A built-in microwave is one of the easiest wins in a kitchen. It clears the worktop, it sits at a sensible height instead of on a shelf you have to reach over, and it makes the room look finished rather than assembled.
But the category is full of words that mean nothing until someone explains them — solo, grill, combi, compact, SpeedwaveXL — and the prices run from around £229 to well over £1,400 for what looks, to the untrained eye, like the same box. Here is what actually separates them.
The three types, and what they really do
Solo
A microwave and nothing else. It heats and defrosts, quickly and cheaply, and it does not brown anything.
This is the right choice for the large majority of households, because most people use a microwave for reheating, defrosting and the occasional jacket potato. If that is you, spending more buys you features you will not touch. Our CDA VM131SS built-in microwave covers it at £229, and there is a black version at the same price.
Grill
A microwave with a radiant grill element in the roof. It still cannot bake, but it can brown and crisp — cheese on top of a lasagne, a toasted sandwich, bacon.
The step up is small in money and useful in practice. The CDA VM231BL adds a grill for £259, and the Montpellier MWBI90025 gives you 25 litres with a grill at £284. If you are undecided between solo and grill, grill is usually the better buy.
Combination (combi)
A microwave, a grill and a fan oven in one cavity. A combi can genuinely bake and roast, using convection heat on its own or combining it with microwave power to cook faster than a conventional oven.
This is the one worth paying for, but only if you will use it as an oven. In a small kitchen, or a flat where there is no room for a second oven, a good combi does the job of one. The CDA VM452SS combines grill and convection at £399. At the premium end, the Smeg Classic Galileo SpeedwaveXL is effectively a compact oven with microwave assistance.
The honest advice: if you already have a good oven — and if you do not, start with our built-in ovens buying guide — a combi is largely redundant. Buy a grill model and spend the difference elsewhere.
60cm or 45cm compact?
Built-in microwaves come in two widths, and they are not interchangeable because they go into different housings.
60cm is the standard kitchen unit width. It gives you the most capacity for the money and it fits a normal wall or tall unit. Most solo and grill models are 60cm — the Smeg Classic 60cm with grill at 25 litres is a good example, or the Smeg Linea 60cm in black if your kitchen is dark-finished.
45cm compact is the height used for compact ovens, and it stacks neatly above or below a full-size oven in a tall housing. Compact models are usually combis, and they are usually the expensive ones — the Smeg Classic 45cm compact combination and the Smeg Linea 45cm in black both sit at the top of the range.
The 45cm format is what kitchen designers specify when they want a matching column of oven, microwave and warming drawer. If your kitchen plan already shows that column, the width is decided for you.
Where it actually goes
Three common positions, each with a catch.
- In a wall unit, at eye level. The most comfortable to use — you can see into the cavity and lift a hot bowl out without reaching over your head. Check that your wall unit depth matches the appliance; some models are built shallower for exactly this reason.
- In a tall housing, above or below the oven. Tidy and architectural, and the reason 45cm compacts exist. Be careful about height: a microwave above a tall oven can end up too high to use safely.
- In a base unit, under the worktop. Possible, and sometimes the only option, but you are then bending down to lift out hot food. Worth avoiding if there is an alternative.
Whichever you choose, work from the niche dimensions in the product specification rather than the appliance own outside measurements, and measure the actual opening. Our guide to measuring for kitchen appliances covers how to do that properly.
Capacity: what the litres mean in practice
Microwave capacity is quoted in litres, which tells you very little on its own. What matters is what fits on the turntable.
- 17 to 20 litres — fine for mugs, bowls and single plates. Tight for a large dinner plate.
- 20 to 25 litres — the sweet spot for most households. A standard dinner plate turns without catching.
- 25 litres and up — worth it if you regularly reheat casserole dishes or use the appliance as a second oven.
If you are choosing between two models and one has five more litres for a small premium, take the larger one. Nobody has ever complained that their microwave was too big inside.
Power and what it is for
Microwave power is quoted in watts, typically between 700W and 1000W for domestic built-in models. Higher wattage means faster heating, and it also means the lower power levels are more useful — a 900W machine on 30 per cent gives you a gentler defrost than a 700W machine on 30 per cent.
It is not something to obsess over. The difference between 800W and 900W is noticeable but not transformative. Capacity and type matter more.
What you get at each price
- Around £229 to £299 — a solid built-in solo or grill model in stainless or black. The CDA VM551SS wall unit microwave sits here at £299.
- £300 to £500 — larger capacity, better build, or a first step into convection. The Smeg Cucina 25 litre with grill at £469.99 is a good example of paying for finish rather than features.
- £500 to £800 — premium 60cm models with proper grills and the design detailing that matches a Smeg or CDA oven beside them. The Smeg Classic 22 litre is in this band.
- £1,000 and above — 45cm compact combination ovens that genuinely replace a second oven. Real capability, real money.
Four mistakes we see
- Buying a combi you will never use as an oven. If you have a working oven and a hob, the combi functions gather dust. Be honest with yourself.
- Trying to build in a freestanding microwave. A countertop microwave shoved into a cabinet is a fire and ventilation risk. Some manufacturers sell an approved trim kit for specific models; without one, do not do it.
- Mounting it too high. Above head height means lifting a bowl of boiling soup down blind. Eye level or below.
- Matching the wrong finish. If your oven is stainless and your microwave is black, they will sit next to each other for the next decade. Order them together, or at least check the handle style — a Smeg Classic and a Smeg Linea do not look like a set.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a normal microwave in a cabinet?
Not safely. Freestanding microwaves vent through their sides and back, and enclosing one traps heat. Buy a built-in model, or a freestanding one with a manufacturer-approved trim kit designed for it.
Do built-in microwaves come with a frame?
Built-in models are designed to fit their housing directly and generally include what they need. Check the specification for the model you are looking at, as a few ranges list a trim kit separately.
Is a grill model worth the extra?
For most people, yes. It is usually a small step in price and it turns the microwave from a reheater into something that can finish a dish.
Can a combi microwave replace an oven?
For one or two people in a small kitchen, largely yes — a good 45cm combi bakes, roasts and grills. For a family cooking full meals, no. You will want a proper oven as well.
How do I clean it?
Heat a bowl of water with a slice of lemon for a few minutes, leave the door shut for five, then wipe out. The steam does the work. Never use an abrasive on the inside of the cavity.
Should I buy the microwave with the rest of the kitchen?
If you can, yes. Matching finishes and handle styles across a run of appliances is far easier when you buy them at the same time, and our appliance bundles price matched sets below the individual total.
Not sure which one fits?
Send us the housing dimensions from your kitchen plan and we will tell you what will go in. We are on WhatsApp seven days a week, every appliance carries the full manufacturer warranty, and UK delivery is free over £400.
