If you don't have much space on your counter, especially if your toaster or blender is taking up valuable real estate, consider a compact microwave. These small microwaves are less than 20 inches wide and 12 inches tall overall. While they can all accommodate a mug or a dinner plate, they won't be suitable for reheating full meals in casserole dishes or mixing bowls. But what about performance?
We bought 26 microwaves ranging from less than $100 to over $1,000 and spent months investigating how they perform. After plenty of microwaving, we found no real difference between models. None of them are amazing at heating food evenly; rather, it all comes down to what you're heating, how much food you're heating, and what container it's in. You can read about our methods and findings in our R&D article. As for inverter microwaves, which are marketed as the latest and greatest in microwave technology, we wanted to see how they stack up. The result? They perform about the same; see our article about the investigation for more details.
Ultimately, you won't go wrong getting a microwave on sale or even secondhand. More powerful microwaves can heat food faster, and there are a few useful features that aren't standard on all microwaves, like a mute function and a steam sensor. Or, you can choose a microwave based on its design. To help you find the best small microwave, we've sorted a few options by features and power to help you find a good value option. If you're looking for something bigger, check out the best value countertop microwaves.
Alternatively, if you're craving a convenient way to make crispy chicken wings or roasted vegetables, you might want to consider one of the best small air fryers or the best small toaster ovens. For your breakfast needs, check out our recommendations for the best 2-slice toasters or a quiet blender for early-morning smoothies.
Quick Look
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Best Value Small Microwave
Power6.3Height10.1" (25.7 cm)Width17.3" (44.0 cm)See all our test resultsMeasured Chamber Volume0.6 cu. ft. (0.02 m³)If you're looking for good value, the best small microwave is the GE JES1072SHSS. This compact model easily fits into smaller spaces, such as a dorm room or RV. Although its cooking chamber is small, it's large enough for a mug of coffee or a bowl of soup. You can mute the controls if you'd rather silence its button press and end-of-cycle beeping. It features all the basic functions you would expect from a microwave, including a quick-start function, defrost and reheat modes, and a popcorn button. However, it doesn't have a steam sensor, so you have to manually select the cooking time or input the weight of your food.
Like most smaller microwaves we've tested, it's not that powerful, only 700 watts, and not as fast as some other microwaves. One issue is availability: this model has been discontinued and is becoming increasingly difficult to find. While we haven't tested it, GE has a new model available, the GCST07N1WBB. The specifications, features, and dimensions are identical between these two models, except for the new model's slightly lower weight. Alternatively, if you don't mind a slightly larger pick, consider the Insignia NS-MW09SS8; with 900 watts of power, it heats food up faster, and it's still available for a budget-friendly price.
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Fastest Small Microwave
Power9.2Height11.8" (29.9 cm)Width20.6" (52.2 cm)See all our test resultsMeasured Chamber Volume1.0 cu. ft. (0.03 m³)If you want a faster microwave, the Sharp SMC1162HS is a good, higher-power option. This 1000-watt microwave is bigger than the GE, but it's still quite compact and heats food much faster. Its medium-sized cooking chamber is easy to see into when the door is closed and can accommodate dishes like dinner plates, making it a good option for reheating leftovers as well as zapping quick snacks.
Its simple controls don't include a steam sensor, so you always need to input your food's weight or cooking time, but you get the usual programs, like 'Popcorn' and 'Defrost'. You can also mute the controls if you don't want to hear your microwave beeping.
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Best Value Small Microwave With A Steam Sensor
Power9.4Height12.9" (32.8 cm)Width20.5" (52.0 cm)See all our test resultsMeasured Chamber Volume1.1 cu. ft. (0.03 m³)The smallest microwaves we've tested don't have steam sensors, so if you want that feature, you may need to go for something a bit bigger. The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS isn't as compact as the previous pick, but it's not gigantic and won't require a huge amount of space on your countertop. It offers several programs, including 'Potato,' 'Sensor Reheat,' and 'Frozen Pizza,' which utilize a steam sensor for a more automated microwaving experience.
This 1100-watt microwave is much faster than the GE JES1072SHSS. Its chamber is a little bigger and can more easily accommodate dinner plates, although it's still on the small side and won't fit something like a casserole dish. You can mute its controls to silence its beeping and microwave in peace.
Notable Mentions
- Cuisinart CMW-70: The Cuisinart CMW-70 is smaller than the GE JES1072SHSS, but only by millimeters. You might prefer it if you want a handle instead of a button for opening the door, but it's even slower than the GE and doesn't include a mute function. See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 13, 2025:
We've removed the LG LMC0975ST, which is currently difficult to find, and have replaced it with the Sharp SMC1162HS, as the 'Fastest Small Microwave.'
Feb 27, 2025:
We've edited the text for clarity, but haven't made any changes to our recommendations.
Jan 29, 2025:
We've made edits throughout for clarity and added the GE GCST07N1WSS as an alternative to the GE JES1072SHSS for the 'Best Value Small Microwave,' as the JES1072SHSS has been discontinued and is becoming hard to find.
Dec 18, 2024:
We've made sure that the picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
Dec 02, 2024:
We've checked the text for accuracy, but our recommendations have remained unchanged.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best small microwaves 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.