The Best (And The Worst) Places You Can Put Your Microwave in the Kitchen
A microwave is one of the most convenient appliances in the kitchen—but where you put it can make a surprisingly big difference.
Place it too high, and it can be difficult or unsafe to remove hot dishes. Put it too low, and you’re constantly bending down. Hide it in the wrong cabinet, and you may create ventilation or clearance problems.
The ideal microwave location depends on your kitchen layout, the type of microwave you have, who uses it most, and how much counter space you have available.
Here are some of the best—and worst—places to put a microwave in your kitchen.
🥇 BEST: On the Countertop
For many kitchens, the simplest solution is also the best.
A countertop microwave is easy to reach, easy to monitor, and doesn’t require complicated installation.
It’s particularly convenient if you frequently heat:
- Leftovers
- Coffee or tea
- Frozen meals
- Baby food
- Sauces
- Vegetables
- Popcorn
- Dinner plates
The biggest disadvantage is that it takes up valuable counter space.
How to make a countertop microwave work better
Instead of placing it randomly, choose a location where you already prepare food.
A spot near the refrigerator or food-preparation area can be especially convenient because you can quickly take something from the refrigerator and put it directly into the microwave.
Just make sure the microwave has the manufacturer’s required clearance around it and that its ventilation openings aren’t blocked.
🥈 BEST: Built Into the Cabinetry
If you have a kitchen renovation planned, integrating the microwave into the cabinetry can create a clean, organized appearance.
A built-in microwave can free up counter space while keeping the appliance close to the areas where you prepare food.
However, not every microwave is designed to be installed inside cabinetry.
Always check the manufacturer’s installation instructions before putting a countertop model into a cabinet.
Some models require ventilation space that a standard cabinet simply doesn’t provide.
🥉 BEST: Under the Counter
An under-counter microwave can be an excellent option when you want to keep the appliance out of sight and preserve counter space.
This arrangement can work especially well in kitchens with limited upper cabinetry.
It can also give the kitchen a cleaner appearance.
The downside?
You have to bend down every time you use it.
That may not seem like a big deal at first, but imagine repeatedly lifting a bowl of hot soup out of a microwave positioned near the floor.
For households with young children, keeping a microwave lower can also make it easier for children to reach.
So this location isn’t ideal for everyone.
⭐ BEST: In a Microwave Drawer
Microwave drawers have become popular in modern kitchen designs because they slide open horizontally rather than requiring you to reach into a traditional microwave.
They’re often installed below the countertop.
This can make it easier to place and remove larger dishes because you don’t have to reach as far into a microwave sitting high above the counter.
They’re also visually discreet.
The downside?
Microwave drawers can be considerably more expensive than basic countertop models.
They also require appropriate cabinetry and installation.
👍 GOOD OPTION: Above the Counter
If you have limited counter space, placing the microwave above the countertop can be practical.
The key is height.
You want the appliance positioned where the primary user can comfortably see inside and safely remove hot food.
A microwave that is too high can turn a simple bowl of soup into a dangerous balancing act.
This is especially important because hot liquids can spill easily.
🍳 GOOD OPTION: Above the Range
An over-the-range microwave can save a tremendous amount of counter space.
These models are designed to combine microwave functionality with a ventilation hood.
For small kitchens, this can be an extremely practical arrangement.
However, there are several things to consider.
It’s not ideal for everyone
A microwave above the range can be difficult to reach, especially for shorter people.
It also means reaching over the stovetop to access the microwave.
That’s not necessarily the safest arrangement when you’re handling hot food.
You also need to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully regarding the distance between the cooking surface and microwave.
⚠️ PLACES YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT
Not every empty space in your kitchen is a good microwave location.
❌ Inside a Closed Cabinet
One of the most common mistakes is putting a countertop microwave inside a cabinet and simply closing the doors.
It may look fantastic when the doors are shut.
But microwaves generate heat and require ventilation.
If the model isn’t designed for enclosed installation, restricting airflow can cause overheating or damage.
If you want a microwave hidden behind cabinetry, use a model and installation method specifically designed for that purpose.
❌ Directly Beside the Stove
Putting the microwave immediately next to the stove may seem convenient.
After all, both appliances are used for cooking.
But the area around a stovetop can become hot, greasy, and crowded.
You also don’t want a hot pan, boiling pot, or cooking utensil interfering with the microwave door.
If your kitchen layout gives you other choices, leaving some breathing room between appliances can be preferable.
❌ Too Close to the Sink
The sink and microwave are both heavily used areas, so placing them near each other may seem logical.
But kitchens involve water, electricity, splashes, and spills.
A microwave shouldn’t be positioned where it is likely to be repeatedly splashed or where water can collect around electrical components.
A little separation is helpful.
❌ In a Corner With No Clearance
Kitchen corners can look like perfect places to hide appliances.
Unfortunately, corners can create problems.
The microwave door may not open fully.
The controls may be awkward to reach.
The ventilation openings may be too close to a wall.
And you may have difficulty removing large plates.
Before committing to a corner location, open the microwave door fully and make sure you can comfortably reach inside.
❌ Too High Above the Counter
This is one of the most important considerations.
A microwave isn’t just something you press a button on.
You have to remove hot food from it.
If the opening is at shoulder height or higher, taking out a heavy bowl of soup, hot casserole, or mug of boiling liquid becomes much more difficult.
The higher the microwave, the more important safe access becomes.
❌ Too Low to the Ground
The opposite problem is putting the microwave so low that you have to crouch or bend deeply to use it.
This can be particularly inconvenient when you’re removing hot liquids.
It may also be difficult to see the food clearly while it’s cooking.
An under-counter location can work, but think about who will use the appliance and how frequently.
❌ Behind a Frequently Closed Door
A microwave hidden behind a cabinet door can look beautiful—but only if the cabinet and microwave are designed for that arrangement.
You also need enough space to open the microwave door and safely remove food.
If you have to open a cabinet door, then open the microwave door, then maneuver around both doors every time you heat leftovers, the “hidden appliance” can quickly become annoying.
🔥 Don’t Forget About Ventilation
One of the most important rules when installing a microwave is also one of the easiest to overlook:
Follow the manufacturer’s installation requirements.
Different microwave models have different ventilation and clearance requirements.
Don’t assume that because one microwave fits perfectly inside a cabinet, another model will too.
Before installing your microwave, check:
- Required clearance above the unit
- Required clearance at the sides
- Required clearance behind the unit
- Ventilation requirements
- Electrical requirements
- Door-opening clearance
- Manufacturer-approved installation locations
The manufacturer’s instructions should always take priority over a generic kitchen-design recommendation.
📏 Think About Who Uses the Microwave
The “perfect” microwave height isn’t identical for every household.
If a tall adult is the primary user, a higher position may be comfortable.
If shorter adults or children frequently use it, a lower and more accessible location may be preferable.
If someone has limited mobility, bending down or reaching overhead may be particularly inconvenient.
The best location is therefore not simply the one that looks best in a kitchen photograph.
It’s the one that works safely for the people who actually live there.
🥣 Consider What You Usually Heat
Think about your microwave habits.
If you mostly heat coffee and small leftovers, almost any convenient location may work.
But if you frequently heat:
- Large casserole dishes
- Bowls of soup
- Heavy ceramic plates
- Large containers
- Family-size meals
you’ll want a location where you can easily lift hot and sometimes heavy dishes in and out.
A microwave that looks convenient when empty may feel very different when you’re trying to remove a steaming bowl filled to the top.
🧹 Keep It Away From Kitchen Traffic
Another important consideration is traffic flow.
Don’t put your microwave in a location where someone opening the door will block the main walkway.
You don’t want one person trying to remove a hot bowl while another person is walking behind them.
A microwave door that opens into a busy passage can also become an annoyance.
Think about how the appliance interacts with the rest of your kitchen.
🏠 Small Kitchen? Think Vertically
If counter space is limited, you don’t necessarily need to sacrifice your entire countertop.
Consider using vertical space.
Depending on your kitchen design and the microwave model, possibilities can include:
- An over-the-range microwave
- A built-in microwave
- A dedicated appliance shelf
- A properly designed microwave cabinet
- A microwave drawer
The important thing is to choose an installation method that is actually approved for your particular microwave.
🧑🍳 The Best Location May Be Near Your Prep Area
A microwave doesn’t necessarily need to be directly beside the stove.
In many kitchens, placing it near the main food-preparation area makes more sense.
Think about your typical routine:
Refrigerator → preparation area → microwave → serving area
If the microwave fits naturally into that workflow, you’ll spend less time carrying hot food across the kitchen.
💡 A Simple Test Before You Install It
Before permanently installing a microwave, imagine using it several times a day.
Ask yourself:
Can I easily see inside?
Can I open the door completely?
Can I comfortably reach the back?
Can I safely remove a bowl of hot soup?
Will the door interfere with another cabinet?
Will someone walking through the kitchen bump into me?
Is there enough ventilation?
Does the installation meet the manufacturer’s requirements?
If the answer to several of these questions is no, you’ve probably found the wrong location.
🏆 So, What’s the Best Place for a Microwave?
For many households, the best location is simply:
A convenient, well-ventilated position at a comfortable height, close to your food-preparation area, where the door can open fully and hot dishes can be removed safely.
That could mean a countertop.
It could mean a built-in cabinet.
It could mean an over-the-range model.
It could mean a microwave drawer.
There isn’t one perfect location for every kitchen.
The worst location is usually one that blocks ventilation, interferes with kitchen traffic, requires unsafe reaching, or isn’t approved for that particular microwave.
❤️ Final Thought
Kitchen appliances should make your life easier—not create another daily frustration.
Before choosing a microwave location, don’t just ask:
“Where will it look best?”
Ask:
“Where will it be safest and easiest to use every single day?”
Because the prettiest kitchen isn’t necessarily the most functional one.
And when you’re standing there trying to remove a bowl of boiling soup from the microwave, function wins every time. 🍲🏠
