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Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
If your microwave sits in a corner where the door opens into a wall, every reheat turns into a two-step shuffle: pull the unit out, open, then push it back. A right-hinged microwave solves that by putting the handle on your free-hand side. Below are nine countertop models that fit tight kitchen layouts, with capacity and wattage spelled out for each one.
This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Before you commit, the two things that actually decide your fit are which way the door swings and how much clearance the cabinet run leaves you. Use this breakdown of the right-hinged microwave options to match the swing and size to your counter before you buy.
Top Picks
How To Choose A Right-Hinged Microwave
The countertop microwave aisle is crowded with units that all look the same until you get one home and find the door opens the wrong way. Hinge side is a physical build choice, not a setting you can flip later. So the first thing to confirm is which way the handle sits when the unit faces you.
Read the swing before you read the wattage
A right-hinged door opens with the panel on the right and the handle on the left. That layout works when your counter dead-ends into a wall on the right, or when your standing spot is on the left of the unit. If your counter is open on both sides, hinge direction barely matters — pick by capacity instead.
Many listings never state the hinge side outright. Look for the handle description — a handle-release model like the Chefman uses a pull-up latch, which tells you the door hinge mechanics. When the listing is silent, the product image is your next check.
Match the cubic-foot number to what you actually reheat
Capacity in cubic feet is a volume figure, but the number that decides your daily use is the turntable diameter. A 0.7 cubic-foot unit with a modest turntable handles a mug and a plate of leftovers. A 2.2 cubic-foot model with a large carousel swallows a casserole dish or two frozen dinners side by side. Measure your widest dish before you commit to a compact model.
Know what the child lock does on your door style
Child lock disables the keypad so a toddler cannot start a cycle. On the Chefman, the safety feature lives in the handle itself — you pull upward on the top edge to release it. On push-button doors like the BLACK+DECKER stainless model, holding the cancel button activates the panel lock. Neither prevents the door from opening, so know which behavior you are getting.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Model | Best For | Capacity | Wattage | Door Release / Lock | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chefman 1.1 Cu Ft★ Best Overall | Small kitchens and first apartments | 1.1 cubic feet | 1000W | Handle latch with built-in child lock | Amazon |
| Frigidaire EMW736BLKCompact Pick | Dorms and tight counter space | 0.7 cubic feet | 700W | Push button with child lock | Amazon |
| BLACK+DECKER 0.9 Cu.Ft BlackBest Value | Shared kitchens with kids | 0.9 cubic feet | 900W | Push button, 5-second panel lock | Amazon |
| BLACK+DECKER 0.9 Cu.Ft Stainless | Everyday family reheating | 0.9 cubic feet | 900W | Push button with child lock | Amazon |
| Commercial Chef CHM7MS | Looking modern on a small counter | 0.7 cubic feet | 700W | Push button with door lock | Amazon |
| Toshiba 1.2 Cu.Ft | Sensor-cook precision | 1.2 cubic feet | 1000W | Touch panel, keypad lock | Amazon |
| GE 2.0 Cu.Ft | Family-size cooking and big pans | 2.0 cubic feet | 1200W | Touch panel, child lock | Amazon |
| Sharp SMC2266KS | Two dinners at once, quietly | 2.2 cubic feet | 1200W | Touch panel, child lock | Amazon |
| Breville Combi Wave | Replacing three appliances | 1.1 cubic feet | 1200W | Soft-close door, child lock | Amazon |
Detailed Reviews
1. Chefman Countertop Microwave 1.1 Cu Ft
Our pick — 4.5+★ from 1,000+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The corner-counter fix that opens one-handed on a pull-up latch.
Here is a handle-release door that you can operate with a thumb while your other hand is holding a plate. That single latch is the whole reason this Chefman earns the top spot for a right-hinged setup. You pull upward on the top edge of the handle and the door swings clear, so nothing on your standing side gets in the way.
Then there is the power behind it. This is a 1000-watt unit with 10 power levels, which means a low setting for melting butter and full power for a fast reheat of the same meal. Three one-touch presets cover popcorn, beverages, and leftovers, and a +30 seconds button cuts off the guesswork when something needs a touch more time. The 1.1 cubic-foot interior versus the 0.7 cubic-foot Frigidaire listed below.
The details buyers bring up most are performance and functionality, and that tracks: it heats fast, fits a full dinner plate, and one owner summed it up with “1.1 Cu. Nice size, sleek, matches my kitchen well.” The catch is the noise profile. Some find it quiet, others find the beeps loud and the clock display bright enough to want dimming tape at night. The mute button silences everything rather than offering a volume level, so pick your trade-off. It holds 4.5+ stars across 1,100+ ratings, and at the sale price one reviewer noted paying, the value is hard to argue with.
What wins people over
- Handle latch with a built-in child safety lock — hold-up latch means one hand opens it
- 1000W across 10 power levels, from a melt setting to fast full-power reheating
- 1.1 cubic feet fits a full dinner plate
- Mute button kills the beeps for late-night or sleeping-baby kitchens
Where it asks you to give
- Clock display is bright with no dimming — a strip of tape fixes it
- Mute disables all sound rather than offering a volume level
- Some find the operating noise louder than expected on startup
Reach for this if: your counter runs into a wall and you want a one-handed door plus genuine 1000W power.
Look elsewhere if: a bright clock face in a dark room would keep you up — the display cannot be dimmed.
2. FRIGIDAIRE EMW736BLK 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave, Black
A true apartment footprint that still swallows a large Pyrex bowl.
Of all the picks here, this one wins the space argument outright. At 0.7 cubic feet it is the smallest cabinet on the list, and one long-term buyer reports it “fits large Pyrex bowls and dinner plates” without spilling over the edges. That is the whole trick of a good compact unit: small outside, roomy enough inside for real food.
The 700-watt output explains the other half of the experience. Lower wattage means a reheat takes a little longer than a 1000-watt machine, and that is a fair trade when you have a narrow counter gap to fill. The digital panel gives you express cooking, adjustable power levels, delayed start, and two separate defrost timers so you can thaw in stages. There is a child safety lock on the panel and a clear window to watch your food.
The track record is the quiet selling point here. Buyers report units still running like new after seven-plus years — rare longevity for a 0.7-cubic-foot countertop microwave. The honest note is a small number of units that arrived with a door problem, and those cases got tied up in a slow service referral. Most buyers never see it, but it is worth registering the warranty on day one.
Verdict on the small stuff: This is the right-hinged microwave to choose when a few inches of counter decide the layout — it earns its place on footprint and durability, not raw power.
Suits you when: a dorm, studio, or tight galley kitchen leaves you almost no counter to spare.
Not the one when: you reheat big family portions daily and want the speed of a higher-wattage unit.
3. BLACK+DECKER Countertop Microwave Oven 0.9 Cu.Ft Black
Six preset buttons that turn a shared kitchen into a one-touch routine.
Six one-touch programs is the number that matters here: popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverages, and dinner plate reheat. For a household where several people share one microwave and nobody agrees on settings, those buttons remove the argument. Press the picture of the food and walk away.
Underneath sits 900 watts with 10 power levels and an express cook shortcut for instant starts. The 0.9 cubic-foot interior is sized to clear standard dinner plates without the footprint of a bigger unit. The fingerprint-resistant black finish holds up on a busy counter, and the child safety lock activates by holding the cancel button for five seconds so a toddler cannot start a cycle.
Performance is what buyers bring up most, and the praise is consistent: even heating, quiet running, and enough power to defrost and cook almost anything. One parent picked this up for an elderly mother specifically for the safety controls, which tells you how forgiving the operation is. The knock is the door lock — a first-time owner has to learn the sequence before it feels natural, and the time display is bright enough that some cover it with tape. Neither slows daily use after a week.
The trade you’re making: you give up the raw wattage of a premium unit and get back six presets, a child lock that is easy to disengage, and a footprint that fits a kid-height counter.
Choose it for: a busy shared kitchen where one-touch presets and a toddler-proof keypad matter more than maximum wattage.
Pass it by if: you want a plain up-and-down power dial with no menu logic to learn.
4. BLACK+DECKER Countertop Microwave Oven 0.9 Cu.Ft Stainless Steel
The familiar stainless box that thousands of kitchens already run on.
Ask around and this is the microwave that keeps showing up on other people’s counters. A 4.0+ star average across more than twelve thousand ratings means this 0.9-cubic-foot design has been stress-tested in real kitchens, not just a showroom.
It is a 0.9 cubic-foot machine rated at 900 watts, with a 10.6-inch removable glass turntable, a large LED readout, and push-button door release. Six pre-programmed buttons cover popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage, and dinner plate. The stainless door frame pairs with a black enclosure, so it blends into most appliance runs without shouting. Quick Defrost handles the frozen-food nights.
The recurring complaint is worth knowing before you commit: the door lock can engage in a way that leaves you pressing the open up sequence to get your food out. A few owners have had that mechanism fail and jam. It is a minority experience against that rating volume, but this is the one model on the list where you should read the open up instructions in the manual before your first cook — not after.
The reasons it keeps selling
- 4.0+ stars across 12,000+ ratings — a review volume most countertop microwaves never reach
- 10.6-inch removable glass turntable handles full dinner plates
- Six dedicated preset buttons plus 30-second express cooking
- Stainless door over a black enclosure looks at home beside standard appliances
The one thing to learn first
- Door lock requires an open up press before opening — read the manual on day one
- A small share of units have jammed and needed the door pried open
- Some find the end-of-cycle chime has no volume control
The pick for: a normal family kitchen that wants a proven stainless countertop unit and will read the open up steps first.
Think twice if: anyone in the house has limited hand strength — the door lock sequence asks for a firm two-step press.
5. Commercial Chef CHM7MS Countertop Microwave Oven
A mirror-finish cabinet that makes a small kitchen look deliberate.
Not every right-hinged pick has to be a plain black box. This Commercial Chef wears a stainless finish across a compact shell that owners describe as modern enough that guests notice it. If the microwave is the first thing guests see on your counter, that counts for something.
Inside the 0.7 cubic-foot cabinet sits a glass turntable and 700 watts split across 10 heating settings, including six preset menus. You can program cook times up to 99 minutes, which is unusually long for a compact unit and useful for slow reheat or defrost jobs. There is a push-button door with a lock, a kitchen clock, multi-stage cooking, and a child lock.
The design carries a real cost, though. The mirror finish makes the control labels hard to read in bright light, and that is the complaint buyers raise most. A touchpad that starts peeling within a year shows up too. It is a lovely-looking unit that rewards a gentle wipe-down and a permanent spot away from a sun-facing window. As long as you go in expecting a stylish compact rather than a heavy-duty workhorse, the appeal holds.
Where it earns its keep: the 99-minute programmable timer and six presets make it more capable than most 0.7 cubic-foot units.
Pick this one if: the microwave sits in view and you want a compact that looks the part.
skip it if: readability matters more than looks — the mirror finish makes the labels hard to read.
6. TOSHIBA Countertop Microwave Oven, 1.2 Cu.Ft, 1000W, Black
The sensor reads your food’s moisture and stops the guesswork for you.
A humidity sensor is the standout here: it monitors moisture as your food cooks and adjusts time and power to match. In practice that means you press reheat and walk away instead of checking and restarting. For anyone who has microwaved rice to a dry brick, that sensor is the whole feature worth paying for.
Behind it sits a 1.2 cubic-foot cabinet with a 12.4-inch glass turntable and 1000 watts of output. Six preset menus fill in the usual territory, and 10 power levels let you dial down to a gentle setting. Defrost works by weight or time, and one-touch start jumps to full power from one to six minutes. There is an ECO mode to cut standby draw and a mute option if you want the beeps gone.
The counter footprint is a realistic 16 by 20.6 inches, and the interior clears a full-size dinner plate. Where it gets murky is longevity. Some units run for years without trouble, while others report a shorter run before trouble starts. Treat the warranty card as part of the purchase, and this sensor-cook unit earns its place for anyone tired of babysitting the reheat.
What the sensor actually saves you: no more restarting the timer halfway through a bowl of rice or a plate of frozen vegetables — it settles the cook for you.
The honest note: a smaller share of owners mention units that stopped short of where they expected, so keep the paperwork handy.
Made for: someone who wants reheat precision without standing over the machine.
Better to look on if: you want a simple first-press-go unit with no sensor menu to learn.
7. GE Countertop Microwave Oven 2.0 Cubic Ft.
Two cubic feet that will hold a whole turkey and heat it twice as fast.
Volume is the headline: owners who have tried it say the 2.0 cubic feet fits a 10-15 lb turkey. Pair that with 1200 watts, and a reheat that took two minutes in a 700-watt unit finishes in roughly forty-five seconds. That is the speed jump you feel every single day.
The sensor cooking controls monitor moisture and adjust the time for you, and eight convenience settings plus one-touch express buttons cover the common jobs. The stainless finish in satin pairs well with a modern appliance run. Manual and auto defrost are both on board, and a child lock keeps small fingers out of the controls.
Two practical notes before you clear counter space. First, this unit needs room to breathe: allow 3 inches on each side and above, 1 inch at the rear, and keep the bottom unobstructed. Second, the child lock release is not in GE’s help docs. A buyer had to find it on the right side, pressing a button and opening the door at the same time, which may give someone with limited hand strength trouble. It is easy to disable once you know where it is — a screwdriver or fingernail works.
What a big box buys you
- 2.0 cubic feet takes a 10-15 lb turkey, a 9×13 pan, or a family casserole
- 1200W cuts significant time off every reheat
- Sensor controls adjust cook time based on food moisture
- Eight auto settings plus express cook buttons keep daily use simple
Space and setup realities
- Needs 3 inches of side and top clearance plus 1 inch at the rear
- Child lock release is undocumented and asks for two hands
- Heavy enough that one person should have help lifting it onto a counter
Built for: a family that cooks whole meals in the microwave and wants the turkey to fit.
Wrong fit if: your counter run is shallow — this box needs a wide gap and a rear clearance to vent.
8. Sharp SMC2266KS Countertop Microwave Oven
A 16.5-inch carousel that spins two frozen dinners side by side in near silence.
The turntable is the story: 16.5 inches of carousel is big enough for a 3-quart casserole or two frozen dinners at once. Pair that with inverter cooking, which delivers smooth continuous power instead of pulsing on and off, and you get even heating without the hot-spot-and-cold-center problem a cheap unit gives you.
The shell is 2.2 cubic feet in stainless with a gray interior and LED lighting, and the display is a white LED panel. Ten power levels include a 2-stage cooking option for recipes that need an automatic switch mid-cycle. Sensor Cook, Auto Cook, weight and time defrost, and an express cook that jumps up to six minutes handle the daily jobs. The controls include a +30 second key for instant starts.
What stands out in daily use is the quiet. Even at this size, the running noise stays low enough that you can have a conversation beside it. The control panel takes some getting used to, though — the defrost function on some units only works in half-pound steps, and a handful of units have tripped a kitchen breaker at the end of a cycle. The vast majority run without incident, but know that it is a possibility.
The quiet + capacity trade: this is the largest cabinet on the list and the most silent — two specs that usually fight each other.
Get this for: a big household that reheats two plates at once and hates hearing the microwave.
Reconsider if: your kitchen circuit is already crowded — a couple of owners have tripped a breaker with it.
9. Breville BMO870BSS Combi Wave 3-in-1
The one that replaces your air fryer, your toaster oven, and your microwave.
Three appliances in one body: air fryer, convection oven, and inverter microwave. That is the pitch, and the build backs it up with four separate power paths — 1200-watt microwave input, 1400-watt convection input, and 1100-watt grill input. Fast Combi layers convection, grill, and microwave together so a dish that once took an oven finishes faster in this box.
The 1.1 cubic-foot cabinet runs on 19 smart presets split across Smart Cook, Smart Reheat, and Smart Defrost. A Power Smoothing Inverter evens out the energy delivery so a slice of pizza or leftover lasagna comes back without rubbery edges. The soft-close door shuts quietly and the controls include a +30 instant start, Child Lock, and a mute button to silence the chimes.
Two trade-offs are worth knowing before you buy. First, the air-fry and grill modes need more fiddling than plain microwaving does — one buyer trying to toast a single slice measured the cook time in double digits, so these modes are not a one-button affair. Second, some units have needed service inside the warranty window, and others right after it, and customers note support has been slower than they expected. When it runs, it runs beautifully: a 14-inch take-and-bake pizza comes out crisp and melty. Go in with eyes open about service and this is among the most capable counters you can own.
Three machines, one outlet
- Air fryer, convection oven, and inverter microwave in one 1.1 cubic-foot body
- 19 smart presets cover cook, reheat, and defrost
- Soft-close door that shuts quietly instead of slamming
- Fast Combi speeds up oven-style dishes
Where it asks for patience
- Air-fry and grill modes need more setup than the microwave modes
- A handful of units have needed service during or shortly after the warranty
- Support and returns have been slow for some buyers
Ideal for: a small kitchen where one counter appliance has to do the work of three.
Not the pick for: someone who wants a no-fuss reheat box — the combo modes ask for real attention.
Know the Specs
Wattage and what it changes
Wattage is the microwave’s output power. A 700-watt unit like the Frigidaire reheats more slowly but draws less. A 1000-watt machine finishes faster, and a 1200-watt unit like the GE or Sharp cuts the time again. Higher wattage is not always better — a bigger draw can trip a crowded kitchen circuit, which is why the Sharp’s 1200-watt output occasionally trips a breaker. Match wattage to your patience and your wiring.
Capacity and turntable size
Capacity in cubic feet tells you the interior volume. The more useful number for daily use is the turntable diameter, because that is what actually limits what fits. The Sharp’s 16.5-inch carousel handles a casserole or two dinners; a 0.7 cubic-foot unit with a smaller plate fits a single mug and a plate. Measure your widest dish before your final choice.
Door swing and hinge side
The hinge side decides which way the door opens toward you. A right-hinged door puts the handle on your left with the panel swinging on the right. That matters in a corner where the wall would block a left-swinging door. It is a fixed physical build, not a setting — confirm the handle side from the product images if the listing does not name it.
Child lock and door release styles
There are two door styles to know: a handle-release door like the Chefman, where you pull a latch upward, and a push-button door like the BLACK+DECKER models. Child lock disables the keypad so a child cannot start a cycle. On a handle-release door, the safety feature can sit in the latch itself. On a push-button door, a button hold locks the panel. Neither prevents the door from opening, so select the style that fits your household.
Common Questions
How can I tell which side a microwave door opens on before I buy?
Can I switch a left-hinged microwave door to open on the right?
What size microwave fits a full dinner plate?
Does a right-hinged microwave open toward the wall?
How much clearance does a countertop microwave need around it?
Does a child lock stop a toddler from opening the door?
Is a 1000-watt microwave worth it over a 700-watt model?
Do I have to plug a 1200-watt microwave into a special outlet?
What is inverter cooking and does it make a difference?
Does a mirrored or dark finish make the microwave hard to read?
The Bottom Line
The pick for most people is the Chefman 1.1 Cu Ft, because that one-handed handle latch and its 1000 watts make it a genuinely right-hinged unit rather than a left-hinged unit you force to fit. If you need the smallest footprint on the counter, choose the Frigidaire EMW736BLK and accept its 700-watt pace. And if the microwave has to feed a whole family and replace an air fryer at once, the Breville Combi Wave is the one to reach for.
How we choose
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of October 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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