The 8 Best Small Microwaves (for Saving Space)

A small (mini) microwave is a cost-effective choice for any small space, including small kitchens, small apartments, dorms, camping, caravans, offices, vacation homes, and more.

A compact 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.) – for the money – in 2023.

👉 Don’t forget to check out the 10 most practical microwave accessories!

(This post may contain affiliate links, at no extra cost to you)-

What Size Is a Mini 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.

How Much Does a Mini Microwave Weigh?

How to Choose 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.

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.

👉 In a Hurry?

See our short comparison table and below you’ll find our small microwave reviews.

Mini Microwave	Bottom Line	Capacity/Power/Size	Bottom Line/Price
Toshiba Small Microwave	Best Value	0.9 Cu. Ft. 900W	✅ $124 on Amazon
Whirlpool Compact Microwave	Smallest Microwave	0.5 Cu. Ft. 750W	✅ $188 at abt Electronics
Panasonic Mini Microwave	🥇Best Overall	0.8 Cu. Ft. 950W	✅ $169 on Amazon
Comfee Compact Microwave	Best for Dorm	0.7 Cu. Ft. 700W	✅ $74 on Amazon
BLACK+DECKER Mini Microwave	Small yet Versatile	0.7 Cu. Ft. 700W	✅ $90 on Amazon
Galantz Retro Microwave	Cutest Mini Microwave	0.7 Cu. Ft. 700W	✅$62 at Walmart

The 8 Best Mini Microwaves for Saving Space

The 8 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. Best Value – Toshiba 0.9 Cu. Ft. Small Microwave 

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 at 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.

Toshiba Pros

• Small yet with a 900W cooking power
• Eco mode
• Quiet operation
• Easy to clean
• Large interior capacity
• Comes with a handle

Cons

• A basic model compared to other Toshiba microwaves

✅ Available on Amazon ($124)

2.  Smallest Microwave – Whirlpool 0.5 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave 

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.

Whirlpool Pros

• Powerful enough to heat up a cup of water in just 1 minute and 30 seconds
• The control buttons are uncluttered and easy to use
• Add 30 seconds with 1 push of a button

Cons

• Expensive when considering the size

✅ Available at abt Electronics ($188 with free shipping) and at Walmart ($299)

👉 For a car you’ll need a travel oven for the car

3. Best Overall – Panasonic 0.8 Cu. Ft. Small Microwave 

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 Panasonic high-power microwave (with inverter technology) delivers consistent, evenly cooked food (simmer without overcooking), and the advanced inverter turbo speeds up defrosting time.

Pros

• The quick minute timer, delay start, and the child safety lock are good bonuses
• Dependable and easy to use
• High power relative to the size

Cons

• The display light seems a bit dim and disappears in the sunlight

✅ Available on Amazon ($169)

👉 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.

✅ Available on Amazon ($99)

4. Voice Controlled – AmazonBasics Microwave 

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.

✅ Available on Amazon

5. Best for Dorm – Comfee 0.7 Cu. Ft. Mini Microwave 

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, which makes it perfect for student dorms.

(👉 See the must-have student kitchen essentials in 2023)

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.

Pros

• Easy one-touch buttons
• Known for its affordability
• Reliable performance
• Has an eco mode

Cons

• Due to its lower power output of 700 watts, may take longer to heat up food
• Some users experienced problems with the button pad and door jamming

✅ Available on Amazon ($74)

6. Small But Versatile – BLACK+DECKER Mini Microwave

For a 700W microwave, the BLACK+DECKER 0.7 Cu. Ft. microwave sure comes with a variety of cooking options – at the press of a button – including popcorn and pizza.

The 6 pre-programs are designed to save you time, and it has 10 power settings, an express heating option, and a removable 10-inch glass turntable – making this microwave super easy to use.

Solid construction for a lower price? we love it.

We love that it’s quiet and compact, and dinner plates fit in just fine.

Pros

• Easy to use – has pre-programmed buttons for common foods like popcorn, potatoes, and frozen vegetables
• Defrost options that allow you to defrost food by either time or weight

Cons

• Low power – 700W, takes longer to heat
• Loud beeping sound that can not be turned off (even after you open the door)
• The whole microwave tends to move when pushing the button lever to open it. It may need stickers under the legs to make it fully stationary.

✅ Available on Amazon ($90)

7. Best Retro – Daewoo Countertop Microwave 

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.

For example, the potatoes baking test found that it takes 2 auto-cook rounds to get it nearly done.

Pros

• Relatively sturdy
• Easy to use and clean
• Energy efficient
• A recessed turntable provides more room than the average compact microwave
• Child lock safety function

Cons

• Low-quality switches
• Weak cooking abilities
• Have to hold the power button to turn it off

✅ Available on Amazon

8. Cutest – Galanz Retro Microwave 

The Galanz Retro vintage-style microwave goes all the way retro with its turn-and-push dial, a sleek chrome door handle (easier to open), aqua colors (but also black and red if you’d like), and a round LED display light that looks gorgeous in any kitchen.

Pros

• Comes in several beautiful colors, including surf green, red, and black (lowest price)
• A budget-friendly option for those who want a retro microwave oven

Cons

• Lower cooking power
• The turntable size is less-than-average for small microwaves (9.63 inches) and a standard dinner plate may not fit in.
• There is no option to turn off the beeping sound

✅ Available at Walmart ($62), and on Amazon ($108)

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 Do Small Microwaves Cost?

A mini microwave (countertop) costs $65 to $180 on average, depending on the brand, features, type, and wattage.

Surprisingly, the size does not affect the price significantly.

The main factors influencing the price are the brand (reliability, warranty, etc.) and the features included.

For example, the well-known Whirlpool offers the smallest microwave on the market (0.5 Cu. Ft) for about $185, while the less-known Commercial Chef brand sells their popular 0.6 Cu. Ft microwave for only about $75 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 $109, while The Panasonic 0.9 Cu. Ft microwave has 9 preset programs and includes inverter technology – costing about $170.

Where Can I Find Microwave Accessories?

We’ve covered the 10 best and most practical microwave accessories, including microwave plate covers, rice steamers, pasta cookers, bacon/fries crispers or grillers, egg poachers, potato bags, and even mac and cheese cookers.

All of them can help you make the best of your microwave.

The KM Team