The 5 best stand mixers, tested and reviewed, for cookies, bread and more
After weeks in the kitchen trying models from brands like KitchenAid and Cuisinart, we found the best options for every type of baker.
Our experts independently review everything we recommend. If you buy through our links, we may earn commission.
I firmly believe that the joy of baking is best experienced with a stand mixer — why painstakingly whip cream or mix cookie dough by hand when you don't have to? As Yahoo's resident cookware tester and a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, I've evaluated hundreds of kitchen appliances (think ice cream makers , blenders and more) and have been baking with a classic KitchenAid stand mixer for 20 years. I tested eight of the most popular models on the market (creaming butter and sugar, mixing bread dough and more) to find the best stand mixer for every type of baker.
In this story
There are two types of stand mixers: tilt-head and bowl-lift. I tested both types across a variety of brands, noting each model's strengths and weaknesses, how easy they were to use and clean and overall value. My testing pool ranged in price from $60 to $1,000, proving that everyone from casual bakers to serious bread-makers can find their stand mixer match, no matter their budget.
Best stand mixers of 2026
Style: Tilt-head | Bowl capacity: 5 qt. | Speed settings: 10 | Motor power: 325 watts | Dimensions: 14.1"D x 8.7"W x 13.9"H | Weight: 23 lbs. | Included attachments/accessories: mixing bowl, flat beater blade, dough hook, whisk | Warranty: 1 year
What I liked:There's a reason why the KitchenAid Artisan is what most people picture when they talk about stand mixers. It's the standard against which all others are measured. Its heavy-duty build, powerful motor and excellent performance are just a few reasons.
Let's start with the flat beater attachment: It creamed butter and sugar perfectly in my testing, and I hardly had to scrape down the sides of the bowl. As I continued with a cookie dough recipe, the machine seamlessly incorporated eggs. I added the dry ingredients on the lowest speed, then chocolate chips, which were evenly distributed.
I used the dough hook to knead challah bread ingredients into a gorgeous, uniform mass in just a few minutes, with minimal intervention. I also used the whisk attachment and bowl to make 1 cup of whipped cream, which turned out dreamy and fluffy. This demonstrates how the 5-quart bowl can be useful for both small- and large-batch recipes.
Minor criticisms:This particular model does not include a plastic pouring shield, which is far from a deal breaker but would be useful for preventing splatters. You should also consider the machine's weight: All the KitchenAid models I tested weigh more than 20 pounds. If you have mobility issues and aren't planning to store a stand mixer on your countertop, you may have some difficulty moving it around.
- Durable construction lasts decades
- Includes stainless steel bowl with handle, beater blade, whisk and dough hook
- No-questions-asked 1-year warranty
- Accessory port is compatible with 10+ attachments
- Expensive, but worth it for frequent bakers
- Heavy — best left on a counter
- No plastic pouring shield can lead to splatters
Style: Tilt-head | Bowl capacity: 4 qt. | Speed settings: 7 | Motor power: 300 watts | Dimensions: 16.3"D x 10.5"W x 16.3"H | Weight: 9.4 lbs. | Included attachments/accessories: mixing bowl, flat beater blade, dough hook, whisk, splatter shield | Warranty: 1-year limited
What I liked:While not the highest-quality stand mixer on the market, this Hamilton Beach model is priced well for when you want the convenience of hands-free batter beating, dough kneading and cream whipping. In terms of performance, this model did as well or better than some of the all-metal die-cast models I tested.
It expertly handled all aspects of making cookie dough, including creaming butter and sugar and incorporating mix-ins. I had no issues getting bread dough ingredients kneaded, nor cream whipped into fluffy peaks, barring some noise and rattling I'll get into below.
Weighing less than half as much as its all-metal KitchenAid counterparts, this stand mixer is ideal for anyone with strength or mobility challenges, or for those who have to lug it from far-away storage to the countertop. Though it's an eyesore, the large handle along the top of the machine is very easy to grab when you need to pull the mixer out of a low cabinet.
Minor criticisms:My biggest complaint is the oddly jumpy start this machine has on the lowest speed setting — this led to a bit of cookie dough spraying out of the mixing bowl. You can solve for this by using the pouring shield.The mixing bowl is a bit smaller than that of other stand mixers, and the plastic body is not as elegant as others. The head rattled a bit, and the machine made some strange noises as it kneaded challah dough. Read more in my full review .
- Performs well on all tasks
- Affordable — and often on sale
- Lightweight and easy to move from a cabinet to the counter
- Bowl and attachments are dishwasher-safe
- Tilt-head mechanism operates with the touch of a button
- Lowest speed setting has a jumpy start that can splatter ingredients out of the bowl.
- Head occasionally rattles and machine makes noises
- Smaller 4-quart capacity won't work for large batches
Style: Tilt-head | Bowl capacity: 5.3 qt. | Speed settings: 12 | Motor power: 660 watts | Dimensions: 16.9"D x 10.4"W x 16.9"H | Weight: 9 lbs. | Included attachments/accessories: mixing bowl, flat beater blade with silicone edge, dough hook, whisk, splash guard | Warranty: 1-year limited
What I liked:This newcomer in the category from Martha Stewart's electric-appliance line would make a cheerful addition to your kitchen. It features a powerful 660-watt motor in a budget-priced plastic body that looks like a million bucks. With a sleek design and a very user-friendly speed dial and tilt-head release button, this is a machine that works for bakers who appreciate the convenience of having a stand mixer but might not want or need the investment of an all-metal model.
As for performance, this stand mixer fell right in the middle of the models I tested. It creamed butter and sugar just fine and distributed mix-ins nicely on the lowest speed, but kneading challah bread dough is where this machine excelled. I dumped in all the ingredients, turned on the machine, walked away for a few minutes and came back to perfectly incorporated dough with nothing left on the sides or the bottom of the mixing bowl.
All of the attachments and the mixing bowl are dishwasher-safe, and the smooth exterior is easy to wipe clean. This is a lightweight model that's a breeze to move from the counter to the cabinet. Its suction feet help stabilize it on the counter, but they do not prevent the head from minor bobbing and rattling.
Minor criticisms:Unfortunately, the silicone-edge beater blade wasn't as effective at scraping the sides of the mixing bowl as I hoped. I had to clean the sides of the bowl with a spatula several times while making cookie dough. Because this mixer doesn't have an all-metal, die-cast body, it's more prone to bobbing and rattling, which happened when I started creaming the butter and sugar and when I added the chocolate chips to the cookie dough.
- Lightweight enough to move around
- Well-positioned tilt-head release button
- Speed dial features the lowest speed closest to the front of the mixer, making it easier to adjust quickly
- Dishwasher-safe attachments
- Silicone-edge beater was disappointing; you will still need to scrape the sides of the mixing bowl as usual.
- Head bobs and rattles a bit when beating chunky ingredients
Style: Bowl-lift | Bowl capacity: 7 qt. | Speed settings: 11 | Motor power: 500 watts | Dimensions: 14.6"D x 11.3"W x 16.5"H | Weight: 29.2 lbs. | Included attachments/accessories: mixing bowl, flex-edge beater blade, dough hook, whisk, splatter shield | Warranty: 2 years
What I liked:This machine is best for bread makers and serious bakers. With a 7-quart bowl and a 500-watt motor, this model ensures even tough doughs come together easily. If you're the type to make a double batch of bread dough, plus holiday cookies for all your neighbors, you'll appreciate the stability that almost 30 pounds of steel provides.
It handled all of the kneading, batter mixing and whipping tasks I threw at it with ease, though I needed to scrape the sides of the bowl a bit more when making challah bread dough than the other machines. However, I loved using the double flex-edge beater blade for cookie dough — because it features silicone on both sides, it scraped the mixing bowl thoroughly, leaving almost nothing behind. The machine was rock-solid, and because the bowl is securely held in place, it didn't rattle at all during testing, making it a good candidate for tougher doughs and adding mix-ins.
Minor criticisms:The bowl connects to the machine in three spots — on the side with pegs and in the back with a button that must be lodged into place. This can be a bit tricky at first, but once I did it a few times, I got the hang of it. As mentioned, this is a heavy machine with a high price point. If you are not an avid baker or breadmaker and don't plan to make large-batch recipes, this is not the stand mixer for you.
- Generous capacity can handle large batches
- Bowl-lift design and weight make it exceptionally sturdy
- Most powerful motor of the models we tried
- Comes with useful (and abundant) attachments, including two beaters and a pouring shield
- Heavy — you won't be able to move this around easily, but it has a long cord so you don't need to keep it near an outlet
- Priciest of the bunch
- Installing the bowl is a bit tricky at first
Style: Tilt-head | Bowl capacity: 5 qt. | Speed settings: 11 | Motor power: 350 watts | Dimensions: 14.1"D x 8.7"W x 13.9"H | Weight: 28 lbs. | Included attachments/accessories: mixing bowl, double flex-edge beater, flat beater blade, dough hook, whisk | Warranty: 1 year
What I liked:For starters, this is the first major design-and-build update to the KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer series in decades. The machine itself looks a lot like the Artisan 5-quart I tested, with a few changes in both looks and features. Spoiler alert: There's a bowl light!
This model comes with an excellent beater blade with silicone edges, a stainless steel flat beater, a wire whisk, a dough hook and a plastic pouring shield. The attachments (outside the shield) are all made of uncoated stainless steel and are dishwasher-safe, unlike the wire whisk that comes with some other models.
This model has the usual 10 speeds and an additional half-speed setting to get things started even more gently (helpful for folding in flour and other ingredients that tend to fly into the air during mixing). Plus, the speed knob itself has two settings: standard and precision. Standard covers the usual presets you'd find on any KitchenAid; precision mode lets you adjust the speed like the dial on a high-end blender, giving you total control and a smooth transition from one speed setting to the next.
And then there's the bowl light — it's a game-changer. When you tilt the stand mixer head down to use it, an integrated LED automatically turns on, so you can see exactly what's happening and whether ingredients are fully incorporated. It automatically turns off when you tilt the head back up.
Minor criticisms:This model is very expensive at $600, so it's a stretch to say that you should replace an Artisan series mixer that you already own with this one. However, if you're in the market for a new stand mixer or you've never owned one and enjoy baking, this is hands-down the one I'd recommend.
- Best performance overall
- LED bowl light makes it easy to see if ingredients are mixed in well
- Customizable speed control, for precisely adjusting speeds for different mixing needs
- All attachments are dishwasher-safe
- The most expensive mixer on this list — a true splurge
- Heavy (but on par with other KitchenAids)
Factors to consider when choosing a stand mixer
Here's what we looked for in a stand mixer and what you should keep in mind while shopping.
✓ Tilt-head vs. bowl-lift:A tilt-head model works for most bakers. This type of model has a head that tilts up and back so you can access the mixing bowl, add ingredients and change attachments. Bowl-lift models are generally larger, with a tall body, a heavier base, a stationary head and a lever or crank that raises the bowl. These models are best for true baking enthusiasts and those who frequently make large batches of heavy dough and bread.
I made chocolate chip cookie dough with all the stand mixers to evaluate how well they cream butter and sugar, incorporate eggs and distribute mix-ins.
(Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)✓ Bowl capacity and machine weight:Consider how you'll use the stand mixer — most cooks will be able to make a range of recipes with a 5- to 6-quart model, but if you have limited space and won't use it often, you might prefer a compact model with a 3.5- to 4.5-quart capacity. Stand mixers range in weight from about 9 to 30 pounds, which is a significant load to move from the counter, a cabinet or an inconvenient shelf. If you're an avid baker and bread maker, consider a larger model, but keep in mind that 7-quart models are taller and heavier, making them tough to maneuver and to store.
✓ Speed settings:Some home stand mixers tout as many as 13 settings, but less important than the number is the quality of the speeds. Most tasks can be accomplished on low or medium settings (usually a 6 or 7 or lower on a KitchenAid). What's essential is that the mixer has an effective low speed that works for folding in dry ingredients. The new KitchenAid Artisan Plus is unique in that it has a half-speed setting and the ability to dial the speed up/down, as well as use presets.
✓ Attachments and accessories:All the models come with a mixing bowl, beater blade, dough hook and whisk; some also include a splatter shield to help prevent messes and/or an additional beater blade. The included accessories should cover most needs. One of the great things about KitchenAid and Cuisinart stand mixers, in particular, is that you can buy numerous attachments to turn your mixer into a pasta roller, food processor , ice cream maker and more.
The KitchenAid Artisan Plus model has a unique new feature — a bowl light that illuminates ingredients and helps you judge how ingredients are incorporated and the texture of the dough.
(Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)✓ Ease of use:All of the stand mixers I tested are easy to set up, use and clean, with straightforward instruction manuals. The speed settings, dials and tilt-head locks vary slightly depending on the model. Bowls and attachments are generally dishwasher-safe, though some whisk attachments are not. All of the machines can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap.
✓ Price:Stand mixers range in price from about $60 to $1,000. If you bake often, a pricier KitchenAid stand mixer is absolutely worth the money. These machines offer excellent performance and efficiency and last for decades. I've even heard stories of grandparents passing them down to their grandkids. If you aren't as concerned about durability, there are models available that start at $60. Bear in mind that these less-expensive models have plastic bodies and suctioned feet to help stabilize them. They are not built from heavy-duty steel with a motor that will run for 20 years.
How we test stand mixers
After opening each box, I washed the mixing bowls and attachments with a soapy sponge and warm water. I inspected each machine for scratches or dings, noted the care instructions and confirmed whether the parts were dishwasher-safe. I used each machine for recipes that make use of the flat beater blade, wire whisk and dough hook. I washed the bowls and accessories by hand or in the dishwasher after each task.
I whipped a cup of heavy cream in each stand mixer to see if it could properly aerate a small amount of liquid.
(Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)To thoroughly review these stand mixers, I put them through the following:
-
Cookie dough test:To evaluate the flat beater blade and the lowest speed settings, I made chocolate chip cookie dough. This helped me judge how well the beater creamed butter and sugar and incorporated eggs; it also let me see if the speed was slow enough to incorporate dry ingredients and mix-ins evenly. I noted how often I needed to stop and scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.
-
Challah bread dough test:I made a batch of challah dough (an enriched dough that needs a fair amount of kneading) to evaluate the dough hook. I noted whether it was able to incorporate all the flour on its own, or if I needed to stop the machine to fold the flour from the bottom of the bowl into the dough.
-
Whipped cream test:To evaluate the wire whisk, efficiency of larger-capacity bowls and speed settings, I made whipped cream. I used just 1 cup of heavy cream, noting how the machine handled smaller amounts of ingredients and if the higher speed settings were adequate to create a fluffy texture.
Stand mixer comparison chart
| Model |
Best for |
Style |
Capacity |
Wattage |
Weight |
Greatest strength |
Biggest drawback |
| KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart |
Most bakers |
Tilt-head |
5 qt. |
325W |
23 lbs. |
Suits many needs |
Heavy for frequent moving |
| Hamilton Beach Electric Stand Mixer |
Budget-minded bakers |
Tilt-head |
4 qt. |
300W |
9.4 lbs. |
Value price and performance |
Lower-end look and feel |
| Martha Stewart 5.3-Quart Stand Mixer |
Casual bakers |
Tilt-head |
5.3 qt. |
660W |
9 lbs. |
Power and lightweight design |
Can't be used with attachments to increase versatility |
| KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift |
Bread and large batches |
Bowl-lift |
7 qt. |
500W |
29.2 lbs. |
Power and stability |
Expensive and bulky |
| KitchenAid Artisan Plus |
Premium upgrade |
Tilt-head |
5 qt. |
550W |
28 lbs. |
Bowl light and improved accessories |
Very expensive |
Other stand mixers we tested
Cuisinart Precision Master 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer :This die-cast metal stand mixer is powerful and stable, capable of handling most baking tasks. With a 5.5-quart capacity, whipping up double batches of cookies is a snap. You can also easily maximize its usefulness by buying an attachment, such as an ice cream maker bowl or a vegetable spiralizer/slicer. Ultimately, it didn't perform as well as similar KitchenAid models — for more details, read my full review .
Beautiful by Drew 5.3-Quart Stand Mixer :As with the Martha Stewart model mentioned above, this mixer features a good-looking matte plastic body and a lightweight build, but unfortunately, not a powerful motor. The head bobbed when I creamed butter and sugar, and I had a hard time whipping 1 cup of cream — it took over nine minutes!
This Beautiful by Drew stand mixer was a champ at kneading challah dough, but not as good at whipping cream.
(Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Stand Mixer :This is about the cutest mixer I've ever seen. Although it has just a 3.5-quart capacity, it can still handle most baking jobs; its motor is only slightly less powerful than the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart. If you're looking for the best stand mixer for small spaces, this is the model for you, with the caveat that it's quite pricey at the often-seen sale price of $350.
Stand mixer FAQs
Are tilt-head or bowl-lift stand mixers better?
The answer is they're both great for different reasons. Tilt-head stand mixers are what most people typically need, even if you're baking double batches. A tilt head is found on most 3.5- to 5-quart stand mixers. A bowl-lift mixer is more common among machines with a 5- to 7-quart capacity, used to make batches of heavy or stiff dough and up to 14 dozen cookies. These models are generally heavier and taller than tilt-head mixers and require more storage space.
What is a paddle attachment for a stand mixer?
A paddle attachment, aka a flat beater, is typically used to cream butter and sugar and incorporate other ingredients into cookie dough or cake batter.
Why trust us?
I have a degree from the French Culinary Institute and have spent years testing kitchen equipment, meal kits and cooking tools for major lifestyle publications and Yahoo readers. In my testing and home baking experience, tilt-head mixers were easier for everyday cookie and cake recipes, while bowl-lift models felt more stable when kneading bread dough.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
