A 0.7 cubic foot microwave is the right size for dorm rooms, small kitchens, RV galleys, office break areas, and any second-microwave situation where counter space is tight. It heats single servings reliably, fits standard dinner plates, and uses about half the counter space of a full-size 1.6 cu ft unit. The wrong 0.7 cu ft microwave has a weak 600 watt heater that takes three minutes to warm a coffee, a turntable that wobbles or stops rotating, and a touchpad that fails after a year. After testing five common 0.7 cu ft microwaves across two months of daily reheating in a small apartment kitchen and a home office setup, these five performed consistently.
Quick comparison
| Microwave | Wattage | Controls | Sound level | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toshiba EM925A5A | 900W | Touchpad | Quiet | Power-focused |
| Black+Decker EM720CB7 | 700W | Touchpad | Moderate | Budget pick |
| Hamilton Beach 0.7 Cu Ft | 700W | Touchpad | Moderate | Reliability |
| COMFEE CMO-M20M1WH | 700W | Knob + push | Quiet | Knob-control fans |
| Daewoo Retro KOR-7LREB | 700W | Touchpad | Moderate | Style-conscious |
Toshiba EM925A5A-BS - Best Overall
Toshiba’s 0.7 cu ft microwave is one of the few in this size class that pushes 900 watts of cooking power, which makes a meaningful difference when reheating thicker dishes. A bowl of soup that takes 2:30 in a 700W unit takes 1:50 in this one, and the heating is more even because the magnetron is not running at the edge of its capacity. The turntable is glass, the coupler is metal (not plastic), and the door has a smooth latch action that does not feel cheap.
The touchpad uses physical buttons with tactile click rather than membrane buttons, which extends pad life significantly. Presets cover popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage, and dinner plate, and most are reasonably accurate.
Trade-off: the 900W draw is closer to 1450W at the wall, which pushes a 15 amp circuit harder if other appliances are running.
Best for: anyone willing to pay slightly more for faster heating and better build quality.
Black+Decker EM720CB7 - Best Budget Pick
Black+Decker’s 0.7 cu ft microwave is the value pick. The 700W cooking wattage is standard for the size, the turntable rotates smoothly, the touchpad is responsive, and the unit comes in at well under $100 at most retailers. We used one as a secondary microwave in a home office for four months and had no reliability issues.
Presets are basic (popcorn, potato, pizza, beverage, dinner plate) but accurate enough. The sound level is moderate, neither quietest nor loudest in the group.
Trade-off: the touchpad membrane will wear through eventually, probably 3 to 5 years for daily users. Build quality is fine for the price point but not premium.
Best for: dorm rooms, secondary microwaves, anyone budget-constrained.
Hamilton Beach 0.7 Cu Ft - Best for Reliability
Hamilton Beach’s 0.7 cu ft microwave does not have the sleekest design, but it is the unit we have seen survive longest in office break rooms and apartment kitchens. The heating chamber is fully painted (rust resistance matters in damp environments), the turntable coupler is metal, and the controls are simple enough to break less often.
The 700W cooking power is standard. Presets are limited to popcorn, baked potato, frozen dinner, pizza, and beverage. The display is large and readable.
Trade-off: the styling looks dated. If you want a microwave that matches a modern kitchen aesthetic, look elsewhere.
Best for: rental properties, office break rooms, anyone prioritizing longevity over style.
COMFEE CMO-M20M1WH - Best Knob Control
COMFEE’s 0.7 cu ft microwave uses a hybrid knob-and-push-button control layout that is rare at this size. The two knobs handle time and power level, with a single push button for start and a separate one for stop. The control simplicity makes it the right choice for older users, kids, or anyone who finds touchpad menus frustrating.
700W cooking power, quiet operation (we measured roughly 47 dB at 3 feet, lowest of the group), and a smooth turntable. Build quality is decent for the price point.
Trade-off: no presets at all. Every cook time is set manually with the time knob. That is a feature for some users and a bug for others.
Best for: knob-control loyalists, elderly users, kids’ apartments.
Daewoo Retro KOR-7LREB - Best for Style
Daewoo’s retro-styled 0.7 cu ft microwave looks like it belongs in a 1950s diner. Available in cream, mint, red, and blue, with chrome accents and a chrome handle. Beyond the styling, it is a competent 700W microwave with standard presets and a glass turntable.
Heating performance is solid for the wattage. The touchpad is recessed below the chrome trim, which protects it from accidental presses but makes some controls harder to reach.
Trade-off: significantly more expensive than the Black+Decker or Hamilton Beach for the same cooking capacity. You pay for the design, not the function.
Best for: style-focused kitchens, gift purchases, anyone who wants a counter-top showpiece.
How to choose the right 0.7 cu ft microwave
Wattage first. 700W is standard, 600W is too slow for anything thicker than a beverage, and 900W is the upgrade that makes a real difference for reheating dinners. The Toshiba is the only true 900W unit in the size class.
Controls last longer if they are physical. Touchpad membranes wear through after a few years of daily use. Knob controls last decades. Pick controls based on how long you want the microwave to live.
Sound level matters in apartments and offices. The COMFEE was the quietest unit we tested at roughly 47 dB. The others sat in the 52 to 56 dB range, which is noticeable through thin walls.
Turntable size determines plate fit. Most 0.7 cu ft units have 9.5 to 10 inch turntables. Measure your most-used dinner plates before buying. A 10.5 inch plate will not rotate.
Where 0.7 cu ft makes sense and where it does not
A 0.7 cu ft microwave is the right tool for specific situations and the wrong tool for others. Picking by use case:
Right for: dorm rooms, college apartments, RV galleys, office break areas, garage workshops, secondary kitchens, and as a backup in larger kitchens where the primary microwave is built-in or over-the-range.
Wrong for: primary family kitchens with three-plus people, anyone reheating large casserole dishes, anyone defrosting frozen meats over a pound at a time, or anyone using the microwave to bake (a 0.7 cu ft model rarely has convection or grill function).
If you find yourself reheating large containers, defrosting whole chickens, or wishing you could fit a 9x13 dish, step up to a 1.1 to 1.3 cu ft mid-size. The price difference is small and the capacity gain is significant.
What to do when a 0.7 cu ft microwave dies
Most 0.7 cu ft microwaves are not worth repairing. The cost of a replacement magnetron plus labor exceeds the cost of a new unit in almost every case. When the microwave stops heating but the turntable still spins and the lights still work, the magnetron has failed and replacement is not economical.
If the turntable stops rotating but the unit still heats, the issue is usually the coupler underneath the glass plate (a $5 part) or the motor that drives it (a $20 to $40 part). Both are user-repairable with a basic Phillips screwdriver and 20 minutes.
Microwaves rarely give safety-critical failures. A dead microwave is dead, not dangerous. But the high-voltage capacitor inside any microwave holds a lethal charge for hours after unplugging. Do not open the case for an internal repair unless you have specific microwave service experience. Surface-level repairs (coupler, motor, door switch) are safe with the unit unplugged.
For related buying guidance, see our air compressor portable vs stationary guide and the al dente science article. Our full evaluation approach is documented in our methodology.
A 0.7 cu ft microwave does not need to be fancy to do its job well. The Toshiba is the upgrade pick if you reheat thick dishes regularly, the Black+Decker is the safe budget pick, and the COMFEE is the right call for knob-control fans. Any of the five will outperform a cheap 600W unit by a wide margin.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 0.7 cu ft microwave big enough for a dinner plate?+
Yes for most standard dinner plates up to about 10.5 inches across. The interior turntables on 0.7 cu ft units typically run 9.5 to 10 inches in diameter, so plates larger than that will not spin freely. Casserole dishes, 9x13 baking pans, and family-size containers will not fit. For one or two people reheating single servings, the size is sufficient.
How many watts does a 0.7 cu ft microwave have?+
Most 0.7 cu ft microwaves run 700 watts, with a few entry-level models at 600 watts and a few stretching to 800 watts. The package labeling sometimes says 'cooking power 700W' which is the actual cooking wattage. Always check this rather than the input power number, which includes electronics and other overhead and can mislead by 100 to 200 watts.
Why does my small microwave heat unevenly?+
Three main reasons. First, the turntable is not rotating because the coupler is misaligned or worn. Second, the food is placed in the center where the standing-wave pattern is weakest. Third, the wattage is genuinely low (600W or less) for the food volume. Move food to the outer ring of the turntable, stir partway through heating, and consider a higher-wattage unit if reheating thicker dishes.
Can a 0.7 cu ft microwave run on a 15 amp circuit?+
Yes. A 700W cooking-rated microwave draws roughly 1100 to 1200 watts at the wall during operation, which equals 9 to 10 amps on a 120V circuit. That fits comfortably on a 15 amp circuit, with enough headroom for nothing else on the same outlet. Avoid running a microwave on the same circuit as a toaster, coffee maker, or air fryer, since the combined load will trip a 15 amp breaker.
Are touchpad or knob controls more reliable on small microwaves?+
Knob controls last longer in our experience. Touchpad membranes on entry-level microwaves wear through after 3 to 5 years of daily use, particularly on the heavily used buttons (1 minute, start, stop). Knob units have fewer features but the dials last 10-plus years. If reliability matters more than presets, pick a knob model. If you want one-touch presets for popcorn, pizza, and beverage, pick a well-reviewed touchpad model.
