A small (compact) microwave is a cost-effective choice for any small space, including small kitchens, small apartments, dorms, camping, caravans, offices, vacation homes, and more.
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A mini microwave quickly heats your meal or beverage while saving a lot more space and electricity than the average microwave oven.
We’ve spent 22 hours of research to find how to choose the best mini microwaves (o.5 – 0.9 Cu Ft) – and the best ones for the money – in 2022.
| Bottom Line | Capacity/Power/Size | Bottom Line/Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
Toshiba Small Microwave | 🥇Best Value | 0.9 Cu. Ft. 900W | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Whirlpool Compact Microwave | Smallest Microwave | 0.5 Cu. Ft. 750W | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Panasonic Mini Microwave | Most Features | 0.8 Cu. Ft. 950W | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
| AmazonBasics Small Microwave Voice Controlled  | Best "Smart" Microwave | 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700W | ✅ Check price on Amazon |
Comfee Compact Microwave | Budget Friendly | 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700W | ✅ Check price on Amazon |
Daewoo Retro Small Microwave | Best Look | 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700W | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Nostalgia Mini Microwave | Cutest Mini Microwave | 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700W | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Contents
- How to Pick the Best Small Microwave
- The 7 Best Mini Microwaves [2022 Reviews]
- 1. Toshiba 0.9 Cu. Ft. Small Microwave Best Value
- 2. Whirlpool 0.5 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Smallest Microwave
- 3. Panasonic 0.8/0.9 Cu. Ft. Small Microwave Most Features
- 4. AmazonBasics Voice-Controlled Microwave Alexa Enabled
- 5. Comfee 0.7 Cu. Ft. Mini Microwave Budget Friendly
- 6. Daewoo Countertop Microwave Best Retro
- 7. Nostalgia Retro Turn Dial Mini Microwave – Cutest
- Mini Microwaves FAQ
How to Pick the Best Small Microwave
1. Size – Size does matter when it comes to mini microwaves. Make sure you measure the space available for the microwave and its dimensions – before you buy. Add 1-2 inches to the space you have for clearance.
What Size is a Small Microwave?
A small microwave typically has around 0.5 to o.9 cubic feet of interior space. Width is usually 15-19 inches, and height ranges from 10-11 inches. Depth is measured with the door closed, and you have to make sure you have enough space for the door to fully open.
2. Capacity – small microwaves’ capacity ranges from 0.5 Cu. Ft. to 0.9 Cu. Ft. The larger the capacity, the more power (in watts).
The amount of food you can cook is determined by both the capacity and the turntable size and design.
3. Power – Power is measured in watts. The more watts, the faster your food will cook. Small microwaves’ power range from 700W to 950W.
4. Pre-set cooking options – most mini microwaves come with pre-set programs to help you determine how much heating time you need for various foods and beverages.
How Much do Small Microwaves Cost?
A mini microwave (countertop) costs $65 to $180 on average, depending on the brand, features, type, and wattage.
The main factors influencing the price are the brand (reliability, warranty, etc.) and the features included. The size does not affect the price significantly.
For example, the well-known Whirlpool sells the smallest microwave on the market (0.5 cu. ft) for about $180, while the less-known Commercial Chef brand sells their popular 0.6 cu. ft microwave for only about $60 on Amazon.
Power levels and pre-programming options also influence the cost of small microwaves.
For example, The Toshiba 0.9 Cu. Ft has 10 power levels and 6 auto-programs and costs about $105, while The Panasonic 0.9 Cu. Ft microwave has 9 preset programs and includes inverter technology – costing about $135.
The 7 Best Mini Microwaves [2022 Reviews]
The 7 cost-effective compact microwaves below range from 0.5 Cu. Ft to 0.9 Cu. Ft. in capacity, making them perfect for tiny homes, small kitchens, dorms, mobile homes, vacation homes, offices, and more.
1. Toshiba 0.9 Cu. Ft. Small Microwave Best Value
- Dimensions: 19.2″ (W) x 15.9″ (D) x 11″ (H)
- Weight: 27.3 pounds
- Power: 900W
The compact size of the Toshiba mini microwave is ideal for small apartments, vacation homes, dorms, and offices – yet has enough space for the average dishes.
The 6 auto menus are pre-programmed to cook 6 types of food (popcorn/pizza/potatoes and more), and it has 10 power levels to choose from.
This mighty little microwave has a 10. 6 inches glass turntable inside and can run for 6 minutes straight in full power, has LED lighting inside the cavity, and an easy-to-use control panel.
We highly recommend the Toshiba compact microwave and agree with the high ratings it has on Amazon.
✅ Price – best price found on Amazon
2. Whirlpool 0.5 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Smallest Microwave
- Dimensions: 13.75 (H) x 15.38 (W) x 14.13 (D) inches
- Weight: 32.6 pounds
- Power: 750W
However:
With only 0.5 Cu. Ft. capacity, it still accommodates a standard dinner plate (cavity size is 11.5″).
You can quickly set this small microwave to cook for 30 seconds at 100% power with the “Add 30” option or choose from 1-10 power levels.
The important control lock feature helps you avoid unintended use or other changes to your cooking settings by disabling the control panel with the touch of a button.
The Whirlpool microwave cooks fast (1-2 minutes to evenly cook a frozen meal), and easily fits corners to save maximum space.
It’s small but mighty, everything you need from a space-saving microwave.
✅ Price – check price on Amazon
👉 For a car – you’ll need a travel oven for the car
3. Panasonic 0.8/0.9 Cu. Ft. Small Microwave Most Features
- Turntable size: 11.25 inches
- Dimensions: 14.8 (D) x 19.2 (W) x 11 (H) inches
- Weight: 20.9 pounds
- Power: 950 W
The automatic Genius sensor instantly adjusts the power and cooking based on different foods (but also has 9 preset menu items to choose from), and the Keep Warm button maintains the heat until you are ready to eat (without overcooking!)
This Toshiba high-power microwave (with inverter technology) delivers consistent, evenly cooked food (simmer without overcooking), and the advanced inverter turbo speeds up defrosting time.
Other pros are the quick minute timer, delay start, and the child safety lock.
The only con is the display light seems a bit dim and disappears in sunlight.
✅ Price – best price found on Amazon
👉 Larger Option
The Panasonic larger mini microwave (0.9 Cu. Ft.), has 7 preset cooking settings, and 3 power levels for popcorn popping. See this small black microwave below:
It doesn’t have the automatic genius sensor, and the turntable is smaller, but it costs much less.
✅ Price – check today’s price on Amazon.
4. AmazonBasics Voice-Controlled Microwave Alexa Enabled
- Dimensions: 17.3″(W). x 10.1″ (H). x 14.1″ (D).
- Weight: 21.9 pounds
- Power: 700W
The Amazon Basics small microwave has a unique feature no other microwaves on this list have.
After connecting it to the app, simply say “Alexa, microwave popcorn”, or “Alexa, reheat one cup of coffee” – and the microwave will set the right power level and time to get the job done.
The second option is to press the Alexa button on the keypad and just say the type of food you want to cook (“frozen vegetables”), or the cooking time (“2 minutes”).
Otherwise, you can use the buttons just like with every normal microwave.
👉 If you are a popcorn fan, Amazon offers a 10% discount on popcorn orders (choose from the popcorn brands on the app), and Alexa will know when to reorder for you when you run low.
The 10″ turntable size is a bit smaller than average for compact microwaves, but users say it fits a standard dinner plate.
It also has 10 power levels, a kitchen timer, and a child lock.
✅ Price – best price on Amazon
5. Comfee 0.7 Cu. Ft. Mini Microwave Budget Friendly
- Dimensions: 19.2’’ (W) * 15.9″ (D) * 11.5’’ (H)
- Weight: 20.3 pounds
- Power: 700W
With the easy one-touch button, sound on/off, eco mode, 11 power levels, and 6 auto cooking functions, this 0.7 Cu. Ft. stainless steel microwave is perfect for small spaces.
It is small, but the turntable plate size (10 inches) is big enough for standard plates.
Of course, it is a 700W microwave so the food takes a bit longer to cook/heat, but the price, space-saving, and quality – make it a great buy.
✅ Price – check today’s price on Amazon
6. Daewoo Countertop Microwave Best Retro
- Dimensions: 12.7 (D) x 17.6 (W) x 10.6 (H) inches
- Weight – 23.4 pounds
- Power – 700W
The Daewoo super cute small microwave comes in 3 colors – including mint green and red, and a retro design that upgrades any countertop.
It has 4 auto-cooking options, two-way defrosting, zero standby function, 5 power levels (up to 700W), and a recessed turntable (10 inches) to free up space for large dishes.
✅ Price – check price on Amazon
7. Nostalgia Retro Turn Dial Mini Microwave – Cutest
- Dimensions: 10.25” (H) x 17.5” (W) x 15” (D)
- Weight:23.55 pounds
- Power: 700W
The Nostalgia Retro vintage-style microwave goes all the way retro with its turn-and-push dial, and a sleek chrome door handle, aqua color, and a round LED display light that looks gorgeous in any kitchen.
However:
The turntable size is less-than-average for small microwaves (9.63 inches) and a standard dinner plate may not fit in.
✅ Nostalgia Retro Turn Dial Mini Microwave Price – best price found on Amazon
👉 Lower Price Alternative
Mini Microwaves FAQ
What is the Smallest Size Countertop Microwave?
The Smallest Microwave on the Market is the Whirlpool 0.5 Cu. Ft. microwave, taking up just 213.1 square inches of counter space. It has a unique rounded back so that it will fit nicely in corners too.
Is a 700-watt Microwave Powerful Enough?
When it comes to microwaves, wattage equals power. A 700W power is decent enough when it comes to small-mini microwaves. It will cook/heat food a bit slower than the average-size 1000W microwave (but saves space and electricity costs).
How Much Does a Mini Microwave Cost?
Prices for small microwaves range from as low as $40 to as high as $300, depending on the heating technology, power (in watts), extra features, and more.
The KM Team
