Stand Mixers
Stand mixer comparisons built from manufacturer specifications: bowl size, rated dough capacity, motor rating, drive design and warranty.
Best-of guides
Best stand mixer for sourdough and bread dough
Bread dough is the hardest job you can give a stand mixer. These are the machines whose makers rate them for big, heavy batches, and the trade-offs of each.
Read the comparison Best ofStand MixersBest KitchenAid stand mixer
KitchenAid’s range runs from the tilt-head Artisan to the 7-qt bowl-lift.
Read the comparisonHead-to-head comparisons
Ankarsrum vs Bosch Universal Plus
The two favorite non-KitchenAid bread mixers. One is heavy and rated for 5 kg of dough; the other weighs 12 lb.
Read the comparison Head to headStand MixersKitchenAid 7-Qt Bowl-Lift vs KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift
Two KitchenAid bowl-lifts; the question is batch size.
Read the comparison Head to headStand MixersKitchenAid Artisan vs Cuisinart SM-50
Two tilt-head mixers: the default pick and a higher-powered rival.
Read the comparison Head to headStand MixersKitchenAid 7-Qt Bowl-Lift vs Ankarsrum Original
A planetary bowl-lift vs a Swedish rotating-bowl bread mixer.
Read the comparison Head to headStand MixersBosch Universal Plus vs KitchenAid 7-Qt Bowl-Lift
A light bottom-drive bread mixer vs KitchenAid’s biggest planetary mixer.
Read the comparison Head to headStand MixersAnkarsrum Original vs KitchenAid Artisan
A bread-focused rotating-bowl mixer vs the classic tilt-head.
Read the comparison Head to headStand MixersKitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift vs Bosch Universal Plus
Bowl-lift planetary vs bottom-drive bread mixer.
Read the comparisonAlternatives
Reviews
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt-Head review
The best-known stand mixer in America, judged on what KitchenAid publishes and what owners consistently report.
Read the comparison ReviewStand MixersAnkarsrum Assistent Original review
A Swedish rotating-bowl mixer rated for up to 5 kg of dough, with a 7-year warranty.
Read the comparison ReviewStand MixersBosch Universal Plus (MUM6N10UC) review
A light, bottom-drive mixer with a big bowl, built around bread dough.
Read the comparison ReviewStand MixersKitchenAid 7-Qt Bowl-Lift KSM70 review
KitchenAid’s biggest home mixer, rated for 8.75 lb of dough.
Read the comparison ReviewStand MixersKitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift KSM55 review
KitchenAid’s middle bowl-lift for one or two loaves at a time.
Read the comparison ReviewStand MixersCuisinart Precision Master SM-50 review
A tilt-head alternative to the KitchenAid Artisan with more power.
Read the comparisonWhat to look for in stand mixers
Rated dough capacity
For bread, the maker's dough capacity (in pounds or kilograms) is more useful than bowl size or wattage.
Watts are not power in the bowl
Wattage is electrical draw. Gearing and drive design decide how a mixer copes with stiff dough.
Kneading speed limits
Some makers specify a maximum kneading speed. Follow it; running dough at high speed is the quickest way to strain a motor.
Bowl-lift vs tilt-head
Bowl-lift designs lock the bowl at three points and generally suit heavier doughs; tilt-heads are easier to scrape and add ingredients to.
General guidance from manufacturer documentation. Always check the manual for your exact model. How we research.