Whether heating leftovers, defrosting dinner, or popping popcorn, the trusty microwave is a quick and convenient choice. Because microwaves all heat food equally evenly (including inverter microwaves), you can choose the best microwave for you based on other factors. Compact space-saving models are ideal for reheating quick snacks, while bigger microwaves have more room for defrosting meals or heating casseroles. You may want a high-power microwave if heating speed is a priority. Features like a steam sensor can help make microwaving more automatic, while well-designed controls allow you to select a program with minimal steps.
We've tested over 30 microwaves, and below you'll find our recommendations for the best microwaves for most people. Check out our picks for the best over-the-range microwaves if you want more options for a built-in model, or the best small microwaves if you're short on counterspace. For affordable options, you can also see our recommendations for the best cheap and budget microwaves.
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Best Microwave
Everyday Use8.4Measured Chamber Volume1.10 cu. ft. (31.3 L)Cooking SensorYesMute Sounds ButtonYesPower8.7See all our test resultsInstallationCountertopThe Breville the Smooth Wave is the best microwave we've tested. This high-end model is a good option if you're looking for a microwave with good performance and useful extra features. It's a compact option, but it has a decent capacity, especially for its size, making it a good choice for heating food on dinner plates and in bowls, as well as in some bigger dishes like mixing bowls or large Tupperware containers. With 1200 watts of power, it heats food very quickly.
This model stands out for its ease of use and extra features. Its controls include a dial and physical buttons, which provide good tactile feedback, and an LCD screen that gives you more info than most models. You can program the microwave with just a few presses, even if you want to do something a bit more complicated, like adjust the power level. You can also use its various steam sensor programs for a more automatic microwaving experience. It's decently quiet when running, and the 'Soft Close' feature noticeably reduces the sound of the microwave door closing. You can also mute the controls entirely or opt for lower-pitched chimes instead of beeps, which is a nice feature not found on many microwaves.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Microwave
Everyday Use8.0Measured Chamber Volume1.86 cu. ft. (52.8 L)Cooking SensorYesMute Sounds ButtonYesPower7.3See all our test resultsInstallationOver-The-RangeIf you're looking for an over-the-range microwave, consider the LG MVEL2033F. This upper mid-range model has a large capacity, so it's a better option than the Breville the Smooth Wave if you often prepare meals or sides for several people in your microwave. The controls consist of a glass touch panel along the bottom of the microwave door, which can make it a little easier to reach the buttons if it's installed above your oven. While you might prefer physical button controls that provide more feedback, its glass control panel is still easy to use, especially for simple tasks like microwaving at 100% power for a few minutes.
There are several steam sensor modes, and it also includes steam and simmer functions for foods like vegetables, rice, and pasta. It's decently quiet when running, but it makes more noise than the Breville the Smooth Wave as well as some of the cheaper options below. You can also mute the controls if you prefer not to hear your microwave beeping.
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Best Mid-Range Microwave
Everyday Use8.6Measured Chamber Volume2.08 cu. ft. (58.8 L)Cooking SensorYesMute Sounds ButtonNoPower9.9See all our test resultsInstallationCountertopFor a powerful microwave with ample space for your largest dishes, try the Sharp SMC2266KS. It's a 1200-watt model that cooks very quickly, and its internal capacity is even larger than many over-the-range models, so you can easily heat or reheat family-size dishes, like an entire lasagna. The membrane touch panel isn't as nice to use as the LG MVEL2033F's glass version or the Breville the Smooth Wave's buttons and dial. However, it provides easy operation for simple tasks, like reheating at 100% power. There's also a cooking sensor, along with the typical quick-start buttons for things like popcorn and veggies, and a button to instantly add 30 seconds.
This microwave is very quiet while running, and you can mute the controls by pressing the '8' for three seconds, making it a great choice if noise is a concern. On the downside, adjusting the power level or setting a specific cook time requires quite a few steps. Still, if you tend toward simple reheating and want room for big dishes, this microwave is tough to beat.
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Best Budget Microwave
Everyday Use7.6Measured Chamber Volume1.03 cu. ft. (29.3 L)Cooking SensorNoMute Sounds ButtonYesPower9.2See all our test resultsInstallationCountertopThe Sharp SMC1162HS is a great budget-friendly microwave. This microwave is a good option for reheating plates and bowls of leftovers and has a wide cooking chamber that can accommodate some bigger casseroles or mixing bowls. Although it's not quite as fast as the Sharp SMC2266KS, it heats food very quickly. It's also impressively quiet when it's running. It doesn't have a steam sensor for more automatic microwaving, but still includes the usual Popcorn and Defrost programs, and gives you the option of muting or locking the controls.
While its membrane touch panel doesn't provide the best feedback, it's still a decently easy microwave to use. You can zap your food at 100% power with a single button push, which is great for reheating leftovers and other simple tasks. However, something more complicated, like adjusting the power level, can require many steps, so it's best suited for simple heating and reheating.
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Best Cheap Microwave
Everyday Use7.6Measured Chamber Volume1.06 cu. ft. (30.1 L)Cooking SensorYesMute Sounds ButtonYesPower9.4See all our test resultsInstallationCountertopIf you want a cheap, simple microwave, consider the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS. Like the Sharp SMC1162HS, it's a smaller microwave, but still offers adequate room in its cooking chamber for things like dinner plates and bowls. The cooking chamber isn't as wide as the Sharp's, so it's less likely to fit something like a lasagna, but it's a good option if you mainly reheat single portions and snacks. It works quickly, so you don't have to wait long for your food to finish heating, and despite its lower price point, it's equipped with a steam sensor for more automatic microwaving. It's also quiet while running, and you can mute the controls if you don't want to hear your microwave's beeps.
However, its membrane touch panel doesn't provide great feedback and isn't as pleasant to use as a control panel with physical buttons. More complex tasks, like changing the microwave power, can require many steps, as well. That said, it's very easy to use for simple microwaving, since you can start heating at 100% power with one button push. If you have specific settings you often use, you can also create and save a 'Favorite' program.
Notable Mentions
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Toshiba ML-EC42P(SS):
The Toshiba ML-EC42P(SS) is a combo air fryer, oven, and microwave that can heat and crisp food. It has features similar to those of the more budget-friendly Toshiba EM131A5C-BS, including a steam sensor for more automatic cooking.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 14, 2026:
We replaced the Panasonic NN-SC67NS with the Sharp SMC2266KS as our mid-range pick, since the former is discontinued.
Mar 11, 2026:
We've updated the article to add recommendations based on price. We added the Breville the Smooth Wave, LG MVEL2033F, Panasonic NN-SC67NS, and Sharp SMC1162HS. We also removed the GE JES1072SHSS and GE JVM6175SKSS, which are out of stock.
Nov 06, 2025:
We've made small updates to the text for clarity and checked that the products are available.
Mar 27, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock, but there hasn't been a change to our recommendations.
Jan 30, 2025:
We've made small edits for clarity throughout and verified that our recommendations are available.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above represent the best microwave ovens for most people. We factor in the 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.