The microwave stands resolute as a kitchen cornerstone. From defrosting missions to late-night heat-ups – it just makes things easier. But it can be noisy, to the point of waking you up.  So which are the quietest microwaves on the market?

Here you can read about the 6 best quiet microwaves to buy on Amazon. Each appliance has been assessed. Firstly, for its noise level – you’ll find out about the decibel (dB) level of each microwave if the manufacturer has made this information available. And then there’s a round-up of other useful features, including pros and cons. 

How loud are microwaves?

The noise level of microwaves usually refers to the sound of the microwave in operation.

Many microwaves have a silent mode or mute function. If you want to learn how to mute the bleeping on your microwave – read this article: All About Microwave Silent Mode. It will teach you how to turn off the interface noise for your model (including Sharp, Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and more), turning off the sounds when you press buttons or at the end of heating.

A standard microwave produces approximately 50-60 dB of noise. That is much quieter than a blender or smoothie maker, but louder than a fridge. Check out the comparison below:

Appliance	Noise level
Blender	80-90 dB
Washing machine	60-70 dB
Microwave	50-60 dB
Fridge	30-50 dB

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Now here are 5 of the quietest microwaves you can order from Amazon:

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1. Toshiba 6-in-1 Inverter Countertop Microwave Oven
2. Breville Compact Wave Soft Close 
3. Toshiba Stainless Steel Microwave Oven 
4. LG Over-The-Range Microwave
5. Panasonic Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology
6. Danby Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave

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Before we cover each in more details, here are the basic specs:

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#1 – Toshiba 6-in-1 Inverter Countertop Microwave Oven

Where to start with this function-packed countertop microwave? 

The noise level of the Toshiba 6-in-1 Inverter Countertop Microwave Oven is certainly worth talking about. According to the manufacturer, this model will work away at a 50 dB noise level, putting it in the bracket of the quietest microwaves out there. Buyer Eric said on Amazon:

“It was much quieter than my 2012 Panasonic inverter microwave. This was my first convection microwave and I was pleased with the convection cooking.”

What about the 6-in-1 part? This microwave gets its name from the range of cooking functions it offers. As well as a microwave, the Toshiba 6-in-1 Inverter Countertop Microwave Oven can be an air fryer, broiler, convection oven or defroster. There is also the combi cooking option which uses 2 cooking modes at once. This versatility is pretty tough to match. Air fryers are currently getting a lot of hype – so if you were considering purchasing one, and would also like a quieter microwave, this is a chance to double up and save money.

There are some other boxes ticked by the Toshiba 6-in-1 Inverter Countertop Microwave Oven. It has inverter technology, which helps you to cook food evenly, including for defrosting, and also lends a hand in making the model quiet when operating. It wields impressive power, with the microwave offering 900W power and the convection oven being able to reach temperatures of 425°F. 

A moderate capacity of 0.9 cubic feet (cu ft) means you won’t be too cramped for space. There are a range of Auto Menus and Presets for both the microwave and air fryer functions 

Pros:

• Low operating noise officially measured
• 6-in-1 functionality
• Air fryer

Cons:

• Not the biggest

Best for: If you want multi-functionality with air fryer / oven

#2 – Breville Compact Wave Soft Close

One element of microwave noise which we haven’t mentioned yet is the door. That abrupt snapping shut of the microwave door is usually totally unavoidable. All you can do is pull it out slightly when closing, in order to soften the snapping noise a little. But now there is a microwave with a door that is engineered to close more quietly.

According to the manufacturer, independent tests show that the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close door closes 20% quieter than a normal microwave door. If it is the loud snapping shut of the microwave that’s disturbing you the most, then this is surely worth serious consideration. 

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There are other features that make the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close a solid all-round choice. 900W means that you aren’t exactly short of power, and a dial timer – instead of buttons – is certainly user-friendly. 

A range of Shortcut buttons allow you to get straight to the function you want, and a Food Menu allows you to heat up a variety of dishes and snacks quickly and easily. 

There’s a Childlock button that keeps the appliance locked for safety when you are not using it. A capacity of 0.9 cu ft means that although this microwave isn’t the biggest, it will do for most standard heating and defrosting. 

Pros:

• Soft close door
• Ample settings and shortcuts

Cons:

• No inverter technology 

Best for: If soft-close door is your priority

#3 – Toshiba Stainless Steel Microwave Oven

Let’s go with the users on this one! Many reviewers have reported that the Toshiba Stainless Steel Microwave Oven is noticeably quiet in operation. For this reason, it is more than worthy of inclusion in this list.

This is also a fully-featured countertop oven with a lot more going for it than simply a low operation noise. 1100W power wattage gives it plenty of oomph, and 10 different power settings mean that you can fine-tune your heating to each food item. There’s a neat Smart Sensor function which detects your food’s humidity level and then adjusts the time and temperature accordingly, giving you the best possible results. 

User-friendliness also extends to the interface – the large control panel with digital display is easy to read and work out which setting you require. 

If you are looking for a large capacity, the 1.2 cu ft of the Toshiba Stainless Steel Microwave Oven has you covered. 

One downside is the door has been reported as shutting loudly. But with the exception of the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close not many microwaves can claim otherwise!

All in all, a large, multi-functional, quiet microwave oven that runs quietly, from a trusted brand, suited to a busy household.

Pros:

• Quiet operation
• Large capacity
• Wide choice of settings

Cons:

• Door reported to shut loudly 

Best for: Busy family home

#4 – LG Over-The-Range Microwave

Microwaves 1-3 in this list have all been countertop models. That is, microwaves which sit on the countertop in your kitchen.

There are also over-the-range microwaves, which sit in the space above an oven, built into the cooktop or range. This has the added advantage of saving space in your kitchen. What’s the quietest over-the-range microwave?

Manufacturers rarely release specific details on operation noise, but we have picked out this LG Over-the-Range Microwave for its positive customer reviews which note the low noise level. 

You will often find that over-the-range microwaves are larger than countertop microwaves. That’s certainly true in this case, and 2.2 cu ft will give you plenty of room. Its EasyClean interior features stain-resistant technology.

Over-the-range microwaves also give you the advantage of steam and smoke extraction. The ExtendaVent 2.0 in this LG Over-The-Range Microwave is upgraded technology for this purpose. 

This model features a striking horizontal control panel which may seem odd after years of scanning a vertical panel. One downside is that the panel could be better illuminated. 

Pros:

• Quiet operation
• Save kitchen space
• Smoke and steam extraction
• Large capacity

Cons:

• Dimly-lit panel

Best for: Installing above oven or cooktop

#5 – Panasonic Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology

This Panasonic Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology gives you 950W power, without being noisy or taking up a lot of space. Microwaves with inverters tend to be quieter, and that’s definitely backed up by reviewers. One satisfied user of this Panasonic Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology, Eric, has described it as quiet as a whisper:

“The microwave is whisper quiet and heated very quick compared to the dinosaur it replaced. Coffee cake was hot in 10sec.”

Capacity is modest at 0.8 cu ft, but on the plus side, this won’t take up much space on your countertop. There are smart cooking settings with a Genius Sensor that can adjust power and times based on the type of food you put in it. There are plenty of presets and a Keep Warm feature that will carry on heating food gently until it is ready to serve.

Thanks to the inverter technology, you can look forward to more consistent cooking with food that is evenly heated, rather than being hot on one side and cold on the other! There’s also a Child Lock.

A solid, quiet countertop option. And good value. 

Pros:

• Low operation noise level reported
• Inverter technology
• Keep Warm and Genius Sensor function
• Good value

Cons:

• Not the biggest capacity

Best for: Clever microwave cooking

#6 – Danby Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave

To some people, the 700W power and 0.7 cu ft capacity offered by this Danby Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave might seem miserly. But for those looking for a quiet microwave, it can be a godsend!

The Danby Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave has been given a thumbs up by many users for its low noise level. While it isn’t the biggest or most powerful microwave you will come across, that doesn’t mean to say it can’t bring other attributes to the table.

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Settings certainly aren’t neglected by Danby, a family-run, North American manufacturer of kitchen appliances. There are 10 power levels and 6 Auto Cook options. There are also Express Cook options that allow you to ping a certain key (or ‘silently ping’ it, if you have it on mute mode) for the cooking time you require.

Its size, low noise, and no-nonsense functionality mean that this microwave screams college dorm. 

Pros:

• Low operating noise reported
• Compact
• Simple settings
• Budget-friendly option

Cons:

• Low capacity 
• No inverter

Best for: College dorm or studio apartment kitchen