Of the four appliances in a typical kitchen suite, the microwave is the least expensive. So you might not give it as much thought as you would when buying a refrigerator, range, or dishwasher.
But buying a microwave from a reliable brand increases the likelihood that it will last longer. That means you won’t be prematurely kicking a broken countertop model to the curb or tearing out an over-the-range microwave that no longer works.
Consumer Reports has identified the brands of microwaves most likely to last—and those that are most likely to develop problems—based on our members’ experiences with 43,070over-the-range (OTR) microwaves and 41,800 countertop microwaves purchased new between 2013 and 2023.
Seven brands of countertop microwaves and four brands of OTR microwaves received top marks for reliability from our members. And based on our members’ experiences, we can’t recommend five brands of countertop microwaves and two OTR brands.
To calculate predicted reliability, we survey our members about the products they own and use that data to make projections about how new units from a given brand will hold up over time. We also survey members on how likely they are to recommend their microwave, with that question serving as the basis for our owner satisfaction rating. Brands that receive an unfavorable rating for reliability aren’t eligible to be recommended no matter how well they perform in Consumer Reports’ tests.
Find out which brands make the most reliable appliances.
More on Microwaves
Best Microwaves
Best OTR Microwaves
Best Countertop Microwaves
Best Small Microwaves
To calculate the overall score that you’ll see for each model in our microwave ratings charts, we factor in both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction along with the results of the performance tests we conduct in our labs. For microwaves, that includes marks on all the tasks you’d expect: fast and even heating, even defrosting, controls that are intuitive and easy to use, and quiet operation.
“Calculating an overall score for microwaves that includes reliability and satisfaction provides customers with knowledge of both out-of-the box performance as well as long-term viability,” says Adam Troy, a research program leader.
Here are the details.
Over-the-Range Microwaves
An over-the-range microwave is a strategic choice if you’re short on counter space and like the fact that it doubles as a range hood (though typically an underpowered one). Replacing an OTR model can be a bit of an ordeal because you have to unbolt it from the wall and cabinets. So when your old one breaks, you’ll want to install a new one from a reliable brand.
OTR microwaves from Electrolux and Jenn-Air are likely to develop problems or break at a higher rate than their competitors, according to our survey. “Because of this, none of these brands can be recommended by Consumer Reports at this time,” Troy says.
Better bets are OTR microwaves from Hotpoint, Ikea, LG, and Monogram, brands that earned a top-tier rating for predicted reliability. Of the 21 brands rated in our survey, five other brands earned a favorable reliability rating. Ten more received a middling reliability rating, which is high enough to retain their eligibility to be recommended by Consumer Reports. (CR doesn’t currently test models from every brand listed in our survey.)
No brand earned a top rating for owner satisfaction. Ten brands earned a middle rating. LG, like the model featured below, gets top ratings for reliability and middling ratings for satisfaction.
Most Common OTR Flaws
The most frequently reported problems with over-the-range microwaves? Excessive noise, control panels that don’t work properly, and doors that don’t lock correctly. Six percent of the OTR microwaves in our survey had a problem with noise and 6 percent had a broken or faulty control panel.
After that, the most common problem reported for OTRs by our members was a failure to heat food evenly. Members also reported problems with turntables, interior lights, and cooling fans, but they affected only 1 to 2 percent of the microwaves.
Electrolux in particular stood out as one of the brands more likely to have problems with control panels and interior lights.
Other brands that stood out in our survey as being more likely than usual to have specific problems include:
• Jenn-Air for faulty control panels.
• Magic Chef, for being too noisy.
Consumer Reports tests microwaves for performance, including whether or not a model heats evenly and how noisy it is when operating on the highest setting. To avoid problems, opt for one that aces those tests. There are plenty to choose from.
Countertop Microwaves
Countertop microwaves don’t require installation like OTR microwaves, but they take up a fair amount of kitchen real estate. Large countertop microwaves are typically about 2 feet wide, 1 foot high, and 1.5 feet deep. Models with a smaller footprint tend to be underpowered and usually don’t perform as well in our tests.
Seven countertop brands earned top marks for predicted reliability, including Amana, Black+Decker, Breville, Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, Magic Chef, and Sunbeam.
Five of the 36 brands covered in our survey earned a respectable rating.
Of the five most reliable brands, only Breville earned a standout rating for owner satisfaction.
Five brands of countertop microwaves—Ikea, KitchenAid. Mainstays, Monogram, and Whirlpool—received a below-par rating for predicted reliability and as a result aren’t eligible for a CR recommendation.
Breville is the only brand in our member survey that gets top marks for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. Below is a midsized model, the most popular size, that also ranks high in our performance tests.
Most Common Countertop Microwave Flaws
Complaints about countertop microwaves are similar to those about OTRs. Failure to heat food evenly and excessive noise top the list. Noise affects 6 percent of the countertop microwaves owned by our members, and failure to heat evenly affects 5 percent.
The next most common complaints are control panels that break and models that are slow to heat up food. But overall, these problems plagued only 3 percent of the countertop microwaves in our survey. Broken door locks, turntables, and interior lights drew complaints to a lesser extent.
Here are the brands highlighted in our survey for being more likely than usual to have specific problems:
• Danby and Farberware for excessive noise.
• Sunbeam and Westinghouse for being slow to heat up food.
•KitchenAid for faulty control panels and doors that don’t close properly.
Making Your Appliances Shine
You might not be able to control all the messes in your kitchen, but Consumer Reports expert Sara Morrow reveals some simple steps for getting your microwave oven sparkling clean.
