How can I move my microwave from my worktop?

 

A question that we were recently asked was “What is the best way of getting my microwave off the worktop to free up some space?

Well, there are many different ways to do this and below, I will show the most popular ways to do this.


Microwave wall units

A very convenient way of tidying up the kitchen layout and getting the microwave off the worktop, is to place it in a wall unit, as shown below.

Microwave Wall Unit - 3134
Microwave Wall Unit
Microwave in a wall unit
Microwave in a wall unit

The microwave blends seamlessly into the kitchen and you don’t have to bend down to get into it anymore.

With microwaves that fit into the wall, in order for them to fit properly and look good, you will have to buy a built-in version. The widths of built in microwaves that will fit in wall units would need to be around ~59.4cm wide and ~31.7cm deep.

Our wall units are 30cm deep and the extra measurement you see on the microwave’s depth, is basically the door that sticks out from the microwave to line up with the adjacent wall unit doors.

Some people do use their freestanding microwave, if it is small enough, and just place it in the gap in the wall unit. There is no problem doing this but you would lose the integrated look. Please note that the depth of a standard microwave can range anywhere from about 35cm deep. This depth microwave would not fit flush into a wall unit.

Freestanding microwave in wall unit

You can see all our microwave wall units on our main website here.


Microwave tall units

Another option to remove your microwave from your worktop is by placing it into a tall unit. We offer various ways of doing this with different tall unit combinations, but the overall effect is the same. The image below shows a microwave above a double oven in a tall unit. As you can see, it looks really nice and blends in well.

A microwave in a tall unit
A microwave in a tall unit

Unlike microwave wall units, the depth of our tall units are 56cm deep (to a maximum depth of ~58cm if you count the door from the front of the microwave that will stick out to line up with any adjacent doors).

So, with a tall unit, you have a little more flexibility with your choice of built-in microwave and you can opt for a larger capacity one, like a 50-litre version for example!

Not quite tall units but 1250mm high mid sized units are also available and will accommodate a microwave.


Microwave base units

And finally, if you are happy to bend down a little to get to your microwave then you can also place it in a base unit, so that it is tucked out of the way to free up some valuable worktop space for something else, like the toaster! 😊

Microwave in a base unit
Microwave in a base unit
Freestanding microwave in a base unit
Microwave in a base unit
Microwave Base Unit

A big bonus of this unit is that you get some really convenient storage below it, in the form of a pull out pan drawer.

Butler’s Pantries

If you want your microwave completely out of sight then a Butler’s pantry can hide your freestanding microwave, with ease.

Butlers Pantry Microwave
 


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20 thoughts on “How can I move my microwave from my worktop?”
  • Emma Smith says:

    I am looking at installing the built under microwave housing in an island. I am concerned about ventilation. In a tall housing unit there would be ventilation at the back of the units. Is this a problem? I am just looking at a standard microwave (i.e. not with a grill or a combination oven). Thanks in advance

     
    April 10, 2023 at 7:30 am
    • DIY Kitchens says:

      Hi Emma, the built under microwave housings are suitable for a 380mm high microwave, the units are 560mm deep (BUA6), so there should be enough room for ventilation. The unit also comes with no back, so this helps.

       
      April 11, 2023 at 10:48 am
  • Paul says:

    Hi looking to get a 600mm microwave wall unit – 720mm high x 300mm deep, I cant find anywhere what the maximum height microwave will fit in, maximum width of unit inside I guess is 567mm and maximum depth is 300mm so I’m guessing I can fit a microwave with d=320 x w=565 but what about height?

     
    May 6, 2022 at 5:04 pm
    • DIY Kitchens says:

      Hi, the microwaves that fit nicely into these units should be a built-in version. The widths of built in microwaves that will fit into the wall unit would need to be around W594mm and D317mm. Our wall units are 300mm deep and the extra measurements you see on the microwave depths, is basically the door that sticks out from the microwave to line up with the adjacent wall unit doors.

      We change the door sizes based on the microwave height the customer has, so you will just need to input the size in the notes section of the unit when adding it to the basket.

      If you are unsure about an appliance & the housing you’re looking at, you can send a support ticket with the link to the appliance & advise us of the unit you’re looking at fitting the appliance into. We can then take a closer look at the diagrams for the appliance, to ensure it is suitable for the unit.

       
      May 11, 2022 at 12:05 pm
  • Danielle says:

    Hi, I asked re the height of the 900mm microwave unit and you responded that the door is 490mm and the internal dimensions of the slot for the microwave are 454mm high. But this adds up to 944, which is more than the 900mm height of the unit. Is there a typo in there?

     
    February 22, 2022 at 4:08 pm
    • DIY Kitchens says:

      Apologies. The sizes above are for the space behind the door.

      The space for the microwave is calculated as follows. 900mm unit height – 490mm high door – 18mm bottom carcase thickness, which equates to an internal height of ~392mm x 564mm wide.

       
      February 23, 2022 at 12:15 pm
  • Danielle says:

    In a 900mm height Microwave wall unit, what is the height of the microwave section and of the cupboard above? Thanks.

     
    February 21, 2022 at 1:26 pm
    • DIY Kitchens says:

      Hi, the unit TMW6 comes with a 490x597mm door so the space for the microwave would be approx H454mm x W564mm (internal measurement)

       
      February 22, 2022 at 2:39 pm
  • Kris says:

    Sorry to dig up an old thread…

    I’ve purchased a tall (1900) double oven + microwave unit. I had planned on using my freestanding microwave in the space intended for the microwave. I know it physically fits, but what will it look like? Will it have ugly gaps? is there a back on the microwave hole?

    Thanks,

     
    April 29, 2021 at 2:29 pm
    • DIY Kitchens says:

      Hi, yes the back of the unit will be open. It has to be supplied like this as the microwave requires ventilation at the back. Therefore you will be able to see the back of the unit. We would recommend using the correct integrated microwave.

       
      April 30, 2021 at 4:48 pm
  • Drew says:

    Hi

    We are trying to design an in frame kitchen and want to build a microwave under the worktop. You have a picture above showing a microwave sitting on a single pan drawer and someone has previously asked the same question, but unfortunately, the link in the answer is broken.

    The previous answer referenced a built under oven housing but that is not what is shown in the picture .

    (https://advice.diy-kitchens.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/9-freestanding-microwave-in-base-unit.jpg)

     
    April 5, 2021 at 5:57 pm
    • DIY Kitchens says:

      Hi, the unit you need to achieve this, is on this page here, but it is not available in inframe ranges i’m afraid.

       
      April 6, 2021 at 8:33 am
  • Patricia Hewitt says:

    My tablet won’t work for the planner. Can I instead send a graph with. Measurements. Also, do you manufacture up and over cabinet doors?

     
    April 7, 2020 at 2:50 pm
    • Diy Kitchens says:

      Hi Patricia, the planner should work all on devices with a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768 pixels is size. Could you let me know if you are getting an error message?

      We have no kitchen designers I’m afraid but if you have an existing quote or a plan of your kitchen with units required then the sales team can give you a quote based on that. Just send your plan/quote on a support ticket here, as well as the door style that you would like from our website.

      The only doors that we sell are shown on the website here, there are no different sizes or types available I’m afraid.

       
      April 7, 2020 at 3:18 pm
  • Angela says:

    Are the microwave wall units meant to be backless? i.e. no back panel attached where the microwave sits?

     
    February 17, 2020 at 3:19 pm
    • Diy Kitchens says:

      Hi Angela, the microwave wall unit doesn’t have a back to the bottom section of the unit. The is to give the microwave ventilation and gives room for the wires and the plug.

       
      February 17, 2020 at 3:50 pm
  • Hayley says:

    Hi, would can I find tall units on your website?

     
    October 24, 2019 at 9:46 pm
    • Diy Kitchens says:

      Hi Hayley, all our tall units can be found here.

       
      October 25, 2019 at 7:41 am
  • Rebecca says:

    Hi. Please could you advise which base unit type to use for the final photo example, where the non-integrated microwave looks like it is sitting on a shelf above the pan drawer? Thanks

     
    September 27, 2019 at 10:55 pm
    • Diy Kitchens says:

      Hi, this is a built under microwave unit, as shown here.

       
      September 30, 2019 at 9:05 am
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