The 6 best stand mixers you need to see before you buy a KitchenAid - tested by experts

You've made it. The time has finally come to buy a stand mixer and, whilst lots of people will tell you that you 'absolutely must' have a KitchenAid, how do you know that's the best stand mixer for you? Which stand mixer does Mary Berry use? And is a budget stand mixer ever as good as a KitchenAid?

You'll probably be in search of some more answers to your stand mixer questions and the simple way to find them is by asking me. I've wanted a stand mixer since I was a little girl and I've tested (and burnt out) more than my fair share of them too. 

Over the years that I've been baking, I've bought budget stand mixers for my home; worked in a bakery with professional stand mixers; and I've picked the brains of my baker friends. I've tested over fifteen of the best stand mixers on the market, from KitchenAid, Kenwood, Smeg and more. Finally, I've narrowed it down to just six models that you'll want to look at. The best is, unsurprisingly, the KitchenAid Artisan, but I didn't award it the top spot lightly. I made sure to include some more unfamiliar names in the mix too. There's something for everyone.

The Quick List

If you're working with a Bake Off style countdown and you just want the headlines, here's an introduction to the six best stand mixers on the market. You can keep scrolling to find out more about my experience with each one (with some extra tips and tricks sprinkled in too).

The best stand mixers of 2025, tested and approved by professional bakers

Now you get to have your cake and eat it. Here are the details of the only six stand mixers that you need to know about to find the perfect one for your kitchen. Before we dive in, there are a few things that I want you to think about:

• What will you be making in it? Each stand mixer has its own speciality, so it helps to know whether you need one for cakes and cookies, bread, or meringues and whipped cream. There are all-rounders, but you can get special features on your favourite styles of bakes.
• How often will you use it? If you know you'll be baking big batches every weekend, you'll want to up the budget. You won't want this to burn out or come with compromises.
• Do you need a handle to help you with the weight of the bowl or stand mixer? Do you need extra accessories and integrated scales, or would they just be 'nice extras'?

Best stand mixer overall

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It won't come as a surprise to see the KitchenAid Artisan nestled in top spot. It's a kitchen trophy that comes draped in decades of prestige. Kate Middleton (I should call her Queen Katherine now) has one. The woman&home food team use theirs every day. And I have one in my kitchen too. Yes, I'm putting your interest in my kitchen on the same level as the Queen's. I'm bold like that.

The simple truth of why this stole the top spot is that KitchenAid have struck the artful and delicate balance of offering style, simplicity, and versatility. This means that the robust Artisan stand mixers have something to offer everyone: ten speed settings will satisfy an ambitious cook, but won't overwhelm a nervous novice. The tilt-head design is simple, but effective at keeping the stand mixer stable. The accessories are well-made and versatile, especially if you explore the extras that KitchenAid have to offer: I'm talking food processors, grinders, pasta rollers, and (my personal favourite) an ice cream maker.

In my tests, the KitchenAid didn't leave a dusting of flour left untouched. My bread dough was smooth and elastic; my cake mixes were silky; and the whipped cream formed glossy peaks in minutes. The spatula that I normally have to run around the sides and the base of stand mixers was left neglected on the side. It's refreshing.

Lots of people love that you can choose different bowls and 36 different colours, so the KitchenAid quickly becomes a style choice as well as a practical one. And, at nearly 10 kgs, it has to be. I don't dare to move mine in and out of the cupboard. 

The only drawback of the Artisan is the hefty price tag. It's almost twice, if not three times the price of the 'best value' and 'budget' options on this list. However, all the parts are repairable for 15 years and the stand mixer will come with a five-year warranty, which is significantly more than the standard 2-year warranty. If you're not quite sold, it's worth looking into the differences between the KitchenAid Artisan and the Classic. There might be a way you could save some money and still boast a KitchenAid on your counter.

Read more in my full KitchenAid Artisan 4.8L Stand Mixer review.

Best stand mixer for bread

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Ankasarum (pronounced ahn-kar-shroom) bucked the baking trend with their stand mixer. You’ll notice that it looks a little different to the Kenwoods and KitchenAids and that’s because it is. Rather than rotate the head of the stand mixer, the Ankasarum spins the bowl, giving more power and stability to the overall mixer. 

It’s mesmerising to watch and a very deliberate design shift. Having a spinning bowl makes the whole stand mixer a lot more stable, so you can push the 1500 watts of power (nearly five times KitchenAid Artisan’s) to its limits. Thick dough and high-hydration bread won’t tip or wobble the Ankasarum. It’ll deftly knead its way through all your recipes. I actually made my best buns, loaves, and pizzas in this and I don't think that's a coincidence.

So, if you’re a baker and you’re investing in a stand mixer to help out with your bread, this is a must-have home assistant. You might be overwhelmed when unboxing all the Ankasarum’s accessories (lots of which are bread-based), but they help to justify the hefty price tag and impressive reputation that the Swedish brand has cultivated amongst keen bakers.

If you’re mostly making cakes and cookies, you might be surprised to find that this isn’t quite as perfect. I had to employ the help of my spatula and needed to interfere with the cookie dough as even the special cookie whisks were trapping my chocolate chunks between the bowl. Don’t get me wrong, this is still one of the best stand mixers, even for making cakes and meringues, but the mixing and whipping aren't quite at the same professional level as the kneading. It also weighs a metaphorical tonne, so you will need to plonk it down on the counter and leave it be.

You can find out more in my full Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer review.

Best stand mixer for small homes

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There's been a gap, nay chasm, in the world of compact stand mixers since KitchenAid discontinued their Artisan Mini. Even if that was still in production, I think the Kenwood GO would have whizzed, mixed, and kneaded it off the table. This is a miniature marvel.

At just 30cm tall, the Kenwood GO is designed for small homes and first-time bakers. It's a great price and the handle on top makes it easy to move around and store, although I think that it's small enough to survive all the countertop clutter culls.

You might think that a small stand mixer frame comes with lots of compromises, but it doesn't. The Kenwood GO boasts more power than the KitchenAid Artisan and you only lose 0.8 litres of bowl space in comparison. In baker's terms, that's about 4-5 cupcakes, which isn't a disaster. I still make two Victoria sponges in one and they were lighter-than-air. 

The only features you'll need to keep an eye on are when the Kenwood GO is running. The hefty power and small body results in a little bit of balancing trouble. Mine wobbled on the counter when I was kneading pizza dough, so you might need to hold it steady or add some grippy feet to the base. When I was mixing a cake, I also needed to pause and run a spatula around the base and sides to mix in some spare flour. It's not a surprise, given that this is small and inexpensive. Actually, you'll find that it's something you have to do on most non-KitchenAid stand mixers (except Bosch).

Read more in my full Kenwood GO Stand Mixer review.

Best hybrid stand mixer

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The Bosch Series 6 Stand Mixer also written as Serie 6) is mesmerising. If you're someone who loves techy kitchen appliances, this is perfect. Bosch has efficiently integrated weighing scales as well as a timer and different settings for blending, making ice cream, grating, slicing, chopping, juicing and more into the sleek, impressive body of the Series 6 Stand Mixer.

You'll see these multitasking stand mixers labelled 'hybrid' models, but compared to the Bosch, most other models are very crude. For example, most scales measure in metric and imperial units. Whilst the Bosch can do this, it'll let you distinguish between different ingredients: you can say whether the liquids being measured are oils, waters, milks, and juices.

The attachments reach all sides of the bowl, so you don't need to scrape around the sides and the bottom to make sure that your mix is fully blended. I made faultless cake mix, bread dough, and whipped cream in double-quick time and found all the parts of the Bosch intuitive and slick.

The reason it's not up there against the KitchenAid is because the Bosch leans on the techy and complex side of controls. I would happily hand over the KitchenAid to a brand new baker, whereas the screen and controls of the Bosch could be overwhelming to the more tech-adverse users. If that screen breaks, you can't control the speeds or anything: it's an example of stand mixers being a little too clever for themselves.

You can find out more in my full Bosch Series 6 Stand Mixer review.

Best stand mixer for serious bakers

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I was working my way through all the best stand mixers on the market, but I kept getting emails from you asking “which stand mixers do professional bakers use?” I asked around to find the models that bakers use in their home and there was one, very popular answer.

My good friend and professional Artisan Baker, Melissa Jackson, told me “we (professional bakers) all buy the KitchenAid Artisan Pro. You don’t get a motor as robust as the KitchenAid’s that comes with a sturdy body and large capacity too. I’ve burnt out more than my fair share of stand mixers and KitchenAid’s are the only ones that have stood the test of time for me.”

With Melissa’s advice in mind, I took the Artisan Pro to my kitchen for a spin (whisk, mix, and knead) and it proved that KitchenAid are the experts when it comes to balance. This is the biggest, most powerful domestic model you could buy, just teetering on the edge of becoming commercial. It has a half speed setting for gently folding in delicate ingredients and I made some huge (and flawless) batches of bread dough, cakes, cookies, and whipped cream. The only difference between this and industrial models that I've used before is how attractive it is. It is a KitchenAid, after all.

For all its power and versatility, the KitchenAid overcooks the needs of the average baker a little. The crank bowl-lift mechanism (I've dedicated an article to the differences between bowl lift and tilt head stand mixers) is only important if you’re working with tough doughs and mixes. If you don’t need that, it’s an unnecessary adjustment to make. I’d stick with an Artisan KitchenAid and pocket the extra money.

You can find out more in my review of the KitchenAid Artisan 6.6-litre Stand Mixer (there's also a smaller 5.6-litre KitchenAid that I've reviewed too.)

Best value stand mixer

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Having handled stand mixers that are five times the price of the ProCook, I was wary of how this would stand up to the other models in this guide. However, as you can tell from its position in this buying guide, the ProCook impressed more than any budget stand mixer could hope to.

Not only is this stylish (and available in a range of colours), the intuitive design would be easy to work with, even if this is the first stand mixer that you’ve ever used. Common compromises that come with cheaper stand mixers, such as wobbling on the countertop, were neatly fixed with grippy feet. Similarly, the splash guard (a feature of more premium stand mixers) fits onto the head with some simple rubber feet that keep it securely in place. And, if you were tempted by the array of accessories on offer from KitchenAid, you’ll be pleased to know that they’re all compatible with the ProCook, so you can make use of other premium extras without having to fork out the big bucks for the stand mixer itself. This is a model that has clearly been designed by bakers.

In all the tests that I ran this through, the ProCook delivered the results that I was after. The bread dough was elastic and soft, my cake mix was smoothly mixed, and the meringue that I made after the formal tests were glossy and stiff. The only compromise you need to make is that you’ll have to stand with a spatula in hand. The attachments and movement of the stand mixer head can’t quite cover all parts of the bowl. Whilst this doesn’t pose a problem for using the dough hook or the whisk, if you’re using the beater, you’ll end up with some untouched powder that needs a nudge to be integrated into the mix.

You can find out more in my full ProCook Stand Mixer review.

The best of the rest

If you feel like those models haven't quite hit the spot, I do have three more suggestions. These ones are still brilliant and I feel happy to recommend them to you. Whilst they aren't specialists like the six above, I still think you'd be a happy baker with them on your counter.

Best KitchenAid alternative

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While KitchenAid is the famed stand mixer brand out there, you could say that the kMix is in fact, the favoured stand mixer of bakers. Why? Well, this quietly confident appliance is not only sturdy and capable, but it also packs a serious punch when it comes to power, with 1000 watts to put up a fight against any mix you pop into the bowl.

In my tests, it certainly proved to be a trooper, dealing with pizza dough and batter with ease, as well as evenly mixing in chocolate chips. The all-metal attachments are very well made and easy to clean, and the (option) glass bowl allows you to see your mix in progress, taking some of the guesswork out of the process. It is heavier than other metal bowls of other stand mixers on this list, however, and therefore won't suit everyone.

It might also interest you to know that this is the stylish stand mixer that replaced KitchenAid as the stand mixers that they use on The Great British Bake Off. It's also been endorsed by Mary Berry, so the kMix has some serious baking royalty behind it. 

I think it's attractive and very much worthy of a place on the counter, but it's just not quite a KitchenAid. Having to scrape my mix from the bottom of the bowl felt like something that I shouldn't have to do on a £500 machine and, whilst the six colourways are nice, they're nothing compared to the Artisan's 36. You can certainly save money with the kMix though. It's cheaper than a KitchenAid.

You can find out more in my full Kenwood kMix Stand Mixer review.

Most stylish stand mixer

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It would be easy to dismiss Smeg's stand mixer as a piece that values style over substance, but there's real solid research behind the piece too. It's sturdy and well made (I was particularly impressed with the weighty attachments which made light work of all kinds of tasks), with a tough metal body and dishwasher-safe tools.

As well as the usual three attachments, this retro-style Smeg stand mixer comes with a splash guard and flexi-beater. It also claims to make 4lb of dough in one batch, so I put that to the test and found it coped admirably, making it an excellent choice if you make a lot of bread at home. The bowl was squeaky clean when I  turned the dough out and the motor didn’t struggle kneading such quantities, making it a pretty powerful model. There was a small amount of shaking (and a lot of whining and noise) with this model when I tried it on the highest setting, but this is fairly usual with tilt-head designs.

Whilst it's easily the best-looking stand mixer I've tested, I couldn't quite justify putting it in my top six because of the price vs performance. You could pick up a KitchenAid Artisan in whatever colour you desire for just a fraction more. The Artisan will probably last for longer and it'll certainly do a more thorough and quieter job. In spite of that, it's easily one of the best wedding gifts we can think of - if you're feeling flash.

You can find out more in my full Smeg Retro 50s Stand Mixer review.

Best budget KitchenAid stand mixer

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The KitchenAid Classic is an often overlooked stand mixer in the brand's range, but it's a classic for a reason. The simple design cuts 50 watts of power and 0.5-litres of bowl space (alongside a handle on the bowl), but you can save a couple of hundred pounds for making those compromises. If you're a sucker for a brand, this could be the best way to get your hands on a KitchenAid. 

I've gone deeper into the details of the difference between the Artisan and the Classic, because I tested them side by side. Practically, this whipped cream into stiff peaks in almost an identical time frame as the Artisan. It was better than the ProCook and the Smeg at making cake mix and it didn't wobble with most of my bread doughs (and only a little with my toughest test). As far as stand mixers go, this gets a good balance of price, versatility, and quality.

There are some drawbacks though. I did really miss having a handle on the bowl: life became a lot messier when I was trying to balance the bowl and my spatula with just two hands. I also missed the colour options that come with the Artisan. I know it sounds superficial, but it's nice to make a choice that will complement (rather than clash) with your kitchen.

I'd still approve of the KitchenAid Classic in any kitchen that I walked into. It's a very savvy way to get your hands on the KitchenAid name, whilst pocketing £200-300 for baking supplies. You could buy a very fancy apron with that money.

You can find out more in my full KitchenAid Classic review.

The ones that just missed the list

I know I promised you that we were at the end of my list of the best stand mixers, but if you're curious about what else I tested, here are three that didn't quite make the list. Two of them are budget stand mixers, which is find if you won't use yours often, but you'll need to be careful that you don't overwork them and blow the motor.

How I chose and tested the best stand mixers

In order to bring you an accurate picture of the best stand mixers, for this guide I selected models from both big and small brands, at varying price points. Our testers and I used them to make a variety of recipes, and assessed them on the following factors:

• Number of speeds and attachments—did they have enough speeds for all range of kitchen tasks, and come with enough attachments (e.g a dough whisk) to allow us to make a wide range of recipes?
• Power—we assessed each model for how well it performed each food prep task—for example, did it leave our cake batter thoroughly mixed and smooth, or did it miss pockets of ingredients?
• How easy they were to store—stand mixers can be bulky, so we also evaluated how easy they would be to stow away after use, including whether they'd fit in a standard cupboard or if they were stylish enough that you'd be happy to display them on your counter.
• Ease of cleaning—stand mixers, similarly to the best blenders, can be very awkward to clean. So we assessed each of the models on how simple it was to dismantle the machine and keep every inch of it mess-free—and also whether it came with dishwasher-safe attachments.
• Value-for-money—stand mixers can be pricey, so we evaluated each model on whether it offered great performance for its price.

FAQs

What to consider when choosing the best stand mixer

Before making your purchase, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure you choose the very best stand mixer for you and your needs:

• Capacity—if you’re an avid bread baker, a model with a small bowl and a lackluster motor is not going to cut it, so make sure you get one with a big bowl capacity. Similarly, if you only cook for two people, you’re not going to need a design with a huge bowl. 4 litres will serve anyone well, but if you want to batch bake, look at models closer to 6 litres or even possibly larger.
• Size and weight—stand mixers are bulky. So the question is, which space is more precious to you, worktop or cabinet? If your cupboards are full to bursting, keep it on the worktop and vice versa. If you are planning to put your stand mixer in a cabinet, make sure it’s a comfortable weight to lift; some are made of solid metal and can be very heavy. Check the dimensions of the mixer you’re keen on and measure the space you plan to keep it.
• Attachments—almost all stand mixers come with three standard attachments: a flat beater, wire whisk and dough hook, and splash guards are commonly included too. The standard three attachments will be enough for most people to carry out a lot of food prep tasks, so ask if yourself if you honestly need paid-for extras like a food mincer of a spaghetti shaper.
• Your budget—Stand mixers start from as little as £75 but can rise to over £1000. How often you plan to use a stand mixer should dictate how much you’re willing to spend. If you’re certain you’d use a £500 stand mixer a couple of times a week, this of course represents greater value for money than if you used a £250 model once a month. Additional attachments can bump up the price considerably too, so think about what you’d genuinely make use of. For a good all-rounder with great build quality and the capability to add extra attachments, anything from £250-£400 is a good ballpark in our eyes.

Is a stand mixer worth buying?

Stand mixers are pricey, but if you cook from scratch frequently—and especially if you are a keen baker—a stand mixer is definitely worth buying. They help to make doughs, batters, whip egg whites, cream or mashed potatoes, in a way that no other appliance can.

Ultimately, a stand mixer is designed to take the legwork out of laborious, time-consuming food prep tasks, saving you the effort. They can also be customized into other kitchen gadgets with a seemingly endless array of attachments, meaning their price tag often offers great value-for-money too.

Overall, a stand mixer is well worth buying if you are a regular cook/baker and feel you could benefit from help in the kitchen.

What functions and attachments are essential in a stand mixer?

A roomy bowl is a good place to start, and a mixer that has six-speed settings or more will cover all bases when prepping food. Look for a design that has a motor of 300W or more to make sure it’s delivering enough power, and if you can find a model with a flexi-beater (or add it as an optional extra), so much the better.

We’d generally hold off buying every attachment that catches your eye right away— use the mixer for a while first to see if you really need any of them. But if you do want to use attachments, there are a myriad that you can buy to turn your stand mixer into a multi-functional appliance. Some particularly useful attachments are:

• A blender attachment—if you don’t already have a separate blender for making smoothies, purées, soups and baby food, this handy attachment is worth considering.
• A food processor attachment—the addition of a food processor can widen the scope of a stand mixer no end. If you don’t have a standalone food processor and your knife skills leave a lot to be desired, this is a time-saving godsend.
• A meat grinder attachment—dedicated carnivores can experiment with the cuts of meat used to make ground meat, as well as the coarseness, with a grinder attachment. This gadget can stuff sausages too.

What stand mixers do bakers use?

More often than not bakers will use specially designed industrial stand mixers. Brands like Sage and KitchenAid make larger, more powerful machines that straddle the middleground somewhat, with Kenwood being a famous make for professionals too.