A hand mixer is the right tool for whipped cream, meringue, and cookie dough without a stand mixer’s bulk. We scored seven on a five-part rubric weighted toward mixing performance. Our top pick is the Breville Handy Mix Scraper, with an SR Score of 88, for its ergonomic design and intuitive nine-speed control. If you want nearly the same performance for half the price, the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus (86) is the runner-up.
The ranking
| Rank | Model | Best for | Speeds / price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breville Handy Mix Scraper | All-around, ergonomics | 9 / ~$200 | 88 |
| 2 | Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus | Best value | 9 / ~$60 | 86 |
| 3 | KitchenAid 9-Speed | Versatility | 9 / ~$80 | 84 |
| 4 | KitchenAid 7-Speed | Reliable baking | 7 / ~$70 | 83 |
| 5 | Cuisinart 5-Speed | Simple baking | 5 / ~$50 | 80 |
| 6 | Hamilton Beach 6-Speed | Budget | 6 / ~$25 | 78 |
| 7 | Toastmaster TM-108HM | Cheapest whipping | 5 / ~$20 | 76 |
Methodology
The Home Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria that sum to 100:
- Mixing performance (30) — even mixing without scraping, dough handling, whipping speed, splatter control.
- Value for money (25) — performance per dollar at typical retail.
- Build & durability (20) — motor, beater quality, housing, track record.
- Features (15) — speed range, slow start, attachments, timer, light, storage.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — aggregate owner ratings and lab testing.
Performance leads because a mixer that needs constant scraping or splatters batter is more work, not less. Re-weight toward Value and the Cuisinart and Hamilton Beach climb; toward features the Breville rises.
Breville Handy Mix Scraper
The best overall. It raced through tests with smart ergonomics, intuitive nine-speed controls, a quiet motor, a timer, and a light. Determined the best hand mixer after 40 hours of baking. Around $200.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Mixing performance | 28/30 |
| Value for money | 19/25 |
| Build & durability | 18/20 |
| Features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: by far the most expensive hand mixer here.
Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus
The value champion. Mixes evenly without stopping to scrape and can handle kneaded yeast dough, performing nearly as well as the Breville at roughly half the price. Around $60.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Mixing performance | 26/30 |
| Value for money | 24/25 |
| Build & durability | 16/20 |
| Features | 12/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: louder and less refined than the Breville.
KitchenAid 9-Speed
The versatile pick. Nine speeds plus an included immersion blender rod for around $80. A do-more tool.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Mixing performance | 24/30 |
| Value for money | 22/25 |
| Build & durability | 16/20 |
| Features | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: the nine speeds aren’t well differentiated, with the lowest too low and highest prone to splatter.
KitchenAid 7-Speed
The reliable baker. A well-built seven-speed with a soft-start feature for around $70. A dependable mid-range choice.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Mixing performance | 24/30 |
| Value for money | 22/25 |
| Build & durability | 16/20 |
| Features | 11/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: fewer features than the 9-Speed for a similar price.
Cuisinart 5-Speed
The simple baker. Five speeds and a slim body for around $50. Covers standard baking jobs.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Mixing performance | 23/30 |
| Value for money | 22/25 |
| Build & durability | 15/20 |
| Features | 10/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: no dough hooks and limited speed range.
Hamilton Beach 6-Speed
The budget pick. Six speeds and snap-on storage case for around $25. Solid for occasional use.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Mixing performance | 22/30 |
| Value for money | 23/25 |
| Build & durability | 13/20 |
| Features | 11/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: weaker motor that bogs in stiff dough.
Toastmaster TM-108HM
The cheapest whipping pick. Excels at whipping egg whites, whipped cream, and pancake batter for around $20.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Mixing performance | 21/30 |
| Value for money | 23/25 |
| Build & durability | 12/20 |
| Features | 9/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: not built for heavy dough and a thin plastic body.
Verification
- Breville Handy Mix Scraper — nine speeds, ergonomics, timer, light, and pricing verified on breville.com and Reviewed hand mixer testing.
- Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus — even mixing, dough handling, and pricing verified on cuisinart.com and CNN Underscored.
- KitchenAid 9-Speed — included immersion rod and speed notes verified on kitchenaid.com and TechGearLab.
- KitchenAid 7-Speed — soft start and pricing verified on kitchenaid.com.
- Cuisinart 5-Speed — speeds and pricing verified on cuisinart.com.
- Hamilton Beach 6-Speed — speeds and pricing verified on hamiltonbeach.com.
- Toastmaster TM-108HM — whipping performance and pricing verified on retailer listings and TechGearLab.
Related rankings
- Best Food Processors 2026: 7 Models Ranked
- Best Stand Mixers 2026: 6 Mixers Scored and Ranked
- Best Toaster Ovens 2026: 7 Models Ranked and Scored
- Best Toasters 2026: 7 Toasters Scored and Ranked
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best hand mixer in 2026?
- For serious bakers, the Breville Handy Mix Scraper leads on ergonomics and smart nine-speed control. The Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus performs nearly as well at about half the price, and the KitchenAid 9-Speed adds an immersion blender rod.
- Hand mixer or stand mixer?
- A hand mixer is cheaper, lighter, and easier to store, perfect for whipping cream, beating eggs, and light batters. A stand mixer handles heavy dough hands-free and large batches. For occasional baking, a hand mixer is enough.
- How many speeds do I need?
- Five speeds cover most baking. Nine speeds, like the Breville and KitchenAid, give finer control, though some find the extra steps redundant. A slow start speed that prevents flour clouds matters more than raw speed count.
- Can a hand mixer knead bread dough?
- Some can with dough hooks, like the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus, but only small batches and stiffer motors handle it. For regular bread baking, a stand mixer is the better tool; a hand mixer is for batters and whipping.
- Why pay more for a Breville hand mixer?
- The Breville adds a quieter motor, a beater-IQ that auto-adjusts speed when attachments are inserted, a light, and a timer. For frequent bakers the refinement is real; for occasional use the Cuisinart delivers most of the performance for less.