Which microwave brand is the most reliable?

We've got data on the reliability and performance of the biggest microwave brands – including Bosch, Panasonic, Russell Hobbs, Samsung and Sharp. 

Knowing which microwave brands develop the most faults and how long a model might last is vital when you're buying a new kitchen appliance.

In our unique small appliance survey, we asked 8,422 Which? members and members of the public if they’re happy with their microwave and if they’ve experienced problems, so you can see which brands are worth spending your money on.

Go to our best microwaves guide to discover the solo, combination and grill microwaves we rate.

Which microwave brands develop the fewest faults?

This table summarises what we found about how quickly microwave brands develop faults, based on microwaves bought in the past seven years.

Only logged-in Which? members can see the full results of our brand reliability survey. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Want more cooking flexibility? One of the best combination microwaves we’ve tested could suit you.

Which microwave brands do owners recommend?

As well as faults, our survey also revealed which microwave brands owners feel most happy with – and which they’d recommend to a friend.

These results are shown as each brand’s Customer Score and are based on microwaves bought in the past seven years.

Only logged-in Which? members can see the full results of our brand reliability survey. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Go to our microwave reviews to compare all the microwaves we've tested.

The most common microwave faults

Microwaves may epitomise convenient cooking, but they can still benefit from a little TLC. Our survey reveals recurring faults that can cause them to stop working sooner than expected – and what action you can take.

1. Rust inside the microwave (10% of faulty products)

One of the two most prevalent issues was rust inside the microwave. Rust happens when metal components, such as interior walls or turntable supports, are exposed to moisture due to scratches, damage or the presence of dried-on food debris.

You can prevent this from happening by regularly cleaning your microwave and dealing with spills as soon as you can.

2. Casing became chipped or cracked (10%)

If you notice chips or cracks in your microwave casing or paint, stop using the appliance immediately. Cracks can expose metal elements, which can spark when the microwave is in use.

If you're unsure about the extent of the damage or how to repair it safely, seek professional assistance.

As well as rust and issues with the casing, other common faults cited by survey respondents include: fan stopped working (9%), the microwave stopped heating contents (9%) and loss of power or complete failure (9%)

Find out our top tips on how to clean your microwave.

How easy is it to repair a microwave?

Do not attempt to undertake microwave repairs yourself. If your microwave is failing to heat or experiencing a complete loss of power, first check your warranty before investigating a repair by an expert.

Unfortunately, in many cases, repairing a cheaper microwave may not be cost-effective. If your appliance is beyond its warranty, and irreparable, it might be time to invest in a new one. 

Find out more about how to recycle electrical items.

Which microwave brands offer the best guarantees?

Most microwave brands have a guarantee of two years, but there are a handful of brands that offer longer cover, including:

• AEG – some AEG microwaves are eligible for a five-year guarantee.
• Beko – if you register your microwave, you can get a 10-year parts guarantee.
• Hotpoint – same as Beko, you can get a 10-year parts guarantee if you register your microwave.
• Panasonic – depending on the model, you can get up to a five-year guarantee.
• Samsung – you can get a three-year guarantee for selected combi microwaves by registering on the Samsung site.

Got a faulty product? Find out how to get a refund, repair or replacement.

How we discover the most reliable microwave brands

Which? has a wealth of information on Britain's favourite brands. Every year we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how reliable the products are once they get them home to how likely they would be to recommend a brand to a friend.

This year, 7,643 Which? members and 6,978 members of the public told us about more than 48,000 individual products, including 8,422 microwaves. We calculate each brand's customer score, fault rate and reliability rating using the results of our survey.

Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best microwave to buy.

For more on what it takes to be a Best Buy, head to how we test microwaves.