6 Best Hand Mixers, According to Expert Testing
We mixed lots of dough and whipped up heavy cream and egg whites to find the top performers.
Reviewed by Nicole PapantoniouKitchen Appliances Lab Director
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A good electric hand mixer can make preparing thick cookie dough or whipping meringue easier and less tiring than doing it by hand. It’s also easier to store and more affordable than a stand mixer, giving you electric power without taking up too much space or money.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Breville Handy Mix Scraper
- Best Value: Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer
- Best for Baking: Braun MultiMix 5 Speed Hand Mixer
- Best Cordless: KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Mixer
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, we’ve tested over 35 hand mixers and stand mixers over the past two decades, including eight models I tested in the past year. When testing hand mixers, we evaluate their performance on tasks such as mixing cookie dough and whipping cream. We also assess ease of use, available attachments, weight and speed options.
Best Deal
Pros
- Aced every Lab test, from bread dough to egg whites
- Light shines into bowl during operation
- Silicone coating on beaters
Cons
- Pricey
This nine-speed model features what Breville calls "Beater IQ" technology, which, according to the brand, can recognize the attachment you've inserted (beaters, dough hooks or whisks) and automatically adjust the required speed. I found this worked well with whipping cream and didn't slow down or stall while mixing thick cookie dough.
The beaters have a silicone coating to help prevent scratches on cookware and dampen the loud clanking that can sometimes be caused by beaters hitting the sides of the bowl. Plus, it features a built-in timer and a light that turns on during beating to help you see into the bowl, ensuring everything is incorporated. It also comes with a case, so you can easily store the attachments.
How it performed in our tests: Breville’s hand mixer earned top scores in our testing, excelling at whipping egg whites, beating cake batter and kneading bread dough. It was a top performer, mixing thick oatmeal raisin cookie dough with ease and creating some of the fluffiest whipped cream.
Take note: It's a bit pricey, but we think the extra features and attachments make it worth the splurge.
| Weight | 4 lbs |
| Dimensions | 3.5" x 8.5" x 10.25" |
| Number of speed settings | 9 |
| Power | 240 watts |
| Included attachments | Silicone-coated beaters, dough hooks and whisks |
| Storage | Snap-on case |
Pros
- Makes fluffy whipped cream and smooth cake batter
- "QuickBurst" button for tough ingredients
- Snap-on compartment makes for tidy storage
Cons
- Not as good for mixing thick dough
Hamilton Beach hand mixers have excelled in past testing, so it's no surprise this model performed well. The mixer is equipped with six speed settings and a "QuickBurst" button, which provides an extra dose of power to whip through tough ingredients like firm cream cheese. The handle was comfortable to hold and the simple flip switch that toggles between speeds is easy to use.
Our pros appreciated the bowl rest feature, which allows you to rest the back of the mixer on the edge of the bowl, keeping the beaters securely in place rather than dripping onto the counter when you need to take a pause. Another convenient feature is the snap-on case, which neatly stores the two beaters, whisk and cord along with the mixer.
How it performed in our tests: It whipped up heavy cream with ease and made cake batter that was smooth.
Take note: I found this hand mixer struggled with mixing oatmeal raisin cookie dough thoroughly, so it's better for less dense doughs and baking tasks. I also had to pause to clear the beaters more often.
| Weight | 2.86 lbs |
| Dimensions | 5.7" x 8.3" x 9.2" |
| Number of speed settings | 6 |
| Power | 250 watts |
| Included attachments | Beaters and a whisk |
| Storage | Snap-on case |
Pros
- Performs well across all kinds of tasks
- Attachments are dishwasher-safe
- Convenient storage pouch for attachments
- Comes with dough hooks
Cons
- Doesn't come with a traditional whisk
The Braun MultiMix 5 is a versatile hand mixer with nine speed options. It comes with two "MultiWhisk" beaters, which the brand claims are uniquely shaped to whip, mix and beat, and also includes two dough hooks. We liked that the rotating dial allows you to easily swap between incorporating flour into a batter and folding nuts into a dough.
Our experts found the whisks easy to clean because the tines are wider and more spread out than typical beaters. Plus, all of the attachments are dishwasher-safe. We appreciated the storage pouch to keep them all together.
How it performed in our tests: This mixer aced our egg white whipping test and our cookie dough test so you can use it for delicate foods and heavy baked goods alike.
Take note: It doesn't come with a traditional whisk attachment.
Features at a Glance
| Weight | 2.2 lbs |
| Dimensions | 8.3" x 3" x 8.7" |
| Number of speed settings | 9 |
| Power | 350 watts |
| Included attachments | Multi-use whisks and dough hooks |
| Storage | Drawstring bag |
Pros
- One of the lightest hand mixers we tested
- Beaters are wrapped with silicone
- Multiple color options
Cons
- Slide button is awkward to adjust
This hand mixer truly stands out: It's one of the lightest we tested, weighing only two pounds. I appreciated the lighter weight, as my arms and hands didn’t get as fatigued while mixing. Similar to the Breville (but at a lower price) it features beaters wrapped in silicone to prevent clanking against the mixing bowl. In addition to the Flex Edge beaters, it also comes with a whisk attachment.
With six speeds, this mixer can handle a range of mixing tasks, from light stirring to more intense beating. It also comes in fun colors like Contour Silver, Empire Red and Ice Blue. We like the clever storage design, featuring a clip that attaches to the underside of the mixer, allowing everything to stay together without the need for a storage container.
How it performed in our tests: It handled thick cookie batter with ease, producing cookies with perfectly crisp edges and a soft, tender center. It also whipped up two cups of heavy cream quickly and efficiently.
Take note: The slide button for adjusting speed is a bit stiff.
| Weight | 2 lbs |
| Dimensions | 8" x 2" x 6" |
| Number of speed settings | 6 |
| Power | 60 watts |
| Included attachments | Silicone-coated beaters and whisk |
| Storage | Clip attachment |
Pros
- Comes with multiple attachments, including a spatula
- Swivel cord for both right or left-handed consumers
- Dishwasher-safe removable parts
Cons
- Need to scrape down bowl regularly while mixing
This Cuisinart hand mixer comes with a versatile array of accessories for a variety of baking needs: two beaters for beating cake batter or buttercream frosting, a whisk for whipping egg whites or cream, two dough hooks for kneading bread or pizza dough and a spatula to help you scrape down the side of your bowl. It has nine speeds, including three low-start speeds that help prevent splattering, so you can gently mix ingredients on the first or second speed or beat through tough batter with the eighth or ninth.
All of the attachments are dishwasher-safe and store neatly in a snap-on case. We appreciated that the cord swivels, allowing the mixer to be easily used by right- or left-handed people. It checked all the boxes of what we are looking for in a corded model.
How it performed in our tests: The whisk attachment is small but mighty, producing airy whipped cream and the small size prevents too much splashing.
Take note: In our testing, we had to scrape down the bowl regularly to help mix the cake batter and cookie dough.
| Weight | 4 lbs |
| Dimensions | 8.46" x 3.94" x 8.94" |
| Number of speed settings | 9 |
| Power | 220 watts |
| Included attachments | Beaters, dough hooks, a whisk and a scraper |
| Storage | Snap-on case |
Pros
- No need for an outlet during operation
- Makes airy whipped cream
- Replaceable and rechargeable battery
Cons
- Doesn't include whisk or dough hook attachments like some other models
With the KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Mixer, you won’t be tethered to an outlet or worried about a cord getting in the way. This pick features a rechargeable battery, allowing you to use it anywhere. According to the brand, a fully charged battery provides 60 minutes of continuous run time. Our pros appreciate that the battery is removable, allowing you to simply swap it out with a spare (sold separately) if the battery dies, unlike other cordless mixers where the charger is attached to the mixer.
It comes with two stainless steel beaters but no whisk or dough hooks. Bonus: This is part of a system of cordless appliances including a food chopper, coffee bean grinder, immersion blender, personal blender and even a kitchen vacuum, all of which are sold separately.
How it performed in our tests: This hand mixer excelled at making airy whipped cream that doesn’t fall flat. It also created smooth cake batter that produce evenly browned cakes with a springy texture.
Take note: It doesn't come with any other attachments such as a whisk or dough hooks.
How we test hand mixers
We've tested more than 35 mixers in the last two decades in the Lab and at home. In the Good Housekeeping Institute, we assess the performance and ease of use when mixing a variety of recipes.
✔️ Ease of use: We evaluate the ease of using controls, as well as inserting and ejecting beaters and attachments. We also assess the comfort level when holding the mixer's handle and its weight. We also note the variety of speeds.
✔️ Mixing test: We mixed various recipes to see how the hand mixers stand up to tough ingredients, combining thick oatmeal raisin cookie dough, beating yellow cake and kneading white bread dough. We also score these after baking based on factors such as tenderness, crumb, even browning and uniformity.
✔️ Whipping test: We whipped egg whites and heavy cream, measuring the volume of each to assess how well the hand mixer incorporated air.
When making our picks, we considered both performance and how intuitive each model was to use. We also factored in its ergonomics and any useful features, as well as included attachments.
What to look for when shopping for a hand mixer
✔️ Power: A good hand mixer typically uses around 200 to 300 watts of power. This power can help it muscle through tough cookie dough filled with nuts, oats or chocolate chips without slowing down or shutting off. However, watts doesn't always indicate a better hand mixer since other factors such as beater design can affect performance.
✔️ Speed settings: We prefer mixers that have several speed settings to choose from. Low settings are great when you need to mix gently or avoid splattering; high settings are useful for mixing dense batters and ingredients.
✔️ Comfort: Since you’ll be holding up the hand mixer for an extended period of time, look for lighter mixers with a comfortable grip. A heavy mixer can tire your arm out quickly.
✔️ Cord vs. cordless: If you're short on outlets in your kitchen or if they're in inconvenient locations, consider a cordless hand mixer. You do have to remember to charge them regularly, but they grant you freedom to work in any area of the kitchen. They're also easy to use by both right- and left-handed people. If you prefer a model with a cord, consider one with a swivel cord to keep it out of the way when you're using the mixer.
✔️ Accessories: All hand mixers come with detachable beaters, but only some models include other attachments, such as whisks or dough hooks. Even though additional attachments usually increase the price of the model, they add versatility to your hand mixer.
✔️ Storage: Extra accessories are nice to have, but they can get lost in drawers easily, so models that have a snap-on storage case come in handy to house everything in the same place.
What is the difference between mixing by hand and using a hand mixer?
A hand mixer gives you extra power to fully incorporate ingredients and get a batter velvety smooth without tiring out your hand and arm muscles. While there are certainly some batters, doughs or sauces that can be hand-mixed, foods like homemade aioli or whipped cream can be made quickly with the help of a mixer.
What is the difference between a hand mixer and a stand mixer?
Most hand mixers are more affordable than stand mixers and can be stored more easily since they're less bulky and take up less counter space. They can also be easily moved from one side of your kitchen to another. They can be used with just about any bowl, whereas a stand mixer pairs only with its own bowl.
Holding a hand mixer at high speed for a long time can tire your hand because of the force required to keep the mixer steady. With a stand mixer, you simply have to push a button and the mixer will do all of the work for you. Tough doughs and ingredients that require whipping for more than 10 minutes are best handled with a stand mixer. Quick jobs, lighter doughs and batters, as well as egg whites and whipped creams, are well-suited to a hand mixer.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she oversees all of Good Housekeeping's content and testing related to kitchen appliances, tools, gadgets and gear. She's been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013.
This article was most recently updated by Jamie Ueda. She is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has tested products and written many reviews across dozens of categories, including hand mixers, cake decorating tools, gifts for bakers, charcuterie boards and many more kitchen products. She is an avid baker, especially gluten-free baked goods.
Nicole (she/her) is the senior director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She oversees all content and testing related to kitchen products, food, and recipes. She has worked at GH since 2019, and is a trained cook, published recipe developer, and seasoned product tester with nearly 15 years of experience. She has worked in test kitchens for national magazines and kitchen appliances brands, where she also helped develop products for the home cook. She earned a degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz, graduated with a Grand Diplome in Classic Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute, and studied culinary nutrition at the Natural Gourmet Institute (both now part of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.)
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