The 7 Best Compact Over-the-Range Microwaves for Small Kitchens (2026)
Seven small over the range microwaves compared by height, width and depth, from a 10.3 inch low profile unit to the only 24 inch wide OTR on Amazon. Every dimension is in the chart.
The best compact over the range microwave is the COSMO 30-Inch Slim, at just 10.3 inches tall. If your cabinet opening is 24 inches, the Summit OTR24 is the only choice. If depth is the issue, the BLACK+DECKER 1.7 is the shallowest full-size unit at 13.2 inches.
Most “compact” OTR microwave lists talk about cubic feet. That is the inside. What a small kitchen cares about is the outside: how tall, how wide, how deep. Every unit below has its exterior dimensions listed in inches, so you can hold a tape measure to your cabinet and know before you order.
We compared seven small over the range microwaves on size first, then venting, power and owner ratings. Standard OTRs are about 30 inches wide and 16 to 17 inches tall; the picks here are shorter, narrower, shallower, or the best of the standard size.
Quick Picks: Best Small Over the Range Microwave by Dimension
Shortest: 10.3 in tallCOSMO COS-3012ORLP1SS 30-Inch Slim Over-the-Range Microwave (1.2 Cu. Ft.)
Narrowest: 24 in wideSummit OTR24 24-Inch Over-the-Range Microwave (0.9 Cu. Ft.)
Shallowest: 13.2 in deepBLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave (EM044K6CE-SS)
Compact OTR Microwave Dimensions Chart
Width x height x depth in inches, as listed by each maker. Height is the number that decides headroom over the stove; depth decides whether it sticks out past the cabinets. A tilde means the maker does not publish the exact figure on Amazon.
| Microwave | W x H x D (in) | Capacity | Power and presets | Vent | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COSMO COS-3012ORLP1SS 30-Inch Slim Over-the-Range Microwave (1.2 Cu. Ft.) | 30 x 10.3 x 18.5 | 1.2 cu ft | 1000 W, sensor cook | Not stated, 2 speeds | 4.4 ★ (509) | $$$ |
| Summit OTR24 24-Inch Over-the-Range Microwave (0.9 Cu. Ft.) | 23.4 x 15.1 x 13.75 (with trim) | 0.9 cu ft | Multiple power levels, speed defrost | Front venting, recirculating | 3.6 ★ (173) | $$ |
| BLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave (EM044K6CE-SS) | 29.9 x 16.4 x 13.2 | 1.7 cu ft | 1000 W, 10 levels, 6 presets | 300 CFM, 2 speeds | 4.4 ★ (12,434) | $$ |
| GE JVM3160RFSS 1.6 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave | 29.9 x 16.1 x 15.6 | 1.6 cu ft | 1000 W, 10 levels, 4 presets | 300 CFM, 2 speeds, charcoal filter | 4.1 ★ (1,505) | $ |
| Midea MOR17BSA-SS 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave | 29.9 x ~16.5 x ~15.6 | 1.7 cu ft | 1000 W, 10 levels, 18 auto menus | 300 CFM, adjustable | 4.4 ★ (378) | $ |
| Farberware 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave (Black) | 29.9 x ~16.5 x ~15.6 | 1.7 cu ft | 1000 W, auto cook, weight + time defrost | 2-speed vent fan with light | 4.3 ★ (373) | $$ |
| Frigidaire FFMV1846VS 1.8 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave | 29.9 x 16.4 x 15.75 | 1.8 cu ft | 1000 W, 10 levels, one-touch | 300 CFM, 2 speeds | 4.4 ★ (649) | $$ |
Ratings and review counts are as listed on Amazon at time of writing and change over time. Price tiers: $ under $250 · $$ $250–350 · $$$ over $350.
The 7 Best Compact Over-the-Range Microwaves, Reviewed
Ranked smallest-footprint first. The standard-size units at the end are here because they are the best of the normal 30 inch class, with their exact heights so you can compare.
COSMO COS-3012ORLP1SS 30-Inch Slim Over-the-Range Microwave (1.2 Cu. Ft.)
This is what people mean by a low profile over the range microwave. At 10.3 inches tall it is about six inches shorter than a standard OTR, which gives you back headroom over the burners and lets it fit under shorter upper cabinets.
It still has 1000 watts, 11 power levels, sensor cook and reheat, and LED lighting.
- The shortest unit on the list by a wide margin
- Full 30 inch width, so it drops into a standard opening
- Sensor cooking, a feature the cheaper units skip
- 1.2 cu ft is small: a dinner plate fits, a 13 x 9 dish does not
- COSMO does not publish a CFM figure for the fan
- Priciest unit here
Summit OTR24 24-Inch Over-the-Range Microwave (0.9 Cu. Ft.)
Almost every OTR microwave is 30 inches wide. This is the one built for a 24 inch cabinet opening, which is why it is the answer for apartment kitchens, narrow ranges and anyone asking for an over the range microwave shorter than 29 inches wide.
The microwave itself is 19 inches wide and 12.1 inches tall; the stainless trim kit fills the rest of the opening.
- The only 24 inch wide OTR microwave on Amazon
- Trim kit and stainless handle included
- Front venting works where there is no duct
- 3.6 star rating, with owners split on build quality
- 0.9 cu ft and 700 to 900 watt class performance
- Summit requires professional installation
BLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave (EM044K6CE-SS)
Standard height and width, but only 13.2 inches deep, which is two to three inches shallower than most 1.7 cu ft units. That is the number that matters if your microwave sticks out past the cabinet line.
With 12,000 ratings at 4.4 stars it is also the best proven unit on the list, with a 300 CFM two-speed fan, a cooktop light and multi-stage cooking.
- Shallowest full-size unit here, so it sits flush with 13 inch cabinets
- Best reviewed OTR microwave on the list
- 12.4 inch turntable takes a big dinner plate
- Standard 16.4 inch height, so no gain in headroom
- Six presets is fewer than Midea or Farberware
GE JVM3160RFSS 1.6 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave
Amazon’s best selling OTR microwave, and the one most installers have fitted a hundred times. It is a quarter inch shorter than the 1.7 cu ft units at 16.12 inches, with a 300 CFM fan, a replaceable charcoal filter for recirculating installs, LED lighting and a turntable you can switch off for square dishes.
- Cheapest unit here most weeks
- Charcoal filter included for ductless kitchens
- Turntable on/off and a child lock
- 4.1 rating: owners mention a loud fan and a stiff door
- Only four convenience presets
Midea MOR17BSA-SS 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave
Same standard footprint as the GE and Farberware, but with 18 one-touch auto menus instead of four or six: popcorn, pizza, rice, potato, soften cream cheese and the rest. The 12.4 inch turntable takes a rotisserie chicken, and the 300 CFM fan has adjustable speeds. Usually priced level with the GE.
- Most presets on the list
- 4.4 stars and an Amazon’s Choice badge
- Bright cooktop light
- Standard 1.7 cu ft size, no gain in height or depth
- Midea does not list exact exterior dimensions on Amazon; expect about 16.5 by 15.6 inches
Farberware 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave (Black)
The practical one. Farberware adds weight and time defrost, a melt and soften mode and a +30 seconds button to the usual auto-cook menus, plus a child lock and adjustable beep volume. It comes in black for kitchens that are not stainless, and there is a 1.2 cu ft version on the same listing if you want smaller.
- Weight defrost is more accurate than timed defrost
- Black or stainless finish
- Adjustable alert volume
- Pricier than the GE and Midea for the same size
- Fewer Amazon ratings than the big brands
Frigidaire FFMV1846VS 1.8 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave
The biggest interior here with no penalty in height. At 16.4 inches tall it matches the 1.7 cu ft units, but the 1.8 cu ft cavity takes a 13 by 9 baking dish on a 12.5 inch turntable.
Interior LED lighting stays on while it cooks, and the zero-clearance door opens 90 degrees without hitting a side wall, which matters in a tight corner.
- Largest capacity at standard height
- Zero-clearance door for corner installs
- LED inside and over the cooktop
- 15.75 inches deep, the deepest of the standard units
- Sold through a third party seller at the moment
Over the Range Microwave Sizes, Explained in Inches
There are really three sizes of OTR microwave, and the search terms people use (small, smallest, short, shortest, slim, thin, low profile) all map onto them.
The GE, Midea, Farberware, BLACK+DECKER and Frigidaire units are all this size. They fit a 30 inch opening with the bottom of the microwave about 30 inches above the cooktop (check your model’s install sheet; some allow less). The differences between them are an inch of depth and what the presets do.
A low profile over the range microwave keeps the 30 inch width but cuts the height nearly in half. The COSMO Slim is 10.3 inches tall. Capacity drops to about 1.1 to 1.2 cu ft, so these fit a dinner plate but not a casserole.
This is the answer to “shortest over the range microwave” and “thin microwave over stove”.
If your range or cabinet opening is 24 inches, a 30 inch unit will not go in. The Summit OTR24 is built for a 24 inch opening and ships with a trim kit. It is 15.1 inches tall with the trim and 12.1 inches without. This is what “over the range microwave shorter than 29 inches” usually means: narrower than 29 inches wide.
- Width of the opening: 30 inches for every unit here except the Summit (24 inches).
- Height from cooktop to the bottom of the microwave: most makers want at least 30 inches, some allow 24 for a low profile unit. A short microwave gives you more of this.
- Floor to the top of the microwave: commonly 66 inches with a 30 inch high mounting cabinet. Measure yours.
- Depth of the upper cabinets: usually 12 to 13 inches. A 15.6 inch deep microwave will stand proud by about 3 inches; the 13.2 inch BLACK+DECKER sits nearly flush.
- Venting: every unit here can recirculate through a charcoal filter. If you have a duct to outside, check the model supports it (the Summit is front venting only).
Samsung Bespoke ME21DB670012 2.1 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave (White Glass)
For scale, this is what a full-size premium OTR looks like: 2.1 cu ft, a 400 CFM four-speed fan, a ceramic enamel interior and glass touch controls that dim when idle. It is an inch taller and an inch deeper than the standard units above. If you have the room and want the stronger vent, this is the step up.
Check Samsung 2.1 Price on Amazon →Small, Short, Slim, Above the Stove: What Compact OTR Microwaves Are Called
Retailers use half a dozen names for the same appliance, so here is a translation.
All the same thing: a microwave that mounts under the upper cabinet above your cooktop and doubles as a vent hood. A compact above the stove microwave, a small microwave over stove or a small overhead microwave is any of the seven here. A small over the stove microwave oven is the same thing again.
Height. A slim or short microwave over the range is about 10 to 11 inches tall instead of 16 to 17. The COSMO Slim is the pick.
Width, usually. The smallest above range microwave you can buy is a 24 inch model like the Summit OTR24. The smallest vent microwave by height is still the COSMO.
Different appliance. A built in compact microwave sits in a cabinet cutout with a trim kit and has no vent fan. An under cabinet microwave hangs from the cabinet over the counter. A small above ref microwave (above the fridge) is a countertop unit on top of the refrigerator. If you do not cook under it, you do not need an OTR; see the FAQ below.
Ducted means the fan blows outside through a vent. Recirculating means it pulls air through a charcoal filter and pushes it back into the room. Every 30 inch unit here does both; the best over the range 1.7 cu ft ducted microwaves reviews on this list cover the BLACK+DECKER, Midea and Farberware.
How to Choose a Compact Over-the-Range Microwave
Six checks before you buy any small OTR microwave, in order of how often they go wrong.
Opening width, then height, then depth
Measure the gap between cabinets (30 or 24 inches), the distance from cooktop to the cabinet bottom, and how deep the upper cabinets are. Compare to the chart above. Most returns are a depth mismatch.
Short unit or standard?
If cooktop-to-cabinet is under 30 inches, or you are tall and keep hitting your head, buy low profile. Otherwise a standard 16 inch unit gives you a bigger cavity for the same price.
What fits inside
1.1 to 1.2 cu ft: dinner plates and mugs. 1.6 to 1.7: a 12 inch pizza or a rotisserie chicken. 1.8: a 13 x 9 dish. The Summit’s 0.9 cu ft is small-plate territory.
300 CFM is normal, 400 is strong
All the standard units here are 300 CFM with two speeds, enough for everyday steam and smells. Heavy frying wants 400 CFM or a dedicated hood. COSMO does not publish a number.
Who is lifting it
Every OTR needs two people and a mounting plate. The Summit needs a pro. If your old microwave was a different brand, expect to drill new holes.
Stainless, black, or glass
Stainless is the default. Farberware and COSMO come in black. Samsung’s white glass is the only designer finish here. Touch panels (Midea, COSMO, Samsung) wipe clean faster than buttons.
Compact OTR Microwave FAQs
What is the smallest over the range microwave?▼
By height, the COSMO 30-Inch Slim at 10.3 inches. By width, the Summit OTR24 at 24 inches. Either one is the smallest above stove microwave for its kind of kitchen. Most OTR microwaves are 30 inches wide and 16 to 17 inches tall, so both of these are a real size difference, not a marketing one.
What is the shortest over the range microwave, and is there one under 15 inches tall?▼
The COSMO COS-3012ORLP1SS at 10.3 inches tall, so yes, comfortably under 15 inches. The Summit is 12.1 inches without its trim. A shortest over oven microwave search lands on the same two. Standard units are about 16 inches. Low profile microwaves from Whirlpool, Samsung and Midea sit in the same 10 to 11 inch range if you want other options.
Is there an over the range microwave shorter than 29 inches?▼
Yes, the Summit OTR24, built for a 24 inch wide opening. If you meant height, every OTR microwave is well under 29 inches tall; the tallest here is 17 inches.
What size microwave fits above a stove?▼
A 30 inch wide unit in a 30 inch opening, with roughly 30 inches between the cooktop and the microwave bottom. Check your model’s install sheet, because some low profile units allow less. For a 24 inch opening, the Summit.
What is the best small over the range microwave?▼
The COSMO Slim if height is the problem, the BLACK+DECKER 1.7 if depth is the problem, and the GE JVM3160 for a standard 30 inch opening on a budget. All three are in the chart with exact dimensions.
What is the best otr microwave for small kitchen use?▼
The BLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu. Ft. for most small kitchens. It is 13.2 inches deep, so it sits almost flush with standard cabinets, and 12,000 owners rate it 4.4. Go low profile only if the cabinet-to-cooktop gap is tight.
Do small over the range microwaves still vent well?▼
Yes for everyday cooking. The standard units here are 300 CFM with two speeds, which clears steam and reheating smells. For a lot of searing or frying, 400 CFM (the Samsung) or a dedicated range hood is better.
Is a 1.7 cu ft over the range microwave ducted or recirculating?▼
Both, on every 1.7 cu ft unit here. The GE, Midea, Farberware and BLACK+DECKER ship set for recirculating through a charcoal filter and can be converted to vent outside through a duct. The Summit is front venting only.
Can I put a compact microwave above the counter or above the fridge instead?▼
Yes, but that is a different appliance. Above counter built in compact microwaves use uses a trim kit in a cabinet cutout and has no fan. A countertop microwave on a shelf or on the fridge works too. OTR microwaves are for over a cooktop, where you need the vent.
Are over the range microwaves hard to install?▼
Two-person job, basic tools. You mount a plate on the wall, hang the microwave on it, and bolt through the cabinet above. Allow two hours the first time. The Summit 24 inch needs a professional install per the maker.
How long do over the range microwaves last?▼
About 8 to 10 years with normal use. The fan and the door switch are the usual failures. If yours is making new noises or heating unevenly, our guide to the signs a microwave is going bad covers what to check.
What does a low profile over the range microwave give up?▼
Capacity and sometimes fan power. You go from 1.7 cu ft to about 1.2, and some slim units do not publish a CFM rating. You gain six inches of headroom over the burners.
The Bottom Line
Here is the short version of the best compact over the range microwave ovens, by the dimension that is giving you trouble.
- Too tall: COSMO 30-Inch Slim, 10.3 inches high.
- Too wide: Summit OTR24, the 24 inch option.
- Too deep: BLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu. Ft., 13.2 inches deep and the best reviewed.
- Standard opening, lowest price: GE JVM3160RFSS.
- Most presets: Midea 1.7. Best defrost: Farberware 1.7.
- Most room at standard height: Frigidaire 1.8.
- Space is not the problem: Samsung Bespoke 2.1, 400 CFM.
Measure the opening, the headroom and the cabinet depth, then pick from the chart. Small does not mean weak: every unit here is 1000 watts except the Summit.
