What Is the Best Over-the-Range Microwave to Buy?

On this page (18 sections)

1. Measure the cabinet opening first
2. Choose ducted or recirculating venting
3. Pick the size and cooking room
4. Check the power and controls
5. Low profile or standard
6. Convection and air fry: only if you'll use them
7. Plan the install and replacement
8. Shortlist by what you cook
9. Set your budget tier before you compare
10. Match the fan to how you cook
11. Check the dishes you bake, roast and reheat
12. Check the cavity and the turntable
13. Read the manual and the warranty terms
14. Compare two models side by side
15. Plan for the cooking you actually do
16. Plan the install day and the first use
17. Questions to ask before you buy
18. What is the best over-the-range microwave to buy for your kitchen?

The best over-the-range microwave to buy is the one that fits your cabinet opening and vents the way your kitchen needs. That's what to settle first, because a great unit that doesn't fit the space is the wrong buy.

Most over-the-range microwaves are sized for a standard 30-inch range. Once the width is settled, the rest of the choice comes down to venting, room inside, power and the controls you'll use each day.

This guide walks through those decisions in order, so you can narrow the list before you compare brands.

Measure the cabinet opening first

Measure the cabinet opening before anything else. Check the width at the top, the middle and the bottom, then the height from the cooktop to the cabinet bottom, and the depth from the wall to the front.

Most picks in our 30-inch roundup are 29.9 inches wide, so a standard opening takes any of them. Depth and height are where the models differ, so the depth of your cabinet can rule out a unit before you compare features.

If the opening is narrower or the cabinet is shorter, check the shorter options before you buy. Our 24-inch guide covers narrower units, and the low profile roundup covers the short ones.

Choose ducted or recirculating venting

Venting decides how the unit clears smoke and steam. A ducted unit sends the air outside through a duct, while a recirculating unit passes the air through a charcoal filter and back into the room.

If you can run a duct outside, a ducted unit is the stronger choice for heavy cooking. If you can't, a recirculating unit with a filter is the practical option, and the filter needs replacing on a schedule.

Our venting options guide explains both setups, and whether an over-the-range microwave needs to be vented covers the rules for each kitchen.

Pick the size and cooking room

Size is measured in cubic feet. The picks in our roundups run from about 1.1 cubic feet in the smaller low profile units up to 1.9 cubic feet in the larger 30-inch models.

More room helps when you cook big dishes or reheat family meals, and less room works for a single cook or a light schedule. Check the turntable diameter as well, since a 13-inch turntable holds a larger plate than a 12-inch one.

For a 30-inch fit with the most room, the Toshiba 1.9 and the BLACK+DECKER 1.9 are the two to compare. Our 30-inch roundup lists them side by side with the depth and height numbers.

Check the power and controls

Power affects how fast the unit heats food. Most picks offer 1,000 watts, and the Frigidaire FMOS1846B runs at 1,500 watts, so it heats faster than the others.

Auto menus and one-touch cooking suit a busy kitchen, while sensor cooking adjusts the time and power for the food. Decide which features you'll use before you pay for them.

Best over-the-range microwave controls and power

Start with the controls you'll use most. A unit with 18 auto menus suits quick weeknight meals, and a unit with sensor cooking suits people who want the machine to pick the time.

Power is the second check. Compare the watts and the power levels, since 10 levels give you more control over delicate foods than a single high setting.

Low profile or standard

A low profile microwave is about 10 to 11 inches tall, and a standard unit is about 16 inches. That height difference decides which one fits under your cabinet.

If the gap is short, the low profile picks are the only real option. If the gap is generous, a standard unit gives you more interior room and a wider choice of models.

Our low profile vs regular guide walks through the trade-off in more detail, so you can decide before you shop.

Convection and air fry: only if you'll use them

A convection unit can bake, roast and broil, and an air fry unit adds a crisp mode for snacks and reheated food. Both cost more than a standard microwave, so the question is how often you'd use the extra modes.

If baking or crisping food is a weekly habit, a convection model saves a separate appliance. If you only reheat, steam and defrost, a standard unit covers the job at a lower price tier.

Our convection roundup compares three convection picks, and the air fryer guide covers the one over-the-range model with an air fry mode.

The convection vs regular guide covers the trade-off in more depth.

Plan the install and replacement

Plan the install before you order. Book a qualified installer for the mount, and a licensed electrician to check the outlet and the circuit.

Replacing an old unit goes faster when you check the mounting bracket and the filler kit early. Our installation guide and the replacement guide list the steps for each.

Shortlist by what you cook

For a standard kitchen with simple controls, start with the best over-the-range microwave roundup. It covers five 30-inch models with a score and a "Best for" badge for each one.

If the cabinet is short, the low profile roundup compares three models that are about 10 to 11 inches tall. If you bake or air fry, the convection roundup is the next step.

Set your budget tier before you compare

Pick a price tier before you shop, since the features you can get depend on the tier. Standard units cover most of the basics at lower tiers, while low profile and convection models sit in the premium tier.

A budget that's too tight usually means fewer features or a smaller interior. Decide which features you need first, then find the tier that includes them.

Price tiers change, so compare the features in the spec table rather than the tier name. A mid-range unit with the right fan can beat a premium unit that doesn't fit your cabinet.

Match the fan to how you cook

Fan strength matters most for heavy cooking. A 300 CFM fan handles everyday reheating and steaming, while 400 CFM fans suit frequent frying or searing.

If you cook with a gas range, a stronger fan is worth the step up, since gas puts more heat and moisture into the air. If you cook mostly on an electric cooktop with light meals, a standard fan is usually enough.

Two speeds give you a choice of strength. The low speed suits steaming and simmering, and the high speed is the one to use for smoke from searing or frying.

Check the dishes you bake, roast and reheat

Make a short list of the dishes you use most. Include your largest plate, the casserole dish you bake in and any tray that goes in the microwave, since those are the items that have to fit.

Measure each one, then compare the widest item with the turntable and the tallest with the cavity height in the manual. A dish that fits the cavity but not the turntable can still heat, but it won't rotate.

Check the cavity and the turntable

Measure your largest dish and check the turntable diameter. The picks in our roundups use turntables from 12.4 to 13.6 inches, so the turntable is a clear guide to the size of plate that fits.

Interior room is measured in cubic feet. The smaller units suit a single cook, while the 1.9 cubic foot models handle family meals and bigger dishes.

Read the manual and the warranty terms

The manual covers the installation clearance, the filter schedule and the fan's airflow figure, so read it before you buy. Keep the manual and the receipt together once the unit is installed.

Warranty terms differ by maker, so check the terms for your model before you order. Save the receipt and the serial number in case you need a claim later.

Compare two models side by side

Put two models side by side, then compare them in a fixed order. Start with the width and depth, then the height, the fan's CFM, the cubic feet and the power in watts.

Fit comes first, so drop any model that fails the width, depth or height check. Then weigh the fan and room, since those decide how the unit handles your daily cooking.

Keep the comparison to four or five numbers. A long list of features is harder to use, and the numbers above decide most of the choice.

Plan for the cooking you actually do

Shoppers often buy for a cook they wish they were. A unit with sensor cooking and 18 auto menus looks useful, but it only pays off if you'll use those modes each week.

Think about the last five meals you cooked on the stove. Count how many were reheats, how many were sears or fries, and how many were baked or roasted, since the answer points to the fan and the modes you need.

Choose the unit that fits that pattern, not the one with the longest feature list. A simple unit that you use every day beats a feature-heavy one that sits unused.

Plan the install day and the first use

Schedule the installer for a day when the power can be off for a while. Keep the manual, the mounting plate, the screws and the filler kit in one place, so nothing gets lost during the job.

After the install, run the fan on its high setting for a few minutes to check the venting. Then run the microwave with a microwave-safe dish to test the controls before you cook a full meal, and call the installer if anything sounds or feels wrong.

Keep the receipt and the manual with the warranty card. If a question comes up later, the model number and the serial number on the label will answer most of it.

Questions to ask before you buy

• Does the unit fit the width, depth and height of the opening?
• Can I run a duct outside, or do I need a recirculating unit and a filter?
• How many cubic feet do I need for the dishes I cook?
• Which controls will I use every week?
• Do I want convection or air fry, and will I use those modes?

Our best over-the-range microwave roundup answers these questions for five 30-inch models, so you can compare the fit and features side by side.

What is the best over-the-range microwave to buy for your kitchen?

Start with the fit, then choose the venting. Pick a standard 30-inch model if your cabinet is standard, and a low profile model only if the gap is short.

After the fit and the venting, pick the room and the controls you'll use each week. A larger interior suits big families, and a simpler unit suits a light schedule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best over-the-range microwave to buy for most kitchens?

For most kitchens, a standard 30-inch model with simple controls is the safest choice. The GE 1.6 cu ft in our roundup fits that need, and it includes a charcoal filter for kitchens without an outside vent.

Should I measure before I buy an over-the-range microwave?

Yes. Check the width, height and depth of the opening, along with the space between the cooktop and the cabinet, because a unit that doesn't fit is hard to return once it's installed.

Is a more expensive over-the-range microwave worth it?

It depends on what you cook. A premium unit usually adds sensor cooking, more room or a stronger fan, so pay the extra only if you'll use those features every week.