The 6 Best Built-In Microwaves of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: A 24 inch under-counter drawer with sensor cooking and touch controls.

Sharp's SMD2420MS is a 24 inch microwave drawer oven that fits under a counter. It holds 1.2 cubic feet and offers a touch control panel and sensor cook technology. It sits in the $500+ tier.

A drawer puts the controls and food at a comfortable height, which suits an island or lower cabinet, and this listing documents the clearest feature set of the group. The thermomate matches the sensor cooking but carries a less familiar brand, and the other Sharp has a much thinner listing.

Buy it for a kitchen island or a lower cabinet where reaching up to a wall unit is awkward. The caveat is price and installation: it needs a cabinet cutout sized for a 24 inch drawer, and it costs a premium over a countertop model.

Type

Drawer, under-counter

Width

24 in

Capacity

1.2 cu ft

Cooking

Sensor cook

Our verdict: 1000 watts with 11 power levels, touch controls and sensor cooking.

The thermomate is a 24 inch built-in microwave drawer rated at 1000 watts, with 11 power levels, touch controls and sensor cooking. It sits in the $500+ tier.

It offers more power levels than any rival here, which lets you fine tune delicate jobs such as melting or gentle reheating. It ranks second because the Sharp SMD2420MS lists the same sensor technology with a stronger brand name, and brand matters for service and parts on a built-in appliance.

Choose it if you like precise control and do not mind a lesser-known maker. Skip it if you want a major brand behind the unit. As with any drawer, confirm the cabinet opening and ventilation notes in the manual before ordering.

Width

24 in drawer

Power

1000W, 11 levels

Controls

Touch

Cooking

Sensor cooking

Our verdict: 1000W with 10 cooking levels, memory and timer functions.

KoolMore's KM-MD-1SS is a 24 inch stainless steel microwave drawer with 1.2 cubic feet of space, 1000W of power and 10 custom cooking levels. It remembers presets, has timer functions and mounts flat on the bottom of a cabinet. It sits in the $500+ tier.

Memory presets are the draw for repeat recipes, since you can store a favorite sequence and reuse it. It ranks third because it has one fewer power level than the thermomate and the listing mentions no sensor cooking, which is useful for reheating.

Pick it if you cook the same dishes often and want one-touch settings. Skip it if sensor cooking is important to you. The premium tier means it is a considered purchase, so check the stainless finish matches your other appliances.

Width

24 in drawer

Power

1000W, 10 levels

Memory

Presets and timer

Mount

Wall-mounted, flat bottom

Our verdict: A 24 inch, 1.2 cubic foot Sharp drawer oven.

The Sharp SMD2470ASY is a 24 inch, 1.2 cubic foot built-in microwave drawer oven. It shares its size and brand with the leader, and sits in the $500+ tier.

What it lacks is documentation. The listing gives few features next to the SMD2420MS, so you cannot confirm controls, sensor cooking or power levels from the page. That uncertainty is what ranks it fourth, even though the Sharp name and drawer format are attractive.

Buy it if the SMD2420MS is unavailable and you want to stay with Sharp. Before ordering, read the full product page and manual for the controls and installation details. If features matter, the thermomate or KoolMore lists more.

Width

24 in

Capacity

1.2 cu ft

Type

Drawer oven

Brand

Sharp

Our verdict: A 30 inch, 1.2 cubic foot drawer for wider cabinets.

COSMO's Haven Collection microwave is a 30 inch, 1.2 cubic foot built-in drawer. It sits in the $500+ tier and is meant for wider cabinet openings.

Width is its one distinction. Where the other drawers fit a 24 inch opening, this suits a 30 inch space, which helps a kitchen with a wide lower cabinet. It ranks fifth because the listing gives no sensor or power-level detail, and it will not fit the opening most of the others need.

Choose it if your cabinet is 30 inches wide. Skip it if your opening is 24 inches, since it will not fit. The thin specs mean you should read the manual online to check wattage and controls first.

Width

30 in

Capacity

1.2 cu ft

Type

Drawer

Collection

Haven

Our verdict: A 2.2 cubic foot built-in, with the trim kit sold separately.

Frigidaire's Gallery GMBS3068BF is a 2.2 cubic foot built-in microwave. The trim kit is sold separately, and the listing shows little else about its features.

Capacity is the biggest here, which suits large casserole dishes in a wall cabinet. It comes last because the trim kit adds cost and without it you get gaps around the unit. The drawer models above document more features, and the 2.2 cu ft size is a poor match for a drawer-style opening.

Buy it for a wall opening and big dishes. Skip it if you want a finished look out of the box. Budget for the trim kit, and confirm the matching kit number on the product page.

Capacity

2.2 cu ft

Install

Built-in

Trim kit

Sold separately

Series

Gallery