The 7 Best Microwaves Under $100 for Small Kitchens, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: The only microwave here that pairs a 0.9 cubic foot cavity with 900 watts.

This Toshiba lists a 0.9 cubic foot capacity and 900 watts of power in the $50 to $100 bracket. That is a step above every other model in this ranking, which top out at 0.7 cubic feet and 700 watts.

It takes first place because the extra wattage changes everyday results. At 900 watts, packaged food cooks closer to its printed time, leftovers heat through more evenly, and a mug of water does not take forever. The bigger cavity also lets a standard dinner plate turn freely, which matters because a plate that cannot rotate cooks unevenly. It sits ahead of the Chefman 0.7 because raw power and room beat extra convenience features for most households.

Buy it if the microwave is used several times a day and you want fewer cold spots. Skip it if your counter is very tight, since a 0.9 cubic foot box takes noticeably more room than the compact units below.

Capacity

0.9 cu ft

Power

900 W

Type

Countertop

Price bracket

$50 to $100

Our verdict: 700 watts with 10 power levels, Eco Mode, a child lock and a mute button.

The Chefman 0.7 cubic foot oven is a black 700 watt unit with 10 power levels, plus Eco Mode, child lock and a mute key. Its price falls in the $50 to $100 range.

It ranks second because the feature list is the most complete among the 700 watt models. Ten power levels let you defrost gently or warm butter without scorching it, which a simple high and low switch cannot do. The mute button is a small thing that matters in a shared flat or a nursery, and the child lock stops a curious toddler from starting the oven. It loses to the Toshiba on raw power, so heating a big bowl takes longer.

Choose it if you want fine control and household safety features in a compact box. Skip it if you prefer the speed of a stronger 900 watt unit.

Capacity

0.7 cu ft

Power

700 W, 10 levels

Safety

Child lock

Extras

Eco Mode, mute

Our verdict: A 0.7 cubic foot, 700 watt microwave with an Eco Mode and a track record in this size class.

The COMFEE' is a 0.7 cubic foot countertop microwave rated at 700 watts, with an Eco Mode, in the $50 to $100 bracket. The listings also show a pearl white finish for the same model family, which helps if you want it to match a light kitchen.

It lands third because it covers the basics with no fuss. It lacks the ten-level control and child lock that put the Chefman ahead, but it does the everyday jobs of reheating, defrosting and popcorn without drama. Eco Mode reduces standby draw, which suits a unit that spends most of its life waiting. Against the BLACK+DECKER below, it earns the nod for the extra mode and the colour choice.

Buy it for a first flat, a bedroom or an office where a no-nonsense microwave is the goal. Skip it if you need a child lock or detailed power levels.

Capacity

0.7 cu ft

Power

700 W

Mode

ECO Mode

Finish

Colour options

Our verdict: A plain 0.7 cubic foot, 700 watt oven from a brand most buyers already trust.

This BLACK+DECKER is a 0.7 cubic foot countertop microwave with 700 watts, priced in the $50 to $100 bracket. The listing is spare, with capacity and power as the headline numbers and nothing else claimed.

That honesty is both the appeal and the limit. It covers a standard job list of reheating, defrosting and basic cooking, and the brand carries enough recognition that replacement and support questions are easy to answer. It ranks fourth because competitors at the same price add an Eco Mode, a child lock or ten power levels, while this one gives no extras on paper.

Buy it if you want a no-surprise microwave and put weight on a familiar name. Skip it if features like a lock or a mute button matter to you.

Capacity

0.7 cu ft

Power

700 W

Type

Countertop

Price bracket

$50 to $100

Our verdict: 700 watts with auto cook settings and defrost for people who like a preset button.

The Farberware lists 0.7 cubic feet, 700 watts, auto cook settings and a defrost function in the $50 to $100 bracket. The auto cook presets are the draw, because they replace guesswork for items like popcorn, potatoes or a beverage.

It ranks fifth because presets tend to be tuned for typical portions, and the 700 watt power limits how well they handle larger plates. They save time for casual users, but experienced cooks often override them. Compared with the COMFEE' above it offers more guided cooking and fewer eco-minded features, and compared with the Chefman it lacks a documented child lock.

Buy it if you want to press a button and walk away. Skip it if you like to set times and power levels yourself.

Capacity

0.7 cu ft

Power

700 W

Presets

Auto cook

Function

Defrost

Our verdict: A compact Chefman with 10 power levels, two defrost settings, a child lock and mute.

This compact Chefman pairs 700 watts and 10 power levels with a pair of defrost programs, a lock for children and a silence key, all for $50 to $100. It is the same maker as the second-place pick, with a slightly different feature mix.

The two defrost settings are the standout, because defrosting is where cheap microwaves most often cook the edges of meat before the middle thaws. Choosing between modes by weight or time gives you more control. It ranks sixth because it does not list Eco Mode, which the other Chefman does, and because the compact format offers little more capacity than its rivals.

Buy it if defrosting is a regular chore and you want a child lock. Skip it if you already lean towards the roomier Toshiba.

Capacity

0.7 cu ft

Power

700 W, 10 levels

Defrost

2 settings

Safety

Child lock, mute

Our verdict: A 0.6 cubic foot oven with mechanical dials and a pull handle, no keypad to fail.

The Commercial Chef is the smallest and simplest oven here, with a 0.6 cubic foot cavity, 700 watts, mechanical dial controls, six power levels and a pull handle door, in the $50 to $100 bracket.

Dials have a loyal following because there is no membrane keypad to wear out and nothing to program. You twist a knob and it runs, which suits older users and anyone who finds touch panels fiddly. It ranks last because the cavity is the smallest in the group, six power levels give less control than ten, and there is no child lock or Eco Mode in the listing.

Buy it if you want the least complicated microwave you can get. Skip it if you need to heat full-size plates or want presets.

Capacity

0.6 cu ft

Power

700 W, 6 levels

Controls

Mechanical dials

Door

Pull handle