Whether you like to make homemade cookies and loaves of bread on the weekends or a batch of treats for special occasions, a stand mixer is an essential tool to have in your kitchen.
While baking is undoubtedly a labor of love, taking substantial time and concentration to do right, these machines can do most of the grunt work for you. They're adept at mixing, sifting, and kneading your batters, dough, icing, or whipped cream to the ideal consistency. Each model offers just a little something different, so it's important to always check the specs before you buy.
If you love to bake and the only thing that's stopping you from doing it regularly is the tiring work of mixing tough batters, you should get a stand mixer. However, if baking is a very occasional, holidays-only pastime in your home, you might be better off with a hand mixer instead. Stand mixers are pretty heavy appliances that are best left permanently on the countertop — so, along with the strong desire to bake, you should also have the counter space to accommodate it.
You'll want to consider the power level and size of your stand mixer as well. If you're a serious baker, you may not want to skimp in these areas, since a bigger, more powerful stand mixer will make the most arduous parts of baking so much easier. Bigger models may also be better for working with large amounts of tough doughs, while smaller 3-quart models are more appropriate for simple cakes and cookies.
Finally, consider your stand mixer's attachments and multitasking abilities. Many have interchangeable mixing parts that come with the unit and are more appropriate for specialized tasks such as whipping cream or kneading bread dough. But some mixers can also shapeshift into meat grinders, spiralizers, and pasta makers with either the flip of a switch or the addition of a special attachment.
So, what are you waiting for? Whip up a better batter with one of these top-rated stand mixers fit for any task. On your mark, get set, bake!
A fairly powerful appliance for its size, this Cuisinart stand mixer makes quick work out of large batches of batter and dough.
It has a whopping 12 speeds for total control during any baking project, and it comes with a paddle beater, a dough hook, and a whisk attachment (with the flexibility to add on additional attachments, as well). We also love the inclusion of a splash guard with a pour spout, which helps keep countertops clean during baking projects.
This is another budget-friendlier alternative to the KitchenAid, and many reviewers call out that this mixer delivers much more than KitchenAid's entry-level model for a lot cheaper. The smooth dial operation and numerous speeds alone make it a sweet deal.
Aucma's stand mixer may not have the countertop clout that a KitchenAid does, but many reviewers say that it does just as good of a job for a far more reasonable price.
It's equipped with six speeds that you can seamlessly switch between via its side dial, and it comes with a metal whisk, beater, and dough hook. The plastic splash guard also helps to keep your liquids and drys from flying.
If you're still developing your baking hobby and aren't sure whether to invest in a top-tier machine, this is a perfect in-between buy, as it is a whiz at whipping up doughs, batters, and meringues.
For many, stand mixers are synonymous with the KitchenAid brand. Their classic, tilt-head, 5-quart stand mixer is the ideal foundational model for those who bake frequently and in big quantities. Reviewers with their own home bakeries tout this one as being their forever-favorite model — it's built like a tank at 25 pounds and makes a very low whirring sound.
Its 325-watt motor allows for thorough ingredient incorporation, while 10 speed options give it maximum versatility. This stand mixer comes with a flat beater, a whisk, a dough hook attachment, and a handy pouring shield to minimize messes.
It isn't the most powerful mixer on the market, as you'll see in this guide, so some bakers who work with tough and sticky doughs may have a hard time with this model.
We love that the KitchenAid looks beautiful on the counter, and of course, all of those fun colors it comes in, too. It's compatible with a wide range of attachments that turn it into everything from a pasta press to a meat grinder.
Footprint: 12.3x7.8 inches Bowl capacity: 3.5 quarts Maximum wattage: 250 Available colors: 4
If you're short on countertop space in your kitchen, this mini stand mixer is your best bet. The KitchenAid Artisan Mini Premium Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is a bit smaller and lighter (and cheaper) than the original KitchenAid Stand Mixer. If your space constraints require you to move your stand mixer out of storage to your countertop, this is the better buy.
With 10 optimized speed levels, a 3.5-quart capacity bowl, three included tools, and compatibility with other KitchenAid attachments, this stand mixer is a more compact choice with all the functionality of a regular-sized stand mixer.
Proof that good things can come in cheap packages, the Dash stand mixer is a $50 wonder product that'll fit the bill if you have limited time, space, and budget.
Unlike other machines on this list, this product weighs around just 5 pounds, so while its footprint is comparable to other products here, it's much easier to store away and bring out when you need it. It features six speeds and a petite 3-quart stainless steel mixing bowl.
The reason why this is so inexpensive? Instead of using a single paddle or whisk that rotates in a revolving, planetary motion, as nearly all of the other products in this guide do, it comes with two beater attachments and two dough hooks. This means that you may have to intermittently pause your mixing to scrape down the batter from the sides of the bowl.
Still, if you know what you're signing up for, this mixer is a pretty outstanding value.
Many stand mixers come with the standard three attachments: a paddle, whisk, and dough hook, but COOKLEE's takes it even further.
It includes a meat grinder, blender, grater/slicer, cookie press, and pasta press. They're all made of metal and are dishwasher-safe. Think of all of the specialty gadgets and attachments that this saves you from buying!
This stand mixer blends things up at 10 different speeds, and its roomy 8.5-quart bowl stands out from the rest. However, you probably won't be able to fill the bowl to capacity, since the mixer sits pretty deep inside of it.
Regardless, its many fans love that it effortlessly kneads its way through stubborn doughs, and the attachments make it a very useful and fun product to add to the kitchen toolkit.
We know that we said that if you're getting a stand mixer, it should pretty much live on your countertop, but that's a tall order for the small-space home.
Weighing over 12 pounds, this Hamilton Beach model isn't the lightest (that distinction goes to the aforementioned Dash stand mixer), but its handy carrying handle makes it less of a pain in the neck to shuffle from cabinet to countertop.
It's equipped with seven speeds, and each one is labeled on the top of the machine as having a specific function. This is great for beginning bakers to familiarize themselves with — some recipes call for a gentle, barely mixed result, while others require a fast whip. It also comes with a splash guard, as well as the standard beater, whisk, and dough hook attachments.
Many reviewers say that while this may not be the best stand mixer of all time and its plastic-looking exterior doesn't have that timeless-heirloom quality to it, it does its job reliably well for a very reasonable price.
The Wolf Gourmet High Performance Stand Mixer is for serious bakers. It's big, powerful, and definitely a splurge. However, it's perfect if you like to work with large batches of sticky, tough doughs (think challah bread or homemade candy).
It features a massive 7-quart bowl with a motor that won't burn out when you need more kneading power. It comes with a flat paddle, dough hook, and whisk, and the smooth speed dial means there's no awkward jumping between levels that can sometimes throw flour while you're mixing. Simply put, it's a joy to use.
In our own testing with this mixer, we've loved its unmatched power, even if the size and price point make it a bit formidable. Home bakeries and bread fanatics will probably get the most bang for their buck if they invest in this one.
A budget-friendly option for beginner bakers, this Hamilton Beach stand mixer features a 290-watt motor that's suitable for most mixing tasks that require light kneading, whipping, or whisking (think cake batter and brownies). The hand mixer can also detach from the base to be used independently, which no other product in this guide can do!
Its slightly smaller 4-quart bowl is perfect for small- to medium-sized batches, and its six speeds supply enough versatility for all of your basic baking needs. This stand mixer comes with a double beater attachment, a single whisk attachment, and double dough hooks.
Footprint: 16x10 inches Bowl capacity: 5 quarts Maximum wattage: 600 Available colors: 7
Pictures don't really do Smeg's appliances justice — they are really beautiful appliances with a retro-futuristic aesthetic. This mixer also packs a lot of power, too, with its 10 speed controls and 600 watts of power.
The control panel is located on the back of the appliance, so it's easy for users to reach at any angle. The smooth-start function also helps prevent any sudden false starts.
While some reviewers note that its mixing can at times be inconsistent, others who stick to simple baking recipes have found that it is incredibly intuitive to use.
Melanie YatesSenior Home Decor EditorMelanie is the senior home decor editor of Best Products, where she's been researching and testing out home and bedding products since 2015 — her work can also be found on House Beautiful and Women's Health.
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