Microwaves

Microwaves: Countertop, Over-the-Range, Built-In and Drawer

Where the microwave goes decides almost everything else about it. Sitting on the counter, mounted over the range, built into a cabinet or pulled out as a drawer are four different appliances, and they are priced and installed differently. BrandsMart USA carries all four.

Start with the mounting type below, then worry about wattage and cavity size. If you would rather see them in person, our showrooms in Florida and Georgia have all four types on display.

Shop Microwaves by Mounting Type

Countertop microwaves. The cheapest and simplest option. Plugs into a standard outlet, no installation, and it moves with you. Best for apartments, dorms and small kitchens, and the only type worth buying if you rent.
Over-the-range microwaves. Mount above the range and free up the counter. These double as your ventilation, so the fan and filters matter as much as the cooking.
Built-in microwaves. Fitted into a cabinet or wall with a trim kit for a flush, finished look. Often paired with a wall oven in a single tall cabinet.
Microwave drawers. Install under the counter or in an island and open downward, so there is no door swinging into the room and children can reach it safely.
Cooking appliance packages. Buy the microwave with the range so the finish, handle and control style match.

For brand shopping, compare Whirlpool microwaves for straightforward controls at a fair price, LG microwaves for inverter power and smoothly finished interiors, or Samsung microwaves for sensor cooking and modern finishes. GE, GE Profile, Frigidaire and Amana are all carried as well. See the full brand lineup.

Why Buy Your Microwave From BrandsMart USA

Showrooms across Florida and Georgia. Cavity size is hard to judge from a spec sheet. Find your nearest store and put your biggest dinner plate on the turntable.
Friendly, expert help in the showroom. Our appliance team works with these models every day and will happily walk you through mounting type, venting and cutout sizes. No pressure and no jargon: tell them your space and your budget, and they will help you shortlist.
Financing is one of the better reasons to buy here. There is more than one way to spread the cost, and they work differently. The BrandsMart USA credit card carries 0% promotional financing on qualifying purchases, with the length of the term depending on the category and the amount. Katapult lease-to-own needs no credit at all, and you can check your buying power without affecting your credit score. Klarna splits a purchase into interest-free installments with a decision in seconds. Because those are three separate programs rather than one, a route that is not a fit for you does not have to be the end of it.
A clear return policy. If it turns out to be the wrong choice, our return and refund policy explains exactly how exchanges and refunds work. Return windows are shorter on major appliances than on small items, so check the terms before delivery day.
All four mounting types in one place. Countertop, over-the-range, built-in and drawer models sitting together, so you can see what each one costs you in counter space.
Store pickup, delivery and installation. A countertop model can go home with you today. For anything mounted, see our delivery and installation details.
Competitive pricing, and offers worth checking. Our 110% low price guarantee applies if you find the same model advertised for less, and it is worth looking through appliance deals before you order.

What is the difference between a built-in and an over-the-range microwave?

An over-the-range microwave mounts above your range, replaces the hood and handles your ventilation. A built-in microwave sits in a cabinet or wall anywhere in the kitchen, needs a trim kit for a flush finish, and does no venting at all. Choose over-the-range to save counter space above a cooktop, and built-in for a finished look in a cabinet run.

Do over-the-range microwaves have to be vented outside?

No, but ducted is better. A ducted installation pushes heat, grease, smoke and moisture out of the house. A recirculating installation filters the air through charcoal and returns it to the room, which handles some grease and odor but not heat or moisture. Use ducting if the run exists, and change the charcoal filter on schedule if it does not.

How many watts should a microwave have?

Between 900 and 1,200 watts covers most cooking and matches the times printed on packaged food. Compact models around 700 watts work for drinks, popcorn and leftovers but take longer on everything. Higher wattage mainly buys speed, so if the microwave is doing real cooking, stay at 1,000 watts or above.

What size microwave do I need?

Compact models run around 0.7 to 1.0 cubic feet, mid-size around 1.1 to 1.6, and large models up to about 2.2. Check the turntable diameter as well as the capacity, because that determines whether a dinner plate or a rectangular dish can turn freely. Measure your biggest regular dish before you choose.

What is sensor cooking?

Sensor cooking uses a humidity sensor to detect the steam coming off the food and shuts the microwave off when it is done, rather than running a time you estimated. It reheats leftovers and cooks vegetables far more consistently than guessing, and it is the feature most people notice the difference from day to day.

What is an inverter microwave, and is it better?

An inverter microwave is better at everything you cook below full power. A standard microwave can only produce power at full strength and switches it on and off to average out a lower setting, while an inverter model delivers steady continuous power at the level you actually chose. That gives you even defrosting without cooked edges, gentler simmering, and much better results on delicate things like fish, melted chocolate and reheated rice. It makes no difference at full power, so it matters most if you defrost and reheat often, and it is worth looking for on the specification sheet because you cannot tell from the outside.

Which microwave brands should I be looking at?

No single brand wins across the board, so it helps to know what each one leans toward. Whirlpool, GE and Amana keep the controls simple at a fair price, LG is known for inverter power and smoothly finished interiors, Samsung leans on sensor cooking and modern finishes, and GE Profile and Frigidaire cover more of the built-in and drawer models. Settle the mounting type and the wattage first, because those decide far more about how a microwave performs than the badge on the door does. Then compare control layouts and finishes across the brand lineup and pick the one you would rather use every day.

What is a microwave and wall oven combination unit?

A combination unit stacks a microwave above a full-size oven behind one matched front, so both appliances share a single tall cabinet cutout. It is the tidiest way to add a microwave to a kitchen with nothing above the range and no counter to spare, and the finish and handles match by definition. The trade-offs are cost and service: it comes to more than buying a wall oven and a separate built-in microwave, and if one half fails the whole unit has to come out. Do not confuse it with a microwave that has a combination or convection mode, which is a single microwave that can also bake and roast on a small scale.

Can I install an over-the-range microwave myself?

It is possible, but it is a two-person job, and it is easy to get wrong. The unit is heavy, it hangs from a wall plate and bolts through the cabinet above, and the blower has to be set for the venting direction you are using. Clearance above the cooking surface is specified by the manufacturer and often by local code. Ask about professional installation when you order.

Do I need a trim kit for a built-in microwave?

Usually yes. The trim kit fills the gap between the appliance and the cabinet opening and provides the airflow the microwave needs, so it is not just cosmetic. Kits are model-specific and normally sold separately, so confirm the right part number before you order and size the cabinet cutout to the kit specification.

Is a microwave drawer worth the extra money?

It depends on the kitchen. A drawer installs below the counter or in an island, opens downward and needs no reach over a hot range, which suits shorter cooks, wheelchair users and anyone who wants the wall space back. It costs more than the other types and needs cabinetry, so it makes most sense during a remodel.

Where can I see microwaves in person near me?

BrandsMart USA has large showrooms across Florida and Georgia with countertop, over-the-range, built-in and drawer models on display. Seeing the drawer action and the real cavity size in person makes the decision much easier. Find your nearest showroom and bring your cabinet measurements.

What financing options are available on microwaves?

All of ours apply here, though at this price point the shorter routes are usually the practical ones. Klarna splits a purchase into interest-free installments with a decision in seconds, and Katapult is lease-to-own with no credit needed, so you can check your buying power without affecting your credit score. The BrandsMart USA credit card also carries 0% promotional financing on qualifying purchases, which matters more if the microwave is part of a larger order. See the financing page for current terms.

Venting an Over-the-Range Microwave

An over-the-range microwave replaces the hood, so it has to handle the air coming off your cooktop. There are two ways it can do that, and it is worth knowing which one you have before you buy.

Ducted, sometimes called externally vented, pushes air through ductwork and out of the house. It removes heat, grease, smoke and moisture properly and is always the better option if the ducting exists. Check whether your run goes up through the cabinet or back through the wall, because the blower has to be set for the right direction during installation.

Recirculating, or ductless, pulls air through a charcoal filter and blows it back into the room. It catches some grease and odor and does nothing about heat or moisture. It is what most apartments and interior walls end up with. Change the charcoal filter on the schedule in the manual, and wash the metal grease filter regularly either way.

If you cook on gas often, an over-the-range microwave is a compromise. A dedicated range hood moves considerably more air and sits at a better height for the job.

1. Settle the mounting type first

Everything else follows from this. Renting or short on budget means countertop. Short on counter space with a range below means over-the-range, as long as you accept it as your ventilation. Building or remodeling with cabinetry to work with means built-in or a drawer. A drawer is the most expensive route and the most usable, especially in an island or for anyone who finds an overhead door awkward.

2. Measure the cutout, not the appliance

Built-in microwaves and trim kits are sold against a cutout size, and the cutout dimensions are different numbers from the appliance dimensions. Take the width, height and depth of the cabinet opening, check the model's specification sheet against all three, and confirm which trim kit that model needs, since it is usually sold separately. Over-the-range models need a standard 30-inch cabinet above and enough clearance from the cooking surface below.

3. Match wattage to how you cook

Wattage is the cooking power. Anything from about 900 to 1,200 watts reheats and cooks at the speed package instructions assume. Compact models around 700 watts are fine for drinks, leftovers and popcorn but take noticeably longer on everything else. If you cook actual meals in the microwave, do not go below 1,000 watts.

4. Check the cavity, not just the cubic feet

Capacity is quoted in cubic feet, usually from around 0.7 for a compact model to 2.2 for a large one. The number that matters more is the turntable diameter, because that decides whether a dinner plate or a casserole dish will actually turn. Take the widest dish you use regularly and check it against the turntable specification.

5. Decide which features earn their place

Sensor cooking measures the steam coming off the food and stops when it is done, instead of running a timer you guessed at, and it is the feature most worth having. Inverter power delivers steady lower power rather than cycling full power on and off, which defrosts and simmers far more evenly. Convection and air-fry modes turn a microwave into a small second oven, which is useful in a compact kitchen.

Over-the-range or countertop?

Buy over-the-range if you own the kitchen, there is a range with a standard 30-inch cabinet above it, and counter space is what you are short of. It clears the counter and gives you the ventilation in the same appliance, which is why it is the default fit in American kitchens. Go in knowing that it becomes your hood, so the blower, the grease and charcoal filters and whether you can duct outside matter as much as the cooking modes do.

Buy a countertop microwave if you rent, if the budget is tight, or if there is no range under the spot you had in mind. It plugs into an ordinary outlet, needs no installation, and moves house with you, and dollar for dollar you get more wattage and more cavity. The cost is the counter itself, since a 2.0 cubic foot model takes a serious bite out of your prep space, and you still need a separate range hood over the cooktop.

Built-in or a microwave drawer?

A built-in microwave gets you the flush, finished look for less money. It fits into a cabinet or wall opening with a trim kit, most often stacked with a wall oven in one tall cabinet, and the door sits at a normal height. Two things to plan for: the kit is model specific and usually sold separately, and the cutout dimensions on the specification sheet are not the same numbers as the appliance dimensions.

Pay up for a microwave drawer when it can go in an island or under the counter and you want the wall space back. Pulling it open downward means no door swinging into the walkway and nothing to reach over a hot cooktop, and the controls sit where a shorter cook or someone seated can use them without help. It is the most expensive mounting type, it takes over a base cabinet, and because you look down into the cavity, checking a tall covered dish is awkward.

Opening the doors and pulling out the drawers tells you more than any spec sheet, and every microwave here can be seen in person. We have eleven showrooms across South Florida and metro Atlanta.

Florida. Miami, Dadeland and South Dade in the Miami area, Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Outlet Center in Lauderhill, Deerfield Beach, Dania Pointe in Dania Beach, and West Palm Beach.
Georgia. North Atlanta, South Atlanta in Stockbridge, and Kennesaw.

Each store page has the address, phone number and current showroom hours. You can also find the store nearest you or order online and collect in store.

Buy it whichever way is easiest. Most microwaves fit in a car, so you can order online and pick it up in store, have it delivered, or walk into one of our showrooms across Florida and Georgia and take one home the same day. Financing is available on qualifying purchases, including a lease-to-own route that needs no credit. Bring the cabinet or cutout measurements if you are replacing a built-in or over-the-range model.

Microwaves

KitchenAid
1.1 CuFt 1000 Wattage Over-The-Range Microwave in Stainless Steel with Flush Built-In Design

Whirlpool
1.6 CuFt 1000 Watt Over-the-Range Microwave in White with Defrost

Cafe
1.2 CuFt 1500 Wattage Built-In Microwave In Stainless Steel With Drawer Door

GE
1.2 Cu. Ft. 1,000 Watts Built-In Microwave Drawer Oven

Cafe
1.2 CuFt Built-In Microwave Drawer Oven in Matte White with Glass Touch Controls

KitchenAid
1.9 CuFt 1000 Watt Over-the-Range Microwave in Stainless Steel

GE
1.7 Cu-Ft 1000 Watt Over The Range Microwave Oven in Black

Bosch
2.1 Cu Ft 500 Series 1100 Watts Over The Range Microwave - Stainless Steel

GE Appliances
1.7 CuFt Convection Over-the-Range Microwave Oven in Matte White with Air Fry

GE Appliances
2.1 CuFt 1000 Wattage Over-the-Range Microwave in Stainless Steel

Frigidaire
2.2 Cu. Ft. Built-In Microwave with Sensor Cook - Stainless Steel

Samsung
1.7 CuFt Bespoke Smart Over-the-Range Microwave in Stainless Steel with Air Fry Max & Convection

Monogram
1.7 CuFt Over-The-Range Microwave in Stainless Steel

Samsung
BESPOKE 1.1 CuFt SLIM Over-the-Range Microwave in White Glass

Cafe
1.7 Cu Ft 1000-Watt Over-The-Range Microwave with Air Fry - Stainless Steel

Whirlpool
1.1 CuFt 1000 Wattage Over-The-Range Microwave in Stainless Steel with Flush Built-In Design

LG
1.7 CuFt Smart 1550 Wattage Over-the-Range Microwave in Essence White with Air Fry