Best Stand Mixers UK (2026)
A stand mixer's real test is how it copes when pushed, not how it looks on the worktop. This guide is based on Expert Reviews' tested roundup, where each mixer was filled to maximum dough capacity to check for overheating, noise and shake, then used with its standard attachments for whipping egg whites, cake batter and frosting, timed with consistent volumes. The guide is from September 2024, so prices are as reviewed.
We have not hands-on tested these products. Our picks are based on published independent tests and reviews, listed at the bottom of this page. How we pick.
Our top pick
Kenwood kMix KMX754
Best value
Expert Reviews found one of the few stand mixers under £400 that can stand up to or outperform pricier rivals. Its extra-large capacity holds enough for a couple of loaves or several Victoria sponges, and even filled to capacity the motor didn't overheat, though it gets a little shaky making bread dough and isn't the best dough kneader.
- Solid performance at a budget price
- Extra-large capacity
- Motor doesn't overheat when filled to capacity
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenwood kMix KMX754 | Best value | 1,000W, 5L glass bowl, holds 2.72kg cake mixture or 1.35kg bread dough, variable speed | Check price |
| Smeg SMF03 Retro Stand Mixer | Best for style | 800W, 4.8L, ten speeds, glossy retro design in cream, red or black | Check price |
| KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PS | Best for accessories | 300W, 4.8L plus an additional 3L bowl, ten speeds, four attachments | Check price |
| Kenwood Titanium Chef Patissier XL | Best premium | 1,400W, 7L warming bowl plus 5L classic bowl, in-bowl weighing and warming, preset programmes, dishwasher-safe | Check price |
| KitchenAid Artisan 5.6L Bowl Lift | Best bowl lift | 325W, 5.6L, 11 speeds including half speed, bowl-lift design, compatible with 15 attachments | Check price |
| KitchenAid Classic K45SS | Best medium capacity | 275W, 4.5L, six speeds, planetary action, tilt-head | Check price |
| Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker | Best with built-in scales | 1,000W, 5L, ten speeds, built-in digital scales and timer, attachment hub | Check price |
Our picks in detail
Best value
Kenwood kMix KMX754
Expert Reviews found one of the few stand mixers under £400 that can stand up to or outperform pricier rivals. Its extra-large capacity holds enough for a couple of loaves or several Victoria sponges, and even filled to capacity the motor didn't overheat, though it gets a little shaky making bread dough and isn't the best dough kneader.
- Power
- 1,000W
- Capacity
- 5L
- Attachments
- K beater, wire whisk, dough hook, splash guard
- Price guide
- £205 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Solid performance at a budget price
- Extra-large capacity
- Motor doesn't overheat when filled to capacity
- Looks great on the counter
Cons
- Isn't the best dough kneader
- Gets a little shaky making bread dough
Best for style
Smeg SMF03 Retro Stand Mixer
Expert Reviews found a stand mixer that's not just a pretty face: it whipped a double helping of Victoria sponge batter in seconds and made easy work of meringue egg whites. Pushed to its bread dough capacity it struggled towards the end of kneading and the motor's safety mechanism kicked in to stop overheating, so heavy daily bread bakers may want a bigger motor.
- Power
- 800W
- Capacity
- 4.8L
- Speeds
- 10
- Price guide
- £500 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Beautiful, sleek retro design
- Top mixing ability for sponge batter and egg whites
Cons
- Motor struggles when kneading bread at full capacity
- Only three colour choices
Best for accessories
KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PS
Expert Reviews found speedy, thorough mixing, blending mixtures to perfection in seconds across ten speeds from lightly whipping egg whites to vigorous kneading. Four sturdy attachments and an extra bowl will see you through tough bakes, and once you count the additional space, power, attachments and bowl, the price jump over a classic model doesn't seem outrageous, though it's a little pricey and rather large.
- Power
- 300W
- Capacity
- 4.8L (plus 3L bowl)
- Speeds
- 10
- Price guide
- £480 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Speedy, thorough mixing
- Four sturdy attachments and a second bowl included
- Ten speeds cover everything from whipping to kneading
Cons
- A little pricey
- Rather large
Best premium
Kenwood Titanium Chef Patissier XL
Expert Reviews found an all-in-one baking machine that does everything a traditional mixer does, plus in-bowl weighing and warming so you can weigh, mix and prove dough in one bowl, or melt chocolate and butter and make Swiss meringue. The digital screen is a nice touch though it can lag, and the price is best justified for keen bakers rather than casual ones.
- Power
- 1,400W
- Capacity
- 7L (plus 5L bowl)
- Extras
- In-bowl weighing and warming
- Price guide
- £689 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Wide range of features and top performance
- Weighs, mixes and proves in one bowl
- Large 7L warming bowl and 5L classic bowl included
- Dishwasher-safe bowls and attachments
Cons
- Not for casual home bakers, expensive
- Digital screen can lag at times
Best bowl lift
KitchenAid Artisan 5.6L Bowl Lift
Expert Reviews filled it to maximum capacity with cookie batter, pizza dough and egg whites and were impressed: it can hold 0.5kg of dry flour, making 3.7kg of dough or 11 small pizzas. Unlike many tilt-head mixers tested, the bowl lift kept cool under pressure with minimal shaking and rattling, and a half speed helps start flour-heavy mixtures, though it's very pricey.
- Power
- 325W
- Capacity
- 5.6L
- Speeds
- 11
- Price guide
- £749 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Excellent with large quantities of tougher doughs
- Kept its cool at capacity, minimal shaking and rattling
- Half speed useful for folding and flour-heavy starts
- Four colours and 15 compatible attachments
Cons
- Very pricey
Best medium capacity
KitchenAid Classic K45SS
Expert Reviews found the smaller of KitchenAid's two popular home mixers pretty good, powerful enough for home baking, though tough jobs like kneading dough are a struggle for the motor, so daily bread bakers should choose something stronger. It doesn't come with a splash guard, which should be standard at this price, and other models offer dramatically more power for similar money.
- Power
- 275W
- Capacity
- 4.5L
- Speeds
- 6
- Price guide
- £499 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Compact mixer for casual baking
- Powerful enough for typical home baking such as GBBO-style cakes
Cons
- Lacks high-end power, struggles kneading dough
- No splash guard included
- Other models offer far more power for similar money
Best with built-in scales
Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker
Expert Reviews found the built-in digital scales a huge benefit, saving time and washing up, and they double as a timer for precise mixing and kneading. It's an excellent premium mixer with a beefy 1,000W motor and a 5L bowl holding up to 12 eggs, 1.3kg of dough or 2kg of cake batter, plus an attachment hub for extras like a lasagne roller, mincer and blender, though it isn't as sleek as its rivals.
- Power
- 1,000W
- Capacity
- 5L
- Speeds
- 10
- Price guide
- £400 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Built-in digital scales and timer
- Beefy 1,000W motor
- Attachment hub for a lasagne roller, mincer and blender
- Large capacity for most home baking
Cons
- Isn't quite as sleek as its rivals
Buying guide
Tilt-head or bowl-lift stand mixer?
A tilt-head mixer, like most here, tilts back for access and suits cakes and light dough. A bowl-lift mixer, like the KitchenAid Artisan 5.6L, raises the bowl to the beater and copes better with stiff dough and big batches. Expert Reviews found the bowl-lift stayed cooler with far less shaking than many tilt-heads when full.
How much power do I need?
Watts aren't everything: KitchenAid's 300W Artisan mixed quickly and thoroughly in testing, while Kenwood's 1,000-1,400W models offer more muscle for heavy kneading. If you knead bread most days, choose a bigger motor, since the Smeg and KitchenAid Classic here both struggled at full dough capacity.
Is it worth paying for built-in scales or warming?
For keen bakers, yes: the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker's scales let you weigh straight into the bowl and double as a timer, and the Chef Patissier XL adds in-bowl warming for proving dough and melting chocolate. For casual bakers, a simpler mixer like the Kenwood kMix does the everyday jobs for much less.
What comes in the box?
Most mixers include a dough hook, balloon whisk and a beater. Check extras such as a splash guard (missing on the KitchenAid Classic here), a second bowl (included with the Artisan 5KSM175PS) and whether the mixer has an attachment hub for extras like a mincer or pasta roller, as Kenwood models do.
Sources
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