Which Is the Best Large Microwave Oven? Our Picks

A family-size microwave is about the dish, not the box. If the casserole of enchiladas, the platter of tamales or the big bowl of rice for six will not turn inside, a smaller microwave means reheating in two rounds while the first batch goes cold. Large countertop models, 1.6 to 2.2 cubic feet, are built around turntables of 13.6 to 16.5 inches, wide enough for a 13- to 16-inch pizza to lie flat, depending on the model, or for a family platter to turn without catching.

This guide covers only those big countertop models. For each one we give the turntable diameter as the maker lists it, because that number tells you what will actually fit, along with the wattage, sensor and inverter features and, where it is stated, the outside size. It narrows our broader best countertop microwave oven guide to the biggest boxes and repeats none of its picks.

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Quick verdict: which large microwave to buy

Five large microwaves at a glance

Our five standout picks for big dishes, with the capacity, power and turntable size each maker states. All seven are reviewed in full below.

Product images from Amazon. Specifications are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.

Our picks for the best large microwave oven

Three are full 2.2 cubic foot family models; four are 1.6 cubic foot models for counters that cannot spare 24 inches. Every entry lists the same eight specifications so you can compare them, and “Not stated” means the listing leaves that figure out.

How to choose a large microwave oven

1. Start with the turntable

Capacity in cubic feet describes the box; the turntable tells you what fits and still turns. A 13.6-inch turntable takes a large dinner plate or a 13-inch pizza (Toshiba’s figure). A 16.5-inch turntable takes a 16-inch pizza or a whole chicken (also Toshiba’s figure) and gives a rectangular casserole more room. Measure the biggest dish you reheat, including handles, before you choose.

2. Measure the counter, and the depth

Family-size microwaves are big appliances. Toshiba lists its 2.2 at 24.4 inches wide and 18.2 deep, and Commercial Chef lists its 1.6 at 19.5 inches deep. Check that the depth leaves room in front of your backsplash and that upper cabinets clear the height. Where a listing gives no dimensions, check the maker’s spec sheet or the shipping size before you order.

3. Power and the circuit

Large models run at 1,100 to 1,250 watts of output here. Input power is higher: Toshiba lists 1,700 watts for its 2.2. If the microwave shares a circuit with a coffee maker or a toaster oven, that draw adds up, so check the rating plate.

4. Sensor and inverter

A sensor reads the steam coming off food and stops when it is done, which takes the guessing out of reheating a full plate. An inverter delivers steady low power instead of cycling full power on and off, which makers say defrosts and reheats dense food more evenly. The Sharp 2.2 and the Panasonic have both; our inverter microwave guide covers more.

5. Built-in options

Some large countertop models can be built into a cabinet with a trim kit. Panasonic lists two for the NN-SD975S. If you may build it in later, check which kits fit before you buy.

How we picked these seven big microwaves

We did not test these microwaves. We compared what each maker states on its Amazon listing: capacity, output and input power, turntable size, sensor and inverter features, outside dimensions and warranty, and we point out where a listing contradicts itself or leaves a number out. Every pick was in stock on Amazon when we wrote this. We left out over-the-range models, which need installation, and several large models that were listed as scarce, including 2.2 cubic foot models from Frigidaire and Farberware, Samsung’s 1.9 and LG’s 2.0.

We searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall listings for microwave recalls by Sharp, Panasonic, Toshiba, Magic Chef and Commercial Chef and found no recall of these brands’ countertop microwaves; the only Magic Chef recall we found covers air fryers sold by Newair in 2018 to 2020, not microwaves. We note the June 2026 Consumer Reports letter about Toshiba under both Toshiba picks. Combination ovens that air fry and bake are in our convection microwave guide.

Large microwave questions, answered

What counts as a large microwave?

In this guide, 1.6 cubic feet and up; Sharp calls its 1.6 cubic foot model family-sized. The biggest countertop models here are 2.2 cubic feet. Turntables on these models run from 13.6 to 16.5 inches.

Will a 9-by-13 casserole dish fit?

A 9-by-13 dish measures nearly 16 inches corner to corner before you add handles, so on a 13.6-inch turntable it will not turn freely. On a 16.5-inch turntable it has a better chance; measure your dish, handles included, and check the cavity width where the maker lists it.

Is a 2.2 cu ft microwave worth it over 1.6?

If you reheat family platters, whole dishes or big bowls, yes: the jump from a 13.6- to a 16.5-inch turntable is the main gain. If you mostly reheat plates, a 1.6 takes less counter.

How many watts should a large microwave have?

The large models here run from 1,100 to 1,250 watts. More power heats a full dish faster, and package directions are written for a stated wattage.

Do large microwaves use more electricity?

They draw more power while running; Toshiba lists 1,700 watts of input for its 2.2. Total use depends on how long you run it, and ECO modes on models like the Toshiba reduce standby draw.

Our pick for big family dishes

Buy the Sharp 2.2 cubic foot model for most families: a 16.5-inch turntable, sensor cooking and inverter cooking listed by Sharp. Choose the Panasonic NN-SD975S for cyclonic inverter heating and keep warm, the Toshiba 2.2 if you want every dimension stated, and the Sharp 1.6 if your counter cannot take a 2.2.

For the full range of sizes, see our countertop microwave guide, and for big pans of leftovers, our guide to reheating Mexican leftovers covers enchiladas, tamales and rice. Feeding a crowd tonight? See the menu and call to order.