Best Hand Mixers (5 In-Stock Picks, From Budget to Cordless)

A hand mixer handles most home baking for a fraction of the cost and counter space of a stand mixer. Cookies, cakes, frosting and whipped cream are all easy work.

The differences between models are in the details. Look at how gently it starts, what attachments come in the box, and where you store them.

The short version: The Hamilton Beach Professional 7-Speed Hand Mixer is the best hand mixer for most bakers. It has a DC motor, a slow first speed that cuts splatter, three types of attachments, a snap-on case and a 5-year limited warranty. On a tight budget, the Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer With Snap-On Case costs $31.99 at the maker’s price.

Our Picks at a Glance

• Best overall: Hamilton Beach Professional 7-Speed Hand MixerJump to review ↓
• Best for more speeds and attachments: Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Hand MixerJump to review ↓
• Best cordless: Hamilton Beach Professional Cordless Hand MixerJump to review ↓
• Best premium: Breville Handy Mix ScraperJump to review ↓
• Best budget: Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer With Snap-On CaseJump to review ↓

Every mixer above was available to buy on its maker’s own store when we checked. Prices are the makers’ own and change often.

Hand Mixer	Speeds	Power	Attachments	Warranty	Maker’s Price
Hamilton Beach Professional 62655	7 + QuickBurst	DC motor	Soft-scrape beaters, whisk, dough hooks	5 years	$59.99
Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus HM-90S	9	220 W	Beaters, chef’s whisk, dough hooks, spatula	3 years	$99.95
Hamilton Beach Professional Cordless 62673	Infinite dial	DC motor, rechargeable	Twisted wire beaters, whisk	5 years	$89.99
Breville Handy Mix Scraper BHM800	9 + boost	Not listed	Scraper beaters, dough hooks, balloon whisks	See Breville	$159.95
Hamilton Beach 62692	6 + QuickBurst	275 W peak	Beaters, whisk	Not listed on page	$31.99

1. Hamilton Beach Professional 7-Speed Hand Mixer: Best Overall

This mixer gets the basics right. The first speed is slow. Hamilton Beach says it reduces splatter, and that matters most when you add flour or powdered sugar. Fast starts throw dry ingredients across the counter.

It uses a DC motor. DC motors hold a steady speed as the batter thickens, rather than slowing down under load.

You get three kinds of attachments. Soft-scrape beaters have rubber edges that sweep the side of the bowl. The whisk whips cream and egg whites. The dough hooks handle soft doughs.

Everything stores in a snap-on case. That is the feature most people appreciate after a year, because loose beaters get lost in drawers.

The cord swivels and locks for left- or right-handed use. A quick-release trigger drops the beaters into the sink. The 5-year limited warranty is the longest in this guide.

Who should buy it: Most home bakers who want a reliable mixer with everything stored in one case.

2. Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Hand Mixer: Best for More Speeds and Attachments

Nine speeds give you finer control. The lowest settings fold in flour gently. The highest whip cream fast. Cuisinart’s SmoothStart feature is designed to cut splashing at the start.

Cuisinart says the motor has automatic feedback, which adjusts power to hold speed as the mix thickens. An LED display shows the speed you are on.

It comes with a chef’s whisk, dough hooks, beaters and a spatula, all stored in a snap-on case. Every removable part goes in the dishwasher.

The price is higher than the Hamilton Beach Professional. You pay for the extra speeds and the spatula. The 3-year warranty is shorter than Hamilton Beach’s 5 years.

White is linked here. Cuisinart also sells it in black.

Who should buy it: Bakers who want more speed settings and a full set of attachments.

3. Hamilton Beach Professional Cordless Hand Mixer: Best Cordless

No cord means no dragging a wire through the batter and no hunting for an outlet near the bowl. In a small kitchen with few outlets, that helps.

Hamilton Beach lists up to an hour of runtime on a full charge. It also says a 10-minute charge gives enough power for about one batch of cookies. So a flat battery will not stop you for long.

Instead of fixed speeds, it has a dial. Turn it smoothly from the slowest to the fastest speed and read the setting on an LCD screen. Slow Start begins at a low speed to cut splatter.

It stands upright on its heel, so you can set it down mid-recipe without dripping on the counter.

It comes with beaters and a whisk but no dough hooks.

Who should buy it: Bakers with few outlets or cluttered counters who want freedom from the cord.

4. Breville Handy Mix Scraper: Best Premium

The Handy Mix Scraper is the most feature-rich hand mixer here. Breville’s Beater IQ detects which attachment is fitted and adjusts the speed to suit it.

Its beaters are coated in rubber. Breville says they are quieter and they scrape the bowl as they turn. That means less stopping to scrape by hand, and less clatter against metal bowls.

It includes two balloon whisks, which whip cream and egg whites faster than a single whisk. Everything stores in a compartment that clips to the mixer.

It is the most expensive mixer in this guide, by a wide margin. For most home bakers, the Hamilton Beach Professional covers the same jobs for far less.

Who should buy it: Keen bakers who want the quietest, most refined hand mixer.

5. Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer With Snap-On Case: Best Budget

This is the budget pick, and it still has the features that matter. The first speed is slow to cut splatter. A QuickBurst button adds a burst of power for thick spots.

Bowl Rest lets you balance the mixer on the edge of the bowl while you add ingredients. A nonskid heel keeps it steady when you stand it on the counter.

The beaters and whisk are dishwasher safe and store in a snap-on case.

It has no dough hooks and a smaller set of speeds. For cookies, cakes and whipped cream, it is all most people need.

Who should buy it: Occasional bakers and first-time buyers who want the basics done right.

What to Look for in a Hand Mixer

The spec sheet can mislead you. Focus on these features.

• A slow first speed. This is the most useful feature. It stops flour and sugar flying out of the bowl.
• A steady motor. DC motors and feedback systems hold speed as batter thickens.
• Attachments you will use. Beaters handle most jobs. A whisk is better for cream and egg whites. Dough hooks are handy for soft doughs.
• Storage. A snap-on case keeps beaters together. Loose attachments get lost.
• Weight and grip. A lighter mixer is easier to hold for long jobs.
• Easy beater release. A one-button eject is much easier than pulling on beaters.
• Warranty. Here, warranties range from 3 to 5 years where listed.

Wattage matters less than you might think. A well-controlled motor at lower watts can outperform a louder, higher-watt one.

Hand Mixer vs Stand Mixer

Both mix batter. They suit different kitchens and bakers.

A hand mixer is cheap, light and small. It stores in a drawer. It handles cookies, cakes, frosting, whipped cream and mashed potatoes. You hold it for the whole job.

A stand mixer is heavy and takes counter space. It mixes hands-free and handles stiff bread dough and big batches.

In a small kitchen, most people are better served by a hand mixer. Our guide to space-saving baking tool essentials covers what else earns a place. For bread, a bread proofing basket and a food processor under $100 with a dough blade can replace a stand mixer for many bakers.

Hand Mixer vs Immersion Blender

These two look alike but do different jobs.

A hand mixer has two beaters. It aerates batters, whips cream and creams butter and sugar.

An immersion blender has one blade at the end of a stick. It purees soups, blends smoothies and emulsifies sauces.

Some immersion blenders come with a whisk attachment for light whipping. Our guide to the best immersion blenders covers them, and our guide on how to use an immersion blender explains the technique.

How to Use a Hand Mixer Well

A few habits give better results and less mess.

1. Start slow. Begin at the lowest speed, especially with dry ingredients.
2. Use a deep bowl. A deeper bowl contains splatter.
3. Keep beaters in the batter. Lifting them out while running throws batter everywhere.
4. Move around the bowl. Circle the bowl so everything mixes evenly.
5. Scrape the sides. Stop and scrape now and then, unless you have scraper beaters.
6. Do not overmix. Once flour goes in, mix just until combined. Overmixing makes cakes tough.

Soft butter creams much better than cold butter. Take it out of the fridge about an hour before baking.

What You Can Make With a Hand Mixer

A hand mixer covers far more than cake.

• Cookies and cakes. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and flour. Our guide to the best bakeware sets covers the pans, and our guide on how to bake cookies in a convection oven covers temperatures.
• Whipped cream. Use the whisk and a chilled bowl.
• Frosting. Cream cheese frosting whips up in minutes. See whether you can freeze cream cheese if you have leftovers.
• Meringue. Whip egg whites to stiff peaks with the whisk. For Swiss meringue, warm the whites and sugar over a pan of simmering water first. Our guide on how to use a double boiler shows how.
• Mashed potatoes. Beat hot potatoes with butter and milk for a fluffy mash. Our guide to the best electric potato peeler speeds up the peeling.
• Pancake and waffle batter. Mix until just combined. Our guide to the best waffle maker with removable plates covers easy-clean models.
• Candy and fudge. Some recipes need beating as they cool. A candy thermometer helps you hit the right stage.

Out of milk for a recipe? Our guide to the best substitutes for whole milk gives exact swaps. For dairy-free baking, our coconut milk substitute guide covers plant milks that behave well in batters.

Cleaning and Storing a Hand Mixer

Clean the mixer right after use. Batter dries hard on beaters.

• Unplug first. Then eject the attachments.
• Wash attachments. Most go in the dishwasher. Check your model. Batter and butter residue can build up in the dishwasher filter, so our guide on how to clean a dishwasher is worth a look.
• Wipe the body. Use a damp cloth. Never submerge the motor.
• Clean the vents. Flour builds up in vents. Wipe them with a dry brush.
• Store in the case. Keep all attachments together.

A mixer with a case fits in a drawer or cabinet. Compact bakeware pairs well with it. See our picks for the best bakeware for small kitchens. Our guides on organizing kitchen drawers in a small kitchen and small kitchen cabinet organization help you find space. For more on baking in tight quarters, see how to bake in a small kitchen without extra counter space.

Which Hand Mixer Should You Buy?

Buy the Hamilton Beach Professional 7-Speed 62655 if you want the best all-round hand mixer with a 5-year warranty.

Pick the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus HM-90S if you want 9 speeds and a full set of attachments.

Choose the Hamilton Beach Professional Cordless 62673 if you want freedom from the cord.

Get the Breville Handy Mix Scraper if you want the quietest, most refined mixer and do not mind the price.

Go with the Hamilton Beach 62692 if you want a reliable mixer for about $32.

Related Guides

• Compact Baking Sheet and Pan Sizes for Small Kitchens
• Why Baking Sheets Warp in the Oven
• Best Small Ovens and Toaster Ovens for Baking
• What to Use Instead of Cornstarch
• Best Griddle Pan for Pancakes
• Best Small Kitchen Appliances for Cooking for One

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hand mixer?

The Hamilton Beach Professional 7-Speed Hand Mixer 62655 is the best pick in this guide for most bakers. It has a DC motor, a slow start that reduces splatter, soft-scrape beaters, a whisk, dough hooks and a snap-on storage case, plus a 5-year limited warranty, for $59.99 on Hamilton Beach's store.

How many watts should a hand mixer have?

Watts are a rough guide at best. A DC motor that holds its speed under load often matters more than a high wattage figure. For cookies, cakes and whipped cream, most hand mixers with 200 to 300 watts do the job. For heavy doughs, a stand mixer is the better tool.

Can a hand mixer knead bread dough?

Some can handle small batches of soft dough with dough hooks, like pizza dough or dinner rolls. Stiff bread dough strains most hand mixer motors. For regular bread baking, knead by hand or use a stand mixer or food processor with a dough blade.

Is a cordless hand mixer worth it?

It can be, if you bake away from an outlet or hate managing a cord. The Hamilton Beach Professional Cordless 62673 lists up to 1 hour of runtime on a full charge. The trade-offs are a higher price and a battery that will wear over the years.

Hand mixer or stand mixer: which should I buy?

A hand mixer is cheaper, smaller and easier to store. It handles cookies, cakes, frosting, whipped cream and mashed potatoes. A stand mixer is better for bread dough, large batches and long mixing times. In a small kitchen, a hand mixer usually makes more sense.