If small appliances like air fryers and blenders are crowding your kitchen counters, you might need a small microwave. Compact microwaves can fit into small spaces and cramped corners, and while they aren't suitable for reheating full meals in something like a casserole dish, they can accommodate a mug or a dinner plate and help with reheating single portions, drinks, and snacks.
When choosing a microwave, you don't have to worry much about how evenly it heats food. Unlike appliances like air fryers and ovens, one microwave heats food about as evenly as any other. Some are faster, but otherwise, our investigation found no difference between models at different price points and with different designs, including inverter microwaves. That doesn't mean you won't prefer one microwave over another, though. We've tested more than 35 microwaves, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best small microwaves based on speed, noise level, capacity, and ease of use.
If you're not sure what size microwave you need, you can see more options on our list of the best microwaves. To see inexpensive options of all sizes, check out the best budget and cheap microwaves.
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Best Small Microwave
Everyday Use8.4Power8.7Internal Capacity7.0Height12.4" (31.4 cm)See all our test resultsWidth20.4" (51.9 cm)The Breville the Smooth Wave is the best small microwave that we've tested. This microwave is a good option if you want something small that still has a high-end look and extra features. Despite its small size, it has a decent capacity. It easily fits a bowl or a dinner plate and offers enough space for reheating leftovers in a serving dish or defrosting a loaf of bread. This 1,200-watt microwave heats food quickly and runs decently quietly, but it really stands out for its design and features. Its dial and button controls make it very easy to use, whether you just want to zap something for 30 seconds at full power or use its various settings and modes for a more complicated process.
It's also equipped with various features that can make microwaving a little more pleasant: you can mute its controls or replace the usual microwave beeps with lower-pitched chimes. It has a soft-close feature that makes closing the door noticeably quieter. The reheat and defrost modes use a steam sensor for a more automatic experience, and you can save a favorite program for quicker access.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Small Microwave
Everyday Use6.7Power6.8Internal Capacity5.9Height11.5" (29.2 cm)See all our test resultsWidth19.4" (49.3 cm)The IKEA GÅTEBO is a good option if you want to save space by combining multiple appliances. This upper mid-range microwave also works as an air fryer or convection oven. It doesn't heat food as fast as the Breville the Smooth Wave, and its cooking chamber is smaller, so it's best suited for reheating personal portions. Still, it's even smaller, so it's a good choice if you need to save as much space as possible. It's also even quieter when it's running.
It's also decently easy to use overall. The membrane button panel doesn't feel as nice to use as the Breville's controls, but you can start microwaving with just one push. However, if you want to do something else besides zapping food at full power, it can be complicated. The control panel looks simple, but programming something like a 1:30 cycle at 30% power requires many button presses. It also lacks a steam sensor, although it includes some useful extra features like a mute option and a child lock.
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Best Mid-Range Small Microwave
Everyday Use7.2Power10Internal Capacity5.7Height10.7" (27.1 cm)See all our test resultsWidth18.9" (47.9 cm)Consider the LG LMC0975ST instead if you're looking for a more straightforward model. This mid-range microwave can't air fry or bake, but it's the smallest on the list, so it's a good option if you want to save counter space. Its smaller size comes with a smaller capacity, but it fits dishes, bowls, and mugs, and heats food very quickly. You can easily start a 30-second cycle with one button push, and it has a safety feature that lets you disable the controls.
This particular model (LG LMC0975ST) is discontinued, but it's still available from a few online retailers. The new model (MSER0990S) has the same dimensions and power, so it's a good alternative if you're looking for a very small microwave. However, if you like the older model's minimalist design, including most of the controls hidden behind the door, you might be disappointed that the updated version has a more typical (and visible) control panel.
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Best Budget Small Microwave
Everyday Use7.8Power10Internal Capacity6.9Height11.8" (30.0 cm)See all our test resultsWidth20.4" (51.9 cm)If you want more capacity than the LG LMC0975ST without giving up much counter space, the Sharp SMC1162KS is a solid budget option. It's the updated version of the Sharp SMC1162HS, with slightly improved heating performance and a new child-resistant door lock. It stays quiet while running and has enough room for most plates, bowls, and storage containers. Basic operation is straightforward, too, since you can start a full-power cook with a single button press.
That being said, it's less convenient once you start making more specific adjustments. Changing the power level or entering a custom cook time takes several button presses, and there's no cooking sensor to automate reheating. The chamber is also better suited to everyday dishes like plates and soup bowls rather than oversized cookware, so it can feel a little limiting if you often use large casserole dishes or bulky containers.
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Best Cheap Small Microwave
Everyday Use7.6Power9.4Internal Capacity6.9Height12.9" (32.8 cm)See all our test resultsWidth20.5" (52.0 cm)Consider the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS if you want to spend as little as possible on a microwave. This 1,100-watt microwave is a bit taller than the previous pick, the Sharp SMC1162KS, so it's not as compact, and its door opens with a handle, which you might find less convenient to wipe clean. Otherwise, it performs similarly, with a medium-sized cooking chamber that can accommodate bowls and dinner plates. It heats food quickly and runs quietly.
Like the previous pick, its membrane touch panel is easy to use to start microwaving at full power, but adjusting the power level, for example, requires more steps. However, it does have a steam sensor that you can use instead of inputting a cook time, and you can mute the controls if you don't want to hear it beeping.
Notable Mentions
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Sharp SMC1162HS:
The Sharp SMC1162HS is very similar to the newer Sharp SMC1162KS, but it heats a little more slowly and lacks the updated child-resistant door lock.
See our review -
Panasonic NN-SF57RM:
The Panasonic NN-SF57RM is a good premium alternative to the Breville the Smooth Wave. It's smaller, more powerful, and has a flatbed chamber that makes good use of its interior space, but it's harder to use and runs a little louder.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 16, 2026:
We replaced the Sharp SMC1162HS with the newer SMC1162KS as our budget pick and added the Panasonic NN-SF57RM and Sharp SMC1162HS as Notable Mentions.
Jun 05, 2026:
We removed the Panasonic NN-SC67NS and the newer version Panasonic NN-SN68QB from the upper mid-range category because neither is available. Some of the picks changed categories because of price changes, and the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS was added as the Best Cheap option.
Mar 05, 2026:
We've updated the article to give recommendations based on price. We've removed the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS and GE JES1072SHSS because they aren't available, and we've added the Breville the Smooth Wave, IKEA GÅTEBO, Panasonic NN-SN67HS, and LG LMC0975ST.
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.
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.