, plus popcorn, pizza, and defrost modes.
Eco mode reduces standby power consumption by up to 50% for improved energy efficiency performance.
The package includes one microwave oven unit and one detailed instruction manual for easy setup.
Best Quiet Microwave
25L compact microwave with 900W power and 0.9 cu.ft capacity, ideal for small kitchen spaces.
One-touch shortcuts include reheat, defrost, popcorn, and beverage with convenient food menu functions available.
Soft close door operates 80% quieter with mute function and Breville Sound Suite for reduced noise.
Versatile cooking with gentle defrost, low-power reheat, adjustable settings, clock, and child lock protection system.
Includes 120V voltage operation and one-year limited warranty for reliable everyday countertop microwave use.
Most Straightforward Pick
1000W compact microwave with six presets including popcorn, pizza, veggies, potatoes, and leftovers options.
Ten power levels with digital controls and +30 seconds button for quick, precise cooking adjustments.
Memory function enables one-touch cooking, while child lock and mute mode improve safety and quiet use.
Eco mode, modern compact black design, and durable exterior with dishwasher-safe glass turntable included.
cETL approved 120V microwave with 1-year warranty ensures safe, reliable, long-lasting kitchen performance.
What Our Testing Team Looked For
Our evaluation process focused on several key performance areas. We tested how quickly and evenly each unit reheated a range of foods — soup, leftovers, frozen entrees, and pizza. We also assessed defrost performance, ease of use, control panel intuitiveness, interior lighting, noise levels during operation, and how easy the interior was to wipe down after a splatter.
Beyond raw performance, we paid attention to features that matter in daily life: preset buttons, a mute option (because nobody wants the beeping at 6 a.m.), child safety locks, and eco modes that reduce standby power draw.
Here’s what we found.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Our Top Pick: TOSHIBA EM131A5C-SS Countertop Microwave Oven
- Great Runner-Up: Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven
- Also Excellent: TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Oven
- Best Budget Option: BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Oven
- Best for Tiny Spaces: COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven
- Best Quiet Microwave: Breville BMO650SIL Compact Wave Soft Close
- Most Straightforward Pick: Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven RJ55-11-V3
Top Countertop Microwaves Our Picks
When we set the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS up on the counter, the first thing we noticed was just how clean and uncluttered it looks — the stainless steel exterior feels like it belongs in a kitchen that costs a lot more than this microwave does. But the looks aren’t even the reason this model earned our top spot. What impressed us most was the smart humidity sensor, which reads the steam coming off your food and automatically adjusts cook time so you’re not standing there guessing. We warmed up a bowl of leftover pasta, hit the “Sensor Reheat” button, and walked away — and came back to food that was evenly hot throughout, without rubbery edges or cold spots in the middle. That kind of hands-off reliability is surprisingly rare in this price range. The 12 auto-cook menus cover the basics (popcorn, potato, pizza, veggies, dinner plate, and more), and the 10 power levels give you real flexibility for everything from softening butter to cooking a full entrée. One of our team members with a quiet household especially appreciated the mute function — long-pressing the “8” button silences all the beeps, which is one of those small things you don’t realize you wanted until you have it. The ECO mode, which cuts standby power consumption, is a nice bonus for anyone mindful of their energy bill. The 12.4-inch turntable handles a standard 12-inch pizza without issue, and the easy-clean interior wipes down in seconds. The main trade-offs: the footprint is on the larger side for a countertop unit, so measure your available space before buying, and some users report mild heating inconsistency on thick cuts of frozen protein — stirring halfway through solves this in most cases. For anyone who wants a capable, attractive, and genuinely intuitive daily driver, this Toshiba is hard to beat.
Pros: Smart humidity sensor takes the guesswork out of reheating | 12 auto menus | Mute function | ECO mode | Easy-clean interior | Fits a 12″ pizza
Cons: Larger footprint than compact models | Occasional uneven heating on very dense frozen items
The Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave was a genuinely pleasant surprise during our testing. It’s lightweight — easy to move around without a second set of hands — and the stainless steel design is neat and unassuming without looking cheap. Right away, we appreciated that it uses a door handle rather than a push-button release, which tends to hold up better over years of repeated use. The 1,000-watt output put it noticeably ahead of the 700-watt budget options in our tests: leftovers came up to serving temperature faster, and the 12.5-inch turntable handled a decent-sized dish without any edge-hanging. The six auto-cook presets — popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverage, and dinner plate — worked well for everyday tasks, and the memory function, which lets you save your own favorite time-and-power combinations, felt like a feature you’d find on something pricier. We did notice that the control panel is a little harder to read than we’d like, especially in dim lighting, and the interior light doesn’t illuminate the full cavity as brightly as some competing models. Some longer-term owners have also flagged interior coating corrosion after a year or two of heavy use, so wiping it down after steamy heating sessions is genuinely worth the habit. Overall, though, this is a solid, well-rounded microwave for anyone who wants 1,000 watts of power in a compact package at a very reasonable price — and it’s a particularly good pick for people who move frequently, since its light build makes it easy to transport.
Pros: 1,000 watts for fast, even heating | Memory function for custom presets | Handle-style door | Lightweight and easy to reposition | Fits a 12.5″ turntable
Cons: Control panel can be hard to read in low light | Interior light doesn’t illuminate the full cavity | Some reports of interior coating wear over time
The TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS is essentially the same strong performer as our top pick — same sensor technology, same 1,100-watt output, same 1.2 cubic-foot interior — just finished in a black stainless steel exterior that honestly looks stunning. If your kitchen skews darker or you have black appliances, this version will slot right in without looking like an afterthought. During testing, it performed identically to the SS model: the smart humidity sensor handled reheating beautifully, the 12 auto-cook menus worked as expected, and the mute function once again earned genuine appreciation from the team. We tested the defrost function on a pound of ground turkey and were impressed — it thawed evenly without cooking the edges, which is a problem we’ve encountered on cheaper models. The ECO mode reduced display brightness and standby draw, and the interior was just as easy to wipe down after a soup splatter as the silver version. Our main observations are the same as above: this is a bigger-footprint microwave, so it’s better suited to kitchens with generous counter space, and dense frozen proteins benefit from a mid-cycle stir. But if the black finish appeals to you, there’s no meaningful performance reason to choose otherwise — this is an excellent microwave that happens to look especially sharp.
Pros: Identical performance to the EM131A5C-SS | Black stainless steel finish suits modern kitchen aesthetics | Smart humidity sensor | 12 auto-cook menus | Mute + ECO mode
Cons: Same larger footprint as the SS model | Better suited to spacious countertops
There’s an honest conversation to have about the BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7: it’s a 700-watt microwave, which means it’s not going to blaze through frozen lasagna or thick chicken breasts. But here’s the thing — for what most people actually use a microwave for most of the time, it genuinely delivers. Our team used it to reheat soup (excellent results), make popcorn (came out well with the preset), warm up a beverage (done in under 90 seconds), and defrost ground turkey (surprisingly good, actually one of its strongest performances). Where it falls short is in speed and evenness on denser, larger portions — a frozen burrito needed noticeably longer than the package suggested, and we had to check for cold spots in the center. For a studio apartment, a college dorm room, or a small office break room where the microwave handles light daily tasks, though, the EM720CB7 earns its place. The footprint is genuinely small — just 17 inches wide — and the stainless steel exterior looks far more polished than the price tag suggests. The six pre-programmed buttons (popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage, dinner plate) are clearly labeled and easy to use without consulting the manual. The push-button door is convenient, though the unit can slide around on smooth countertops when you open it — a rubberized mat underneath solves that in seconds. For anyone who wants a no-fuss, compact, genuinely affordable microwave, this is a sensible and well-trusted choice.
Pros: Very compact and space-efficient | Trusted brand with a reputation for reliability | Six useful presets | Child safety lock | Excellent defrost performance for the price
Cons: 700W means slower cook times on dense frozen foods | Unit can slide on smooth surfaces | Heating evenness is inconsistent on larger plates
The COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB occupies that sweet spot between genuinely affordable and genuinely functional — and it does something a lot of budget microwaves don’t: it has a Sound On/Off button that actually silences all the beeps, not just some of them. That alone made one of our team members light up during testing, because she lives with roommates and hates being the person beeping the microwave at midnight. The 700-watt output is in line with other compact models, and our testing found it particularly capable with soups and liquid-forward foods — it heated canned soup to a perfect 150°F serving temperature without overcooking the edges. Preset cooking options cover six common categories (popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage, and reheat), and the one-touch express cook function lets you quickly set 1 through 6 minutes at full power, plus a +30 seconds option for topping off. The ECO mode is a thoughtful addition that reduces standby power draw by roughly 50%, which adds up over time on your electricity bill. Where this model shows its limitations is with denser frozen foods — frozen burritos and thick frozen entrées didn’t heat as evenly as we’d like, and the 10-inch turntable is a bit on the smaller side, limiting what fits comfortably inside. But for a compact kitchen, a vacation home, a dorm, or anyone who primarily reheats rather than cooks, the COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB offers a surprisingly full feature set for the money. It’s a quiet, capable, well-mannered little microwave that won’t take over your counter.
Pros: Sound On/Off silences all beeps entirely | ECO mode reduces standby power | Six cooking presets | Child safety lock | Very compact footprint | Excellent soup and beverage reheating
Cons: 700W means denser frozen foods take longer | 10-inch turntable limits dish size | Not ideal for large households
If noise is the thing that’s made your kitchen microwave a source of daily low-grade irritation — the slamming door, the aggressive beeping, the motorized hum that seems unnecessarily loud for heating a bowl of oatmeal — then the Breville BMO650SIL might be the most meaningful upgrade you can make. The signature soft-close door is engineered to be 80% quieter than a traditional microwave door, and the overall operational volume is reportedly 50% quieter than most units we tested. When we closed the door on this thing for the first time, a member of our team literally paused and said, “Wait, did it close?” That’s not an exaggeration — it glides shut with a soft, controlled motion that’s almost meditative by comparison. The dial-based interface is another standout feature: you turn the knob right to set time starting at 30 seconds, or press the green +30 seconds button to add increments quickly. This intuitive control scheme is particularly useful for people with arthritis or those who find touchpad interfaces frustrating. The Breville includes one-touch auto buttons for Reheat, Defrost, Popcorn, and Beverage, plus food menu functions for items like pizza, vegetables, and potatoes. You can also mute all alert sounds through the Sound Suite feature. Our testing found it particularly fast at warming beverages — it raised the temperature of lukewarm water by more than 95°F in under a minute. Where it’s more moderate is in overall heating evenness and defrosting consistency; it’s not the top performer in those categories, and independent testing suggests it tends to run hotter in the center of the cavity. For a light-cooking household, a couple, or anyone in an open-concept home who’s tired of the microwave disrupting conversation, this Breville offers something genuinely different. It’s priced above the budget tier, but the quiet operation and thoughtful design justify the premium for the right buyer.
Pros: Soft-close door is dramatically quieter than traditional microwaves | Dial interface is intuitive and accessible | Mute function | 0.9 cu. ft. fits most everyday dishes | Child lock | +30 seconds button is immediately usable
Cons: Higher price point than most compact microwaves | Heating evenness is middle-of-the-road | Defrost can be inconsistent on larger items | Silver finish doesn’t exactly match standard stainless steel appliances
The Chefman RJ55-11-V3 is the kind of microwave that earns you zero bragging rights at dinner parties — and that is genuinely a compliment. It’s straightforward, well-priced, and handles everything a countertop microwave is supposed to handle without demanding that you read the manual or navigate confusing sub-menus. Our team set it up in about two minutes, ran through the six presets (popcorn, pizza, beverage, veggies, potatoes, leftovers), and everything worked exactly as expected. At 1,000 watts, it sits in that comfortable mid-tier power range where most everyday tasks — reheating coffee, warming a dinner plate, defrosting chicken breasts — move along at a reasonable pace without you hovering impatiently. The 1.1 cubic-foot interior is spacious enough for a standard dinner plate or a good-sized casserole dish, and the black finish gives it a clean, modern look that blends well with dark kitchen setups. The +30 seconds button is conveniently placed and immediately responsive, the memory function lets you lock in your most-used settings for one-touch access, and the Eco Mode reduces standby power consumption when the unit isn’t in use. The Mute button is present and works well — appreciated for early-morning kitchen use. The child safety lock is intuitive to engage. What this microwave doesn’t offer is a smart sensor or auto-defrost programming as sophisticated as the Toshiba models — you’ll need to enter your own times and settings for defrosting by weight. For families, students, or anyone replacing a basic microwave who doesn’t want to overcomplicate a simple kitchen task, the Chefman RJ55-11-V3 is a sensible, dependable, and fairly priced choice.
Pros: 1,000W for reliable everyday performance | 1.1 cu. ft. interior fits most dishes | Six cooking presets | Mute button | Memory function | Child safety lock | ECO mode | Clean black design
Cons: No smart humidity sensor | Defrost requires manual time/weight entry | Slides slightly on smooth surfaces
Key Buying Considerations
Size and Capacity
Countertop microwave capacities generally run from about 0.7 cubic feet on the compact end to 2.2 cubic feet on the larger side. For a single person or a couple, a 0.7 to 0.9 cubic-foot model tends to be sufficient for most everyday tasks. Families or anyone who frequently reheats large casseroles or rotates full meal prep will want at least 1.1 to 1.2 cubic feet. Always check the dimensions against your available counter space before purchasing — a 1.2 cubic-foot microwave can take up more room than you’d expect.
Wattage: How Much Power Do You Actually Need?
Wattage directly affects how quickly and evenly a microwave heats food. Here’s a practical breakdown:
- 700W: Adequate for reheating beverages, soups, and light foods. Slower on dense frozen items.
- 900W–1,000W: A solid middle ground for most households. Handles everyday reheating and light cooking well.
- 1,100W+: Noticeably faster, more even heating across a wider range of foods. Worth it if you use your microwave heavily.
If you’re comparing models across wattage tiers, remember that higher-wattage microwaves will generally produce better results on frozen foods and thicker portions — the gap is most obvious with things like lasagna, burritos, and bone-in proteins.
Smart Sensors vs. Standard Timers
Smart sensors detect the humidity level rising from your food during cooking and automatically stop or adjust heating at the right moment. This takes the guesswork out of reheating and makes overcooking significantly less common. If you find yourself regularly checking on food and restarting the timer, a sensor-equipped model like the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS will change your experience noticeably.
Presets and Usability
Most models in this price range include six to twelve pre-programmed settings for common foods. These are useful, but their quality varies. The best implementations learn from the sensor and adjust automatically; the simpler versions just run for a fixed time at a fixed power level. Either way, look for a model whose control panel makes sense to you at a glance — you’ll use this appliance daily, and an interface that requires consulting the manual every time gets old fast.
Noise Level: Quieter Than You Think Is Possible
Most people don’t realize that microwave noise varies significantly between models until they upgrade. The Breville BMO650SIL is the clearest example in this roundup — its soft-close door and quieter motor are genuinely noticeable improvements over standard designs. If you’re in an open-plan living space, you work from home, or you have light sleepers in the household, noise level is worth factoring into your decision.
ECO Mode and Energy Efficiency
Microwaves in standby mode can draw a modest but consistent amount of power. ECO mode, available on several models in this roundup, including the Toshiba and COMFEE’s, reduces standby consumption by as much as 50%. It’s not a dramatic energy saver, but for appliances that are plugged in year-round, it adds up. Standby energy consumption across household appliances is a meaningful contributor to overall home energy use.
Countertop Microwave FAQ
How long should a countertop microwave last?
Most countertop microwaves are designed for somewhere between 7 and 10 years of average use, though this varies considerably by brand, usage frequency, and care. Wiping down the interior regularly and avoiding running the unit empty both help extend its lifespan. Brand reliability ratings vary significantly, and it’s worth checking owner satisfaction data before purchasing.
Is higher wattage always better?
Not necessarily. Higher wattage means faster, more even heating — which is great for heavy daily use, large families, or thick frozen foods. But for a dorm room or a single person who mainly reheats coffee and soup, 700 watts is usually plenty. The main downside of lower wattage is that you’ll need to add extra time for frozen and dense foods, which can lead to uneven heating if you’re not adjusting mid-cycle.
What’s the difference between sensor cooking and standard preset buttons?
Standard presets run a fixed time and power level — they’re convenient but not adaptive. Sensor cooking uses a humidity sensor to detect when food is releasing steam and adjusts the remaining cook time accordingly, producing more consistent results. Models with sensor cooking generally handle reheating leftovers significantly better than those with standard presets alone.
Do countertop microwaves interfere with Wi-Fi?
Some do, particularly older models that operate at 2.4 GHz — the same frequency as many Wi-Fi routers. Inverter-based microwaves and newer designs tend to produce less electromagnetic interference, but if you notice your Wi-Fi dropping whenever the microwave runs, positioning the router further from the microwave usually solves the issue.
Can I replace an over-the-range microwave with a countertop model?
Yes, though you’ll lose the built-in ventilation function that OTR models provide. If your kitchen has a range hood or other ventilation, swapping to a countertop model is straightforward. Just be mindful of counter space — the area vacated above the stove doesn’t automatically become available for a countertop unit.
How do I clean the interior of a countertop microwave easily?
The fastest method most testers swear by: fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and a few tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice, then run it on high for three to five minutes. The steam loosens dried food splatter, and a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth takes care of the rest. Most of the models in this roundup feature easy-clean interiors that resist staining.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you want the most capable and well-rounded microwave in this roundup, go with the TOSHIBA EM131A5C-SS. Its smart humidity sensor, 1,100 watts, and practical auto-cook menus make it a genuinely reliable daily driver that handles nearly everything you’ll throw at it.
For the same performance in a sleeker black finish, the TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS is an identical performer — just a different look.
If you’re on a tighter budget and just need something compact and dependable for light use, the BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 or the COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB both offer good value, with the COMFEE’ edging ahead thanks to its better mute function and ECO mode.
For something a step up from the budget tier with a clean feature set and 1,000 watts, the Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. and the Chefman RJ55-11-V3 are both strong choices at similar price points. The Farberware wins on its memory function and heating speed; the Chefman wins on its slightly more modern interface.
And if noise and disruption are your main complaints about your current microwave, the Breville BMO650SIL is in a category by itself — no other model in this range comes close to quiet operation.
