A lot of people think that baking is an expensive hobby, and to be honest, they are probably right. Keeping a pantry stocked with good ingredients and investing in quality mixing bowls, tins – and of course – appliances can all start to add up pretty damn fast.
I find that a lot of my friends and family are reluctant to take their passion for baking further, simply because they think it would involve spending a big wad of cash on an expensive stand mixer.
Well, I’m here to tell you (and them) that this isn’t the case!
Some of the best budget stand mixers can do the job just as well, if not better, than those high-end stand mixers that come with eye-watering price tags. Sure, the expensive alternatives might come with all the bells, whistles, and pretty colors. Nevertheless, I guarantee that you can get your hands on a mixer that is perfect for home baking at a fraction of the price of a KitchenAid.
After weeks of research, I want to share with you a few of my favorite affordable stand mixers.
The 12 Best Affordable Stand Mixers
If you want to cut straight to the chase, here are the inexpensive stand mixers I think you should take a closer look at. Whilst choosing my favorite budget-friendly stand mixers, I spent countless hours researching a range of key features including; motor size, bowl capacity, additional attachments, owner satisfaction, and of course, the retail price of each machine. Here’s my shortlist.
Want The Quick Comparison?
Here are a few budget stand mixers I think you’ll love!
Want to find out a bit more about all these affordable stand mixers? Read on!
KitchenAid Classic
For all the bakers out there who have their hearts set on KitchenAid, but can’t justify spending all that money, well I’m here to tell you that there is a budget-friendly (ish) KitchenAid mixer; the Classic. The Classic is the cheapest stand mixer in the KitchenAid range, just shy of $250. This might still seem like a lot, but depending on what you class as a budget stand mixer, this is the cheapest KitchenAid you can get.
With this mixer, KitchenAid is clearly trying to reach a wider audience and enter the budget friendly stand mixer market. The Classic is for the bakers who want the performance, durability and aesthetic of a KitchenAid without spending $500 plus.
The Classic has a 4.5 quart stainless steel bowl, a 275 watt AC motor and 10 speeds. It is the ideal stand mixer for beginners and is the best alternative for a KitchenAid Artisan.
Cuisinart SM-50Y
There is no doubt that Cuisinart makes some very impressive kitchen appliances, and the SM-50Y Stand Mixer is no exception. This powerful 500-watt mixer features 12 speeds for precision mixing, a large 5.5-quart stainless steel bowl, and a tilt-back head that allows easy access to the bowl. Whether you’re making bread dough or whipping up a delicious cake batter, this mixer will get the job done with ease.
By far the biggest advantage of this machine over the others is that it has a multi-purpose hub on the front. This allows you to use their amazing range of additional attachments including a pasta roller, shredder, and grinder.
Another feature I love about this stand mixer is the bowl capacity. With 5.5qt, you have the option to make large batches of your favorite treats without any trouble. But, you also make half a dozen cookies with no problem.
The powerful motor can easily handle even the heaviest mixing tasks, like bread dough. Considering the price, it’s surprisingly sturdy and customers absolutely love it.
Cuisinart SM-50BC
Okay, depending on what your definition of a budget is, this Cuisinart mixer might not fit the bill. That said, if you are looking for a machine that can really compete with the multi-functional nature of KitchenAid, then the Cuisinart SM-50BC is definitely your best bet. And okay it might not the most budget friendly, but depending on the color you choose, you might find it under $200! That’s definitely a bargain in my eyes.
Just like the Cuisinart above, this too has a multi-purpose hub where you can add an array of additional attachments to.
Here’s a quick look at the Cuisinart in action.
Pretty nice, right?
The stand mixer has some pretty solid specs. It has 12-speed settings, allowing for complete control over your mixing, and of course, uses planetary motion to guarantee a perfectly mixed batter every time. It also has a 500-watt motor, paired with a 5.5 Quart bowl, the perfect combination for whipping up a family-sized batch of tasty treats. The Cuisinart SM-50BC comes with a brilliant 3-year manufacturer warranty. It also comes in an impressive range of 12 colors.
Hamilton Beach with Handles
This 4 Quart Stand Mixer is one of my favorite affordable stand mixer. It comes from a brand known for making some of the best budget-friendly kitchen appliances money can buy.
If you are looking to invest in a cheap KitchenAid alternative, then this could be the perfect machine for you. Many proud owners of this Hamilton Beach mixer swear by it, some even claim that it is even better than a KitchenAid!
As you probably know, KitchenAid is renowned for its high price tags, with its cheapest stand mixer coming in at well over two times the price of this mixer.
In terms of performance, the most attractive feature of this budget stand mixer is that it uses the same planetary motion as KitchenAid. This essentially means that the mixer head spins clockwise, whilst the attachment spins anti-clockwise, allowing the machine to mix and fold your ingredients at the same time.
This mixer has a stainless steel shell and features 7-speed settings that range from a slow stir to a fast mix. It also boasts a 300-watt motor and a respectable 4-quart bowl, making it capable of handling larger batches of your favorite cookie dough or buttercream.
What I love about this stand mixer (aside from the price) is that it’s fantastic for beginner bakers. There is a guide at the top of the stand mixer that shows you which speed setting to use depending on what you are mixing.
This is great if you are just starting out as a baker and are still unsure which speed settings go best with what you are trying to mix.
With the Hamilton Beach stand mixer, you get a dough hook, a whisk, a flat beater, and a splash guard included as standard. It also features a tilt-back head which makes it easier to add your ingredients or change the attachments.
Take a look at the Hamilton Beach in action!
Hamilton Beach
Another great cheap stand mixer by Hamilton Beach is this Hamilton Beach Electric mixer. It features very similar (basically identical) specs to the Hamilton Beach above, including a 300-watt motor and a mixing bowl capacity of 4 quarts. Again, it also makes the most of total bowl coverage and planetary mixing action.
You would be excused for not immediately spotting the differences between these two Hamilton Beach stand mixers.
The biggest differences come in the form of the machine size, this one being approximately 20% smaller. This one also doesn’t have a handle on the top of the machine, or on the mixer bowl. What I do love about this affordable stand mixer is the guide located on the side of the mixer. Similar to the guide in the Hamilton Beach I reviewed above, it indicates what speeds you should be using depending on what you are about to mix. Points to Hamilton Beach for not only producing affordable stand mixers, but for making them beginner friendly too.
Again, you can choose between 7 speed variables, meaning you can whip up anything and everything; from the toughest of cookie doughs to the lightest and fluffiest chiffon sponge.
Included with your Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer, is a flat beater, dough hook, whisk and a splash guard to stop all your mixture from flying around your kitchen.
All the attachments, including the whisk, are dishwasher safe.
Aucma
The Aucma Stand Mixer is a great choice for anyone looking for a budget-friendly option that still delivers high-quality performance. With its powerful 660W copper motor, 6 optimized speed settings with pulse function, and wide 6.5Qt capacity bowl, this mixer is easy to use and makes baking simple and fun.
Not only does it perform really well, it also looks great too. With its sleek outer design, stylish stainless steel decoration, and cool blue LED power indicator, it is a great looking addition to any kitchen.
If grey isn’t your color, you can choose from another 9 different colors to suit your personality and kitchen aesthetic.
The included attachments, including whisk, dough hook, and mixing beater and egg separator, making it easy to handle all your baking needs.
Aicok
You might not have heard of Aicok, but the specs of this machine make it a hard one to ignore. It’s also the cheapest stand mixer on this list!
So what makes this machine worthy of a spot on this list? For starters, this mixer boasts a beefy 500-watt motor, as well as a large 5.5-quart stainless steel bowl with a handle, making it great for bigger batches of baking. It also uses that planetary motion found on many top-of-the-range mixers.
Side note: If you don’t have a mixing bowl with a handle, it’s time to get one! Handles in baking make life so much easier.
What I love about this machine, aside from its price tag, is the double dough hooks. If you are an avid bread maker, the double dough hooks mimic kneading by hand and the 360 mixing action provides full coverage of the bowl. This makes it the best stand mixer for bread dough, at least in my opinion anyway.
As well as the 2 dough hooks, you of course get a whip and a flat beater. You also get a splash guard with an opening so you can pour in extra ingredients while your stand mixer is still mixing.
As with most stand mixers, your Aicok Stand Mixer features a tilt-head design and comes equipped with anti-slip silicone feet to stop any unwanted movement.
Unlike a lot of budget appliances, this machine comes with a standard 2-year manufacturer. It also has a built-in sensor that will shut down the machine when it gets too hot, which will stop the motor from overheating.
Cusimax
The Cusimax stand mixer is a powerful and versatile baking tool that makes cooking easier than ever. With its strong motor and sturdy ABS housing, this mixer can handle everything from cakes and breads to cookies, pizza, muffins, waffles, mashed potatoes, and more.
The mixer comes with a large 5-quart stainless steel bowl, so you can easily mix all of your ingredients without worrying about running out of space. It also features a splash guard with an access port, which allows you to add ingredients without making a mess.
In addition to its impressive capacity and convenient design, the Cusimax stand mixer also comes with three different mixing attachments: a whisk, dough hook, and mixing beater.
Proud owners of the Cusimax rave about its sturdiness and how the suction cups keep it stable during use. So if you’re looking for a powerful, high-quality stand mixer that makes baking easy, give this one a try.
With impressive specs and priced just over $100, the Cusimax is one of the best stand mixers on a budget.
Aifeel
This Aifeel stand mixer boasts a massive 800 watt motor, making it the most power mixer on this list by a long way.
And priced at under $80, you are really getting the best budget stand mixer.
Interestingly, this stand mixer works using 3 pre-set speed variables which are chosen depending on which attachment you are using. If you tend to use stand mixers where you choose the speed, this feature might take a while to get used to.
On the other hand, this feature could be ideal if you want a hassle-free baking experience.
Like the Aicok, this mixer also has that clever overheating protection sensor. This will detect overheating coming from the motor and will automatically stop the mixing to protect your machine.
With your Aifeel stand mixer, you get a flat beater, dough hooks, and balloon whisk. As with most stand mixers, you will also get a splash guard.
Perhaps the biggest downside to this machine is that it automatically stops after 8 minutes to prevent overheating – might be a bit of a pain if you make recipes that require longer than 8 minutes of mixing.
Cooklee
The Cooklee machine is another great budget stand mixer that acts, and looks, like a higher-end model.
It boasts a powerful motor with 660-watts and features 10-speed options, which includes a handy pulse function too.
With your stand mixer, you will get strong suction cups underneath that will provide stability with limited vibrations on your kitchen worktop.
This gives you the freedom to step away from the kitchen without worrying that your stand mixer will go for a walk around your kitchen countertop.
With your Cooklee Stand Mixer, you’ll get a splash guard, dough hook, whisk, and a beater which are all easy to attach and release from the mixer.
Although the bowl size is listed as 9.5qt, there are some disputes as to whether it actually is that size. But, most of the proud owners claim that it is, so have fun making ridiculously large batches of cake!
Frigidaire
Looking for a petite kitchen tool that can help you easily mix up delicious treats and baked delights? The Frigidaire Stand Mixer is a great option for those who don’t have much space in their kitchen but don’t want to miss out on having a stand mixer.
With its powerful 300W motor, 4.5QT stainless steel bowl, and 8-speed adjustable speed settings, this electric mixer makes quick work of mixing doughs, batters, and more. And with its compact design, it fits easily in any kitchen without taking up too much space.
Due to its size, it is mainly suited for small batch baking and light mixing, so keep that in mind before you use it for making bread dough and tougher batters.
Kitchen In A Box
Staying on the petite stand mixer theme, this Kitchen In a Box stand mixer is great for those who have very limited kitchen space or live in a small apartment. It has a 3.2qt bowl, which is really small compared to other stand mixers, but it is perfect for new bakers who only need to make smaller quantities of food.
The tilt-head design makes it easy to use and clean up after each use, while the 6 speeds allow you to adjust the mixer depending on what you’re making. And with 4 anti-slip suction cups on the base of the mixer, it stays in place and doesn’t move around while you’re using it.
This mini mixer also comes with several different attachments, including a dough hook, flat beater, and whisk. All of these are made from high quality materials, making them both sturdy and durable. Plus, there is even a splash guard at the top of the mixer to prevent food residue from splashing into the joint, making clean-up a breeze. All these features make it a great affordable stand mixer and it is also one of the cheapest stand mixers on this list.
Best Stand Mixers on a Budget – Which One Will You Pick?
If you’re looking for the best budget stand mixer, you’ve found it! Now you have no excuse not to take your baking to the next level with top-quality, low-priced stand mixers that are not only affordable, but can also whip up a storm.
Which one you decide to get is your choice. Do you need a speedy stand mixer? Will you be mixing tough dough for long periods of time? Or are you a beginner who wants something cheap and reliable?
If I was looking for a high-end performing, and affordable stand mixer, then I would definitely go for the Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer or the Cuisinart SM-50Y! If your have some leeway in your budget, I would be looking at the KitchenAid Artisan Classic.
