What size microwave is best for an apartment?
0.7 cubic feet. It takes a dinner plate, needs about 18 inches of counter, and draws little enough not to argue with an old 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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0.7 cubic feet at 700 watts is the right size for most apartments. It fits a 10-inch dinner plate, needs roughly 18 inches of counter width, and draws about 1,100 watts from the wall — modest enough for a shared or older circuit.
Capacity: what the cubic feet actually mean
Interior volume is a poor proxy for usefulness, because the shape varies. The question that matters is whether a 10-inch dinner plate fits on the turntable and rotates. Some 0.7 cu ft models manage it and some do not, which is why we check it model by model in our microwave roundup.
| Capacity | Counter width | 10in plate? | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–0.6 cu ft | ~17 in | Usually not | A dorm with a strict size cap. |
| 0.7 cu ft | ~18 in | Usually — verify per model | Most apartments. Default here. |
| 0.9–1.1 cu ft | ~20 in | Yes, easily | A first house with counter to spare. |
| 1.4 cu ft+ | ~22 in+ | Yes | Too much machine for an apartment. |
Wattage: the real trade
Output wattage determines speed. Package instructions are typically written for 1,100 W ovens, so on a 700 W machine add roughly a third to the stated time — a 2-minute meal becomes about 2:40.
| Output | Draws from the wall | Speed vs a package time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600–700 W | ~1,000–1,200 W | Add about a third | Easiest on old wiring. Fine in practice. |
| 900–1,000 W | ~1,400–1,600 W | About as written | Needs more headroom on the circuit. |
| 1,100–1,200 W | ~1,700–1,900 W | Slightly faster | Effectively needs its own circuit. |
Note that output wattage is not input wattage — a 700 W microwave pulls around 1,100 W from the outlet. That is the number that matters for your breaker.
The circuit check, for older buildings
A 15-amp household circuit supplies about 1,800 watts of usable capacity. In a pre-war building, the kitchen, living room and hallway may all share one. A 700 W microwave at ~1,100 W leaves roughly 700 W of headroom, which an air fryer (1,400 W+) immediately exceeds.
- Plug it straight into a wall outlet. Never a power strip or a thin extension cord — this is a documented fire risk, not an abundance of caution.
- Map your circuits once. Plug a lamp into each outlet and flip breakers one at a time. Ten minutes, and it tells you which outlets you can safely pair.
- If the breaker trips, move the appliance. Repeatedly resetting a breaker that is doing its job is the wrong response.
Dorms are a different question
Campus housing frequently caps microwave wattage or capacity, bans them outright in favor of a shared kitchen, or requires a university-supplied combined MicroFridge unit. This varies by school and sometimes by building, so read your housing contract before ordering — see what not to bring to a dorm.
The short version
- 0.7 cu ft / 700 W is the apartment default. Confirm a 10-inch plate fits and turns.
- Output wattage is not input wattage — a 700 W oven pulls about 1,100 W from the outlet.
- Add about a third to package times on a 700 W oven. Most people stop noticing in a week.
- Wall outlet only, and map your circuits before pairing it with an air fryer.
The picks 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
Is 0.7 cu ft big enough for a microwave?
For one or two people, yes. It takes a standard 10-inch dinner plate on most models, which is the real test. It will not fit a large casserole dish or a 9×13 pan — if you need that, step up to 1.1 cu ft and give up another couple of inches of counter.
Is 700 watts enough for a microwave?
Yes, with the caveat that it is slower. Package instructions assume roughly 1,100 W, so add about a third to the stated time. In exchange it draws less current, which genuinely matters in older buildings with shared circuits.
How much counter space does a microwave need?
About 18 inches of width for a 0.7 cu ft model, plus a few inches of clearance at the back and sides for ventilation. Check the door swing too — a pull-handle door needs clear space to one side.
Can two appliances share one kitchen outlet?
Two high-draw appliances should not share a circuit, which is not the same as an outlet. A microwave at ~1,100 W plus an air fryer at ~1,500 W exceeds a 15-amp circuit’s usable 1,800 W. Map which outlets are on which breaker and split them.