Low Profile vs Regular Over-the-Range Microwave

On this page (18 sections)

1. How tall is a low profile microwave?
2. Cabinet gap: what fits under your cabinets
3. Interior room: the trade-off you'll feel
4. Venting in low profile and regular units
5. Price tier: why low profile costs more here
6. Features to compare between the two types
7. Low profile vs regular over-the-range microwave: the height trade-off
8. Dimensions and fit checks
9. Installation differences between the two types
10. Who should pick a low profile model
11. Who should pick a regular model
12. Low profile vs regular over-the-range microwave: what changes
13. Space above the cooktop: the clearance question
14. Two kitchens, two different answers
15. One measurement that decides most of it
16. What the choice means for the rest of your kitchen
17. Common mistakes when choosing between the two types
18. Which low profile or regular over-the-range microwave fits your kitchen?

The main difference is height. A low profile model is about 10 to 11 inches tall, while a regular unit is about 16 inches, and that single number decides which one fits under your cabinet.

Height also changes what you get inside. Low profile units hold less, and regular units leave more room for big dishes and family meals.

This guide compares the two types on the points that matter when you're deciding. Start with the cabinet gap, then the room you need.

How tall is a low profile microwave?

A low profile microwave is a shorter unit built for a tight space above the cooktop. The three picks in our low profile roundup measure 10.3 to 10.8 inches tall.

The GE Profile is one of the shortest options here, at 10.3 inches tall with sensor cooking and bottom controls. It's a good reference point for the height you can expect from a low profile unit.

A regular unit runs about 16 inches tall. The GE 1.6 cu ft in our 30-inch roundup measures 16.1 inches, which is the typical height for a standard over-the-range microwave.

Cabinet gap: what fits under your cabinets

The cabinet gap is the space between the cooktop and the bottom of the cabinet above it. Measure that gap in at least two places, since cabinets can sit at slightly different heights.

If the gap is about 16 inches or more, a regular unit can fit, and you get the room and the wider choice. Check the manual for the clearance it needs.

If the gap is shorter, a low profile unit is the only real option.

Leave a little room for the trim and the mounting plate. A unit that barely fits can be hard to mount, and it may look crowded once it's installed.

Interior room: the trade-off you'll feel

Low profile units hold less. The three picks in the low profile roundup hold 1.1 to 1.2 cubic feet, which suits small meals and one or two cooks.

Regular units hold more. The standard picks in our 30-inch roundup hold 1.6 to 1.9 cubic feet, so a large plate or a family-size dish fits more easily.

Think about the dishes you use most. If you mostly reheat single plates and small containers, a low profile unit can be enough.

If you bake a family dinner or reheat a big casserole, the regular unit gives you more room.

Venting in low profile and regular units

Venting is where low profile units can compete. The GE Profile and the Midea in the low profile roundup both run 400 CFM, and the Samsung runs 550 CFM.

Most regular picks in the 30-inch roundup run 300 CFM. Toshiba and BLACK+DECKER's 1.9 both run 400 CFM, which matches the GE Profile and the Midea.

Venting still needs a path for the air. Ducted units send air outside, while recirculating units use a charcoal filter.

Check the manual before you plan a recirculating install, since the setup decides how the fan works.

Price tier: why low profile costs more here

All three low profile picks sit in the premium tier, which is where this group of models is priced. Regular models in our 30-inch roundup run from the mid-range tier up to premium.

That gives you more choice, and you can often find more interior room in a mid-range unit.

Pay the premium only if the low profile fit is the deciding factor. If the cabinet gives you room for a standard unit, the regular model is usually the better value.

Features to compare between the two types

Features are similar across both types. Sensor cooking, auto menus and cooktop lights appear in both groups, so compare the feature list rather than the category.

Two of the three low profile picks add smart features.

The Samsung has Wi-Fi and voice control, and the Midea has voice control and a smart home app. Those features don't change the fit, but they can matter for a connected kitchen.

Regular picks give you more models to compare, so you can match the features and the venting closer to your kitchen.

Low profile vs regular over-the-range microwave: the height trade-off

Height is the first check, and it decides whether the unit fits. Low profile units give up interior room to fit a short gap, and regular units need the taller gap for the room they give you.

If you're not sure, measure your gap, then compare it with the picks in both roundups. Our low profile roundup covers the three short picks, and the best over-the-range microwave roundup covers the regular ones.

Dimensions and fit checks

Measure the opening width, the height from the cooktop to the cabinet bottom, and the depth from the wall to the front. The dimensions guide explains each measurement.

If the cabinet is narrower than 30 inches, the 24-inch guide covers the smaller units, which change the height and depth numbers too.

Installation differences between the two types

Both types mount the same way, with a plate on the wall or cabinet and a power connection, and both are a job for a qualified installer. The main difference is the vertical space, since a regular unit needs a taller gap and a low profile unit fits a shorter one.

Clearance is the space the manual asks for above the cooktop and around the body. Read the clearance section for your model before you buy, and keep that space clear of cabinets and trim where the manual says.

The GE Profile in our low profile picks weighs 51 pounds, so the lift is the same kind of job as a regular unit. Plan for two people on delivery day with either type, and leave the mount and the wiring check to the pros.

Who should pick a low profile model

A low profile model suits three kinds of kitchen. Each one has a clear reason to choose the shorter body.

• A short gap above the cooktop, where a 16-inch unit won't fit.
• A cabinet that sits low enough that a standard unit would block the door or the trim.
• A cook who mainly reheats single plates and small dishes.

If your gap is one of these, the low profile picks are the only practical option. The low profile roundup compares three of them in detail.

Who should pick a regular model

A regular model suits a cook who bakes, roasts or reheats large dishes. It holds about 1.6 to 1.9 cubic feet, which fits a family-size plate or a bigger casserole.

Regular models also give you more models to compare. You can match the venting, the controls and the finish more closely to your kitchen.

If the gap is tall enough, a regular unit is the better fit for room and choice. Check the manual for clearance before you order, since the taller body needs space above the cooktop too.

Low profile vs regular over-the-range microwave: what changes

The biggest change is the height, but several other things follow from it. Interior room, venting and price tier all shift with the body size, so compare them together.

Low profile microwave versus regular: what changes in practice

The three low profile picks here hold 1.1 to 1.2 cubic feet and run 400 to 550 CFM. The regular picks in our 30-inch roundup hold 1.6 to 1.9 cubic feet and run 300 to 400 CFM.

So the low profile picks often have the stronger fans, while the regular picks have more room. That's the trade in one line.

Space above the cooktop: the clearance question

Clearance affects both types, so don't skip it. The manual sets the minimum space above the cooktop, so follow it even when the gap looks big enough.

Measure from the cooktop to the bottom of the cabinet, then subtract the trim and the mounting plate. The number left over is the real space, and it should be at least the manual's clearance.

Two kitchens, two different answers

Take a kitchen with a gap of about 12 inches above the cooktop. A regular unit at 16 inches won't fit there, so the low profile picks are the only practical route, and the choice comes down to venting and features.

Now take a kitchen with a gap of 20 inches or more. A regular unit fits with room for the trim, and the choice shifts to interior room, venting and the features you use, since the height no longer limits you.

Most kitchens land between those two examples. Measure yours, and the height decides the type before you look at any other feature.

One measurement that decides most of it

Measure the gap above the cooktop first. If it's shorter than a regular unit needs, the decision is made, and you're looking at low profile models.

If the gap is comfortably tall, the choice moves to room and features. Then compare the interior size, the fan and the controls, and pick the type that matches your cooking.

Don't skip the second check. Depth, the cabinet door swing and the trim all affect the fit, even when the height works.

What the choice means for the rest of your kitchen

A low profile unit sits lower over the cooktop, so it can change how much of the backsplash and the wall you see. A regular unit sits higher and can shift the view over the stove.

Both types can match a stainless or white kitchen, so the look is a matter of the model you pick rather than the type. Check the finish on the model page you're comparing, and match it to the cabinets and the hood trim near the unit.

Common mistakes when choosing between the two types

• Measuring only the width and skipping the height.
• Forgetting the trim and mounting plate, which take up part of the gap.
• Buying for the gap but not checking the depth against the cabinet door.
• Choosing a low profile model for its fan, when a regular model has the room you need.

Avoiding these mistakes takes a few minutes with a tape measure. The dimensions guide walks through each measurement.

Which low profile or regular over-the-range microwave fits your kitchen?

Pick a low profile model if the cabinet gap is short and you need the unit to fit. Pick a regular model if the gap is 16 inches or more and you want more room inside.

If you can't decide, start with the cabinet measurements, then check the venting and the room you need. The buying guide walks through the rest of the choice.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is a low profile over-the-range microwave?

The three low profile picks here measure 10.3 to 10.8 inches tall. A regular 30-inch unit, like the GE 1.6, is about 16 inches tall, so the difference matters most when the cabinet gap is short.

Can a regular microwave fit under a low cabinet?

Only if the gap is tall enough for its height. Measure the space between the cooktop and the cabinet bottom, and compare it with the unit's height and the manual's clearance before you order.

Do low profile microwaves have less room inside?

Yes. The low profile picks here hold 1.1 to 1.2 cubic feet, while the regular picks in our 30-inch roundup hold 1.6 to 1.9 cubic feet.

Are low profile microwaves more expensive?

The low profile picks here all sit in the premium tier. Regular models cover a wider range of price tiers, so you can often find more room for less money.