Lush Food & Drink

Buying Guide ·Baking

Best Stand Mixers for Five Different Kitchens

The deciding specification is bowl capacity, which ranges from 4.5 quarts to 8.4 quarts across these five models.

By the Lush Editorial Team·Researched & Compared

  • Researched & ComparedSpecs pulled from the manufacturer listing
  • Like-for-LikeSame measures across every model
  • No Paid PlacementsNobody pays to appear here

Compared five stand mixers using only the specifications and published features each manufacturer provides.

Our shortlist

Five products, one set of published numbers.
  1. KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand ...
    Best for cookie batches

    KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand ...

    Published as mixing up to 8 dozen cookies in one batch with the flat beater.

    • KitchenAid
    • 4.5 Q
    • 22 lb
  2. 8.4QT Commercial Stand Mixer 800W with Aluminum Die ...
    Best for bulk dough

    8.4QT Commercial Stand Mixer 800W with Aluminum Die ...

    Stated maximum dough weight of 3 kg and NSF/ANSI 8-2023 compliance.

    • ZACME
    • 8.4QT
    • 33 lb
  3. Martha Stewart 5.3QT Tilt Head Stand Mixer
    Best for large cake batter

    Martha Stewart 5.3QT Tilt Head Stand Mixer

    Published as handling up to 9 dozen cookies and large batches in a 5.3-quart bowl.

    • Martha Stewart
    • 5.3QT Stand Mixer
    • 9.04 lb
  4. VIVOHOME Stand Mixer
    Best for a stated motor figure

    VIVOHOME Stand Mixer

    The only one of the five with a published wattage, 660W, plus a 6-quart bowl.

    • VIVOHOME
    • 6 QT
    • 12.5 lb
  5. OLIXIS 6.3 Qt Stand Mixer
    Best for a small counter

    OLIXIS 6.3 Qt Stand Mixer

    The lightest at 7.1 pounds, with the smallest published width at 7.6 inches.

    • OLIXIS
    • 6.3-Quart
    • 7.1 lb

Side by side

Blank means the maker does not publish it.
ModelBrandSize (capacity)WeightBest for
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand ... KitchenAid 4.5 Q 22 lb Best for cookie batches
8.4QT Commercial Stand Mixer 800W with Aluminum Die ... ZACME 8.4QT 33 lb Best for bulk dough
Martha Stewart 5.3QT Tilt Head Stand Mixer Martha Stewart 5.3QT Stand Mixer 9.04 lb Best for large cake batter
VIVOHOME Stand Mixer VIVOHOME 6 QT 12.5 lb Best for a stated motor figure
OLIXIS 6.3 Qt Stand Mixer OLIXIS 6.3-Quart 7.1 lb Best for a small counter

Each pick in detail

What the listing says for it, and against it.
1 Best for cookie batches

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand ...

Published as mixing up to 8 dozen cookies in one batch with the flat beater.

  • For it
  • Published as mixing up to 8 dozen cookies in a single batch
  • 10 speeds stated for tasks from stirring to whipping cream
  • Tilt-head design with the head locking in place while mixing
  • Metal construction with 59 stated touchpoints around the bowl
  • Against it
  • 4.5-quart bowl is the smallest capacity of the five
  • The manufacturer does not publish a motor wattage
2 Best for bulk dough

8.4QT Commercial Stand Mixer 800W with Aluminum Die ...

Stated maximum dough weight of 3 kg and NSF/ANSI 8-2023 compliance.

  • For it
  • Stated maximum dough weight of 3 kg, or 6.6 pounds
  • Published as meeting NSF/ANSI 8-2023 for commercial use
  • LED display with a countdown time setting
  • Stated noise level of 48 dBA on the first gear and 68 dBA on the highest
  • Against it
  • 33.0 pounds, the heaviest of the five
  • The manufacturer does not publish a motor wattage
3 Best for large cake batter

Martha Stewart 5.3QT Tilt Head Stand Mixer

Published as handling up to 9 dozen cookies and large batches in a 5.3-quart bowl.

  • For it
  • 5.3-quart bowl published as handling up to 9 dozen cookies
  • 12 speed settings, the most of the five
  • Includes a flat beater with a silicone edge
  • Removable splash shield with a pour chute
  • Against it
  • The manufacturer does not publish a motor wattage
  • The manufacturer does not publish a maximum dough weight
4 Best for a stated motor figure

VIVOHOME Stand Mixer

The only one of the five with a published wattage, 660W, plus a 6-quart bowl.

  • For it
  • 660W copper motor, the only published wattage of the five
  • 6-quart bowl stated to hold 3 bread loaves or 2.2 pounds of flour
  • 10 speeds plus a pulse function
  • Flex edge beater stated to scrape the sides and bottom
  • Against it
  • 18.8 inches tall, the largest published height of the five
  • The manufacturer does not publish a maximum dough weight
5 Best for a small counter

OLIXIS 6.3 Qt Stand Mixer

The lightest at 7.1 pounds, with the smallest published width at 7.6 inches.

  • For it
  • 7.1 pounds, the lightest of the five
  • 7.6 inches wide and 12.3 inches tall, the smallest of the five on both
  • 300W motor with ten speed levels
  • Bowl cover stated to combine six tools, including a scale and egg separator
  • Against it
  • The manufacturer does not publish a maximum dough weight
  • The manufacturer does not publish a noise level

Our verdict

The five mixers here split by bowl capacity and by what the maker states the machine can do. The KitchenAid Classic Series is the only one published as mixing up to 8 dozen cookies in a single batch. The ZACME is the only one published as meeting NSF/ANSI 8-2023 and the only one with a stated maximum dough weight of 3 kg. The Martha Stewart is published as handling up to 9 dozen cookies. The VIVOHOME states a 660W motor and a 6-quart bowl. The OLIXIS is the lightest at 7.1 pounds and publishes the smallest width at 7.6 inches.

“Capacity and stated dough weight decide more than motor wattage here.”

Lush Editorial Team

What separates these five

Capacity is the first split Bowl sizes run from 4.5 quarts on the KitchenAid to 8.4 quarts on the ZACME. That range decides whether a mixer suits small batches or bulk dough.
Only one published wattage The VIVOHOME states 660W and the OLIXIS states 300W. The other three makers do not publish a motor figure, so wattage cannot be compared across all five.
Stated dough limits The ZACME publishes a maximum dough weight of 3 kg. The VIVOHOME states its bowl holds 2.2 pounds of flour. The other three do not publish a dough limit.
Certification and compliance The ZACME is the only one of the five published as meeting NSF/ANSI 8-2023. The other four makers state no comparable standard.
Timers and displays The ZACME has an LED display with a countdown timer. The Moss & Stone lists a timer in its title. The other three state no timer.

How we chose

Priorities, not a computed score. The inputs are published specifications, so we rank by what matters most and say how much.

  1. 30% Published bowl capacityCapacity is the figure every maker states and the one that decides batch size.
  2. 25% Stated dough weight or flour weightA published dough limit is the clearest signal of what a mixer is built to handle.
  3. 20% Published motor wattageOnly two of the five state a wattage, so it carries weight where it exists and is noted as missing where it does not.
  4. 15% Speed settings and controlsSpeed count and any timer or display are stated by most makers and shape daily use.
  5. 10% Published dimensions and weightFootprint and weight matter on a counter, and all five makers publish both.

How the Five Compare on the Numbers

Bowl capacity is the figure that separates these five most cleanly, and every maker states it. The KitchenAid Classic Series is 4.5 quarts, the Martha Stewart is 5.3 quarts, the Moss & Stone is 5.5 quarts, the VIVOHOME is 6 quarts, the OLIXIS is 6.3 quarts, and the ZACME is 8.4 quarts. That is a spread of 3.9 quarts between the smallest and the largest.

Weight and footprint separate them just as sharply. The OLIXIS is the lightest at 7.1 pounds and publishes the smallest width at 7.6 inches. The ZACME is the heaviest at 33.0 pounds and publishes the largest width at 12.2 inches. The VIVOHOME publishes the largest height at 18.8 inches. Motor wattage is published for only two of the five, so it cannot be compared across the group.

Specification KitchenAid Classic Series Martha Stewart 5.3QT ZACME 8.4QT OLIXIS 6.3 Qt VIVOHOME 6-Quart
Bowl capacity 4.5 quarts 5.3 quarts 8.4 quarts 6.3 quarts 6 quarts
Published motor wattage not published not published not published 300W 660W
Speed settings 10 12 not published 10 10 plus pulse
Stated dough or flour weight not published not published 3 kg, 6.6 lb not published 2.2 lb flour
Width 8.7 in 10.43 in 12.2 in 7.6 in 8.8 in
Depth 14.1 in 16.93 in 18.11 in 13.9 in 15.2 in
Height 13.9 in 16.93 in 16.3 in 12.3 in 18.8 in
Weight 22.0 lb 9.04 lb 33.0 lb 7.1 lb 12.5 lb
Stated noise level not published not published 48 dBA to 68 dBA not published not published
Stated compliance not published not published NSF/ANSI 8-2023 not published not published

The table does not tell you how any of these machines performs. Nobody at Lush has used them, and the makers publish capability rather than results. It also cannot compare motor wattage across all five, because three makers state no figure. What the table does show is which maker publishes what, and where a number is simply absent.

Capacity, Stated Dough Limits and What They Decide

The published bowl figures

The KitchenAid Classic Series states a 4.5-quart stainless steel bowl and publishes it as mixing up to 8 dozen cookies in a single batch using the flat beater, with 28g of dough each. That is the only cookie count tied to a specific attachment in the material provided, and it belongs to the smallest bowl of the five.

The Martha Stewart states a 5.3-quart bowl and publishes it as handling large batches, cake batter, and up to 9 dozen cookies. That is one dozen more than the KitchenAid figure, on a bowl that is 0.8 quarts larger. Both counts come from the makers and neither is a measurement taken here.

Where a dough weight is stated

The ZACME publishes a maximum dough weight of 3 kg, which it also gives as 6.6 pounds or 105.8 ounces. It is the only one of the five with a stated dough ceiling. The VIVOHOME states its 6-quart bowl holds 3 bread loaves or 2.2 pounds of flour, which is a flour figure rather than a dough limit.

The Martha Stewart, KitchenAid and OLIXIS makers do not publish a maximum dough weight at all. For those three, the bowl capacity is the only published guide to batch size, and a reader comparing them on dough capacity has nothing further to work from.

Motors, Speeds and Controls as Published

The two stated wattages

The VIVOHOME states a 660W copper motor and the OLIXIS states a 300W motor. Those are the only two wattage figures among the five. The Martha Stewart, ZACME and KitchenAid makers do not publish a motor wattage, so no wattage comparison across the full group is possible.

Speed counts are published more widely. The Martha Stewart states 12 settings, the most of the five. The KitchenAid, VIVOHOME and OLIXIS each state 10, and the VIVOHOME adds a pulse function. The Moss & Stone states 6 speeds with a pulse function. The ZACME does not publish a speed count.

Timers, displays and bowl covers

The ZACME states an LED display showing operation time and settings, with a countdown timer that lets the user set a time and step away. The Moss & Stone lists a timer in its title and states a 6-speed controller with a pulse function. The other three makers state no timer or display.

The OLIXIS states an all-in-one bowl cover combining six tools: a magnifier, slicer, egg separator, measuring cup, scale and serrated edge. The Martha Stewart states a removable splash shield with a pour chute. The VIVOHOME states an upgraded splash guard that allows pouring while running.

Footprint, Weight and Counter Fit

The smallest and largest footprints

The OLIXIS is the smallest of the five on width, depth and height, at 7.6 inches wide, 13.9 inches deep and 12.3 inches tall, and the lightest at 7.1 pounds. The ZACME is the largest on width and depth, at 12.2 inches wide and 18.11 inches deep, and the heaviest at 33.0 pounds.

The VIVOHOME publishes the largest height of the five at 18.8 inches, against 12.3 inches for the OLIXIS and 16.3 inches for the ZACME. The Moss & Stone states a design that fits underneath most kitchen cabinets, at 12.0 inches tall.

What the weight figures mean for placement

The ZACME at 33.0 pounds is 25.9 pounds heavier than the OLIXIS at 7.1 pounds and 11.0 pounds heavier than the KitchenAid at 22.0 pounds. The Martha Stewart is 9.04 pounds and the Moss & Stone is 10.0 pounds. These are manufacturer figures, not weights taken here.

Suction or anti-slip feet are stated by two makers. The VIVOHOME states strong suction cups to keep the mixer stable during mixing. The Moss & Stone states anti-slip silicone suction feet on the bottom. The other three makers state no foot or stability detail.

Which One Fits Your Kitchen

Small-batch cookie bakers. The KitchenAid Classic Series states a 4.5-quart bowl and publishes it as mixing up to 8 dozen cookies in one batch with the flat beater. It is the smallest bowl of the five and the only one with a cookie count tied to a named attachment.

Bulk dough bakers. The ZACME publishes a maximum dough weight of 3 kg and an 8.4-quart bowl, and it is the only one of the five stated as meeting NSF/ANSI 8-2023. It is also the heaviest at 33.0 pounds, so plan for a fixed spot.

Large cake and batter batches. The Martha Stewart states a 5.3-quart bowl, 12 speed settings, and a published capacity of up to 9 dozen cookies. It is 9.04 pounds, which sits between the lightest and heaviest of the five.

Buyers who want a stated wattage. The VIVOHOME states 660W and a 6-quart bowl holding 2.2 pounds of flour, with 10 speeds plus pulse. It publishes the largest height of the five at 18.8 inches, so check the clearance above your counter.

Small counters and light lifting. The OLIXIS is the lightest at 7.1 pounds and the smallest of the five on width, depth and height. It states a 300W motor and a 6.3-quart bowl, and its bowl cover combines six tools.

What We Could Not Verify

Several figures a buyer would want are absent from the material the makers provide. These are the ones we went looking for and could not source.

  • Motor wattage for the Martha Stewart, ZACME and KitchenAid models, which publish no wattage figure.
  • Maximum dough weight for the Martha Stewart, KitchenAid and OLIXIS models, none of which state a dough ceiling.
  • Noise level for every model except the ZACME, which states 48 dBA on the first gear and 68 dBA on the highest.
  • Bowl material grade beyond stainless steel for any of the five, and the thickness of any bowl.
  • Warranty length for every model except the Moss & Stone, which states a one-year warranty.
  • Speed count for the ZACME, which publishes a display and timer but no number of speeds.

Frequently asked questions

Which of these has the largest bowl?+

The ZACME states an 8.4-quart stainless steel bowl, the largest of the five. The VIVOHOME and OLIXIS state 6 quarts and 6.3 quarts. The Martha Stewart states 5.3 quarts, the Moss & Stone states 5.5 quarts, and the KitchenAid states 4.5 quarts, the smallest here.

Which mixer states a maximum dough weight?+

Only the ZACME publishes one, at 3 kg, which it also gives as 6.6 pounds or 105.8 ounces. The VIVOHOME states its 6-quart bowl holds 2.2 pounds of flour, which is a flour figure rather than a dough limit. The other three makers do not publish a dough weight.

Which of the five is the lightest?+

The OLIXIS is the lightest at 7.1 pounds. The Martha Stewart is 9.04 pounds, the Moss & Stone is 10.0 pounds, the VIVOHOME is 12.5 pounds, the KitchenAid is 22.0 pounds, and the ZACME is 33.0 pounds, the heaviest of the five.

Do any of these carry a published certification?+

The ZACME is the only one of the five published as meeting NSF/ANSI 8-2023 for commercial use. The other four makers state no comparable certification or standard in the material provided, so no comparison on that point is possible.

Which model has the most speed settings?+

The Martha Stewart states 12 speed settings, the most of the five. The KitchenAid, VIVOHOME and OLIXIS each state 10 speeds, and the VIVOHOME adds a pulse function. The Moss & Stone states 6 speeds with a pulse function. The ZACME does not publish a speed count.

Which publishes the smallest width?+

The OLIXIS publishes the smallest width at 7.6 inches and the smallest height at 12.3 inches. The Moss & Stone is 8.0 inches wide, the KitchenAid 8.7 inches, the VIVOHOME 8.8 inches, the Martha Stewart 10.43 inches, and the ZACME 12.2 inches, the largest of the five.

Specifications come from the manufacturers' own published listings. Lush Food & Drink may earn a commission if you buy through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we research.