The best microwaves for a dorm room
Check your housing rules before you check the reviews. Most residence halls cap a microwave at 0.7 cubic feet and 700 watts, which narrows the field to four worth buying.
Best Dorm Microwaves
Toshiba 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave, 700 W
0.7 cubic feet and 700 watts is the apartment sweet spot — it takes a dinner plate, draws little enough not to trip an old circuit, and Toshiba's control panels outlast the price.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of November 13, 2026
Scored 9.4 · The size that actually fits. The full ranking and the runners-up are below.
Quick picks
Our ranking at a glance. Tap any row for the full write-up, or the price to go straight to Amazon. Scores are ours, weighing published specs, the design and what owners report after a year — the method is published in full.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Toshiba 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave, 700 W The size that actually fits | The size that actually fits | 9.49.4 out of 10 on our Fits a small space, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | |
| 2 |  COMFEE' 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave Lowest price in the right size | Lowest price in the right size | 9.39.3 out of 10 on our Fits a small space, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $69.98View on Amazon $80.99 · 14% off |
| 3 |  BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cu ft Microwave with Child Safety A shared house or a family | A shared house or a family | 9.39.3 out of 10 on our Fits a small space, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $69.92View on Amazon $84.99 · 18% off |
| 4 |  Farberware 0.7 cu ft Microwave with Auto Cook Presets you will use | Presets you will use | 9.39.3 out of 10 on our Fits a small space, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $67.99View on Amazon $89.99 · 24% off |
#ad — Amazon links on this page are affiliate links. How this site is funded.
Buy the Toshiba 0.7 cubic foot, 700 watt countertop microwave. It is the size and wattage that most residence halls allow, it takes a full ten-inch dinner plate where some 0.7 models do not, and it has a mute function — which in a room you share with someone who sleeps while you eat is not a gimmick. If the budget is the deciding factor the COMFEE’ is the same size and wattage for less; if you are in a shared house or a suite with a lot of roommates, the BLACK+DECKER’s pull handle and child lock are the more durable choice.
First, the rules, because they decide the shortlist. Many colleges either ban personal microwaves outright, require a combined microwave-fridge unit, or cap the appliance at around 700 watts and 0.7 cubic feet. The cap exists because residence hall circuits are shared and old, and a 1,100-watt microwave on the same breaker as a kettle and a hair dryer trips it. Check your housing page, and check whether your floor already has a shared kitchenette — in a lot of buildings it does, and that changes whether you need one at all.
Why 0.7 cu ft and 700 W is the dorm answer
| Capacity | Typical power | Fits | Dorm-legal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–0.7 cu ft | 600–700 W | A desk, a shelf, or on top of a mini fridge. | Usually yes — this is the class dorm rules describe. |
| 0.9–1.1 cu ft | 900–1,000 W | An apartment counter. | Usually over the cap. |
| 1.2 cu ft and up | 1,100 W+ | A full kitchen. | No. |
The practical consequence of 700 watts is that everything takes about a third longer than the package says, because package times assume 1,000 to 1,100 watts. That is worth knowing rather than worrying about: add 30 to 40 percent to the stated time and stir halfway.
The practical consequence of 0.7 cubic feet is the turntable diameter. Some 0.7 models cannot take a standard dinner plate flat, which is a genuinely annoying limitation to discover after move-in. All four here do.
Where it goes, and the two measurements to take
A dorm room is roughly twelve by nineteen feet and shared, so the microwave has to live somewhere specific rather than “on the counter”. The three options, in order of how well they work:
- On top of the mini fridge. The standard arrangement. Check the fridge’s top is flat and rated to take weight — many have a recessed or curved top that is not. Leave the vent clearance the microwave manual asks for, usually three inches at the back and sides.
- On a shelf or small cart. Fine, as long as the shelf is rated for the weight and the cord reaches a wall outlet, not a strip.
- On the desk. Workable in a pinch, and it costs you the desk.
Measure the depth of the surface and the clearance above it. A 0.7 microwave is roughly 18 inches wide and 13 inches deep, and it needs its back vents clear. Plugging it into a wall outlet rather than a surge protector is both a rule in most buildings and good practice — see our power strip guide for what belongs on a strip and what does not.
Four things that matter in a shared room and nowhere else
- A mute button. Three loud beeps at 11pm in a room where someone is asleep eight feet away. Only one of these four mutes, and it is the reason the Toshiba wins.
- A pull handle instead of a push latch. Push-button latches are the part that fails on a shared appliance used by four people a day. The BLACK+DECKER uses a handle.
- A child lock. In a dorm it is less about children and more about preventing an accidental start while something metal is inside.
- A light interior. Spills get cleaned when you can see them. A plain white cavity shows stains, which sounds like a drawback and is actually the reason it gets wiped.
One safety note worth the sentence: never run a microwave empty, and keep metal — including the foil lid on a yoghurt pot and metal-rimmed bowls — out of it. The FDA has a plain-language page on microwave oven safety that is worth two minutes of your time.
The short version
- Check your housing rules first. 0.7 cu ft and 700 W is the usual cap.
- Add 30 to 40 percent to package heating times at 700 watts.
- Confirm it takes a full dinner plate, and leave three inches of vent clearance.
- A mute button is the sleeper feature in a shared room. See what size microwave for an apartment if you are not in a dorm.
Every pick in detail
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of November 13, 2026
#1 · The size that actually fits
Toshiba 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave, 700 W
0.7 cubic feet and 700 watts is the apartment sweet spot — it takes a dinner plate, draws little enough not to trip an old circuit, and Toshiba's control panels outlast the price.
- Fits a small space
- 9.6
- Value
- 9.4
- Durability
- 9.4
- Easy to clean
- 9.3
What we like
- The mute button is worth more than it sounds in a studio
- Takes a full dinner plate, which some 0.7 models do not
- Modest power draw for shared or older wiring
Good to know
700 W reheats slowly — add a third to pack times
Specifications
- 0.7 cu ft capacity, 700 W
- Fits a 10 in dinner plate on the turntable
- Six one-touch presets plus weight defrost
- Mute function
Who it is for
Nearly every apartment and most dorms that allow microwaves. Check your dorm's wattage cap first.
$80.99 · 14% off
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of November 13, 2026
#2 · Lowest price in the right size
COMFEE' 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave
Same footprint and wattage as the Toshiba for less, with an eco mode that cuts standby draw — a sensible pick if the budget is the deciding factor.
- Fits a small space
- 9.6
- Value
- 9.6
- Durability
- 9.0
- Easy to clean
- 9.3
What we like
- Usually the cheapest 0.7 from a real appliance brand
- Eco mode genuinely cuts idle draw
- Child lock included
Good to know
Keypad membrane wears at the most-used buttons
Specifications
- 0.7 cu ft, 700 W
- ECO mode reduces standby power
- 11 power levels
- Child lock
Who it is for
A first apartment on a hard budget.
$84.99 · 18% off
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of November 13, 2026
#3 · A shared house or a family
BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cu ft Microwave with Child Safety
A standard 0.7 with a proper child lock and a pull handle instead of a push button, which is the detail that matters in a house with kids or a lot of roommates.
- Fits a small space
- 9.4
- Value
- 9.4
- Durability
- 9.3
- Easy to clean
- 9.1
What we like
- Pull handle is more durable than push-button latches
- Real child lock
- Familiar brand, easy warranty
Good to know
Pull handle needs clearance to the side
Specifications
- 0.7 cu ft, 700 W
- Child safety lock
- Pull-handle door
- LED display with 10 power levels
Who it is for
A shared house, or a first home with small children.
$89.99 · 24% off
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of November 13, 2026
#4 · Presets you will use
Farberware 0.7 cu ft Microwave with Auto Cook
The preset set on this one is better thought out than most: popcorn, pizza, potato, beverage, and a sensible defrost, all one press away.
- Fits a small space
- 9.4
- Value
- 9.4
- Durability
- 9.1
- Easy to clean
- 9.2
What we like
- Presets match what people actually reheat
- Defrost by weight works properly
- Clear display
Good to know
Loudest beeper here and no mute
Specifications
- 0.7 cu ft, 700 W
- Auto-cook menu with defrost by weight
- LED display
- Compact footprint
Who it is for
Someone who reheats more than they cook.
Our recommendation
If you read nothing else on this page, this is the short version.
Buy this one
Toshiba 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave, 700 W
Nearly every apartment and most dorms that allow microwaves. Check your dorm's wattage cap first.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of November 13, 2026
Or this one, if Toshiba Countertop Microwave is not the fit
COMFEE' 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave
A first apartment on a hard budget.
$80.99 · 14% off
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of November 13, 2026
Common questions
What size microwave is allowed in a dorm?
Most residence halls cap personal microwaves at around 0.7 cubic feet and 700 watts, and some require a combined microwave-fridge unit instead. Check your school’s housing page before ordering — the limits are specific and they are enforced at room inspections.
Is 700 watts enough for a microwave?
Yes, for reheating, popcorn, instant noodles and frozen meals — which is what a dorm microwave does. Everything takes roughly a third longer than the package time, because packages assume 1,000 to 1,100 watts. Add 30 to 40 percent and stir halfway.
Can you put a microwave on top of a mini fridge?
Usually, and it is the standard dorm arrangement. Check that the fridge top is flat and rated for the weight — some have curved or recessed tops that are not — and leave the vent clearance the microwave manual specifies, normally about three inches at the back and sides.
Do dorms come with microwaves?
Some do, in a shared floor kitchenette, and many rooms do not have one at all. It varies by building rather than by school, so check your specific hall — our guide to what dorms come with covers the rest of the list.
Should a dorm microwave be plugged into a power strip?
No. Microwaves are high-wattage appliances and belong in a wall outlet directly. Most housing contracts require this, and a surge protector loaded with a microwave plus electronics is how breakers trip.
Sources
Read next
- Best electric kettles for a dormUsually the one heating appliance the hall permits.
- Best mini fridges for a dormWhat the microwave usually sits on top of.
- What dorms come withWhether you need to bring one at all.
- Best microwaves for an apartmentThe same four models, ranked for a kitchen instead.
- Best power strips for a dormWhat can go on a strip, and what cannot.