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 for larger items like casserole dishes, 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 making late-night snacks without waking your roommates or family.
We've tested more than 35 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 unit isn't the fastest for heating food, what you get for shelling out some extra money over most alternatives is a microwave 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: the Smooth Wave 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 offers enough capacity for most plates and containers that fit inside, but larger casserole dishes or family-size frozen meals won't fit; that said, you can switch off the turntable rotation when heating food in large dishes, a somewhat rare feature among countertop microwaves, which gives you more usable space. 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 doesn't provide as much feedback as the physical controls 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 Use8.2Power10Internal Capacity8.1Ease Of Use7.0In-Use Noise8.7Mute Sounds ButtonYesSee all our test resultsCooking SensorYesThe Toshiba ML-EM45PIT(BS) is a good fit if you care more about speed and usable space than having the most premium controls. It heats food extremely quickly, about as fast as the Sharp SMC2266KS, and it runs quietly. Its cooking chamber is also large enough for bigger plates, trays, and even a 12-inch pizza, giving you noticeably more room than the Breville Smooth Wave, which makes it a good option for reheating leftovers, cooking frozen meals, or heating larger portions for more than one person. It has a cooking sensor that automatically adjusts the power and cook time based on the amount of steam in the chamber, too, a handy feature if you prefer more hands-off reheating.
That said, it doesn't have the same ease of use as the options above. Its membrane touch panel takes more steps for custom times and power levels than the Breville's physical controls, and its unusual upward-trigger door release takes some getting used to. Its cooking chamber is also somewhat limited compared to the large Sharp SMC2266KS, so it may not be the best fit if you regularly use oversized casserole dishes, large serving bowls, or other bulky containers.
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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 1,000-watt microwave, and depending on the color you choose, you can often find it available for around $160. Compared to the Sharp SMC2266KS, its cooking chamber is significantly smaller, and it may struggle to fit larger casserole dishes, but you won't have an issue with most plates or bowls. It also uses 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 1,100 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.
Notable Mentions
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Toshiba ML-EC42P(SS):
The Toshiba ML-EC42P(SS) is a mid-range medium-sized countertop unit that can pull triple duty as a 1,000-watt combination oven/air fryer/microwave. While that gives it an edge in overall versatility compared to the Sharp SMC2266KS, it also has a much smaller cooking chamber, heats more slowly, and makes more noise while running.
See our review -
Ninja Crispi MW101:
The Ninja Crispi MW101 heats quickly, is easy to use, and doubles as an air fryer, but its cooking chamber is smaller than the Breville Smooth Wave's, and it runs louder.
See our review -
Panasonic NN-SF57RM:
The Panasonic NN-SF57RM heats quickly and has a compact, easy-to-clean flatbed design, but its controls are less intuitive than the Breville the Smooth Wave, and its capacity is quite limited.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 16, 2026:
We added the Toshiba ML-EM45PIT(BS) as our new mid-range pick and moved the Sharp SMC2266KS to upper mid-range. We also added the Ninja Crispi MW101 and Panasonic NN-SF57RM as Notable Mentions.
Jul 13, 2026:
We've recategorized the Sharp SMC2266KS as the 'Best Mid-Range Countertop Microwave' pick due to current product pricing, and moved the Toshiba ML-EC42P(SS) to the Notable Mentions section.
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.
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.