Convection Microwaves in 2026: 5 Picks by Cubic Feet

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Convection microwaves promise two appliances in one box: a microwave for reheating and a small convection oven for roasting, baking and browning. The promise is real — but it only works if the machine physically fits where you want it, and if the cavity is big enough to hold the pan you actually own.

That's the part most spec sheets bury. "1.2 cubic feet" tells you almost nothing about whether a 9x13 dish will clear the turntable, and manufacturers routinely build a 1.1 cu ft cavity into a box that's 21 inches wide. So we compared the leading convection microwaves of 2026 by three numbers that matter for placement: interior cubic feet, turntable diameter, and external width/depth/height — then ranked them on cooking performance based on manufacturer specs, independent lab reviews and verified owner feedback.

How to size a convection microwave before you buy anything

Measure the opening, not the appliance

Three measurements decide everything:

Counter depth. Standard counters are 24–25 inches deep, but a backsplash outlet or a tile lip eats into that. Most convection microwaves need 2–3 inches of rear clearance for the exhaust fan, so a 20-inch-deep unit really needs 23 inches of counter.
Upper-cabinet clearance. Measure from the countertop to the bottom of the wall cabinet. Anything under 18 inches rules out most 1.2+ cu ft convection models, which run 12–14 inches tall and need top clearance too.
Door swing. Convection microwaves are heavy, and the door needs roughly the unit's width of clear space to open. Corner placement rarely works.

Cubic feet vs. usable space

Cubic feet is the volume of the whole cavity, including space above the turntable you can't use when something is rotating. Turntable diameter is the number that determines what fits. A 12.4-inch turntable handles a 9-inch pie plate, an 8-inch square baking dish, or a dinner plate with room to spare. A 10-inch turntable does not. If you want to roast a small chicken or bake a sheet of cookies, you need either a large turntable or a model with a turntable-off convection mode.

Rough translation:

0.9–1.1 cu ft: one or two people, reheating, single servings, 8-inch bakeware.
1.2–1.5 cu ft: small families, 9x9 casseroles, a 3-pound chicken, two-rack convection baking.
1.6–2.0 cu ft: full 9x13 dish territory, big-batch cooking, large platters.

Inverter vs. standard magnetron

Conventional microwaves at 50% power pulse full power on and off. Inverter models — Panasonic's and Breville's, notably — deliver continuous reduced power, which matters for melting chocolate, softening butter, gently reheating rice, and defrosting without cooking the edges. In convection mode it's irrelevant; in microwave mode it's the single biggest quality difference you'll notice day to day.

The comparison table

Specs below are manufacturer-published. Always confirm against the current listing for your exact model and color, as dimensions can shift between revisions.

Model	Cavity (cu ft)	Turntable	Approx. exterior (W × D × H)	Microwave watts	Key modes
Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 NN-CD87KS	1.2	~13.4 in	~20.7 × 16.6 × 12.4 in	1000 W inverter	Microwave, convection, broil/grill, air fry
Breville the Combi Wave 3-in-1 BMO870	1.1	~12.4 in	~20.5 × 17.8 × 12.3 in	1100 W inverter	Microwave, convection, air fry
Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS)	1.1	12.4 in	~20.5 × 20.0 × 12.2 in	1000 W	Microwave, convection, sensor, combi
Toshiba ML2-EC10SA(BS)	1.0	12.4 in	~20.5 × 17.1 × 11.5 in	1000 W	Microwave, convection, combi
GE JES2051SNSS	2.0	~16 in	~24.0 × 20.0 × 14.0 in	1200 W	Microwave, convection, sensor, broil

Premium pick · Breville the Combi Wave 3-in-1 BMO870 — Check price on Amazon →

The pattern is worth noticing: exterior width clusters around 20.5 inches for everything from 1.0 to 1.2 cu ft. You pay for cavity volume in depth and height, not width. The GE is the outlier — a genuine 2.0 cu ft cavity requires a 24-inch-wide box, which is as wide as a standard base cabinet.

The picks

Best overall: Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Multi-Oven NN-CD87KS

This is the model that balances the three variables best. You get 1.2 cubic feet — enough for a 9-inch pan or a small roasting dish — inside a cabinet that's under 21 inches wide and roughly 16.6 inches deep, which is shallower than most 1.1 cu ft competitors. The inverter microwave is Panasonic's best argument: reheat performance at reduced power is consistently rated among the most even in the category.

The convection element goes to 425°F, and the included rack lets you brown the top of a gratin without moving it to the wall oven. Air fry is a high-speed convection mode rather than a separate basket system — fine for frozen fries and wings, not a replacement for a dedicated air fryer. Note that the broil/grill heating element sits at the top of the cavity and gets genuinely hot; this is not a unit to shove under a low cabinet.

Premium pick: Breville the Combi Wave 3-in-1 BMO870

Breville's 1.1 cu ft Combi Wave is the one reviewers consistently rank first for usability. The interface is readable, the presets are sensible, and the inverter at 1100 watts heats faster than most. Its 12.4-inch turntable can be switched off for convection and air fry, so you can use rectangular bakeware — a real advantage over models that force rotation.

The trade-off is depth: at roughly 17.8 inches it's one of the deeper compact units, and the door is heavy. If your counter is shallow or you plan to tuck this into a microwave garage, measure twice.

Best value: Toshiba ML2-EC10SA(BS)

At 1.0 cubic foot, this is the pick for small kitchens, apartments and dorms where every inch counts. It's about 11.5 inches tall and 17 inches deep — the smallest meaningful footprint here — yet it still carries a full 12.4-inch turntable, which is the spec that keeps it useful. That combination (big plate, small box) is unusual.

You give up inverter power control and sensor cooking, and the black stainless finish shows fingerprints. For reheating, baking a small batch of cookies and crisping leftovers, it does the job without dominating the counter.

Best mid-size countertop: Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS)

The step-up Toshiba adds smart humidity sensor cooking, a larger 1.1 cu ft cavity and a metal rack for two-level convection, with a mute function that's genuinely useful in an open-plan kitchen. Its 20-inch depth is the catch — it's a deep unit for its capacity, so check rear clearance carefully.

Best large capacity: GE JES2051SNSS

If you want a convection microwave to serve as a legitimate second oven, you need 2.0 cubic feet. The GE takes a full 9x13 dish, runs 1200 watts in microwave mode, and includes sensor cooking plus a broil element. At roughly 24 inches wide and 14 inches tall, it occupies serious real estate and generally will not fit under a standard 18-inch upper-cabinet clearance with safe venting. Plan for a dedicated shelf, a microwave cart, or an open run of counter.

Over-the-range vs. countertop convection

Over-the-range convection models exist, but they trade cooking capability for ventilation and cabinet integration. Their cavities are shallower, their convection fans weaker, and the bottom of the cavity sits at eye level, which makes checking a browning casserole awkward. If convection cooking is the point — not just reheating — a countertop unit will cook better. Buy OTR for the vent hood and the floor space, not for the baking.

FAQ

Can I use metal in a convection microwave? In convection-only mode, yes — the included metal rack and standard metal bakeware are fine. In microwave or combination mode, follow the manual exactly; most allow the included rack but prohibit other metal.

Do convection microwaves preheat? Yes, and it takes real time — typically 5–10 minutes to reach 350–425°F, similar to a small toaster oven. They're fast for reheating, not instant for baking.

Is air fry on these worth it? It's convection at high fan speed. It crisps frozen foods well and handles small batches, but the turntable limits usable surface area. If air frying is a daily habit, keep a dedicated unit.

What about a 1.2 cu ft unit for a family of four? Workable for reheating and side dishes, tight for a main course. If you regularly cook 9x13 casseroles, go to 1.6 cu ft or larger — or accept that the main dish lives in the wall oven.

How much clearance does it need? Most manufacturers specify roughly 3 inches at the rear and sides and 8–12 inches above for convection models, because the exhaust runs hot. Check your specific manual before building it into a cabinet.

Our picks

Best overall

Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Multi-Oven NN-CD87KS

1.2 cu ft cavity with inverter microwave, true convection and air fry in a counter-friendly footprint.

Premium pick

Breville BMO870BSS Combi Wave 3-in-1, Brushed Stainless Steel

(926)

1.1 cu ft smart inverter microwave plus convection and air fry, with the best controls of the group.

Best value

Toshiba ML2-EC10SA(BS) Convection Microwave

1.0 cu ft convection microwave with a 12.4-inch turntable and a genuinely compact exterior.

Best large capacity

GE JES2051SNSS 2.0 cu ft Convection Countertop Microwave

A full 2.0 cu ft cavity and sensor cooking for households that cook casseroles, not mugs.

Best mid-size countertop

Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS) Convection Microwave

1.1 cu ft with a 12.4-inch turntable, smart sensor and a metal rack for two-level convection.

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