A microwave oven is one of the most convenient appliances to have around your kitchen. But getting one might feel impossible for most homeowners due to the high prices associated with these items.
If you’re working on a tight budget, you might be wondering if you can get the best microwaves under $100, with all the essential features and, of course, an excellent performance.
The answer is, YES!
Below, we’ll share with you some of the most affordable microwaves (priced below $100), packed with awesome features, and enjoying high ratings from previous users.
Is It a Good Budget?
If you take a quick look at the cost of a good-quality, high-performance microwave ovens, you’ll notice that it can get soo high $2000.
This can leave you wondering if $100 is really a reasonable budget for a microwave oven.
The truth is…the high-end models aren’t much different than the less priced models. Remember that the same manufacturers who make the top-end models design the inexpensive models as well, using the same technology.
The ONLY major difference between the two classes of microwaves is that the high-end models come crowned with superior designs, loads of crazy features, and many other goodies.
For a microwave under 100 dollars, however, you get a simple countertop unit that does the basics: reheating, cooking and defrosting food. Models in this price usually have a smaller size, both internal and external, and average power ratings.
Depending on the model you choose, you might get a bunch of bonus features in this price bracket.
Simply put, this is the rule of thumb in play—where products are evenly distributed across the price ladder. And the higher you go up this ladder, the fancier it becomes.
Let’s look at our list of the budget-friendly microwave ovens you can find on the market today…
10 Best Microwave Under $100:
1. AmazonBasics 0.7 Cu. Ft, 700W Microwave
If you already have an Amazon Echo at your home and you’re looking for the best countertop microwave under $100, this AmazonBasics microwave will make a wise option. This is because the unit works with Alexa, and you’ll just need to ask Alexa to do the microwaving.
The countertop unit features an incredibly compact design to help save as much counter space as possible. The exact (external) dimensions of this unit are 17.3 W x 10.1 D x 14.1 H inches. It has 0.7 Cu ft. cooking space which will perfectly hold your favorite dinner plate or a cup of coffee.
It features a decent power rating of up to 700W, which will adequately meet the microwaving needs of most people.
Since the microwave presents you with quick-cook pre-sets, you don’t need to guess the heat levels or cook times anymore when defrosting veggies or microwaving a potato. The fact that Alexa keeps getting smarter by adding new presets makes things even easier for you.
If you love popping popcorns, this microwave will come in handy. It comes with a really unique function of keeping track of your popcorn supply and automatically reordering when it runs low. You’ll never run out of popcorns!
Other cool features you’ll find convenient in this microwave include up to 10 power levels, child lock (for your little ones’ safety), kitchen timer, and a 10-in diameter turntable that lets you cook all kinds of foods.
Highlighted Features:
- Incredibly easy to set up
- Power rating: 700 Watts
- Up to 0.7 Cu. Ft. capacity
- Compact, space-saving countertop microwave
- Features up to 10 power levels
- Automatically tracks your popcorn supply
- Child lock for your kids’ safety
2. Toshiba EM925A5A-SS Microwave Oven
Toshiba is known for producing high-end microwaves that cost hundreds of bucks. But they also have great quality models priced under 100, like this Toshiba EM925A5A-SS.
This unit comes in a black stainless steel finish & timeless look that matches different modern kitchen styles. It comes packed with a variety of practical functions that meet your heating and cooking requirements.
The 900 Watts rated microwave oven presents you with up to 10 power levels to let you cook a wide range of dishes efficiently. It comes packed with convenient features like easy defrosting by weight/time, up to 6 automated menus for cooking your favorite foods like popcorn, potato, pizza, etc., memory function, and express cook buttons for 1-6 mines.
Regarding the size, this unit has a slightly large interior capacity than our previous model (0.9 Cu. ft.) but still compact enough to fit in your counter space.
Thanks to its bright LED light, this Toshiba enables you to crystal-clearly monitor your dishes as they cook. The bright digital display allows you to check the unit status easily.
And if you don’t want to awaken your family with your microwave’s buzzling sound, this unit offers you a mute function which you activate by pressing button “8” continuously. The child lock feature ensures the safety of your little ones.
Highlighted Features:
- Stylish stainless steel w/timeless design
- External dimensions: 12. 36W * 13. 66D * 8. 7H inches
- Pre-programmed menus
- 900 Watts with 10 power settings
- Bright, digital display
- 10.6-inch diameter turntable
- Oven capacity: 0.9 cu. ft.
- Easy to use; one-touch start
3. Nostalgia RMO7AQ Retro Countertop Microwave Oven
If you’re looking for an affordable microwave with retro styling, this is it. The Nostalgia RMO7AQ countertop microwave oven comes with retro-inspired chrome lines which make it an eye-catching unit for any countertop space.
Though compact in size, this unit presents you with an adequate cooking cavity where you can easily fit a standard size plate without taking up a lot of counter space. It features a total of 12 pre-programmed features which makes preparing popular foods easier around your kitchen. On top of this, it comes with delay timer and express cooking which provides you with options for optimal heating of popular foods.
Mind you, the oven gas 700 Watts power rating which you can alter through 5 different power settings to meet all your cooking requirements.
The rotating glass carousel ensures that your food is cooked evenly.
Nostalgia also optimized this unit for the ultimate user-friendly experience. This is evident from the easy-to-read LED display that lights up the digital clock and the ability to highlight each cooking setting. Not to forget the simple turn-and-push program dial that lets you easily navigate the cooking settings.
All things considered, this Nostalgia RMO7AQ is the perfect match for any homeowners looking for an affordable unit with a stylish retro design!
Highlighted Features:
- 700 Watts cooking power
- 0.7 cubic ft. cooking space
- Up to 12 pre-programmed cooking settings
- Delay timer & express cooking
- Easy-to-read LED display
- Rotating glass carousel for easy cooking
- Sleek, retro-styled appearance
4. Farberware FMWO11AHTBKB Microwave Oven
We strongly believe that the Farberware FMWO11AHTBKB is the best microwave under $100 for busy kitchens. It comes with bigger capacity and wattage than most of the other ovens featured on this list. And that means it can handle all the needs of a busy kitchen.
The unit perfectly fits on your counter without taking away a lot of space. And when it comes to doing the job, it lets you experience Farberware 100 years of expertise in the production of top-performance kitchen appliances.
It provides you 1000W watts with up to 10 different power levels to let you customize it to your specific cooking needs. It also presents you with up to 6 preset menus, defrost (by weight or time), kitchen timer, and multi-stage cooking.
The spacious (1.1 cu. Ft.) cooking space gives you an interior spacious enough to hold large-sized food items, your favorite dinner plates, baking plates, and more. What’s more, it features a larger (12.4 inches) turntable for evenly heating or cooking your food.
Remember, this unit combines style and function to give you unique cooking experience. You can choose from a variety of colors, textures, and finishes that match and compliment your kitchen.
Highlighted Features:
- 1000 Watts power rating
- Up to 10 power levels
- Defrost by time and weight
- Removable rotating glass turntable
- 6 one-touch cooking functions
- Dimensions: 20.2 x 16.9 x 12 inches
- 1-year limited manufacturer warranty
5. Emerson 1.2 CU. FT. 1100W Griller Microwave Oven
The Emerson microwave oven comes in a gorgeous stainless steel finish that matches most kitchen interior decors. It has a respectable capacity of 1.2 cubic feet and a cool 1100 Watts—giving you a perfect balance between budget and power.
For easy cooking experience, this oven presents you with time, and weight defrost function. You only need to enter the weight of your food, and the unit will automatically set the right defrosting duration as well as the power level. Alternatively, you can set your desired defrosting time.
The Emerson sends this unit to you with a total of 9 cooking presets for popular foods, like popcorn, frozen vegetables, pizza, and more. You just touch a button and your favorite food gets cooked according to the pre-set levels. No more guesswork in your cooking!
If you’re tired of unevenly heated or cooked foods by your current microwave unit, this oven will change things for good. It comes with a lightweight glass turntable which ensures your favorite dish gets evenly and completely cooked. And yes, you can easily remove this turntable for hassle-free cleaning.
If you have little kids in the house, this unit was made with their safety in mind. It comes with a lockout function which helps keep them from operating the oven accidentally.
Highlighted Features:
- 1.2 cu ft. of cooking space
- 9 pre-programmed recipes
- Time and weight defrost function
- Crystal-clear LED display with digital clock
- A total of 11 microwave power levels
- 1 pure grilled power level
- Removable glass turntable
6. Kenmore Black 70719 Countertop Microwave
Kenmore Black 70719 comes with a compact design that enables you to save a great deal of space in your dorm rooms and small kitchen areas. It also fits our criteria for the best countertop microwave under $100, as it comes with all the desirable features in a microwave oven.
With up to 700 Watts of power that can be adjusted through 10 different settings, you can trust this unit to meet all your cooking needs. The control panel presents you with 6 smart touch settings which let you customize your cooking for efficient cooking of your specific dinner plate.
Just like other units from Kenmore, this oven comes equipped with a lightweight glass turntable to facilitate even cooking of your favorite dishes. The turntable is fully removable and 100% dishwasher safe.
Thanks to the “Add 30 seconds” function, you’ll have an easy time increasing the cooking time in intervals of 30 seconds. With this feature, you’ll also have an easy time performing simple tasks like defrosting, cooking a whole potato, popping popcorns, and more.
Other convenient features you’ll get when you purchase this unit include defrost option, digital display, child-safety lock, and LED clock display.
Highlighted Features:
- Compact, space-saving design
- External dimensions: 17. 7W x 10. 2H x 12. 5D
- Up to 10 power settings
- 700 Watts power rating
- One-touch pre-set for popular dishes
- Removable glass turntable
- Fast and easy defrost
- Child lock safety
7. Hamilton Beach 700 Watt Microwave
No products found.
Hamilton Beach is one of the few brands that manufacture a wide range of top-quality products at affordable costs. Homeowners love this inexpensive oven from the company because it comes with a list of the basics features you need in an oven.
It provides you with plenty of power (700 Watts) which can be adjusted through 10 different power levels. Remember, the more power settings a microwave comes with, the more types of food you cook with it. Despite featuring a compact design, the unit also provides you with sufficient cooking space of up to 0.7 cubic feet.
The 6 pre-programmed cooking recipes help take the guesswork out of your cooking, translating to more efficiently cooked dishes.
You’ll also enjoy bonus features from this microwave, such as convenient cooking controls, cooking complete reminder, easy-to-read touchpad controls, and a crystal-clear LED display.
The Unit’s sexy red color will make it a center of attraction in your kitchen, no doubt! Don’t forget the unit has a child lock to prevent your little ones from operating it accidentally.
Highlighted Features:
- 700 watts of power
- 0.7 cubic foot capacity
- 6 quick-set menu buttons
- Up to 10 power levels
No products found.
8. COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PM Countertop Microwave Oven
The Comfee countertop microwave is another best microwave under $100 that made it to our list. It has a compact footprint that enables it to fit in a cabinet or the counter. It offers you a bunch of convenient features plus a user-friendly design to make cooking more manageable around your house.
This microwave will let you conveniently defrost, reheat, or cook various foods. It grants you 700 Watts cooking power which you can adjust through 10 levels for optimal cooking of various dishes.
It offers you a wide range of cooking options like one-touch express cooking for up to 6 minutes, time/power level cooking, and pre-programmed cooking for popular foods. It even lets you defrost frozen foods by weight or time, depending on your needs.
Express cooking becomes REAL with this oven! It lets you turn it on for 1-6 minutes at 100% power by simply touching the number of minutes you wish to cook. You can easily check the remaining cooking time as well as kitchen timer on the unit’s large LED display.
If you wish to turn off all the microwave oven sounds, say when you’re making heating a snack at night and don’t want to wake up the others, you simply need to press the On/Off button. And if you want to prevent children from using this oven (for safety reasons), be sure to activated the child safety lock.
Highlighted Features:
- 700 Watts with 11 power settings
- Large LED digital display
- Compact size: 17.3” W x 13” D x 10.2” H
- Clock and kitchen timer
- Removable glass turntable
- Easy-to-read control panel
- One year limited warranty
9. BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Oven
Black + Decker is a 0.7 cubic foot 700 Watts oven with beautiful-looking stainless steel design. It comes ready to help you optimally cook or reheat up to 6 of the most popular foods with just the touch of a button.
The oven lets you adjust the power level through 10 different settings to meet your specific dish cooking needs. It also comes with a large LED digital display which clearly displays the countdown timer as well as the remaining cooking time for an easier cooking experience.
Efficient and quick defrosting also becomes possible with this unit. Whether you wish to thaw frozen meats, vegetables or casseroles, you can do it using time or weight defrost options provided by this oven.
The manufacturer has also equipped this oven with a 10-inch glass turntable. Needless to mention, it rotates when you power on your oven to prevent hotspots and allow your food to cook more evenly. You can hassle-freely remove the turntable if the need arises…and clean it with warm, soapy water.
Similar to what we have seen in most of the other microwaves in this list, this model has 30 seconds express cooking and 6 pre-set cooking recipes for one-touch cooking experience.
Additional (convenient) features you’ll get from this budget-friendly oven include child lock safety, interior light, easy-to-read control panel, and push-button door release (for easy access).
Highlighted Features:
- Pre-programmed buttons for popular foods
- 700 Watts power rating
- Up to 10 power settings
- 30 seconds express cooking function
- Removable 10-inch turntable
- Large LED digital display
- Child safety lock included
- One year limited warranty
10. Hamilton Beach EM925AJW-P1 Microwave
No products found.
Our last best microwave under 100 dollars is the Hamilton Beach EM925AJW-P1 Microwave. This unit presents you with a total of 10 power levels plus one-touch cooking settings for popular foods like popcorn, potato, pizza, and frozen beverages/dinner.
The Hamilton’s sharp stainless steel finish design enables it to easily blend with the interior of most kitchens.
One of the top reasons why we included this unit on our list is the 0.9 cubic feet cooking space and 900 Watts of cooking power it provides. With such specifications, you can agree with me that this unit will deliver excellent performance and meet the needs of most households.
It also lets you experience the convenience of weight and time defrosting, so you don’t have to panic again if you forgot to pull something out of your freezer.
Other cool features of this Hamilton microwave oven include 6 auto-cooking menus, kitchen timer, speed defrost, and bright LED display.
Like most of the other units we’ve discussed above, this model also comes with a locking door to help ensure the curious little fingers don’t accidentally start the microwave when you’re away.
Highlighted Features:
- Digital clock handle door
- Stylish stainless steel finish
- Cooking space: 0.9 cu. Ft.
- Up to 900 Watts power rating
- A total of 10 power settings
- Child safety lock feature
No products found.
How To Buy?
When shopping for a microwave oven, you ought to keep in mind that you’re selecting one of the most important appliances around your kitchen.
That said, you want to ensure you ONLY pick the most reliable and dependable unit that meets all your specific needs and expectations.
In this section, we have put together the crucial factors that will help you easily pick the perfect microwave oven under 100.
1. Wattage
The Wattage rating is one of the MOST crucial factors to consider when buying a new microwave unit.
Why? You might wonder…
In simple words, Wattage defines how powerful a given microwave is at performing its job. The higher the wattage a given unit has, the faster it cooks your foods.
For instance, a microwave rated 1000 Watts will cook food more quickly and efficiently than a unit rated 700 Watts.
Unfortunately, you’ll be limited on what wattage you can choose when on a budget because higher wattage comes at a higher price.
For less than 100 USD, you should expect anything from 700 to around 1200 Watts, which can handle basic cooking tasks around your kitchen.
2. Size
The next important factor to consider in a new microwave is its size.
You want to ensure the unit you choose will perfectly fit in the available space and will have sufficient cooking cavity for your favorite dinner dish.
For correct sizing, you need to check the following:
- External dimensions: you need to know the amount of available space where you’ll be placing your new appliance. Compare the available space with the dimensions of the unit you wish to buy to see if it’ll fit perfectly well. If space isn’t an issue, however, you might ignore this step.
- Interior cooking space: you should ensure that the unit you order comes with adequate cooking space for accommodating your favorite dishes. Inexpensive units usually come with a compact interior cooking space around 0.5ft to 1.2ft. From what we gathered from previous user experiences, such space will hassle-freely accommodate most of your cookware.
3. Extra features and specifications:
For a microwave to give you smooth user experience, it should also come armed with a bunch of convenient features. This is regardless of the cost.
As you might have noted from our top picks above, these features tend to vary from model to model.
Let’s briefly discuss some of the most common features:
- Pre-programmed cook settings: these settings help take the guesswork out of preparing your meals, helping you cook more quickly and efficiently.
- Sensors: sensors can help calculate the cook time based amount of steam your food emits
- Automatic defrost: this will come in handy when you want to thaw frozen meat, veggies, and more
- Child lockout feature: if you have a young child(ren) around the house, ensure you get a unit with this feature for safety reasons
- Mute function: this one helps you operate your oven without disturbing other family members from sleep
- Control panel: large buttons and icons are easier to operate. The control panel should also be easier to read in various light settings.
- Other features include 30 second time additions, multi-level cooking functions, and push-button door operation.
Want to have a good experience with your oven? Make sure it comes with a number of the above features.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What should I expect for a microwave oven under $100?
For a budget of less than $100, you should expect a microwave oven with just the essential functions. That is, it should be able to reheat, defrost, and cook your food.
The best units in this price bracket are usually the countertop type. This means they come with a compact design and will easily fit in your counter or cabinet without taking up a lot of space.
The wattage here will range from 700 to 1200 Watts, though this will meet most of your food cooking needs.
As for the convenient features, you don’t expect too many perks for this small budget. Nevertheless, you can get a handful of them to make your unit more convenient to use.
2. How often should I replace my microwave oven?
Ideally, all microwaves are designed with a lifespan of 10 years.
Even if you think that your model is still performing well after this period, we urge you to replace it with a new model when it hits the decade mark.
3. What if my microwave fails before the 10 years are over: should I repair or replace it?
Looking for a replacement is way better than repairing a microwave.
As you have seen from our list of top models under 100 dollars, these appliances have become more affordable. And if you compare the cost of repair (think labor plus parts) with buying a new unit, you’ll see sense in investing in a brand new oven.
Here are some quick tell-tale signs that your oven needs replacement:
- Leaking door seal: if you notice that your microwave door seal is worn out, cracked, broken, or doesn’t seal properly, consider replacing it immediately. This is because it can cause radiation to leak, and cause exposure to your beloved family.
- Buzzing sound: a properly functioning unit should produce no more than a gentle hum. If you hear any grinding, buzzing, and other weird noises, it could mean something is wrong.
- Slow cooking: if your unit is cooking or heating food slower than before, something is amiss!
- Burning smell, smoke: if you witness any smoke, burning smell, and sparks coming out of your microwave, it means your appliance has reached a point of no return. Turn it off immediately and start planning for a replacement!
Is your unit showing any of the above signs? If yes, it means it’s ripe for replacement.
4. Should I buy a used microwave oven?
YES, it’s okay to buy a used microwave if (and ONLY) if you can properly inspect, test, and ask logical questions regarding the oven.
What this means is that if you have a great deal of experience regarding these electrical appliances, then you should be able to easily find a used model that’s in top condition.
This is definitely a good way to save a few bucks, right?
BUT…if it’s your first microwave, or you don’t know much about these appliances, we urge you to consider getting a brand new unit.
As you can see from our list of the most affordable units out there, microwaves are now more affordable than ever before, and you can get a new one without breaking the bank.
Final Verdict
A microwave oven is, no doubt, one of the must-have appliances in modern kitchen settings. The unit makes things easier and more convenient around your kitchen and virtually every home requires one.
Whether you want to upgrade your kitchen or your current oven broke down, but you have a limited budget, you can get a unit with essentials functions for under 100 dollars.
We have outlined for you what to look for when buying a microwave on a tight budget to ensure you get the perfect model for your needs.
Our collection of the best microwave ovens under $100 above presents you with inexpensive units with hundreds of positive feedbacks from happy users across the states.