Which KitchenAid Stand Mixer Should You Buy? We Compared (Almost) All of Them

We've long maintained the best KitchenAid stand mixer is a bowl-lift model without a "foot," as Stella asserts here. With most KitchenAids, the bottom of the bowl has ridges (or a foot, if you will) that lock into the base. Off the mixer, this makes it tougher to keep the bowl steady, unusable with a water bath (like for melting chocolate), and more. 

But, as Stella also noted, this is a personal preference. There are plenty of bakers who like their KitchenAid Artisans and Classics—who find these models perfectly suitable for baking cakes, cookies, and breads. This is why we wanted to test and compare (almost) all of the KitchenAid stand mixers, so you could decide which is best for your kitchen. 

We rounded up four popular KitchenAid stand mixers, using them to make whipped cream, cookies, and bread. Here are the pros and cons of each.

The Best KitchenAid Stand Mixers

The Best KitchenAid Stand Mixer

KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer

$600 $500 at Amazon $500 at Williams Sonoma $600 $500 at Sur La Table

We were saddened to hear our longtime favorite stand mixer (the Professional Series 600) was discontinued. However, a representative from KitchenAid told us that this 7-quart model was its replacement. Of course, we put it to the test…and it excelled. Like the 600, this bowl-lift stand mixer has attachments that nearly reach the sides of the bowl, so it’s able to tackle small and large amounts of ingredients alike. At more than 30 pounds, it's heavy and handles tough, sticky bread dough without moving an inch—but is also pretty dang quiet when operating. It has helpful features that improve upon the Pro 600, including a cord wrap, a pouring shield with bumpers for sturdiness, three beaters (the silicone-lined one is particularly nice for scraping), and a removable hub cap. Most KitchenAid mixers have a cap that flips upwards and, eventually, loosens and falls off entirely. We much prefer this newer design—it’s a small aesthetic thing that makes us feel like KitchenAid is paying attention to common complaints. 

Best for: If you want the sturdiest, most powerful KitchenAid mixer around, this is it. Of course, it’s expensive and its price point may only be worth it to avid bakers. 

Challenges or shortcomings: It can take effort to get the bowl to properly seat on the stand mixer’s arms. The bottom of the bowl features a bump that unmixed ingredients can pool around, requiring a thorough scraping. 

Key Specs 

• Wattage: 500 
• Number of speeds: 10, plus a half speed
• Comes with: 3 beaters, whisk, dough hook, pouring shield, bowl scraper
• Weight: 31 pounds
• Warranty: 2 years
  

A KitchenAid Stand Mixer Many Bakers Will Be Happy With

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

$450 at Amazon $330 at Williams Sonoma $450 $330 at Target

The Artisan features a footed bowl that locks into the stand mixer’s base and a head that tilts and should be locked into place when in use. The tapered, footed bowl isn’t our favorite: it’s not as easy to scrape down the sides, and it can’t be placed over an open flame or a double boiler like a wide, non-footed bowl can. It’s best suited for medium-ish baking tasks (we wouldn’t recommend doubling up on a recipe) and we named it our top pick for casual bakers when we reviewed stand mixers. If you’ve had your eye on a special edition KitchenAid, it’s likely the Artisan.

Best for: If you’re a casual baker and don’t often make bread at home, you’ll likely be happy with the Artisan. The Artisan’s compatible with glass and all kinds of printed and mixed metal bowls, too (fun!).

Challenges or shortcomings: We wouldn’t recommend making oodles of bread with the Artisan—it has a tendency to walk and tilt-head stand mixer heads can loosen over time.

Key Specs

• Wattage: 325
• Number of speeds: 10
• Comes with: Paddle, dough hook, whisk, pour shield
• Weight: 26 pounds
• Warranty: 1-year
  

A Small KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Cramped Kitchens

KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

$380 $280 at Amazon $300 at Williams Sonoma $19 at Walmart

This smaller version of the Artisan is one of KitchenAid’s comparatively newer offerings. It has a 3.5-quart capacity, a 250-watt motor, and is about eight inches wide and 12 inches high compared to the Artisan’s 9-inch width and 14-inch height. If space-saving and standard-batch, occasional baking are your top priority, then the Artisan Mini may be worth considering. Like the Artisan, it features a footed bowl with a handle that locks into the base and a tilt-head that’s secured when in use.

Best for: The casual, space-saving (or in need of space-saving) baker will likely appreciate the Artisan Mini. It’s also compatible with a glass mixing bowl if that’s something you’re interested in. If you’re looking for the lightest weight, easiest-to-lift KitchenAid stand mixer, the Mini is the smallest it gets.

Challenges or shortcomings: The Artisan Mini has space limitations, as well as the same concerns of any tilt-head stand mixer (less power and longevity).  

Key Specs

• Wattage: 250
• Number of speeds: 10
• Comes with: Paddle, dough hook, whisk
• Weight: 18 pounds
• Warranty: 1-year

The Least Expensive KitchenAid Stand Mixer

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

$330 $250 at Amazon $24 at Walmart $250 at Home Depot

This is the least pricey stand mixer KitchenAid offers, despite being one-and-a-half quarts larger and having a 25-watt more powerful motor than the Artisan Mini. It’s also a footed, bowl-lock, tilt-head stand mixer. So, why the lower price? As far as we can tell, the bowl lacks a handle, and the mixer only comes in two colors (black and white). A stand mixer can be a focal point in a home kitchen, so this lack of color variety may well be important to you. 

Best for: The casual home baker who wants to get the most budget-friendly KitchenAid stand mixer and who doesn’t care about its colorway. 

Challenges or shortcomings: We wouldn’t recommend this stand mixer for frequent, heavy-duty use or a lot of bread baking. We’re not super fans of footed stand mixer bowls and dislike that the Classic’s bowl lacks a handle. It detracts from its usability, especially if the bowl gets lodged in place (which happened when we made kneaded bread dough with it). 

Key Specs

• Wattage: 275
• Number of speeds: 10
• Comes with: Paddle, dough hook, whisk
• Weight: 25 pounds
• Warranty: 1-year

FAQs

Can you use any KitchenAid attachment with any KitchenAid stand mixer?

KitchenAid’s attachments (meat grinder, pasta roller and cutter, spiralizer, etc.) are compatible with every KitchenAid stand mixer and fit into the hub of each model, with the exception of the ice cream maker. This attachment is compatible with “all Tilt-Head Stand Mixers, except models KSM3316 and KSM3317” and bowl-lift models “except models K5SS, KSM5, KSM50, KSM500 and KSM450,” according to KitchenAid.

What do I do with a loose tilt-head stand mixer?

To fix a loose or wobbling head on a tilt-head stand mixer, KitchenAid has several solutions, including scheduling a service to repair your mixer.

What’s the best KitchenAid stand mixer?

After extensive testing, our favorite stand mixer is the KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. This replaces our previous longtime top pick, the Professional 600, which was discontinued. We also like the tilt-head, Artisan stand mixer. Above, you can find a chart showing how the two compare to each other.

What's the best way to care for a KitchenAid stand mixer?

The best way to care for a KitchenAid is by using it! In fact, letting your stand mixer be inactive for too long (months) can be problematic. As far as cleanup goes, the whisk must be hand-washed, but the other attachments (paddle, dough hook) and bowl are dishwasher-safe.

Are tilt-head or bowl-lift stand mixers better?

In general, tilt-head stand mixers tend to walk or move more with tougher, stickier tasks (like a high-hydration dough). Bowl-lift stand mixers tend to be more powerful and stable and have larger capacities. For these reasons (and more), our favorite stand mixer is the bowl-lift KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer.

Why We're the Experts

• We've separately reviewed stand mixers.
• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the senior commerce editor for Serious Eats. She's been with the site since 2021.
• She's reviewed kitchen equipment professionally for about six years and previously worked for America's Test Kitchen, Food52, and more. She's reviewed air fryers, Ooni ovens, and so much more.
• We recently tested a 7-quart KitchenAid stand mixer that, the brand told us, took the place of our longtime favorite, now-discontinued stand mixer. It was excellent, and we now highly recommend it.