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Plenty of baking recipes never ask for a stand mixer. You can often get by with elbow grease or a handheld immersion blender.
Things change once you mix, whip and knead on a regular basis. Dense, heavy dough and big batches of treats turn hand mixing into a chore.
That is where a good stand mixer earns its place. It makes those jobs far easier.
What Separates a Great Stand Mixer From an Average One
Stability comes first. A machine that creeps across the countertop whenever it hits certain speeds is a headache, so we lean toward heavier, more substantial models.
The motor matters just as much. It should knead the stickiest, densest dough without laboring or groaning.
Ease of use counts too. Look for simple speed adjustments and a straightforward way to attach and remove accessories. A mixer that confuses you is probably not one you will want to keep.
Versatility is a bonus. Most models ship with attachments that let you make pasta, mash potatoes or even grind meat.
So a good stand mixer can handle plenty of kitchen work beyond standard baking.
There is a catch, though. The best models are pricey and claim a lot of counter space.
We only recommend one if you bake often. If that sounds like you, the five machines below are among the best ways to streamline all that mixing, whipping and kneading.
Breville the Bakery Chef: Serious Power in a Compact Body
The 550W motor is the headline here. It makes easy work of dense bread dough that pushed many cheaper models to their limits, and it is hard to match at this size.
Most doughs mix well even at the medium setting. At the highest speeds the machine runs fairly quiet, though the tilt head rattles a little, a trait shared by similar designs.
The hefty die-cast metal body keeps the mixer from walking around while it works.
The bundle is generous. You get two kinds of beater blades and two bowl sizes, which many models do not offer.
There are a few handy extras as well: a built-in timer with auto-shutoff and an LED light for peeking into the bowl.
It is also compact at just 14 inches tall, which gives you more choices when it is time to store it.
What We Like
- A strong motor
- Medium speed or lower gets most jobs done
- A timer and an LED light come built in
What Holds It Back
- There is no accessory port
- A few of the accessories must be washed by hand
Capacity: One 5-quart bowl and one 4-quart bowl, both in the box
Motor: 550W
Heft: 21 pounds
Included tools: A beater and a flat beater, a dough hook, a wire whisk, a splash guard and a pouring shield
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt Head: The Everyday Home Favorite
This one is about the same size as the Breville, or maybe a touch smaller. Its motor is much weaker at 325W.
That does not stop it from tackling denser bread and pizza dough. It kneads them thoroughly, just not as fast or as effortlessly as the Breville.
It also mixes everything completely, so you never need to scrape by hand. Noise stays low, and the machine stays put for the most part.
The one flaw is a bit of wobble at the highest setting. It will not slide off position or topple, but a fairly full bowl could make a mess, so stay on lower settings or be careful.
For homes, we think this is the best KitchenAid choice. The alternatives run too small (the 3.5-quart model) or too large, and this one strikes the right balance.
It also has an accessory port. That opens the door to attachments from KitchenAid and other brands, including pasta makers, ice cream makers, meat grinders and others.
Where It Shines
- Just the right size for a home kitchen
- More power than you would expect
- Plenty of versatility
Where It Slips
- Shakes a little at top speed
Capacity: 5 quarts
Motor: 325W
Heft: 23 pounds
Included tools: A mixing paddle and a dough hook, plus a wire whisk and a removable splash guard
Wolf Gourmet High-Performance: A Pro-Style Heavyweight
Of all the mixers here, this one looks the most professional. The styling suits a commercial kitchen better than a typical household.
That also means it is larger and heavier than a usual home model. If counter space is tight, look at other options.
Most mixers have preset speeds, but this one has a dial you can adjust in fine steps. That gives you full control over power output.
It also does not start at full blast. It begins slowly and climbs gradually to the speed you set, which keeps dry ingredients from flying out of the bowl and makes for cleaner sessions.
The 500W motor can plow through the thickest mixes. Its 36-pound heft keeps it largely stable even with the dial turned up.
Every ingredient may not blend in on its own, so give the bowl walls a scrape now and then.
The build feels incredibly solid, so this is likely a machine that will last a long time.
Strong Points
- Solid construction
- Copes with big volumes
- Eases into speed so nothing spills out
Drawbacks
- Larger and heavier than the rest
Capacity: 7 quarts
Motor: 500W
Heft: 36.2 pounds
Included tools: A flat beater, a dough hook and a whisk
KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl Lift: Built for Big Batches
Want a KitchenAid but need more than a five-quart bowl? Step up to the brand’s iconic seven-quart model.
It is bigger and heftier, and it packs a lot more power. Heavy creams, thick batters and dense doughs are all well within its range.
The included beater has two silicone edges that scrape the bowl thoroughly, so everything gets mixed.
This model also lifts the bowl instead of tilting the head. That removes the wobble you might otherwise meet at higher settings.
It feels better built than the Artisan series, too. It is the kind of machine you could pass down to your kids.
At this size and price, it only makes sense if you regularly bake large batches, such as 100-plus cookies or eight pounds of bread. Then it will work like an absolute workhorse.
Otherwise, the smaller 5-quart model is probably the better fit.
Highlights
- A premium look and feel
- Highly stable
- A beater that scrapes the bowl very well
- Big batches are no trouble
Trade-Offs
- The raised area in the bowl may leave some ingredients behind
Capacity: 7 quarts
Motor: 500W
Heft: 31 pounds
Included tools: Three beaters and a dough hook, along with a whisk, a pouring shield and a bowl scraper
GE Profile Smart: The Connected Showpiece
This is the most expensive mixer on the list. Like the KitchenAid above, it lifts the bowl, which helps keep it stable at higher speeds.
It is also the heaviest of the five at a whopping 44 pounds, which is almost comically hefty.
Attachments are easy to mount and remove. The bowl-lift arms are even easier to use than the ones on the KitchenAid.
In short, this is a well-made, well-equipped mixer. It handles the biggest and toughest jobs as capably as any premium model.
So why the higher price? The bells and whistles.
The biggest one is called Auto Sense. It monitors the motor’s torque feedback to prevent overmixing and undermixing, so the dough comes out fluffy and well made every time.
You need to pair the mixer with an app to use it. That means yet another appliance tied to your phone.
There is more. You also get a built-in smart scale for weighing ingredients right in the bowl, guided recipes, a timer, a reverse mode and some further conveniences.
Perks
- The motor adjusts in real time using torque feedback
- Stays planted
- Big batches are no problem
- A digital scale is built in
Catches
- Packs digital extras that many people will skip
Capacity: 7 quarts
Motor: wattage unlisted
Heft: 44 pounds
Included tools: A beater and a dough hook, an 11-wire whisk and a pouring shield
Which One Fits Your Kitchen?
Choose the Breville if you want plenty of power in a body only 14 inches tall. It also arrives with two kinds of beater blades and two bowls.
Choose the KitchenAid Artisan if you want a size made for home use. Its accessory port also lets you add attachments later.
Choose the Wolf Gourmet if you have the counter space for a professional-looking machine. Its fine-step speed dial and slow ramp-up are the main draws.
Choose the KitchenAid 7-Quart if you regularly make very large batches. Choose the GE Profile if you want smart features such as a built-in scale and guided recipes, and you do not mind using an app.
Marcus Sterling
Looking past the surface to find the real, useful story is where I do my best work. I dedicate my days to vetting facts and clearing up confusion, making sure every piece leaves you with a clear idea and a bit of inspiration.