If you're shopping for a new countertop microwave, your first concern is probably how quickly and evenly each option can heat your food. While a higher power output can help heat food faster, we've discovered that there's no real difference in how evenly microwaves heat your food. From the simplest, budget-friendly options to high-end inverter units, all microwaves deliver similar performance in terms of heating food evenly. If you want to learn more about what we tried and our conclusions, read our R&D article or our investigation into inverter microwaves.
So, apart from power, what should you look for in a microwave? The best countertop microwaves are easy to use, offer plenty of internal capacity, and don't make a ton of noise during operation. You can also look for a model with extra features you're interested in, such as a steam sensor that automatically adjusts cooking times or a mute function for late-night snacks.
We've tested more than 30 microwaves, and below are our recommendations for the best countertop models. For more recommendations, see our picks for the best microwaves, the best small microwaves, and the best budget and cheap microwaves.-
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Best Countertop Microwave
Everyday Use8.4Power8.7Internal Capacity7.0Ease Of Use9.2In-Use Noise8.5Mute Sounds ButtonYesSee all our test resultsCooking SensorYesThe best countertop microwave we've tested is the Breville the Smooth Wave. While this high-end microwave isn't the fastest for heating food, what you get for the extra money is a model that's easier and much more pleasant to use; when it comes to an appliance that gets as much mileage as a microwave, the little things can make a big difference. This high-end model features dials and buttons that are tactile and responsive, and you can start a range of simple and complex cooking tasks quickly and easily. The LED screen displays more information than a standard numeric display, and the dials eliminate the need to press the same button repeatedly to start a program.
It has a decent capacity, so most plates and containers fit inside, and you can switch off the turntable rotation when heating food in large dishes, a somewhat rare feature among countertop microwaves. The operation is decently quiet, and its soft-close door feature noticeably dampens the sound of the door closing. You can mute the controls, change the beep volume, and select between two different types of chimes: regular beeping or lower-pitched tones. It features a steam sensor that works in conjunction with its 'Defrost' and 'Reheat' modes, as well as the standard quick-start and 'Popcorn' programs. A column of quick-start buttons is also hidden behind the door, including a programmable 'Favorite' button.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Countertop Microwave
Everyday Use8.6Power9.9Internal Capacity9.7Ease Of Use7.0In-Use Noise9.0Mute Sounds ButtonNoSee all our test resultsCooking SensorYesIf you don't need a top-of-the-line model, but still want a high-end countertop microwave, the Sharp SMC2266KS is an excellent choice. It's a powerful microwave that cooks food quickly, and its internal capacity rivals that of many over-the-range models. This gives you space to heat your largest dishes, such as a casserole or a family-size pasta dish. It uses a membrane touch panel for controls, which is common for microwaves, but provides a less pleasant experience than the buttons and dials of the Breville the Smooth Wave. You can start a simple task, like cooking at 100% power for three minutes, with just one button, which is handy, but you have to press multiple buttons to dial in the settings.
This microwave has a few quality-of-life features that make it more convenient to use. It includes a cooking sensor that automatically adjusts the cook time by detecting steam. You'll also find a handful of quick-start buttons, buttons for automatically defrosting meat, and a button that quickly starts a 30-second program or adds 30 seconds to a program. It's also an exceptionally quiet microwave, ideal for late-night snacks, and while there's no dedicated mute button, you can hold the '8' for three seconds to silence the controls.
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Best Mid-Range Countertop Microwave
Everyday Use7.5Power8.5Internal Capacity7.2Ease Of Use7.0In-Use Noise8.4Mute Sounds ButtonYesSee all our test resultsCooking SensorYesIf you want a microwave that can multitask, consider the Toshiba ML-EC42P(SS). It's a medium-sized 1000-watt combination oven/air fryer/microwave that works fast, so meals, snacks, and beverages are always on hand. Its cooking chamber is significantly smaller than the Sharp SMC2266KS's, so it may not fit a casserole dish, but you won't have an issue with most plates or bowls. With a membrane touch panel, its controls aren't particularly responsive or pleasant to use, but you can start simple cooking programs with a single button.
It includes a cooking sensor, so some programs let the microwave detect steam, eliminating the need to enter your food's weight or cooking time. Like most microwaves, it has quick-start buttons and modes such as 'Warm' and 'Popcorn,' but what it really stands out for are its air-frying and baking modes. You can use this microwave to convection cook, bake cookies, make crispy snacks, or even combine more than one cooking mode with multistage cooking. And while you can't customize its sounds, you can still mute them, and it's quiet during operation.
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Best Budget Countertop Microwave
Everyday Use7.6Power9.2Internal Capacity6.8Ease Of Use7.0In-Use Noise8.2Mute Sounds ButtonYesSee all our test resultsCooking SensorNoFor the best countertop microwave with a budget-friendly price tag, check out the Sharp SMC1162HS. It's a very fast 1000-watt microwave, and depending on the color you choose, you can often find it available for around $160. The cooking chamber isn't particularly large; you can easily reheat food in a bowl or on a dinner plate, though a large mixing bowl or casserole dish may not fit. Like the Toshiba ML-EC42P(SS), it has a membrane touch panel, so it doesn't offer optimal responsiveness, but you can start basic tasks with a single button press.
Unlike the models above, this microwave doesn't have a cooking sensor, so you have to manually set the cook time for most recipes. However, there are still buttons for specific foods, like 'Potato' and 'Popcorn,' along with modes for defrosting and reheating. Its operation is quiet, and while there's no dedicated mute button, you can silence the controls by holding the '8' button for three seconds.
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Best Cheap Countertop Microwave
Everyday Use7.6Power9.4Internal Capacity6.9Ease Of Use7.0In-Use Noise8.5Mute Sounds ButtonYesSee all our test resultsCooking SensorYesThe Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is a solid choice if you're looking for a countertop microwave at an even more affordable price. It's typically available for around $150, and with 1100 watts of power, it cooks food very fast. Its internal capacity is similar to that of the Sharp SMC1162HS, so it's not the largest model on the market, but it'll fit most dinner plates or an average-sized container of leftovers. It has a membrane touch panel, like most affordable microwaves, making it less responsive than a glass touch panel, physical buttons, or dials. Still, it makes simple cooking tasks easy, though if you like to fine-tune your recipes, it takes more work.
This microwave offers a good range of features, especially for the price. There's a cooking sensor that detects steam to automatically calculate cook time, as well as various simpler programs, like 'Soften/Melt' and 'Rice.' You can also program the 'Favorite' button to quickly start a commonly used setting. It's a very quiet microwave, too, with a dedicated mute button.
Recent Updates
May 14, 2026:
We removed the Panasonic NN-SC67NS as our mid-range pick because it's unavailable and added the Sharp SMC2266KS as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Countertop Microwave' for users looking for a powerful model with a large internal capacity.
Mar 06, 2026:
We adjusted this article to list our recommendations by price. We added the Panasonic NN-SC67NS as our mid-range pick, the Sharp SMC1162HS as our budget pick, and the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS as our cheap pick. We also made edits throughout for clarity.
Nov 06, 2025:
We've made some minor updates to the text for clarity, but our recommendations haven't changed.
Apr 28, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text for clarity and checked that the products are available, but we haven't changed our recommendations.
Feb 26, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text for clarity and checked that the products are available.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are the best countertop microwaves for most people. We factor in price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all microwave reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no microwave is perfect, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you look for them.