Best stand mixer 2026: our comparison of seven models
By Charles NeveuUpdated on 07/10/2026AnalysedEditor's review7 models compared
If you bake and knead every week for years, the best stand mixer is the KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175: a cast-metal body, two stainless steel bowls of 4.7 and 3 L and a 5-year warranty, for 520.65 euros on 7 October 2026. Best value: the Bosch MUM5 MUM58200, with 1,000 W and 2.7 kg of dough claimed for 155.98 euros, but a plastic body and a 3.9 L bowl.
Prices and availability may change. The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
The best stand mixer is not the same for a Sunday baker and for a family who make their own bread every week, so this comparison ranks seven models by profile, from entry level to high end. I compared their manufacturer pages (stainless steel bowl size, stated dough capacity, speeds, warranty), checked their Amazon France prices on 7 October 2026 and wrote down each one's drawback before its strengths. Kneading bread dough, whipping egg whites, beating a cake batter: they all can, just not in the same quantities. To understand the main types of mixer before picking a model, start with our stand mixer guide.
How we compared
This stand mixer comparison is based on reading product pages, not on hands-on testing: none of these mixers has been used by our team, hence the "Editor's review" badge. I looked at 12 stand mixers sold on Amazon France and kept the 7 that cover each profile with an in-stock offer sold by Amazon on 7 October 2026.
For each one, I recorded the price, availability and seller on the Amazon page, then checked bowl size, stated dough capacity, speeds, weight, cleaning and warranty against the manufacturer's page (KitchenAid, Bosch, Kenwood). A value that is missing or contradictory between the two sources is marked "n.c." (not communicated). We do not reuse Amazon customer ratings or other sites' rankings.
The ranking follows four criteria, in this order: how much dough the mixer takes, how it is built (metal or plastic), the warranty, then the price. Wattage does not decide anything: brands do not measure it the same way, and three of the seven product pages contradict themselves on it. To compare prices like for like, the table below divides each price by the size of the main bowl:
Model
Main bowl (L)
Price on 7 October 2026
Price per litre of bowl
Bosch Series 2 MUMS2EW00
3.8
108.24 euros
28.5 euros
Bosch MUM5 MUM58200
3.9
155.98 euros
40.0 euros
Kenwood Chef XL KVL4100W
6.7
299.17 euros
44.7 euros
Kenwood Go KZM35
4
182.87 euros
45.7 euros
KitchenAid Classic 5KSM95
4.3
315.99 euros
73.5 euros
KitchenAid Heavy Duty 5KSM55
5.2
414.99 euros
79.8 euros
KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175
4.7
520.65 euros
110.8 euros
The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
Each model's score out of 5 is an editor's review based on these criteria. The full approach is explained on our method page.
The 7 best stand mixers for baking in detail
Each mixer is presented with the profile it suits, its drawback first, then what sets it apart. Prices were checked on 7 October 2026; the price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175: our pick
Who it is for: bakers who knead and whisk every week for years.
What nobody tells you: it is the most expensive mixer here, and the price varies a lot with the colour. On 7 October 2026, the Fresh Linen version sold by Amazon cost 520.65 euros (limited stock), while the pistachio version was only offered by a third-party seller at 559.11 euros. The power rating is unclear too: 300 W on the Amazon page, a different figure in KitchenAid's own table, so we mark it n.c. Finally, the wire whisk has to be washed by hand.
What I liked: it is the only mixer here that comes with two stainless steel bowls, 4.7 L and 3 L, handy for whipping egg whites while a brioche dough rises in the other. The body is cast metal, the planetary action covers at least 59 points of the bowl according to KitchenAid, and the flex edge beater scrapes the sides as it mixes. KitchenAid claims up to 1 kg of flour, a 5-year warranty and a 15-year repair promise: the best cover in this comparison. Our KitchenAid Artisan review goes through its specs and alternatives.
Stainless steel bowls of 4.7 L and 3 L
10 speeds, tilt head
Whisk, dough hook, flat beater and flex edge beater
Who it is for: a family who want a powerful mixer for under 160 euros.
What nobody tells you: the body is plastic and the bowl holds only 3.9 L. For a big batch of bread or two brioches at once, you will have to knead in two goes. Bosch and Amazon also give different weights, so we mark it n.c.
What I liked: it is the best value stand mixer in our selection. Bosch claims 1,000 W and up to 2.7 kg of cake mix or 1.9 kg of yeast dough, more than the 1.35 kg of bread dough claimed for the Kenwood kMix, which costs 72 euros more. The arm lifts at the touch of a button (EasyArm Lift), the machine is only 28.2 cm tall and it keeps 7 speeds plus a turbo setting for whipped cream and meringue.
What nobody tells you: it has only 4 speeds and a plastic body. To whip cream without turning it into butter, you get less control than with the 10 speeds of a KitchenAid.
What I liked: it is the cheapest mixer in this comparison and it is no toy. Bosch claims 700 W, a 3.8 L stainless steel bowl, planetary mixing and up to 2.4 kg of dough, enough for a pizza dough or a family pound cake. At 26.6 cm tall, it fits under any cabinet and is easy to put away. It is our reference entry-level mixer; other cheap models will get their own selection.
Kenwood Chef XL KVL4100W: for a large family who bake bread
Who it is for: a large family who bake their own bread.
What nobody tells you: Kenwood contradicts itself on power, 1,000 W in its table and 1,200 W in its text, and has no French page for this white model: our figures come from the Italian page. The mixer weighs 7.84 kg according to Kenwood and is 38.5 cm deep according to Amazon, so it takes up its share of the worktop.
What I liked: its 6.7 L bowl is the largest in this selection. Kenwood claims 2.42 kg of dough, 5 kg of cake mix and 16 egg whites, enough to knead the week's bread and brioche in one go. The body is metal, the bowl is dishwasher-safe and the dial adjusts speed continuously. A K-beater, a whisk and a dough hook are included.
KitchenAid Heavy Duty 5KSM55SXXEWH: for dense doughs
Who it is for: dense doughs and big batches.
What nobody tells you: it is 41.9 cm tall and weighs 12.7 kg according to Amazon: it does not fit under a standard wall cabinet and will not go in a cupboard. KitchenAid gives it only a 2-year warranty, against 5 years for the Artisan, and the Amazon page says it is not dishwasher-safe without saying which parts.
What I liked: it is the only bowl-lift mixer in this comparison. The motor stays fixed and the 5.2 L stainless steel bowl rises to the attachment with a lever, then locks at three points according to the Amazon page: a more stable design for dense bread dough than a tilt head. The body and gears are metal, with overheating protection according to Amazon. It is the kind of mixer we will compare on our professional stand mixer page.
KitchenAid Classic 5KSM95PSEBS: a metal KitchenAid for less
Who it is for: a metal KitchenAid without paying for the extras.
What nobody tells you: for 204.66 euros less than the Artisan, you lose the second bowl, the flex edge beater and 3 years of warranty (2 years instead of 5). The whisk is washed by hand, and the power rating differs between Amazon (275 W) and KitchenAid, so we mark it n.c.
What I liked: it keeps what makes a KitchenAid: a cast-metal body, a tilt head, 10 speeds, planetary mixing and the same front hub for more than 15 optional attachments (pasta roller, mincer). The 4.3 L stainless steel bowl is enough for a cake or a pizza dough for four, and KitchenAid adds a 15-year repair promise. Its full page, KitchenAid Classic, will detail the gap between the two.
Who it is for: a small kitchen with low wall cabinets.
What nobody tells you: Kenwood claims 0.5 kg of flour for bread dough and 1.8 kg of cake mix: too little for a family batch of bread, and it costs more than the Bosch MUM5, which claims 2.7 kg of cake mix.
What I liked: it is 30 cm tall according to Kenwood and slides under wall cabinets or into a cupboard, with cord storage in the base. The body, the 4 L stainless steel bowl and the tools are metal, the splash guard has a built-in measuring spoon and the machine weighs 6.3 kg. For cupcakes, pancake batter or eight egg whites, it is plenty.
Stand mixer comparison: KitchenAid, Bosch or Kenwood?
The three brands in this comparison do not sell the same thing. KitchenAid sells longevity: a metal body across the range, the widest choice of optional attachments and, with the Artisan, the longest warranty, at the highest price per litre of bowl. Bosch sells dough capacity at the lowest price: its two picks claim 2.4 and 2.7 kg of dough for under 160 euros, in exchange for a plastic body. Kenwood covers both ends, from the 30 cm Go to the 6.7 L Chef XL, in metal, but with less precise product pages (contradictory power, foreign page).
If you are torn between the two metal brands, a head-to-head comparison of Kenwood and KitchenAid is coming. Moulinex and Smeg have well-known models, but none made our selection (see below).
Full comparison table
Bosch Series 2 MUMS2EW00 Bosch
Bowl (L) : 3.8, Power (W) : 700, Speeds : 4, Stated capacity : 2.4 kg of dough
Only 4 speeds and a plastic body: it does the job without fine control.
A plastic body and a 3.9 L bowl: a big batch of bread has to be kneaded in two goes.
0.5 kg of flour claimed for bread dough: too little for a family batch.
Kenwood contradicts itself on power (1,000 W in its table, 1,200 W in its text) and has no French product page for this white model.
One bowl, no flex edge beater, a 2-year warranty instead of 5, and a power rating that differs between Amazon (275 W) and KitchenAid.
41.9 cm tall and 12.7 kg according to Amazon, and only a 2-year KitchenAid warranty, against 5 years for the Artisan.
The most expensive model here (520.65 euros in Fresh Linen, limited stock), a power rating that changes with the source, and a whisk you wash by hand.
Prices and availability may change. The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
How to choose the best value stand mixer
Start with the amount of dough, then the build and the warranty: these are the three criteria that separate the seven models in this comparison the most. Each criterion is explained in more detail in our stand mixer guide.
Start from the amount of dough, not the watts
The capacity stated by the manufacturer tells you more than a wattage figure about what a mixer can knead. For bread or brioche every week, aim for at least 2 kg of stated dough and a bowl of 5 L or more: the Kenwood Chef XL (2.42 kg) and the KitchenAid Heavy Duty fit this profile. For cakes, egg whites or a pizza dough for four, a 3.8 to 4.3 L bowl is enough. Beware: brands do not all count the same thing, flour alone at KitchenAid, total dough at Bosch.
Metal or plastic
A metal body is heavier and moves less on the worktop when the hook kneads a stiff dough: that is the case for the KitchenAid and Kenwood picks. Both Bosch models are plastic, lighter to take out of the cupboard, and Bosch says the MUM5 handles heavy doughs. If you use it once or twice a month, plastic is not a problem.
Tilt head or bowl lift
On a tilt-head mixer, the top swings back so you can fit the whisk or the hook: six of the seven models work this way. The bowl-lift KitchenAid Heavy Duty copes better with big quantities, but needs 41.9 cm of clearance.
Warranty and repairability
Warranties range from 2 to 5 years. KitchenAid gives 5 years on the Artisan and 2 years on the Classic and the Heavy Duty, with a 15-year repair promise on the Artisan and the Classic. Bosch shows only the 2-year legal guarantee of conformity on the pages of its two picks. Kenwood does not state the length on the pages we read.
Height under your cabinets
Measure the space between your worktop and your wall cabinets before you buy. The Bosch Series 2 (26.6 cm), the Bosch MUM5 (28.2 cm) and the Kenwood Go (30 cm) fit anywhere; the KitchenAid Heavy Duty (41.9 cm) needs a clear worktop.
The models we did not keep
Four well-known mixers, often featured in other comparisons, did not make our selection on 7 October 2026:
Moulinex Bake Essential QA161810 (149.99 euros): a 4.8 L stainless steel bowl and a mincer included, but Moulinex claims 500 g of flour for bread dough, and no Moulinex page matches this black version. For 6 euros more, the Bosch MUM5 claims 1.9 kg of yeast dough.
Kenwood kMix KMX750RD (227.99 euros): a 5 L stainless steel bowl and 1,000 W, but 1.35 kg of bread dough claimed by Kenwood, less than the Bosch MUM5, which costs 72 euros less.
Smeg SMF02RDEU (306.14 euros): retro styling, but limited stock and no seller shown when we checked, accessories not dishwasher-safe according to Amazon, and no Smeg page for the red colour.
Bosch Series 6 MUMS6EW18 (405.00 euros): 1,600 W and 3.5 kg of dough according to Bosch, the most capable on paper, but in limited stock when we checked and dearer than the Kenwood Chef XL, which has a bigger bowl.
The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
If you only make pancakes, whipped cream or egg whites, a stand mixer may be more than you need: our hand mixer page will compare electric hand mixers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best stand mixer on the market?
No mixer wins for every profile. To bake every week for years, the KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175 offers a metal build, two bowls and the longest warranty in our selection. For the best value, the Bosch MUM5 MUM58200 takes 2.7 kg of dough. For a large family's bread, the Kenwood Chef XL has the biggest bowl, 6.7 L.
How many watts does a good stand mixer need?
Wattage matters less than the dough capacity stated by the manufacturer. In our comparison, the 1,000 W Bosch MUM5 claims 2.7 kg of dough, while the Artisan, rated 300 W on Amazon, is rated by KitchenAid for 1 kg of flour. Compare the amount and type of dough claimed, rather than watts from one brand to another.
Which stand mixer is the best value?
The Bosch MUM5 MUM58200 is the best value in our selection: 1,000 W, 2.7 kg of cake mix or 1.9 kg of yeast dough according to Bosch, and an arm that lifts at the touch of a button. Its limits are a plastic body and a 3.9 L bowl. On a tighter budget, the Bosch Series 2 still claims 2.4 kg of dough with 4 speeds.
What bowl size do you need for bread?
For bread or brioche every week, aim for a bowl of 5 L or more and a stated dough capacity of at least 2 kg. The Kenwood Chef XL (6.7 L, 2.42 kg of dough) and the KitchenAid Heavy Duty (5.2 L, bowl lift) are built for this. A 3.8 to 4.3 L bowl is enough for cakes, pizza dough and egg whites.
KitchenAid or Kenwood: which should you choose?
Choose KitchenAid if you want a durable metal mixer with many attachments and, on the Artisan, a 5-year warranty. Choose Kenwood if you want a big bowl for less: the Chef XL offers 6.7 L, against 4.7 L for the Artisan. Both brands use a metal body on the models we kept.
