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Best stand mixers and blenders (2026)

These are long-term buys, so it's worth choosing carefully. Here's what years of independent testing point to.

At a glance

Model	Best for	Key specs
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head	most home bakers	5-quart bowl, tilt-head, attachment hub
KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift	bigger batches and bread dough	5.5-quart bowl, bowl-lift design
Vitamix 5200	daily, heavy blending	Variable speed, tamper, tapered jar, seven-year warranty
KitchenAid Pure Power Blender	strong blending for less	Full-size countertop blender

Bowl size. A 5-quart (about 4.7 litre) mixer bowl suits most home bakers; bowl-lift models suit big batches and stiff bread dough.
Attachments. A power hub lets you add pasta rollers, mincers and more later.
Blender use. Daily smoothies, nut butters and hot soups justify a high-performance blender. Occasional use doesn't.
Warranty. A long motor warranty is a good sign of how long a maker expects the product to last.

Best for: most home bakers

Key specs: 5-quart bowl, tilt-head, attachment hub

Wirecutter's top stand mixer for more than a decade, praised for its balance of performance, size, durability and price.

Best for: bigger batches and bread dough

Key specs: 5.5-quart bowl, bowl-lift design

Wirecutter's suggestion for larger batches and tougher mixing jobs.

Best for: daily, heavy blending

Key specs: Variable speed, tamper, tapered jar, seven-year warranty

Wirecutter's top blender since 2014. It is the only one Wirecutter tested that could make creamy peanut butter and also purée hot soup cleanly.

Best for: strong blending for less

Key specs: Full-size countertop blender

One of Wirecutter's other blender picks for people who want plenty of power at a lower price than a Vitamix.

If you bake a few times a year, a good hand mixer is cheaper and takes up less space. If you only make the odd smoothie, a personal blender will do.

Sources checked 15 October 2026.

Model names and specifications vary by country. Check the listing for the exact model number, voltage and plug type for where you live.