Best stand mixer 2021: our top picks for home bakers

Now is the perfect time to invest in the best stand mixer. Not only do they look beautiful in any kitchen, but stand mixers will allow you to make extravagant bakes without any of the arm aches. They often come with attachments to knead dough, beat cake batter, and whisk up heavy cream or frosting for the perfect finishing touch. 

Many of the best stand mixers in our guide have been reviewed by members of the Homes & Gardens team. That includes top KitchenAid stand mixers, as well as Cuisinart mixers that are often easier to find in stock this time of year. We also recently reviewed the Smeg stand mixer, which has a charming retro style and powerful motor. 

We think no kitchen would be complete without the best stand mixer, which is often while you will see them in the homes of your favorite interior experts and celebrity chefs. Even if baking is a recent hobby, you will be impressed by how much hard work can be saved by using a stand mixer as opposed to your wooden spoon. Our top pick is the KitchenAid Artisan, which not only performs almost perfectly, but comes in so many colors you'll be sure to find one that fits seamlessly into the fussiest of kitchen designs. You can also pair it with other appliances such as the best blenders to coordinate your appliances by brand and color. 

How much should you spend on the best stand mixer? 

There's no denying that the very top stand mixers can be expensive. The most expensive one in our guide can cost as much as $500, but it is possible to get a powerful stand mixer for $100 if you are willing to compromise on looks or bowl capacity. 

Most stand mixers cost around $300, and if your heart is set on a KitchenAid mixer, the Classic Plus is the cheapest KitchenAid stand mixer you can buy and still features the dough hook for kneading bread, the flat beater for making cookies, and the whisk for cake and buttercream icing. 

If you are on a budget and looking to upgrade from your wooden spoon, take a look at the best hand mixer, which cost a lot less but can still power through icing and cake mix with ease. 

Best stand mixers 2021

Tried and loved by us, the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer needs no introduction. 

Why we love it

Not only is this classic stand mixer a statement piece in any kitchen, it's a real workhorse too. For a start, this stand mixer comes with all the attachments you need for most of your baking needs. That includes a wire whisk for beating eggs, a flat beater for integrating cake batter, and a dough hook to work your bread dough. 

Need to know

The Artisan is made in the USA, and it's a seriously high quality machine for the money. You may find the 5-quart capacity is a little lacking for multi-tier cakes but for most home chefs, it's a top choice. 

Homes & Gardens rated 5 out of 5 stars: our full KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer review has more information

The KitchenAid vs Cuisinart debate is always tight, but if value for money is your number one consideration then the Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer is a brilliant choice. It comes in six colors: periwinkle blue, white, silver, red, black and robin's egg green, and has an extra half quart on the KitchenAid Artisan at 5.5-quarts total.

Why we love it 

Where it really excelled was heavy-duty tasks like kneading bread, and the design is noticeably sturdy. 

There are also more speed settings than the KitchenAid; 12 in total. It's controlled by a simple side dial and packs 500 watts of power. The side dial is very easy to use, and we enjoyed the slow-start design that helps to avoid creating a cloud of icing sugar or flour in your kitchen. 

Need to know 

When we put the Cuisinart Precision to the test we found that it had the tendency to leave some ingredients stuck to the side of the bowl, so we had to go in and remove it to fully incorporate our ingredients.

Homes & Gardens rated 4 out of 5 stars. Our Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer review has more information

When we tried the KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer it impressed us with its sturdy design and capable motor. We made cake and bread, as well as brownies, and found that its design is perfect for serious bakers. 

Why we love it

If you have aspirations of making glamorous multi-tiered cakes, or if you like to make large loaves of bread, the KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer is an investment worth making. It has a bowl-lift design, which means you twist a lever to bring the bowl up to your attachment. 

The mixer was able to knead our bread dough until it was smooth and elastic, with no juddering or moving on the kitchen counter. It also had far less trouble with ingredients sticking to the side of the bowl than other stand mixers in our lineup, because the wire whisk is wide and enables a very efficient planetary motion. 

Need to know

The bowl-lift design helps to make sure that the KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer is sturdy enough to work with large capacities, but it can make switching out your attachments a little tricky. 

Homes & Gardens rated 5 out of 5 stars. Our full KitchenAid Pro Line Stand Mixer review has more information

Quirky and packed with character, the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer is a capable kitchen assistant. 

Why we love it

It's got plenty of attachments, including a pouring shield that's designed to stop spills and messes as you bake, and comes in seven lovely colors. The colors don't extend down the entirety of the stand mixer, instead acting as a pop of color on the tilt-head itself.

We did love how powerful it was, as well as how easily we were able to work the machine thanks to the intuitive layout of the controls. 

Need to know

When we tested the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer we found it a little large, which makes it perfectly positioned for larger kitchens with sprawling counter space, but too expansive for apartments or tighter spaces. 

Homes & Gardens rated 4 out of 5 stars. Our Smeg 1950s Retro Stand Mixer review has more details

The KitchenAid Classic Plus sells out a lot less regularly than the Artisan, and it's also the cheapest KitchenAid on the market.

Why we love it 

Available with most retailers in black and white, what it lacks in color options it makes up for in value and space-efficiency. You'll get the same wire whisk, flat beater and dough hook as you'd expect with a regular KitchenAid, but they work with the 4.4 quart bowl to make batches of cookies, cake and bread for smaller households. 

Need to know

It caps out at 275 watts, which is nearly half that of some more high-end stand mixers, but for the money and the size it's a sacrifice worth making. The bowl comes without a handle, but as with all KitchenAids, you can buy new bowls to customize as you see fit. 

Made (and adored) in Europe, the Kenwood Chef range of stand mixers has dominated the British market for decades. The sloping and solid design is a far cry from the KitchenAid Artisan, instead resembling a stand mixer you might find in a professional kitchen. 

Why we love it

With 750 watts, the Kenwood Chef Titanium is a powerful choice for baking. The mixer also comes with Kenwood's unique K-beater, a flat beater that works wonderfully in cake batter. 

All tools are dishwasher-safe, and so is the bowl. The titanium exterior is easy to wipe down after use, and the ports on the front and top of the mixer can be used with all sorts of attachments, from blenders to pasta makers. 

Need to know

It's limited in color options, and the bowl is lacking in a handle. The price is right though, when you consider how powerful this machine is. While we've not tried this exact model, we have tried a selection of Kenwood's stand mixers and they all make amazing bread thanks to their sturdy motors. 

Who says you can't find one of the best stand mixers for under $100?

Why we love it

The Frigidaire ESTM020 Stand Mixer has it all; the classic tilt-head, the three attachments and the attractive color options, all for under $100. 

Need to know

It's not as powerful as some of the options in our guide, so don't expect it to knead tough dough for prolonged periods of time, but it is a handy option to have in your kitchen and it looks lovely, too. 

Serious home chefs or batch bakers will love the KitchenAid Pro 5 Plus Stand Mixer. 

Why we love it

It's big, it's powerful and it's got the muscle to work through numerous batches of bread and cookies in one go. The 5 quart bowl can make 9 batches of cookies in one go and you can make the most of 10 speeds to work on high intensity or more gentle tasks. 

The mixer comes with a powerknead dough spiral, but you can pair it with everything from pasta rollers to food processor attachments to make the most of this versatile option. We're quite taken by the Ink Blue color, which is exclusive to Best Buy, but it's also available in red, black and silver. 

Need to know

With Professional quality comes professional price, so only invest if you know you'll need something with a large capacity and immense power. 

The Hamilton Beach Professional All-Metal Stand Mixer is new to the market, but Hamilton Beach's answer to a professional stand mixer is a promising one. 

Why we love it

It's got a 450-watt motor and comes with more attachments than the industry standard. This includes a flat beater, whisk, and spiral dough hook, as well as a pouring shield that prevents flour or sugar from going everywhere when you add them to the bowl. 

Need to know

It's not got the color options or the charming design of other stand mixers, but the Hamilton Beach Professional All-Metal Stand Mixer makes up for this in practicality. It's got a planetary mixing motion to leave no areas un-integrated, and the five year limited warranty is well above average. 

Black Friday stand mixer deals 2021

Black Friday stand mixer deals can knock the price of your dream stand mixer down by as many as several hundred dollars. While Black Friday KitchenAid deals can sell out very fast, it is also possible to find some great discounts on Cuisinart stand mixers, which work just as well and often cost a lot less. 

It can be tricky to find the Smeg stand mixer on sale, but if you are hoping to find a stand mixer that costs closer to $100, the Frigidaire and Hamilton Beach models in our guide will almost certainly go on promotion once Black Friday deals start rolling in. While it's still a few weeks away, we will be keeping this page updated with some of our favorite discounts as and when they drop. 

What is the best stand mixer?  

A classic for a reason; the best stand mixer in our guide is the KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer.  It comes in over 42 colors and has a huge range of bowls to switch out your design and achieve your desired look, but it's also very capable of cooking up a storm in the kitchen. 

Our top budget pick is the Frigidaire ESTM020 Stand Mixer, which is the best stand mixer for under $100 for sale right now. It's also lovely to look at, with a range of colors and modest footprint for kitchens of any size. 

What to consider when looking for the best stand mixer

Size matters

How much space do you have to dedicate to a new stand mixer? Some stand mixers come with large mixing bowls and tilt-head designs that won't lift if placed under a cabinet. Others come with a more compact design, perfect for lifting into shelving units when not in use or leaving in a corner without losing a whole counter in your kitchen.

Looks aren't everything, but they do matter

A stand mixer is a style statement in any kitchen, which is why you'll find one displayed in just about any carefully composed kitchen. Smeg and KitchenAid certainly have the edge on style, but you may end up paying a premium for something that looks the part, when it's got just as much power as a less expensive option. 

Price can vary

If you want a top-of-the-range stand mixer, prepare to spend as much as $700 to get it. Some stand mixers cost less than $100, but they are hardly the kitchen workhorses you'll want for serious baking on a regular basis. A good middle ground between power and price is the Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer, which lacks color options or classic style, but is a favorite with many home bakers and looks lovely too.  

The best stand mixer for you and your baking needs really depends on your budget and how often you’ll use this machine. Some mixers come with handy add-ons such as pasta makers and meat grinders to ensure they’re used regularly, but others have detachable mix heads and emphasize their primary function as stand mixers, with compact storage options. 

Built to last

One thing’s for sure - you’ll want a stand mixer which lasts the test of time. Some mixers come in durable plastic, but the best stand mixers have durable stainless steel finishes to make them last a lifetime.