Best Countertop Microwaves of 2026: 10 Compared
Ten countertop microwaves, and the spread between cheapest and priciest is roughly. That gap buys you a lot more than extra cubic feet. At the low end you get reliable reheating; at the top you get an air fryer, convection, and a broiler crammed into the same footprint. Figuring out where your needs land on that line is the whole game.
Microwaves look interchangeable until you line up the spec sheets. Across these 10 models, wattage runs from 700W up to 1050W, capacities span 0.7 to 1.2 cubic feet, and prices sit anywhere. A 700W compact reheats a mug of coffee just fine; a 1000W unit with a humidity sensor handles a full plate without you babysitting the timer. Knowing which group you're shopping in saves both money and counter space. To rank these, we pulled the live Amazon listings for the 10 most relevant countertop microwaves, then scored each on power, capacity, preset and safety features, and price-to-performance. Models that delivered more usable wattage and smarter cooking for the dollar rose to the top; pricier units earned their spots only when the extra hardware justified the premium. The result is a list ordered by overall value, not by who charges the most.
The short version: The Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 1.1 Cu. Ft. takes the top spot, pairing 1000 watts and 10 power levels with six one-touch presets, a child safety lock, and a mute button. If you want to spend less, the Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 0.7 Cu. Ft. is the best value, keeping the same 10 power levels and six presets at 700 watts.
- Best overall: Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 1.1 Cu. Ft., with 1000 watts, 10 power levels, and six presets.
- Best value: Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 0.7 Cu. Ft., the lowest price here at 700 watts.
- Premium pick: GE 4-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven adds air fry, convection, and broil.
- All 10 models fall, with wattage from 700W to 1050W.
- Sensor cooking is the Toshiba EM131A5C advantage, adjusting time and power by food humidity.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1000 watts with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- Child safety lock and Lock Mode
- Mute button
- 1000 watts output, 1600 watts input
- Smart humidity sensor
- Six preset menu options
- 12.4-inch removable turntable
- Defrost by weight or time
- Lowest price in the lineup
- 700W with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- Child safety lock
Full Comparison — All 10 Microwaves
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Editor's Choice |
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Best Value |
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Premium Pick |
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How They Compare
Top picks — strengths at a glance
Brands compared
All 10, Reviewed
This Chefman packs 1000 watts into a 1.1 cubic foot body. It pairs 10 power levels with six one-touch presets and layers on a child safety lock plus a mute button, which is exactly the balance most kitchens want without overpaying.
CONS
- 1000 watts with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- Child safety lock and Lock Mode
- Mute button
- 1000 watts with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- Child safety lock and Lock Mode
- No air fry or convection like the GE
This silver Toshiba EM131A5C sits at #2 and earns its place with a smart humidity sensor that adjusts time and power as food cooks. At 1.2 cubic feet and 1000 watts output, it's one of the larger, more capable units here, though it's also among the pricier picks.
CONS
- 1000 watts output, 1600 watts input
- Smart humidity sensor
- Six preset menu options
- 12.4-inch removable turntable
- Defrost by weight or time
- 1000 watts output, 1600 watts input
- Smart humidity sensor
- Six preset menu options
- 12.4-inch removable turntable
- No notable drawbacks in the listed feature data
- No air fry or convection
, this 0.7 cubic foot Chefman is the cheapest model in the roundup and lands at #3. It keeps the 10 power levels and six presets of its bigger sibling, drops the wattage to 700W, and still carries a child safety lock and mute button, making it the easy call for small spaces and tight budgets.
CONS
- Lowest price in the lineup
- 700W with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- Child safety lock
- Lowest price in the lineup
- 700W with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- 700W is slower than the 1000W picks
- Small 0.7 cu ft capacity
Mechanically the same 1.2 cu ft, 1000W Toshiba EM131A5C as the #2 pick, this black stainless version ranks #4, a noticeable saving over the silver model. The humidity sensor, six presets, and 12.4-inch removable turntable all carry, so the choice mostly comes down to finish and price.
CONS
- 1000 watts output, 1600 watts input
- Smart humidity sensor
- Six preset menus
- 12.4-inch removable turntable
- Defrost by weight or time
- 1000 watts output, 1600 watts input
- Smart humidity sensor
- Six preset menus
- 12.4-inch removable turntable
- Pricier than the budget picks
- No air fry or convection
This 0.7 cubic foot Chefman compact comes in at #5 in a stainless finish. It runs 700W with 10 power levels but pares the presets back to three and adds two defrost settings, making it a tidy, no-fuss option for apartments and offices that mostly reheat.
CONS
- 700W with 10 power levels
- Three cooking presets
- Two defrost settings
- Child safety lock
- Mute button
- 700W with 10 power levels
- Three cooking presets
- Two defrost settings
- Child safety lock
- Only three presets
- 700W and 0.7 cu ft limit bigger jobs
The GE 4-in-1 ranks #6, the priciest model here, and it's the only one that air fries, uses convection, and broils on top of microwaving. At 1.0 cu ft and 1050W, it's built to replace a separate air fryer or small oven, with presets like Fries and Nuggets to keep things simple.
CONS
- Built-in air fryer
- Convection cooking
- Broiler
- 1050W output
- Fries and Nuggets presets
- Built-in air fryer
- Convection cooking
- Broiler
- 1050W output
- Most expensive pick
BLACK+DECKER's EM720CB7 ranks #7, a 700W, 0.7 cubic foot unit with a familiar set of pre-programmed buttons. It adds a large LED display, a 10-inch removable glass turntable, 30-second express cooking, and a push-button door, covering the essentials without frills.
CONS
- Pre-programmed buttons for six foods
- 700W with 10 power settings
- Large LED display
- Push-button door release
- 10-inch removable glass turntable
- Pre-programmed buttons for six foods
- 700W with 10 power settings
- Large LED display
- Push-button door release
- No notable drawbacks in the listed feature data
- 700W and 0.7 cu ft cap bigger jobs
This Black+decker EM031MB11 lands at #8, bumping output to 1000 watts in a 1.1 cubic foot black-and-stainless body. It keeps the brand's pre-programmed buttons and push-button door while adding a larger 12.4-inch glass turntable, so it suits anyone wanting more power than the 700W Black+decker.
CONS
- 1000 watts with 10 power settings
- Pre-programmed buttons for six foods
- 12.4-inch removable glass turntable
- Large LED display
- 30-second express cooking
- 1000 watts with 10 power settings
- Pre-programmed buttons for six foods
- 12.4-inch removable glass turntable
- Large LED display
- No notable drawbacks in the listed feature data
- No humidity sensor like the Toshiba
The Toshiba ML-EM09PA ranks #9, a 0.9 cubic foot, 900W unit in black stainless. It stands out for listing 11 power levels, the most here, alongside six auto menus, a two-step child lock, and LED lighting, making it a tidy middle-ground between the compact and full-size picks.
CONS
- 11 power levels
- 900W output
- Six auto menus
- Two-step child lock
- 10.6-inch removable turntable
- 11 power levels
- 900W output
- Six auto menus
- Two-step child lock
- No notable drawbacks in the listed feature data
- 900W trails the 1000W models
This Chefman 0.9 cubic foot model goes and runs 900W with 10 power levels. It carries the same six presets, child safety lock with Lock Mode, and mute button as the brand's other units, so it's a capable choice that simply got edged out by stronger-value picks above it.
CONS
- 900W with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- Child safety lock and Lock Mode
- Mute button
- 900W with 10 power levels
- Six cooking presets
- One-Touch Express Cook
- Child safety lock and Lock Mode
- No notable drawbacks in the listed feature data
8 Things to Consider Before Buying Microwaves
Start with the two numbers that decide everything else: how much counter you can spare and how much power you actually need. From there, weigh the features buyers in this category lean on most, the presets, the safety locks, the sensor cooking, and check them against the price. Our ranking already does that math, so a higher placement means a stronger deal overall.
Our Final Verdict
For most kitchens the Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 1.1 Cu. Ft. is the pick, balancing 1000 watts, 10 power levels, six presets, and a child safety lock at a fair price. Shopping tight? The Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 0.7 Cu. Ft. keeps the same 10 power levels and six presets in a smaller 700W body for the lowest price in the lineup. If you want a microwave that doubles as an air fryer and convection oven, the GE 4-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven is the premium choice, though you'll pay more than double the budget option for those extras.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best countertop microwave?
The Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 1.1 Cu. Ft. is our top pick of the 10 models compared. It combines 1000 watts, 10 power levels, six cooking presets, a child safety lock, and a mute button, which is why it edges out pricier options on overall value.
How much does a good countertop microwave cost?
In this guide, prices range for the Chefman 0.7 Cu. Ft. up to for the GE 4-in-1. Most capable models land in the range, and you mainly pay more for higher wattage, larger capacity, or extras like air frying.
What wattage do I need in a countertop microwave?
These models run from 700 watts to 1050 watts. For reheating single servings and basic tasks, a 700W unit like the Chefman 0.7 Cu. Ft. works fine. For faster, more even cooking of full plates, step up to a 1000W model such as the top-ranked Chefman 1.1 Cu. Ft.
Which microwave has a humidity sensor?
The two Toshiba EM131A5C models, the silver EM131A5C-SS and the black EM131A5C-BS, include a smart humidity sensor that automatically adjusts cooking time and power based on food humidity. Both also let you defrost by weight or by time.
Can a countertop microwave also air fry?
Yes, the GE 4-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven is the only model here that does. It has a built-in air fryer, convection cooking, and a broiler, with presets like Fries and Nuggets, so it can stand in for a separate air fryer or small oven.
Are these microwaves safe around kids?
Most include a child safety lock. The Chefman models lock the handle and add a Lock Mode that disables the control panel, while the Toshiba ML-EM09PA uses a two-step child lock. The Black+decker EM720CB7 and EM031MB11 both list a child safety lock as well.
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