The best microwaves for an apartment
0.7 cubic feet and 700 watts is the apartment sweet spot: it takes a dinner plate, fits a normal counter, and will not fight your building's wiring.
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, from published specs and what owners report after a year — we have not lab-tested these, and we say so plainly.
| # | 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 | 8.88.8 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $69.33View on Amazon $90.99 · 24% off |
| 2 |  COMFEE' 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave Lowest price in the right size | Lowest price in the right size | 8.58.5 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $64.99View on Amazon $69.97 · 7% off |
| 3 |  BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cu ft Microwave with Child Safety A shared house or a family | A shared house or a family | 8.48.4 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $66.44View on Amazon $84.99 · 22% off |
| 4 |  Farberware 0.7 cu ft Microwave with Auto Cook Presets you will use | Presets you will use | 8.38.3 out of 10 on our Fits a small kitchen, Value, Durability, Easy to clean scoring | $66.49View on Amazon $89.99 · 26% off |
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Microwaves are one of the few purchases where the cheapest sensible option is also the right one. Above about $70 you are buying inverter technology, convection or a brand badge, none of which changes reheating a plate of food.
What does matter is size, and the industry sells this confusingly. Capacity is given in cubic feet of interior volume, but the number you actually care about is whether a 10-inch dinner plate fits on the turntable and rotates. Some 0.7 cu ft models manage that and some do not, which is why we check it per model rather than trusting the capacity figure.
Microwave sizes, translated
| Capacity | Wattage | Fits a 10in plate? | Counter width | Right for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–0.6 cu ft | 600–700 W | Usually not | ~17 in | A dorm room with a size cap. |
| 0.7 cu ft | 700 W | Usually yes — check per model | ~18 in | Most apartments. The sweet spot. |
| 0.9–1.1 cu ft | 900–1,000 W | Yes, comfortably | ~20 in | A first house with real counter. |
| 1.4 cu ft+ | 1,200 W | Yes | ~22 in+ | Too much machine for an apartment counter. |
There is a real trade in wattage. A 700 W microwave reheats more slowly than a 1,000 W one — add roughly a third to any package time. In exchange it draws less current, which matters in older buildings. See our guide to choosing a microwave size for an apartment if you are torn.
The circuit check, which is not optional in an old building
A 700 W microwave draws roughly 1,000 to 1,200 watts from the wall (output wattage is not input wattage). On a 15-amp circuit — about 1,800 watts of usable capacity — that leaves little headroom. In a pre-war building where the kitchen, living room and hall may share a single circuit, running a microwave and an air fryer together will trip the breaker.
- Plug a microwave directly into a wall outlet. Never a power strip or a thin extension cord: high-draw appliances on undersized cords are a genuine fire risk, and most power strips say so in their own documentation.
- If the breaker trips, move it, do not ignore it. Find an outlet on a different circuit — flip breakers one at a time with a lamp plugged in to map which outlets are on which.
- Check dorm rules separately. Many campuses cap microwave wattage or require a combined MicroFridge unit. See what not to bring to a dorm.
Which features are worth anything
- A mute function — genuinely valuable. In a studio where the bed is twelve feet from the kitchen, a microwave that beeps five times at 6am is a real problem. The Toshiba on this page mutes; most do not.
- Weight-based defrost — mildly useful. Better than guessing at time, and on most models it works adequately.
- A child lock — essential if relevant, irrelevant otherwise.
- Presets — mostly theater. A popcorn button sets 2 minutes 30 at full power. You can do that.
- Inverter technology — real but not at this price point. It holds genuine low power rather than cycling full power on and off, which is better for melting and softening. It does not appear in 0.7 cu ft models.
The short version
- 0.7 cu ft / 700 W is the apartment size. Confirm a 10-inch plate fits and rotates.
- 700 W reheats about a third slower than 1,000 W. That is the trade for lower current draw.
- Plug it into a wall outlet, never a power strip or thin extension cord.
- A mute button is the most underrated feature in a studio. A popcorn button is not a feature.
Every pick in detail
#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 kitchen
- 9.2
- Value
- 8.8
- Durability
- 8.6
- Easy to clean
- 8.4
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
What to know
- 700 W reheats slowly — add a third to pack times
- No convection or grill
- Interior light is dim
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.
#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 kitchen
- 9.2
- Value
- 9.4
- Durability
- 7.4
- Easy to clean
- 8.2
What we like
- Usually the cheapest 0.7 from a real appliance brand
- Eco mode genuinely cuts idle draw
- Child lock included
What to know
- Keypad membrane wears at the most-used buttons
- No mute
- Door feels light
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.
#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 kitchen
- 8.8
- Value
- 8.8
- Durability
- 8.2
- Easy to clean
- 7.8
What we like
- Pull handle is more durable than push-button latches
- Real child lock
- Familiar brand, easy warranty
What to know
- Pull handle needs clearance to the side
- Interior is plain white and shows stains
- No mute
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.
#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 kitchen
- 8.6
- Value
- 8.8
- Durability
- 7.8
- Easy to clean
- 8.0
What we like
- Presets match what people actually reheat
- Defrost by weight works properly
- Clear display
What to know
- Loudest beeper here and no mute
- Turntable rattles when loaded off-center
- Slightly deeper than the Toshiba
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.
Common questions
What size microwave is best for an apartment?
0.7 cubic feet, 700 watts. It takes a standard dinner plate, needs about 18 inches of counter, and draws modestly enough for older wiring. Larger models reheat faster but take a fifth more counter and more current.
Will a 700-watt microwave be too slow?
It is noticeably slower than 1,000 watts — add about a third to any package instruction. For reheating leftovers and a plate of food that is a minute or so of difference, which most people stop noticing within a week.
Can I plug a microwave into a power strip?
No. Plug it directly into a wall outlet. A microwave draws over 1,000 watts, which is more than most power strips and extension cords are rated to carry continuously, and overloading them is a fire risk. Most strip manufacturers explicitly exclude high-draw appliances in their documentation.
Do apartments usually come with a microwave?
It varies, and it is worth asking before you buy. Many newer units include an over-the-range or built-in microwave; many older ones include nothing. Ask the landlord or check the listing — it is a $70 question.
Are microwaves allowed in dorm rooms?
Often, but with a wattage or capacity cap, and some campuses require a university-supplied MicroFridge unit instead of your own. This is a rule that varies by school and even by building, so check your specific housing contract rather than assuming.
Sources
Read next
- What size microwave for an apartment?The sizing question on its own.
- Best air fryers for a small kitchenThe other appliance competing for that counter and that circuit.
- The first-apartment kitchen checklistThe full room, with a running total.
- First apartment essentialsEvery room, with picks and prices.