We moved into a new house this week and have a countertop microwave, where we had one built in over the stove in the past.

We prefer the smaller countertop one -- but we have plenty of counter space in this kitchen. For me that is the deciding factor, do you have counterspace to spare?

I have a honking big Wolf microwave on a shelved rolling cart in front of a window. I think I bought it for a TV stand or something.
It's big, I can see over it to look out the windows which go down almost to floor level. I have easily had 3 different microwaves over the years. Plug and play.
I would never want built in.

I only use the microwave to heat up a plate of food. The built in microwaves or drawer version take up slot of real estate. Other than the countertop, is there another area in your kitchen? How about built in shelves on the side of the island that isn't visible to your guests?

Never do "built in" appliances of any type, ranges, micros, etc. Looks cheap and will usually require remodeling or compromising on replacements.

I'd get the countertop on a shelf because it will be easier and cheaper to replace when it breaks. We have one on the actual counter and I hate it. The prev owner of our house chose a double oven instead of built in microwave and I hate her for it, LOL.

I am perfectly happy with my countertop microwave (full size). I am short so over the stove seems like I would be on a stepstool. It is away from the major appliances which is convenient with it own counter space. I am not sure why a microwave in an eyesore any more than any other kitchen appliance.

In the end, do what works for you.

Above or below countertop microwave in the cabinetry. If the latter, do a drawer micrwoave. I prefer above with door. I don't like leaning down to figure out which button to hit on the control panel.

How often do you use you microwave? If only a little, maybe you can live with countertop. A little more often, maybe not.

If you’re looking to put microwave in a cabinet, there are rules you “should” follow regarding clearances for circulation. I know many folks don’t. You can look for microwaves that allow for in cabinet use. They can be called built ins.

We ended up putting microwave in base cabinet. We did not like the drawer opening so we opted for a pull down. We also didn’t want to allot a 30” cabinet for this so we found a built in microwave for a 24” base cabinet. Do know it does require a dedicated circuit. We are very happy with it so far.

With option 2 will you be able to open the microwave door and still have room to set an item on the counter nearby? Or will the swing of the door go across the full width of that counter?

We have our microwave mounted under a cabinet. Saves counter space and is not as high as putting it over the stove. We have a small kitchen and I wanted the under counter space for drawers.

I have a countertop microwave in a pantry cabinet (contractor installed a fixed shelf with outlet behind). Is something like that an option?

I used to have a countertop microwave that sat on a shelf (off the counter, below a cabinet). Didn't like that because we were very limited in the microwave size and basically only one model fit the dimensions of the cubby well.

I don't have a problem with my over the range microwave and I'd do it again in a small kitchen, because I think when space is at a premium it's the best option.

But with enough space I would certainly put it somewhere else. It's all relative.

Yes, imo a countertop microwave is the worst possible option as far as aesthetics and resale.

But I appreciate that the functionality is the same or better than the drawer, if you really and truly don't need the counter space, so it just depends on your priorities.

We remodeled our kitchen 8 years ago and one of the best things we did was install a drawer microwave in the island. For some reason it's so much easier to lift something up and out, than reach up and into.

I'm with your kitchen designer on this - besides being an eyesore - I've never liked counter microwaves because I think counter space is premium real estate in a kitchen and I'd rather have the kitchen workspace than have a microwave permanently parked there. I've also had houses with the over the range ones and I think those are somewhat dangerous because of reaching up to grab something hot/chance of spills etc, plus the vent on those micro-hoods isn't nearly powerful enough to properly vent range fumes.

One other thing you may want to think about, depending on your oven(s) layout and brand- you can get a double oven where one oven actually has microwave settings - I looked into that option but opted in the end to go with the drawer microwave - no regrets.

Get the drawer microwave—you won’t regret it.

Getting new custom cabinets, countertops, appliances. One of final decisions is what to do about microwave (it’s currently over stove, which doesn’t work practically — we are always in each others’ way). With the constraints of our kitchen — small size, narrow passages — our only real options are:

(1) a drawer microwave just below the counter set into a peninsula of the “main” L-shaped walls of cabinetry, or

(2) a smaller countertop microwave set on a cabinet that’s set a little from the main cabinetry (opposite peninsula, between a bay window and DR entry) . This cabinet will be 30” wide, and max 20” deep — open shelves above so sight line doesn’t feel crowded when you enter kitchen from dining area. Would be easy to set plates on the peninsula from this location.

With the countertop option, it feels like people won’t be squeezing past one another quite as much in the pre-meal crunch time. But cabinetmaker says microwaves are an eyesore, plus we’d need a smaller microwave to make it work (we really only heat up a dinner plate at a time, though.)

I know this is a ridiculous problem, but our family has a lot of other more serious stuff happening right now, and I seem to have reached total decision paralysis about this one stupid issue. I’ll basically do whatever you tell me.

Thank you for any insights.