The 6 best stand mixers, according to a professional baker

The best stand mixer handles the heavy lifting of mixing dough for freshly baked bread and cinnamon rolls at home. It’ll help you get a plate of warm homemade cookies for that bake sale that popped up at the last minute, or prep super-smooth mashed potatoes and shredded chicken for dinner.

I’ve evaluated 17 different stand mixers across a variety of sizes and price points to find the best fit for a home kitchen. By combining my years as a professional baker and making batches of cookie dough, pizza dough, and whipped cream, I’ve found that the key components of an excellent mixer are speed control, power, durability, and ease of cleaning the bowl and attachments after mixing. Below are the best stand mixers based on our testing, whether you need one for everyday use, for consistent homemade breadmaking, or for a baker who is just getting started.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews kitchen products.

Our top picks of the best stand mixers

Best overall stand mixer: KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer – See at KitchenAid

Best budget stand mixer: Martha Stewart 5.3-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer – See at Amazon

Best stand mixer for beginners: Cuisinart 5.5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer – See at Amazon

Best compact stand mixer: KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Stand Mixer – See at Amazon

Best large-capacity stand mixer: KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer – See at KitchenAid

Best stand mixer for heavy bread and dough: Ooni 7.3-Quart Halo Pro Spiral Stand Mixer – See at Amazon

Best overall

KitchenAid has been widely considered the crown jewel of stand mixers for over 100 years, and for good reason. While the brand has a fleet of models (we tested the most popular in our guide to thebest KitchenAids), theKitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixeris the best overall choice for regular at-home use.

This mixer is Goldilocks in size: it's neither too big nor too small, and the space it occupies is well worth the power it delivers. The tilt-head design of the stand mixer allows you to access the bowl and switch attachments without reaching around a beater; a locking knob on the side prevents the head from moving while mixing. While testing, it used a small but mighty whisk to turn heavy cream into whipped cream in just five minutes. During the pizza dough test with the dough hook, I found that the mixer had no issues at low speeds but galloped slightly at higher speeds. The beater easily moved through a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough.

The KitchenAid 5-Quart matched or outperformed the other mixers I tested. It comes with an approachable price tag and the ultimate versatility to tackle any cooking or baking task, thanks to a long list of additional KitchenAid attachments, including a juicer, food processor, meat grinder, pasta maker, and ice cream maker. To customize it even further, you can swap out the bowl for a glass or ceramic option and choose from 29 mixer colors to create the ideal fit for your kitchen.

Also consider: Want even more control? The KitchenAid Artisan Plus levels up everything we love about the original Artisan, plus additional speed controls, bowl light, and stainless steel attachments. Read our review.

Best budget

Martha Stewart launched a line of affordable kitchen appliances, and this is one of the key highlights, with an approachable price point under $150. Despite its low cost and lightweight design, the Martha Stewart 5.3 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer performs impressively, with a powerful motor and 12 speeds that handle any task.

Suction cups on the bottom of the mixer to keep it more secure on a countertop, which comes in handy while mixing tougher doughs. There was some resistance while mixing the pizza dough, but it still performed surprisingly well. I had no issues whipping homemade whipped cream in under five minutes with the whisk attachment, and the included silicone edge beater means you don’t have to stop and scrape down the bowl during many tasks, which definitely comes in handy. One flaw is that the mixer almost always requires the pouring shield because of the small opening between the tilt-head and bowl. The shield locks into the tilt-head, which can be helpful, but it requires you to fully stop the mixer and lift the tilt-head to remove the pouring shield to check mixture consistencies in the bowl. Despite that design component, the mixer can still handle an impressive number of tasks. Each piece is also dishwasher safe, making cleaning easy.

Best for beginners

Surprisingly comparable to the KitchenAid 5-quart stand mixer, this 5.5-quart Cuisinart mixer comes in at a much lower price point, making it more approachable for beginners. The Cuisinart mixer has a tilt-head design with a lever at the back to release the lock. The 12-speed settings are controlled by a large, light-up dial on the side.

The 500-watt motor was quiet while making impressively quick work of mixing chocolate chip cookies and kneading pizza dough. There was minimal shaking of the mixer through both tough doughs. The wide whisk provided great aeration for beautiful whipped cream in under five minutes. Plus, it can accommodate additional Cuisinart attachments, including a pasta maker, meat grinder, spiralizer, and ice cream maker. We haven't tested these, so we can't vouch for them the way we can recommend the KitchenAid attachments.

This mixer can easily compete with a KitchenAid tilt-head mixer. However, the spacing between the mixer head and the bowl was a major flaw I noticed. To scrape down the sides of the bowl, I had to turn off the mixer and release the head to lift it, which made the process a bit more cumbersome. However, for someone who isn't using the mixer frequently, this wouldn't be an issue. Overall, the stand mixer is a solid option for those looking to get into baking and tackle a range of tasks at a low price point.

Best compact

For a small mixer that packs a punch, the KitchenAid Mini Stand Mixer is the ideal option. This 3.5-quart mixer is compact but has a 250-watt motor and 10 speed settings to handle any baking task with ease. Compared with another small mixer I tested, this mixer's weight and all-metal construction made a huge difference in stability.

It follows the same tilt-head design, side-locking mechanism, and speed-setting knob as the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart. I was surprised that the smaller-capacity bowl could accommodate a full batch of pizza dough, and the motor handled it well, with minimal shaking at a lower kneading speed. It quickly powered through beating chocolate chips into cookie dough, again with minimal movement and remaining fairly quiet. However, as the mixer was brought to higher speeds for mixing or kneading dough, it began to shake more. It also does not include a pouring shield, like its full-size counterpart.

This little mixer is ideal for those who want the power and control that a stand mixer provides without the bulk. It can remain on your countertop without taking up too much space, but it's also small and light enough to tuck away in the pantry when not in use.

Read our full review of the KitchenAid Mini Stand Mixer to learn more.

Best large-capacity

KitchenAid bowl-lift-style mixers provide extra stability compared to classic tilt-head designs, which is essential for handling larger, heavier mixtures. I've used the same large capacity bowl-lift mixer for over 10 years, and I was thrilled to try this 7-Quart Bowl Lift version in my kitchen.

It takes up quite a bit of space and weighs over 30 pounds, so be sure to choose a color you love, as it will likely sit out on your countertop. The large 7-quart capacity can handle batches of 13 dozen cookies or 8.5 pounds of bread dough, powered by a powerful 500-watt motor. However, it still accommodates single batches or smaller amounts of whipped cream, meringue, and more. Its slow start is a significant upgrade, along with half-speed and 11-speed controls. These controls allow for more gradual and gentle mixing, so you can better adjust to any recipe as needed.

The included attachments are durable and easy to clean, and the double flex edge beater makes creaming ingredients a breeze, with no need to scrape down the bowl as you go. It's definitely a mixer at a higher price point, but it's an excellent choice for professionals or home bakers who constantly mix and need plenty of bowl space for multiple batches at once.

Best for bread and heavy dough

Ooni has made its mark in the pizza oven game, and this mixer is a great addition to a pizza lover's lineup. The Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer bridges the gap between commercial-grade equipment and home versatility. While standard home stand mixers use planetary rotation (where the attachment spins inside a stationary bowl), Ooni relies on pro-level spiral technology with a rotating bowl design, spiral hook, and a removable breaker bar for optimal kneading. The removable breaker bar leaves functionality for more delicate mixtures, like whipped cream or batter.

The mixer has 58 speed levels, offering unmatched control, a timer that comes in handy for tracking how long you're mixing, and two lights shine into the bowl to easily monitor texture and consistency. In testing, the mixer excelled through large batches of dough without straining.

This mixer is definitely geared toward larger batches; however. While it is possible to mix a single batch of cookie dough or whip cream for homemade whipped cream, the amounts typically used for a smaller batch aren't ideal for the bowl's large size. This professional-grade performance also comes with a steep $799 price tag and a massive footprint. Weighing a hefty 32 pounds, it is not a machine you want to routinely lift out of a lower cabinet, meaning it will likely take up a significant chunk of counter space, making it a skip for casual bakers but a dream for high-volume dough production.

What else we tested

• KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer ($699): This is KitchenAid’s most significant upgrade since 1955. The Artisan Plus offers better speed control than the former Artisan model, with a gentler start and half speeds, along with more durable accessories and a built-in bowl light to see the exact texture of what you’re mixing. It’s a higher-priced mixer with extra bells and whistles, but a worthy upgrade for those willing to pay a bit extra for a redesigned classic.
• Breville The Bakery Chef Mixer ($450): Breville considered just about everything in this product's design, but its fluctuating availability knocked it off the best list. It had a dedicated bowl light before KitchenAid's Artisan Plus, a built-in timer, and the standard attachments include a beater, dough hook, whisk, scraper beater, and two mixing bowls: 4-quart stainless steel bowl and a 5-quart glass bowl. In testing, it was also one of the fastest at whipping cream, taking just four minutes. It also has a helpful guide that suggests the ideal speeds for whipping, beating, and kneading, which is why we recommend it to beginner bakers.
• Smeg Forte Stand Mixer ($675): Smeg’s Forte Stand Mixer is an improved model from their previous retro stand mixer, with a powerful 750-watt motor. The flex-edge beater is made for easy creaming of butter and sugars. There was some resistance when mixing tough doughs, so it may not be best for those hoping to make a lot of bread or pizza dough, but it otherwise tackled tasks flawlessly. It performs well and is a great option for someone who loves the retro look and feel of Smeg products out on their countertop.
• Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Stand Mixer ($150): If you want a budget mixer that can whip cream or egg whites for meringue with ease, mash soft potatoes, shred chicken, and make guacamole, this Hamilton Beach mixer can handle it. However, it’s not ideal for someone mixing plenty of cookie doughs and cake batters with a lot of ingredients due to the narrow opening between the tilt-head and bowl.

What to look for in a stand mixer

Attachments and accessories: Most stand mixers include a variety of attachments such as a paddle, dough hook, and whisk. These are the three essential tools for utilizing the stand mixer for a variety of recipes. It's important to check whether the stand mixer you plan to purchase comes with these basic accessories and any other add-ons. Many stand mixers also come with a splash guard or pouring shield. Some have the option to purchase additional accessories, such as a meat grinder, pasta roller, or ice cream maker, to attach to the front.

Size and capacity: To find the best stand mixer for your needs, think about how often you intend to use your mixer and where it might be kept or stored. If you plan to leave it out on your countertop, does it have a large footprint? Does it weigh too much to pick up and move on a regular basis? It's also important to keep in mind the capacity of the bowl. Most recipes can be made in a 5-quart bowl, but you may need a larger one if you're hoping to make bigger batches.

Speed settings: The speed settings on a stand mixer give you control over the mixing process. Every stand mixer has a different number of speed settings. Lower speeds are best for folding and beating, while higher speeds are best for beating frosting and whipping cream or egg whites for meringue.

Material: The construction of a stand mixer is key to its performance. Most stand mixers are made out of die-cast metal, which makes for a solid-metal base. The weight of this base plays a key role in providing stability while beating or kneading. Many budget stand mixers are constructed from plastic, which doesn't offer as much weight but can compromise durability. Consider the types of recipes you may be making in your stand mixer to determine the mixer constructed from the best material for you.

How we tested

Each of the 17 stand mixers we evaluated was put through a series of tests, including making batches of chocolate chip cookie dough, pizza dough, and homemade whipped cream. This allowed us to test the mixer using the paddle, dough hook, and whisk attachments if those attachments were included in the box.

• Beating: I made a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough in each stand mixer using the paddle attachment. With this test, I assessed how well the mixer performed while creaming butter and sugar, and how the motor performed while mixing a tough dough with chocolate chips.
• Kneading: I made a batch of pizza dough using the dough hook on each stand mixer. I evaluated each stand mixer based on its ability to knead dough without motor snagging.
• Whipping: I poured 1 cup of heavy whipping cream into each stand mixer and used the whisk attachment to make homemade whipped cream. I timed how long it took to perform this task and assessed for any issues throughout the process.
• Size and capacity: I evaluated each stand mixer based on its size, the space it took up on the countertop, and the mixing bowl capacity for each task.

Meet the expert behind the guide

Molly Allen, contributor: As a former bakery owner and pastry chef, I know my way around the kitchen. I received my first stand mixer in college, and it has served me well for all sorts of baking tasks, both personal and professional.

FAQs

What is the best power for a stand mixer?

To find the best stand mixer, it's important that the motor can handle most batters and doughs you make. A mixer with at least 300 watts to 550 watts will have no issues kneading tough dough and making double batches of cookies.

Is a hand mixer better than a stand mixer?

Stand mixers are most often constructed from metal, making them much heavier than even the best hand mixer. They're meant for countertop use and free up your hands. Hand mixers are generally less expensive and smaller, but need to be held throughout the mixing task and are less powerful. For occasional bakers or those with really limited space, hand mixers are a great choice. Still, if you can swing it, the best stand mixers offer greater versatility and power.

What are the different types of stand mixers?

The two main types of stand mixers are the tilt-head and the bowl-lift. A tilt-head stand mixer is built with a hinge that lifts the top of the mixer to make room to secure the bowl or replace the attachment. Tilt-head mixers also typically have a lock mechanism to prevent the motor and top of the mixer from moving too much during mixing. A bowl-lift mixer features a stationary top head. It has a handle to raise or lower the bowl, locking it in place.

What can you make in a stand mixer?

While stand mixers are most often used for baking related tasks such as whipping meringues, making doughs, or mixing cake batters, they have a wide range of uses. Cooked potatoes can be whipped in a stand mixer for delicious, creamy mashed potatoes, and cooked chicken can be shredded in a stand mixer.

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