The best budget microwaves for warm, delicious meals

Warming your leftovers or takeouts doesn’t need to be a costly affair; a budget microwave can get the job done. Yes, most microwaves are typically the same. It’s just that premium microwave brands tend to hike their price tags.

The good news is, you can find a great option under $150 to add to your kitchen. If you spend more than that, you’re likely to pay for features you may not need or exaggerated features that actually do the same thing. 

If you need a simple countertop option that defrosts frozen food or reheats leftovers, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. This post lists some of the best budget microwave options you can buy for less but still get top performance.

Read more: Take the fuss out of cooking with the best slow cookers

Explore our top picks for the best budget microwaves

Best overall affordable microwave

Hamilton Beach Countertop Microwave Oven

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$77 at Walmart

A retro-inspired stylish microwave

Galanz Retro Countertop Microwave

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$98.59 at Best Buy

Best mid- to full-size countertop microwave

Commercial Chef 21-Inch Countertop Microwave

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$111.24 at Wayfair

Our favorite 3-in-1 countertop microwave

Galanz Air Fry Countertop Microwave

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$98 at Walmart

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Best overall affordable microwave

Hamilton Beach Countertop Microwave Oven

$77

$77 at Walmart

Specifications

• Dimensions: 11.8 x 16.5 x 20.6 in (H x W x D)

• Capacity: 1.1 cubic feet

• Power: 1000 watts

Pros & Cons

• Ample wattage for faster heating

• Six presets for convenience

• Child lock for safety

• Invisible touch buttons at night

• Some reviewers noted a rusting issue on the inside

If you want an all-around great option for your kitchen, the Hamilton Beach Countertop Microwave Oven offers a premium design to complement your kitchen style. It comes with six pre-programmed menu options, including Potato, Popcorn, Beverage, Pizza, Dinner Plate and Frozen Vegetables for efficient use.

This microwave features a child lock to keep your kids safe, and it's made of stainless steel for durable construction. The easy-to-read LED display allows you to set and monitor time conveniently, and you can defrost your meals by weight and by time for your convenience. At 1.1 cu. ft., this microwave makes the best cheap microwave for your kitchen.

A retro-inspired stylish microwave

Galanz Retro Countertop Microwave

$98.59

$98.59 at Best Buy

Specifications

• Dimensions: 9.44 x 17.56 x 14.13 in (H x W x D)

• Capacity: 0.7 cubic feet

• Power: 700 watts

Pros & Cons

• Retro design for style

• 11-variable power levels

• One-year warranty

• Low power

• Can be considered noisy

Looking for a microwave to complete your retro kitchen style? The Galanz Retro Countertop Microwave offers precisely what you’re looking for. This 700w microwave features 11 variable power levels and six auto-cook menu options for convenience, while the child lock feature keeps your little one safe.

The interior light lets you monitor your meals as they cook, while the green LED display makes it easy to view your time inputs. It features a knob and five buttons for effortless operation, while the 10.5-in. glass turntable is removable for quick clean-up. Plus, it has a compact design, allowing it to take up minimal space on your countertop.

Best mid- to full-size countertop microwave

Commercial Chef 21-Inch Countertop Microwave

You save $23.75 (17.59%)

$111.24$134.99

$111.24 at Wayfair

Specifications

• Dimensions: 16.75 x 21 x 16.75 in (H x W x D) 

• Capacity: 1.1 cubic feet

• Power: 1000 watts

Pros & Cons

• Fast heating performance

• Sleek design for countertops

• Safety lock for kids

• Somewhat loud

• Some reviewers claim it’s too basic

Whether you need a baked potato, buttery popcorn, or delicious pizza, the Commercial Chef 21-inch Countertop Microwave got you covered. This medium-size microwave supports 1,000 watts for quick reheating, heating, or defrosting. The push button touch controls with LED display allow for a seamless operation.

You can quickly open the door by simply pushing a button, and it features 6 quick-cook menu options for all your favorite dishes. With the child safety lock, this microwave makes a safe option for homes with kids. It comes with a 12-inch turntable for even heating or reheating every time.

Our favorite 3-in-1 countertop microwave

Galanz Air Fry Countertop Microwave

You save $11 (10.09%)

$98$109

$98 at Walmart

Specifications

• Dimensions: 15.75 x 19 x 11 in. (L x W x H)

• Capacity: 0.9 cubic feet

• Power: 900 watts

Pros & Cons

• 3-in-1 solution for saving space

• Cost-friendly

• Great performance

• Can be dark inside

• The body gets hot

You can now enjoy the ultimate cooking versatility with the Galanz Air Fry Countertop Microwave. This appliance is multifunctional, offering a microwave, air fryer and convection oven in one unit. The air fry technology uses little-to-no oil to deliver tasty chicken, wings and French fries for healthier meals.

With the intelligent combination of True Convection and microwave cooking, foods such as frozen entrees and roast chicken, can always be ready whenever you need them. It offers eight reheating presets, and six cooking presets for effortless use, and the control panel is user-friendly to support efficient cooking.

Most budget-friendly countertop microwave

Mainstays Countertop Microwave Oven

$55

$55 at Walmart

Specifications

• Dimensions: 9.6 x 12.7 x 17.60 in (H x W x D)

• Capacity: 0.7 cubic feet

• Power: 700 watts

Pros & Cons

• Great power for its size

• Space saver

• Simple to use

• Small size

• Less power

If you’re looking for the best-value microwave, the Mainstays Countertop Microwave Oven is an exciting pick to sit on your countertop. It offers 10 power levels for a versatile cooking experience, while the six quick-set menu buttons and the 30-second one-touch option get you started with just a touch of a button.

The child lock feature protects your young ones, and the door opens with just a simple push. It has an LED display for monitoring the timer and clock, and you can defrost by time and by weight. At 0.7 cu. ft, this microwave is likely the best budget convection microwave oven for any kitchen or office.

Top-rated microwave oven

General Electric Countertop Stainless Steel Microwave Oven

$179.98

$179.98 at Walmart

Specifications

• Dimensions: 12 x 20.31 x 15.62 in. (H x W x D)

• Capacity: 1.1 cubic feet

• Power: 950 watts

Pros & Cons

• Good-looking design

• Quiet operation

• Great value for the size and design

• Control panel is hard to read

• Low wattage

Boasting an average rating of 4.4 stars and over 5,000 reviews on Walmart, the General Electric Countertop Stainless Steel Microwave Oven seems a compelling option for many homes. This stainless steel microwave features a control lockout to prevent accidental activation, and it provides one-touch cooking controls for convenience.

A simple push-button release lets you open the door effortlessly, while the start button doubles as a time-increase button, adding 30 seconds to your cooking time. With a compact design, the microwave fits seamlessly on your countertop, and the LED display sits at the top of the control panel for convenient use and monitoring.

Best budget microwave — FAQs

Here are the common questions shoppers ask when shopping for the best inexpensive microwaves.

How much does a decent microwave cost?

The cost of a good microwave is relative to a variety of factors, such as type, features, capacity and size. Generally, the cost of countertop microwaves ranges from $50 to $500. There are also high-end options that cost up to $1,000.

Your choice depends on your budget and what you’re looking for in a microwave. If you want a small, cost-friendly option, microwaves under $80 offer great features and take up minimal space on your countertop. These are about 0.5 to 0.8 cu. ft. in capacity.

Medium options have a capacity of 1.1-1.5-cu ft., with a price tag of $80 to $120. Still, this allows you to get the best budget countertop microwave for everyday needs. Large countertop microwaves cost more, but small and medium options are usually great for home or office use.

Regardless, if you are looking for the best budget microwave for your kitchen, you should be able to get a decent option at $80 to $150.

How to spot a good microwave

A good microwave should offer your desired features and capacity and be within your budget.

If you want an option that offers quick heating, pick a 900 to 1000W microwave to get the power you need for efficient heating and defrosting. Those below 700W take more time to heat or reheat your meals, but they’re usually more budget-friendly. 

Regarding size, countertop options come in the range of .5-cu. ft. to 1.5-cu. ft. Go for a smaller microwave or medium if you want to save space. If it helps, use your dinner plate’s measurements to determine the ideal size to buy.

Additionally, you can also look at the overall features and controls. For example, some microwaves have knobs while others don’t. The knob allows you to control the power levels. Most also come with preset menu options for quick use.

Our verdict

A microwave is a handy appliance and a time-saver in your kitchen. In just a few minutes, you can reheat your pizza, defrost your chicken, or zap up a cup of coffee. Other options even feature air fry technology and a convection oven to expand your cooking capabilities.

The cost of this kitchen staple varies hugely, though. If you’re looking for the best budget microwave, you need to know where and how to look — and compare your options. For everyday heating and defrosting, we believe the Hamilton Beach Countertop Microwave Oven gets the job done well.

For a mid- to full-size countertop microwave, the Commercial Chef 21'' Countertop Microwave offers a 1.1 cu. ft. capacity to prepare meals and snacks in a snap. Alternatively, you can opt for combination microwaves like the Galanz Air Fry Countertop Microwave, which includes a convection oven and air fryer technology for versatile cooking.

We’ve reviewed these options, and we believe they’re the best affordable microwaves to add to your kitchen.

Prices updated on 08/03/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.