Need an over-the-range microwave that fits the cabinet gap and the way you cook? The best otr Microwaves can clear counter space and make busy kitchen routines feel less cluttered.
This roundup brings ten models into one comparison, so the differences are easier to spot before you spend time sorting through product pages. Keep reading for a practical guide to the lineup.
Key Takeaways
- Choose a capacity that matches your cookware, especially if you regularly heat large plates, casserole dishes, or family-size meals.
- Compare wattage carefully, since higher power can shorten heating times and improve everyday convenience.
- Check the microwave’s width and mounting space against your cabinet opening before ordering.
- Review ventilation performance, including CFM, if the microwave will replace a dedicated range hood.
- Pick a finish and control layout that suit your kitchen, cleaning habits, and preferred cooking functions.
| Balanced Kitchen Pick |  |
GE Over-Range Microwave 1.6 Cu. Ft. | Standard 30-inch width | 1,000-watt cooking power | Stainless steel finish | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Large Capacity Choice |  |
BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave 1.9 Cu. Ft. | Largest listed capacity | 400 CFM ventilation | 1,000-watt power | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Practical Stainless Pick |  |
Midea Over-Range Microwave 1.7 Cu. Ft. | Useful mid-size capacity | 1,000-watt output | Stainless steel exterior | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Everyday Cooking Workhorse |  |
BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave 1.7 Cu. Ft. | Practical 1.7-cubic-foot size | 1,000-watt cooking power | Everyday over-range format | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Smart Space Saver |  |
Samsung Smart Slim Microwave 1.1 Cu. Ft. | Wi-Fi and voice control | Powerful 550 CFM ventilation | Slim 1.1-cubic-foot design | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Dark Finish Favorite |  |
BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave Black | Black appliance finish | 1.7-cubic-foot capacity | 1,000-watt power | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Straightforward Black Model |  |
Over-Range Microwave 1.7 Cu. Ft. | Standard 1.7-cubic-foot size | 1,000-watt output | Black exterior | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Bright Kitchen Option |  |
BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave White | Clean white finish | 1.7-cubic-foot capacity | 1,000-watt output | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Compact Stainless Fit |  |
Stellar Coll Over-Range Microwave 1.3 Cu. Ft. | Compact 24-inch width | Stainless steel exterior | Built-in vent fan | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Countertop Alternative |  |
Toshiba Countertop Microwave 1.2 Cu. Ft. | 1,000-watt cooking power | Compact countertop format | Black finish | View on Amazon | Read Review |
More Details on Our Top Picks
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GE Over-Range Microwave 1.6 Cu. Ft.
The GE is a sensible fit for a standard 30-inch range, especially if you want a familiar over-the-range layout with enough room for everyday bowls, plates, and reheating dishes. Its 1.6-cubic-foot capacity, 1,000-watt output, and stainless steel finish create a practical middle ground for most kitchens.
The main limitation is the sparse published feature information, so you cannot confirm specialty functions such as sensor cooking or convection from the provided listing. Still, the combination of standard width and useful capacity makes this a strong all-purpose choice.
- Brand:GE
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.6 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Finish:Stainless steel
- Width:30 inches
- Additional Feature:Over-the-range installation
- Additional Feature:1.6-cubic-foot interior
- Additional Feature:Stainless steel exterior
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BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave 1.9 Cu. Ft.
Choose this BLACK+DECKER if interior space matters most. The 1.9-cubic-foot capacity is the largest listed among the standard over-range models here, while 1,000 watts supports everyday cooking and reheating without an unusually long wait.
Its 400 CFM vent fan adds useful smoke and odor removal above the cooktop. The tradeoff is a larger interior footprint, which may feel excessive in a compact kitchen and leaves fewer details available about automatic cooking programs.
- Brand:BLACK+DECKER
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.9 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Width:30 inches
- Additional Feature:400 CFM hood ventilation
- Additional Feature:Over-the-range installation
- Additional Feature:Large cooking interior
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Midea Over-Range Microwave 1.7 Cu. Ft.
Midea’s 1.7-cubic-foot model suits households that want a middle-size cooking cavity without moving into the larger 1.9-cubic-foot class. With 1,000 watts and a stainless steel exterior, it covers the core requirements for reheating, defrosting, and routine microwave cooking.
The listing does not provide a ventilation rating or specialty cooking details, so this is best viewed as a straightforward appliance rather than a feature-heavy upgrade. Its main appeal is the useful capacity and neutral stainless finish, which works with many kitchen designs.
- Brand:Midea
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.7 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Finish:Stainless steel
- Additional Feature:Over-the-range installation
- Additional Feature:1.7-cubic-foot interior
- Additional Feature:Stainless steel finish
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BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave 1.7 Cu. Ft.
This BLACK+DECKER model is aimed at straightforward daily use, with a 1.7-cubic-foot interior that gives you room for standard dinner plates and medium-sized containers. Its 1,000-watt output is appropriate for common tasks such as reheating leftovers, cooking frozen meals, and softening ingredients.
The available listing does not identify a vent capacity, finish, or special cooking modes, so you will need to confirm those details before choosing it for a tightly specified kitchen project. Its strength is simple: a familiar size and power combination without unnecessary complexity.
- Brand:BLACK+DECKER
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.7 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Additional Feature:Over-the-range installation
- Additional Feature:Standard cooking capacity
- Additional Feature:1,000-watt output
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Samsung Smart Slim Microwave 1.1 Cu. Ft.
Samsung’s slim model is the best fit for a kitchen where vertical clearance and connected controls matter more than maximum interior space. You get Wi-Fi connectivity, voice control, sensor cooking, and an LED light bar, giving this compact microwave a more advanced feature set than the simpler models in the roundup.
The 550 CFM hood vent is a meaningful advantage for active cooktops, while the fingerprint-resistant stainless finish helps reduce visible smudges. Its honest limitation is the 1.1-cubic-foot capacity, which may feel tight for large dishes or family-size cookware.
- Brand:Samsung
- Product Type:Smart over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.1 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,100 watts
- Finish:Fingerprint-resistant stainless
- Additional Feature:Wi-Fi connectivity
- Additional Feature:Voice control
- Additional Feature:Sensor cooking
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BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave Black
A black finish makes this BLACK+DECKER model a natural match for kitchens built around dark appliances or high-contrast cabinetry. The 1.7-cubic-foot capacity and 1,000-watt output provide the same practical baseline many households need for standard meals and reheating.
The listing does not specify ventilation strength or automatic cooking functions, so the feature set remains unclear. Choose this version primarily for its black exterior, familiar size, and standard over-range configuration.
- Brand:BLACK+DECKER
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.7 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Finish:Black
- Additional Feature:Over-the-range installation
- Additional Feature:Black exterior
- Additional Feature:Standard cooking capacity
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Over-Range Microwave 1.7 Cu. Ft.
This unnamed over-range model keeps the focus on the essentials: a 1.7-cubic-foot cavity and 1,000 watts of power. That combination fits routine microwave work, including reheating plates, preparing packaged foods, and defrosting common ingredients.
Because the listing does not identify a brand, finish details beyond black, vent rating, or special programs, you should confirm the installation and feature specifications before ordering. It is best suited to shoppers who want a basic black microwave and do not need connected controls.
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.7 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Finish:Black
- Additional Feature:Over-the-range installation
- Additional Feature:Basic microwave format
- Additional Feature:Black finish
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BLACK+DECKER Over-Range Microwave White
The white BLACK+DECKER version works well in kitchens where a lighter appliance finish keeps the room feeling open and coordinated. Its 1.7-cubic-foot capacity and 1,000-watt power provide a familiar setup for everyday cooking without taking the spotlight from the rest of the kitchen.
The main drawback is the limited feature information in the listing, particularly around ventilation and automatic programs. Select it for the white finish, standard capacity, and uncomplicated over-range design.
- Brand:BLACK+DECKER
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.7 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Finish:White
- Additional Feature:Over-the-range installation
- Additional Feature:White exterior
- Additional Feature:Standard cooking capacity
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Stellar Coll Over-Range Microwave 1.3 Cu. Ft.
With a 1.3-cubic-foot capacity, this model is a practical match for smaller kitchens, apartments, or households that rarely use oversized cookware. The listed 24-inch width can be especially useful where a full-size 30-inch unit would crowd the surrounding cabinetry.
A vent fan and stainless exterior add core over-range functionality, but the smaller cavity limits the size of dishes you can place inside. Confirm the exact installation dimensions before purchase, because a narrow opening leaves little room for measurement errors.
- Brand:Stellar Coll
- Product Type:Over-range microwave
- Capacity:1.3 cubic feet
- Finish:Stainless steel
- Width:24 inches
- Additional Feature:Integrated vent fan
- Additional Feature:Compact over-range design
- Additional Feature:Stainless steel finish
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Toshiba Countertop Microwave 1.2 Cu. Ft.
This Toshiba is not an over-the-range microwave, but it can suit a kitchen that has no compatible mounting space or does not need built-in ventilation. Its 1.2-cubic-foot capacity, 1,000-watt output, and black finish cover the basic needs of countertop cooking and reheating.
The key limitation is installation type: it does not replace an OTR unit’s hood vent or space-saving placement above the range. Choose it only if you have a clear countertop location and prefer simple placement over integrated kitchen design.
- Brand:Toshiba
- Product Type:Countertop microwave
- Capacity:1.2 cubic feet
- Wattage:1,000 watts
- Finish:Black
- Additional Feature:Countertop installation
- Additional Feature:1.2-cubic-foot interior
- Additional Feature:Black exterior
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Any OTR Microwave Replace My Existing One?
Not always. Compare the width, cabinet depth, mounting bracket position, vent direction, and required electrical connection before buying. Even microwaves with the same listed width can differ in height and depth. Keep the old unit’s installation manual, if available, and check the replacement model’s template for exact mounting points.
Should I Choose External Or Recirculating Venting?
Choose external venting if your kitchen already has compatible ductwork or if you cook frequently with high heat, oil, or strong odors. It sends airborne moisture and particles outside instead of filtering and returning them to the room. Choose recirculating venting when ductwork is unavailable or difficult to add. Replace the charcoal filter at the interval listed in the manual, usually every few months depending on cooking frequency.
How Much Clearance Does An OTR Microwave Need?
The required distance depends on the manufacturer and local building rules, but many units need about 13 to 16 inches between the cooktop and the microwave’s bottom. Always follow the installation instructions over a general range. Allow enough room for large cookware, safe stirring, and comfortable control access. Gas cooktops may require different clearances than electric or induction models, so check both appliance manuals.
Is An OTR Microwave Safe Above A Gas Range?
Yes, provided the microwave is specifically approved for that installation and you follow the required clearance measurements. Gas flames, heat, and steam can place extra demands on the microwave’s underside and ventilation system. Keep flammable items away from the cooktop, use the correct surface-light setting, and avoid operating burners without cookware. Professional installation is wise if ductwork, cabinetry, or gas-clearance requirements are complicated.
How Often Should I Replace The Vent Filter?
Clean a reusable grease filter about every one to three months, depending on how often you fry, grill, or cook with high heat. A dirty filter reduces airflow and can allow grease to accumulate around the vent. Replace a charcoal filter on a recirculating model according to the manual, often every six to twelve months. The exact schedule depends on cooking frequency, and filters are much cheaper than replacing a smoke-filled kitchen.