Best Small (Compact) Microwaves

Below 1.0 cu ft, microwaves get noticeably lighter, cheaper, and easier to tuck on a shelf — at the cost of 200–300 watts and a turntable that won't fit a dinner plate. Make peace with that trade and these compact units pay off in every other dimension.

• ✓ Small doesn't mean weak — many compact models hit 800W, which handles coffee reheating and defrost well.
• ✓ Interior height and width matter more than capacity — a 0.7 cu ft unit with a tall cavity may fit your dishes better than a wider, shallower 0.9 cu ft.
• ✓ Turntable diameter is critical in a small unit — a 10-inch turntable won't fit a standard dinner plate.
• ✓ These models stay on shelves and desks better than full-size units, so weight and tipping risk are lower.

223 models in this guide