Best Small Microwaves, Lab-Tested by Experts
If every inch of counter space matters to you, here are some options to consider
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.
Dedicating precious counter space to a new appliance can require a trade-off. In the case of countertop microwaves, you’ll have to decide whether saving a few inches is worth the time you’ll spend waiting for your food to heat up.
In our lab tests, small microwaves show poor scores across the board for heating speed and mixed results for heating evenness. But they generally cost less than larger models, so if your budget and counter space are tight, you may want to opt for one anyway.
Heating speed is one of the biggest challenges with small microwaves. We time how long it takes to heat water at the microwave’s highest setting, then measure the temperature after 5 minutes. Microwaves with smaller dimensions generally have lower wattage, resulting in less cooking power and slower heating.
When you opt for a countertop microwave with smaller dimensions, you also end up with less cooking capacity. A bag of microwave popcorn may not have adequate room to rotate on a turntable in a small microwave. Still, there are a few measures in which small microwaves perform somewhat on a par with larger models. The best in our ratings score fairly well in defrosting evenness and noise. (Of course, if you have to run yours longer, it will keep making noise over that extended time.)
Here’s how CR categorizes the countertop microwaves in our ratings. Claimed capacity and watts are according to the manufacturer. Dimensions are taken in our lab. (To compare models, you can find this information in our microwave ratings and on individual model pages.)
Small Microwaves
Claimed capacity: 0.8 cubic feet or less
Watts: 700
Dimensions: 10 inches high by 17 to 18 inches wide by 13 to 15 inches deep
Medium Microwaves
Claimed capacity: 0.9 to 1.2 cubic feet
Watts: 800 to 1,000
Dimensions: 11 to 12 inches high by 19 to 21 inches wide by 15 to 20 inches deep
Large Microwaves
Claimed capacity: 1.3 cubic feet or more
Watts: 1,000 to 1,250
Dimensions: 12 to 14 inches high by 20 to 24 inches wide by 19 to 20 inches deep
Below, in alphabetical order, are the best small microwaves in our tests. Prices hover around $100 or less, so they may be worth considering if you’re on a tight budget or have little counter space, despite the caveats. For more options, check out our full microwave ratings and recommendations.
(Note: The dimensions below are height by width by depth.)
Small microwaves tend to be underpowered, and the Commercial Chef CHM770B is no exception. Still, it aced our heating evenness test, in which we insert thermocouples into microwaved mashed potatoes to gauge temperatures throughout. But it’s a slowpoke at heating a simple container of water. It’s average at defrosting but very quiet. For the price, it’s worth a look.
Watts: 700
Dimensions: 10x18x13 inches
The Danby DDMW007501G1 performs admirably in tests for arguably the most important factors to look for in a microwave: evenness when heating and defrosting. Plus, it’s one of the few small microwave models to get a below-par rating for heating speed (instead of poor), and it’s pretty quiet even on the highest setting. Its reliability (based on our member surveys) is solid, but its owner satisfaction score is poor.
Watts: 700
Dimensions: 10x18x13 inches
If you value a quiet appliance, the Farberware Classic FMO07ABTBKA is a small microwave that fits the bill. It receives an excellent score in our noise tests. Plus, it excels at defrosting evenly. But it’s only passable at heating food evenly, so if you microwave dense foods, like a frozen burrito, you’ll want to check that the center is heated through before taking a bite. This model also had a dismal performance in our speed of heating tests. All of this adds up to an Overall Score on the higher end of middling, but still among the top-scoring microwaves in its size category.
Watts: 700
Dimensions: 10x17x13 inches
Insignia is a Best Buy store brand known for relatively inexpensive appliances, and the Insignia NS-MW7BK5 microwave is one of them. It operates quietly, earning an excellent score in that test, plus it’s very easy to use. It earns a very good score for defrosting, but it falls short in heating speed, earning a poor score in that test. Evenness of heating was just fair, as is its Overall Score.
Watts: 700
Dimensions: 10x17x13 inches
With a smaller footprint than many midsized microwaves we tested, the Commercial Chef CHM990B is worth considering if you want to save some counter space. With 900 watts, it’s more powerful than a typical small microwave. Heating wasn’t that speedy, but it wasn’t as slow as the smaller models. And the price is right. It earned very good scores in all the rest of our tests: heating and defrosting evenness, quietness, and ease of use.
Watts: 900
Dimensions: 11x19x14 inches
The Panasonic NN-SD47QS receives a very good Overall Score, and while its heating speed is lacking, it excels at defrosting and heating evenness, meaning you’re less likely to bite into a cold spot after microwaving a burrito for the recommended time. It’s also whisper-quiet and very easy to use. Panasonic earns a very good score for predicted reliability as well.
Watts: 1,000
Dimensions: 11x18x14 inches
BEST TIME TO BUY:
