Best Microwaves in 2026: Countertop, Compact and Over-the-Range Picks for Every Kitchen

A microwave is the appliance you use five times a day and think about once a decade, so it pays to get the boring details right: enough wattage to reheat a plate without a cold center, a turntable that actually fits your dinner plate, buttons you can read, and a child lock if there are small hands in the house. The shape matters too. Countertop models are cheap and easy to replace; compact 0.7 cubic foot boxes fit a dorm desk or an RV shelf; over-the-range units free the counter but need a vent and a cabinet gap that matches their width, usually 30 inches and sometimes 24.

We went through the 130 microwaves in our home and kitchen catalog, dropped the air fryer combos, commercial units and accessories, and kept five that owners rate 4.3 stars or higher, one per job. We have not run every one ourselves, so rankings lean on wattage, capacity, turntable size and thousands of long-term reviews. Prices at the time of writing ranged from a budget compact to an over-the-range install; prices are not printed because they change daily, and every button opens the live Amazon page.

How we picked

• Wattage that matches the size. 700 W is fine for a 0.7 cubic foot compact; anything 0.9 cubic feet and up should be 900 to 1200 W so a full plate reheats in the time the label says.
• Turntable diameter, not just cubic feet. A 10-inch dinner plate needs a 10.6-inch turntable; the 1.2 cubic foot Panasonic has a 13.4-inch one for casserole dishes.
• Inverter or sensor cooking where the price justifies it. Sensor reheat and true variable power are worth paying for if you defrost meat or reheat leftovers daily.
• Child lock, mute and eco mode. Cheap features that owners mention constantly in reviews.
• Owner ratings of 4.3 stars or higher, with the highest review counts in each category.

The picks

#1

Best overall countertop

TOSHIBA EM925A5A-SS Countertop Microwave Oven, 0.9 Cu Ft With 10.6 Inch Removable Turntable, 900W, 6 Auto Menus, Mute Function & ECO Mode, Child Lock, LED Lighting, Stainless Steel

4.5 · 15,645 ratings

9.0Our score

Capacity0.9 cu ft, 10.6-inch turntablePower900 W output, 10 power levelsPresets6 auto menus, defrost by weight or timeExtrasEco mode, mute, child lock, LED interior lightFinishStainless steel door frame, black body

The Toshiba is the microwave most people should buy. It is the mid-size class done properly: 0.9 cubic feet with a 10.6-inch turntable, which is the difference between a plate that turns and one that jams on the wall. Six presets cover popcorn, pizza and potatoes, defrost works by weight or time, and the buttons are backlit and legible. Owners praise the mute button and the eco mode that cuts standby draw, and the 4.5-star average across more than 15,000 reviews is the best track record on this page for a full-size countertop.

Pros

• 10.6-inch turntable fits a 10-inch pizza or a full dinner plate
• One-touch start from 1 to 6 minutes at full power
• Sound on/off and a power-saving eco mode
• 15,600+ ratings at 4.5 stars

Cons

• 900 W is a step below the 1000 to 1200 W mid-size class
• Body is black, only the door frame is stainless
• No sensor reheat

Buy on Amazon Full specs & reviews Prices and availability change often. Check the store for the current price.

#2

Best inverter and sensor cooking

Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor, 1.2 Cubic Foot, 1200W

4.8 · 19 ratings

9.6Our score

Capacity1.2 cu ft, 13.4-inch turntablePower1200 W output, inverter, 10 power levelsSensorGenius Sensor cook and reheat, Turbo DefrostExtrasKeep Warm, child lock, shortcut keysInstallCountertop or built-in with trim kit

If you defrost chicken or reheat rice more than you nuke popcorn, the Panasonic is the upgrade. Conventional microwaves fake 30 percent power by switching full power on and off; the inverter runs the magnetron at a real 30 percent, so edges stop cooking while the middle thaws. The Genius Sensor reads steam and stops the cycle itself, which is what makes leftover reheating hands-off. At 1.2 cubic feet with a 13.4-inch turntable it takes a casserole dish, and it can be built into a cabinet with the optional trim kit. Reviews are more mixed than the Toshiba, at 4.3 stars over 8,500+ ratings, but most of the complaints are about the door latch rather than the cooking.

Pros

• Inverter delivers true low power instead of pulsing full power on and off
• Genius Sensor sets time and power for reheating and steaming
• 1200 W and a 13.4-inch turntable for 9 x 13 casserole dishes
• Keep Warm holds soups and gravies until dinner

Cons

• Costs about twice the Toshiba
• 4.3 stars, lowest on this page, mostly door and button complaints in older reviews
• Thin walls compared with heavier commercial-style boxes

Buy on Amazon Full specs & reviews Prices and availability change often. Check the store for the current price.

#3

Best compact for dorms and RVs

Galanz GLCMKA07GNR-07 Retro Microwave Oven, LED Lighting, Pull Handle Design, Child Lock, Surf Green, 0.7 cu ft

4.6 · 16,386 ratings

9.2Our score

Capacity0.7 cu ftPower700 W, 6 power levelsPresetsAuto cook, defrost by time or weight, reheatDesignRetro pull handle, LED display, interior lightSafetyChild lock

The Galanz retro box is the compact microwave that people buy for looks and keep for how easy it is. The pull handle replaces the push-button door that breaks on cheap models, the LED display is bright, and the interior light lets you check on food without opening the door. At 0.7 cubic feet and 700 W it is a reheat-and-popcorn machine, not a casserole oven, which is exactly what a dorm room, office kitchenette or travel trailer needs. It is also the best-rated microwave in our catalog, 4.6 stars across more than 16,000 reviews.

Pros

• Highest rating on this page at 4.6 stars from 16,000+ owners
• Pull handle and dial-style panel are easy for kids and grandparents
• Compact 0.7 cubic foot footprint fits a dorm desk or RV counter
• Comes in several colors; Surf Green is the one linked here

Cons

• 700 W means a full plate takes a bit longer
• Only 6 power levels
• The retro look is a matter of taste

Buy on Amazon Full specs & reviews Prices and availability change often. Check the store for the current price.

#4

Best over-the-range

24 in. Stellar Coll 1.3 cu ft Over the Range Microwave, Vent Fan, Stainless

4.4 · 507 ratings

8.8Our score

Capacity1.34 cu ft, 13.6-inch turntablePower1000 W, 10 power levelsVentIntegrated range hood fan for smoke, odor and moistureSize23.8 W x 16.1 D x 17 H in, 120 V / 60 HzPresetsSensor reheat and cook, melt, soften, defrost, popcorn

Over-the-range microwaves are as much a range hood as an oven, and the COSMO Stellar does both jobs at a 24-inch width. That size is the point: it is built for the narrower cabinet openings in apartments, condos, older kitchens and RVs, where a standard 30-inch unit will not go. If your cutout is the common 30 inches, measure first, because this one will leave a gap on each side unless you add filler strips. Inside it is a full 1000 W with a 13.6-inch turntable, which is bigger than the Toshiba’s, and it has sensor reheat and cook, so leftovers stop themselves. The integrated fan pulls smoke and steam off the cooktop, though COSMO does not publish a CFM figure. Owners rate it 4.4 stars across 500+ reviews, and most say the install is a two-person afternoon with the included mounting plate.

Pros

• 24-inch width fits narrower cabinets, apartments, condos and RVs
• Sensor reheat stops itself when the food is done, rare at this size
• 13.6-inch turntable takes a full dinner plate or a 12-inch pizza
• 1000 W with 10 power levels, 4.4 stars from 500+ owners

Cons

• It is a 24-inch unit, so 30-inch cabinet gaps will show a 3-inch space on each side
• Fan airflow (CFM) is not listed, so do not expect a heavy-duty hood
• Only 507 ratings, typical for an installed appliance

Buy on Amazon Full specs & reviews Prices and availability change often. Check the store for the current price.

#5

Best budget

COMFEE' Countertop Microwave Oven, 0.7 Cu.Ft, 700W, Black, ECO Mode

4.4 · 25,003 ratings

8.8Our score

Capacity0.7 cu ftPower700 W, 11 power levelsPresets1 to 6 minute express, +30 seconds, defrost by weight or timeExtrasEco mode cuts standby power by 50 percent, mute buttonSafetyTwo-step child lock

The COMFEE’ is the budget pick because it does the job and then gets out of the way. It has the features that separate a cheap microwave you keep from one you regret: a real child lock, a mute function, 11 power levels, and defrost by weight so frozen ground beef comes out thawed rather than half cooked. Eco mode cuts standby draw by half, which matters more than it sounds for something plugged in all year. With 25,000 ratings it is the most-owned microwave on this page, and the 4.4-star average has held up across years of college move-ins and office kitchens.

Pros

• Most reviewed microwave in our catalog, 25,000+ ratings at 4.4 stars
• Hold the sound button three seconds and it never beeps again
• Two-step child lock meets the newer safety standard
• Small enough for a break room or a bedside shelf

Cons

• 700 W and 0.7 cubic feet, so this is a reheat box
• Push-button door release
• Black plastic finish shows fingerprints

Buy on Amazon Full specs & reviews Prices and availability change often. Check the store for the current price.

Compare the picks

Wattage, cubic feet and turntables

Wattage is cooking speed. A 700 W compact takes about 30 percent longer than a 1000 W mid-size on the same plate, and package directions are written for 1000 to 1200 W, so add time on a 700 W box. 1200 W models like the Panasonic reheat fastest and are the ones that make sense with sensor cooking. Watch the spec sheet: some listings quote input wattage (the Toshiba draws 1350 W) instead of output, and output is the number that matters.

Cubic feet tell you less than the turntable. A 0.7 cubic foot microwave usually has a 10-inch turntable, which fits a standard dinner plate but not a big pasta bowl. 0.9 cubic feet gets you a 10.6-inch turntable and a 10-inch frozen pizza. 1.2 cubic feet and up brings a 13-inch turntable for casserole dishes. If your plates are 11 inches, measure before you buy the compact.

Inverter, sensor reheat and over-the-range venting

Inverter microwaves vary the actual power, so 50 percent means 50 percent; conventional ones pulse full power on and off, which is why defrosting cooks the edges. Sensor reheat measures steam from the food and stops when it is done; it is worth having if you reheat leftovers every day; the Panasonic and the COSMO have it. Over-the-range models are rated in CFM: 300 CFM is standard for a 30-inch unit over an electric or gas range in a home kitchen, and it should be ducted outside if you fry a lot. Many, including the COSMO, ship as recirculating, which is fine for boiling and reheating but not for a wok. Measure the cabinet opening before you order: most US kitchens have a 30-inch gap, and the COSMO is a 24-inch unit for the narrower openings in apartments and RVs. Plan on an outlet in the cabinet above and a second person for the lift. If your counter is crowded because a toaster oven is already there, our best toaster ovens and best air fryers guides cover the combo ovens that can replace both.

More cooking picks are in the home and kitchen shop.

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