If you have a tiny kitchen, studio apartment, dorm, or simply don't want to sacrifice precious counter space, the best small microwaves will change the way you prep and cook food, without robbing you of much-needed room.
There are two factors to pay close attention to when shopping for a compact microwave: cubic feet and wattage. When dealing with cubic feet, it can be easy to get lost trying to imagine what 0.7 cubic feet would actually look like in your space. So, for reference, an average microwave will measure from 1.4 to 1.7 cubic feet.
While you may be thinking, the smaller the better (and there are some seriously small microwaves on this roundup), word to the wise, power matters just as much as size. After all, the higher your microwave's wattage power, the more effectively it can cook recipes you can make in the microwave or just bake a potato so that it's cooked all the way through on the first try.
And keep in mind, some small microwaves are made to offer the bare bones essential functions – like time and heat adjusters – while others will have delay start features, popcorn and defrost buttons, and even one-touch auto cook.
These tiny microwaves vary in terms of size, wattage, and features. But they all share one important thing in common: they'll fit your space like they belong there. And they'll give you an excuse (as if you needed one) to pop popcorn every night.