The 5 Best Microwaves for Apartments of 2026
Apartment kitchens punish bad microwave choices. Too big and it eats your only prep counter, too weak and your frozen burrito comes out lava on the edges and ice in the middle, too ugly and you stare at it every morning. I sorted through the compact countertop options that actually make sense for renters and small kitchens, weighing real capacity against real footprint, and landed on five picks: the Best Overall for most people, a Best Compact for truly tiny counters, a Best Large Capacity for people who cook real food in theirs, a Best Budget that punches above its price, and a Best Retro Style for kitchens with a point of view. The Toshiba 0.9 is the one I would hand to a friend moving into a new place tomorrow. Here is how each of them earned its spot.
| Product | Heating Performance | Ease Of Use | Value | Footprint Fit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Best OverallToshiba 0.9 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 900W | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best CompactCOMFEE' 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 700W | 7.5 | 9.0 | 9.5 | 10.0 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best Large CapacityToshiba 1.2 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 1000W | 9.5 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 6.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best BudgetChefman 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 700W | 7.5 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 9.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best Retro StyleFrigidaire Retro 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 700W | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | See PriceAmazon |
Toshiba 0.9 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 900W
Best for
This is the pick for the renter who wants to stop thinking about microwaves. At 0.9 cu ft it swallows a full dinner plate on its 10.6 inch turntable, and 900W means leftovers reheat in the time the box says, not half again as long. If you were going to buy the COMFEE' to save $48, ask yourself whether a bigger plate and faster reheating are worth it for something you will use daily for years: they are.
Why we love it
Toshiba nailed the apartment middle ground here. The 0.9 cu ft cavity paired with 900W is the ratio that actually works: the 1.2 cu ft Toshiba gives you more room but demands 21 inches of counter, while 0.7 cu ft models at 700W make you wait. The black stainless finish looks like it costs twice the price, and the little quality of life details are all present: a mute function for late night reheating, a two step child lock, six auto menus, and LED cavity lighting so you can see what is happening. At 4.5 stars across more than 1,500 ratings, it is also the best reviewed mid size option in the lineup.
Pros
- 900W in a 0.9 cu. ft. cavity reheats full plates fast
- Mute function and eco mode for open-plan living
- Black stainless finish looks premium
- 6 auto menus plus 10.6 inch turntable
Cons
- Priced above the budget 0.7 cu. ft. models
- No sensor reheat like the larger Toshiba
- Black stainless shows fingerprints
Verdict
Yes, if you want one microwave that does everything well in an apartment kitchen. If your counter is truly tiny, the Best Compact saves meaningful space and money; if you cook big portions regularly, step up to the Best Large Capacity.
COMFEE' 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 700W
Best for
This is for the person measuring their counter in inches, not feet: dorm rooms, galley kitchens, office nooks, anywhere a standard microwave is a nonstarter. It is the most reviewed compact microwave on the market for a reason, with over 25,000 ratings backing it. If you need 0.9 cu ft of space or faster cooking, the Best Overall is the honest upgrade, but nothing fits a tight space better than this.
Why we love it
COMFEE' understood the assignment for small spaces. The 0.7 cu ft cavity keeps the exterior genuinely small while 700W is correctly matched to the box, so heating is even rather than anemic. I love the apartment specific touches: an eco mode that cuts standby power by half, a mute button that silences every beep, and eleven power levels for actual control. It has one touch cooking, a removable turntable, and the two step child lock the safety standard requires. At under $70 with 4.4 stars from 25,000-plus owners, it is the rare budget pick with nothing to apologize for. Against the 0.9 cu ft Toshiba you give up 200W and 0.2 cu ft of space, but you gain a meaningfully smaller footprint for $48 less.
Pros
- Tiny footprint fits dorms and galley kitchens
- Eco mode cuts standby power by 50 percent
- Mute button silences all beeps
- 11 power levels at a budget price
Cons
- 700W cooks slower than 900W models
- 0.7 cu. ft. limits plate and container size
- Basic black styling, nothing distinctive
Verdict
Yes, if space or budget is your binding constraint. It does everything a small microwave should. If you have the counter and the extra $48, the Toshiba 0.9 cooks faster and holds more.
Toshiba 1.2 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 1000W
Best for
This is for the person who treats the microwave as a second oven: reheating family portions, defrosting meat, cooking vegetables in quantity. The 1.2 cu ft cavity and 1000W of power are the most you can get without a built in unit, though at 21 inches wide it demands real counter space. If you mostly reheat single servings, the Best Overall gives you the same Toshiba quality in a smaller, cheaper box.
Why we love it
When the cavity gets this big, wattage is everything, and 1000W keeps the 1.2 cu ft box from feeling sluggish. The 12.4 inch turntable is the largest here by a clear margin, so serving dishes and big containers actually fit and rotate. The smart sensor takes the guesswork out of reheating: it reads steam and adjusts time itself, something none of the smaller picks offer. Stainless steel, 4.4 stars across more than 21,000 ratings, and it still sits on a counter rather than demanding a remodel. For serious apartment cooking, the capacity jump over the 0.9 cu ft Toshiba is real.
Pros
- 1.2 cu. ft. with 1000W, the most capable countertop combo
- 12.4 inch turntable fits serving dishes
- Smart sensor auto adjusts reheat time
- 21,000-plus ratings at 4.4 stars
Cons
- 20.6 inches wide dominates small counters
- Heaviest and tallest pick here
- Highest price in the guide
Verdict
Yes, if you cook real quantities and have the counter width. For single servings and tight kitchens, the Best Overall or Best Compact make more sense and cost less.
Chefman 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 700W
Best for
This is for the buyer who wants the COMFEE' feature set and refuses to pay more than seventy bucks: students furnishing a first apartment, anyone replacing a dead microwave without drama. It matches the COMFEE' on specs while adding its own extras, and 4,977 ratings at 4.3 stars say owners are happy. If the extra features do not matter, the COMFEE' has the deeper review history.
Why we love it
Chefman packed a surprising amount into a $70 microwave. Ten power levels beat the typical budget three or five, six cooking presets cover popcorn through leftovers, and the one touch express cook is genuinely handy. Then the apartment features: an eco mode, a mute button, and a child safety lock, the full set that the Best Compact also carries. The stainless look reads more expensive than it is. Against the Toshiba 0.9, you give up 200W and 0.2 cu. ft., but you keep $48, which is the whole point of a budget pick.
Pros
- 10 power levels and 6 presets under $70
- Eco mode and mute button included
- Stainless finish looks upmarket
- One touch express cook
Cons
- 700W means slower cooking than 900W picks
- Smaller cavity than the overall pick
- Fewer long term reviews than the COMFEE'
Verdict
Yes, if seventy dollars is the budget and you still want the nice features. If you can stretch to the Best Compact, its 25,000 rating history is reassuring; if you can stretch further, the Best Overall is the real upgrade.
Frigidaire Retro 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 700W
Best for
This is for the kitchen with a personality: retro diner vibes, colorful small appliances, a space you actually enjoy looking at. Owners consistently say it looks great on the counter and works quietly, which is exactly the brief. If style is not a priority, the Chefman or COMFEE' give you the same 0.7 cu ft and 700W for the same money with more features.
Why we love it
Most microwaves are black boxes you tolerate; this one you choose. The retro styling with its rounded lines and chrome accents genuinely elevates a rental kitchen, and owners report it runs quiet, which matters in a studio. Underneath the looks it is a competent compact: 0.7 cu. ft., 700W, eight auto cook menus, and auto defrost by weight. It gives up the mute button and eco mode that the Best Compact and Best Budget carry, so you are trading a couple of apartment features for the design. For a style driven kitchen, that trade is worth making.
Pros
- Retro design elevates a rental kitchen
- Runs quiet per owner reports
- 8 auto cook menus plus auto defrost
- Compact 0.7 cu. ft. footprint
Cons
- No mute button or eco mode
- Style premium over equally capable compacts
- 700W, slower than larger picks
Verdict
Yes, if the look matters to you as much as the function. If you want maximum features per dollar in a compact, the Best Budget is the rational choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size microwave is best for an apartment?
For most apartments, 0.9 cu ft is the sweet spot: big enough for a full dinner plate, small enough to leave counter space. Go 0.7 cu ft if your counter is truly cramped, and 1.1 to 1.2 cu ft only if you regularly cook family-size portions and have the width to spare.
Is 700 watts enough for a microwave?
Yes, for compact 0.7 cu ft models, 700W heats evenly because the cavity is small, though it runs a little slower than a 1000W unit so add 20 to 30 percent to cooking times. In a 0.9 cu ft or bigger microwave, 700W starts to feel underpowered, which is why the larger picks here run 900W and up.
Do I need a child lock on a microwave?
If kids visit or live in the apartment, yes. All current models ship with a two-step child lock to meet the safety standard, and it is worth engaging if toddlers can reach the counter. Every pick in this guide includes one.
Can a microwave be too big for a small kitchen?
Absolutely: a 1.2 cu ft microwave is about 21 inches wide and over a foot tall, which can dominate a galley kitchen counter and block upper cabinet access. Measure twice and leave an inch of clearance on each side for ventilation, which the manual requires anyway.
Honorable Mentions
GE 0.9 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 900W
A tidy 19 inch wide GE with 900W and seven auto cooking settings for brand loyalists who want the 0.9 cu ft sweet spot.
See PriceAmazonBLACK+DECKER 0.9 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 900W
Twelve thousand plus ratings at 4.4 stars make this the battle tested alternative to the overall pick, with ten power levels and a stainless finish.
See PriceAmazonSharp 0.9 Cu. Ft. Microwave, 900W
A step up in fit and finish with an LED lit gray interior and a design forward look, for buyers who want their 0.9 cu ft to feel premium.
See PriceAmazon
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