Top Five Stand Mixers For 2021

Joseph Perry

In this article

The best stand mixers take the effort out of tiring baking tasks. But not all models will improve your bakes – some will leave you with lumpy batter, or ingredients stuck to the side of the mixing bowl.

To make sure your next stand mixer really is an upgrade on a hand mixer or a wooden spoon, we've handpicked our favourites from our full list of the best stand mixers. Our top picks will give you perfect bakes every time – they're also robust, easy to use and a breeze to clean.

We've also pulled out two models that are so lacklustre, we think you should avoid them no matter how enticing their prices may seem.

Best stand mixers

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80%

£279.00

Reviewed May 2020

This stand mixer is a terrific all-rounder and considerably cheaper than some other top-of-the-range mixers. It scored full marks for kneading, mixing and whisking in our tests, and earned four stars for whipping. We also found it easy to assemble and clean. Plus, it's one of the quietest stand mixers we've tested, which is great news if you like to bake while others are asleep or working from home.

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74%

£449.00

Reviewed May 2018

This stand mixer has seven speed settings and a pulse function, but just two attachments (other accessories are sold separately). Even so, it proved versatile enough to receive top marks in our tests for mixing, and four stars for kneading and whisking. We were also impressed by its quietness and how easy it is to add and remove attachments. If not for its three-star whipping, it would have got an even higher score.

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73%

£251.42

Reviewed Jul 2017

Its elegant design means this stand mixer would complement most kitchen decor, but it isn't just a looker. It's excellent at whipping, leaving cream and egg whites light and fluffy, and earned four stars for whisking and kneading. But if you mainly use your stand mixer for making cake batter, there are better options; this model failed to impress us with its mixing.

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73%

£398.00

Reviewed May 2020

This stand mixer is a thing of beauty, but that isn't the only reason you should buy it. It's good at mixing and whisking – plus it couldn't be any easier to clean. Given its strong showing in our other tests, we were slightly underwhelmed by its three-star whipping, but not so much that we wouldn't recommend it. Just watch out for its open splashguard – messy spills always seem imminent with this model.

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72%

£109.99

Reviewed May 2020

If you're after a stand mixer for around £100, look no further. This stand mixer outperformed some much more expensive models in our tests, with ratings never dropping below four stars. We were particularly impressed by its whisking – it whisked five egg whites up to 750% of their original volume within two minutes – and enjoyed playing around with its 10 speed settings. However, the mixing bowl is heavy and doesn't have a handle, making it difficult to remove and transport.

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Table last updated: June 2021.

Not found the stand mixer for you? See all of our stand mixer reviews.

Two stand mixers to avoid

Opting for a well-know brand or spending more won't guarantee you avoid a mediocre mixer. Models from big-name brands have disappointed in our tests, failing to reach the standards you'd expect from a premium stand mixer. See below for two models to avoid.

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48%

£80.00

Reviewed Jul 2017

This stand mixer is easy to clean and great for kneading dough, but that's where the positives run out. It's really slow at mixing, whipping and whisking, even on its highest setting – by the time your batter is ready, you might as well have mixed it by hand.

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50%

£382.00

Reviewed Nov 2017

This stand mixer has a striking retro design, but that isn't enough to distract from its lacklustre performance. It's particularly bad at whisking; while it somewhat increases the volume of egg whites, it's an unbearably long process.

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Table last updated: June 2021.

Buying a stand mixer: what to consider

The latest stand mixers might look similar to the models first sold almost a century ago, but their timeless design belies a string of impressive new features.

In recent years, we've come across:

additional mixer bowls for mixing small quantities (which are also handy if you need to mix wet and dry ingredients separately but don't want to wash up as you go)
automatic programmes and controls that let you set the timer, speed and function settings in advance
built-in weight sensors so you can do away with scales
glass bowls and built-in lights for improved visibility
induction heating technology which means you can melt chocolate without the hassle of stirring it over a simmering pan
mobile apps that let you control the timer, speed and function from another room.

However, extras such as these are only useful if the stand mixer can cope with basic baking tasks, such as whisking and kneading. Make sure you check out our stand mixer reviews to avoid being bedazzled by a substandard mixer.

For more buying advice, see our guide on how to buy the best food mixer.

How we test stand mixers

We've tested stand mixers ranging from £35 to more than £500. Each one undergoes the same rigorous lab tests, which assess how well the model mixes, kneads, whisks and whips, whether it is easy to clean and how simple it is to use.

The results tell us which stand mixers are worth recommending and which models should be avoided.

Our reviews are independent – we don't accept freebies from manufacturers or retailers – and based on decades of experience, so you can trust them to be unbiased and robust.

To find out more, see our guide to how we test stand mixers.