Unfortunately, some of us have small enough kitchens that we can spare neither wall nor base cabinet storage to put the microwave elsewhere. It's over the range (but vented!!) for me.

Just spec'd a new Bosch microwave drawer! We love them. Fun fact: Most of the drawers sold in the US are made by Sharp (and rebranded on the front by various companies).

If $ is not an issue, absolutely microwave drawer. However, it is expensive...

The microwave drawer is great because it's accessible to everyone. And it fits perfectly in with your cabinets under the countertop.

My microwave is above my oven. My cooktop is under the fume hood. It doesn't look cheat to me. I actually like it.

In a small space microwave above the range works, but if have the space and the choice, hood above the range and microwave drawer is awesome!

If space available and plenty of $$$...drawer easily. Budget and space constraints...above the stove, easily. And, it's okay so don't sweat it if your microwave is above the stove top. It's all good.

Can small children get at them if they are in microwave drawers? That sounds like a serious accident waiting to happen. I would love to know the answer. Scares me just thinking of it!

I would put in the corner on the counter about the oven. It would be a perfect place for it.

Stewy2you, I believe they come with safety locks.

For the last few years my cheepo microwave ( i.e. popcorn maker) has lived on the bottom shelf of the pantry (plugged in) .. out of site ... I feel awkward letting it be in a focal position of prominence like above the stove.

Yes, they do come with locks/codes for safety. I actually wanted a regular microwave next to or above the wall ovens, looked like part of the upper cabinets. Could've put a cabinet front that pulled out and up, to hide it if we wanted. So glad this didn't work out due to space concerns. We did end up doing a microwave drawer, in the island. We love it!

Our's is on the counter, would love a drawer. Had one once above the double wall oven-came that way-never used it,,.way too high.

I had always wanted our microwave off the counter and over the stove. We moved into a brand new home a few years ago and now I'd rather have the microwave back on the counter. The microwave is a built-in and located over my stove. It has a built in vent that I think is useless to have over a stove top. I also think it sets to low over the stove top but I was told it is standard height. The underside of the microwave is also hard to clean because I have to bend over to see if I'm getting it clean. I do not think I would like a microwave drawer if nothing else but the cleaning of it. We lived in an apartment for a short time years ago where there was a place to slide a microwave in an open area in the upper cabinets. As of right now, I think that is my favorite location for a microwave.

SERIOUSLY, This is a question? Women who voted for "Above" probably don't even know the "Drawer" exist. I loved mine so much in WA that I brought a new one, in my suitcase, to the Republic of Panama for my vacation home kitchen renovation. You may like "Above" if you are over 5' 11". Tall men like to put regular micro's up so high, shorter people can't see what they're stirring. I hated that. Love Love Love my Sharp Microwave Drawer!!

neither choice, i have mine above my wall oven and like it very much indeed.

I have mine on the counter and when it dies I don't plan on replacing it. I think I would rather have a convection toaster oven type unit - much more usable.

I've always thought that placing the microwave over the range is weird.

I did that in a previous home and really liked it the idea. I would buy the micro first, then build the shelf accordingly to fit around it, then you don't have to have the fill-in around it. Personally, i bought the smallest one i could find as we only used it for warming and popcorn, so didn't need a huge unit.

Drawer microwaves seem like they're are at an awkward height.

If I have a standard stove/oven, then I prefer the microwave over the stove. However, when I had wall ovens, I had the microwave built-in to a cabinet in the same fashion as the wall ovens. It was lower, though not as low as drawer unit, and was more accessible to the kids.

I'm moving next week and though there's a standard stove/oven, it has a nice stainless steel hood. The microwave is then located on a shelf designed for it like mtr1mtr2's photo shows. This will be new to me, but I think I like it :)

Oh, and a microwave is a necessity for me...can't live without it!

We thought a drawer microwave would feel like it's at an awkward height too (like a previous comment) especially since husband is tall, but we've gotten used to it. One thing I was surprised though, is as nice as our Wolf built in microwave drawer is .... I wish the buttons would light up when you touch them. Otherwise function of it is great, just seems sort of old school even though we just got it. It's not exactly quiet either, the drawer part opening and closing that is.

The drawer is too low. If we had kids that needed access, perhaps, but if the option is high, or low, we'll pick high.

@Angel, we had the box made for the space, rather than the oven, as the uneven cabinets would have driven me crazy. Also, if we need a bigger one later on, it should fit.

Yes, I can see in your situation that would be the case. Having uneven ness would not look good.

I have had a microwave drawer for 5 plus years and love it! As a professional designer I always consider them for use in my client's kitchen remodels

Put in a real hood and leave the microwave out! I never use the one I have except for a vent over the stove and it barely works for that.

My microwave is above the range and I don't have a problem with it. There's no room for a drawer and I've never had one, so I can't compare them. I do know it being over the range is much better than being on a counter!!

Had one over desk area. It was a few inches lower so much easier and safer taking things out and being on a side wall not the big box over the stove where a beautiful range hood belongs.

I love the look of a beautiful range hood, but my kitchen is small, and I don't want to use storage space for them microwave. At nearly 60 and with a husband at 66, I most definitely do not want to crouch down or bend over to get at the microwave, so that's definitely out. Also, it's probably not a good idea for my 9-year-old granddaughter and her friends to be able to open it and use it without my supervision. When I can afford to, I plan to replace the one I have with a new cabinet-depth microwave. That way, no protruding microwave!

Swimming pool heaters

Since I'm tall, I don't like drawer microwaves ... I prefer mine mounted much higher.

Our Sharp drawer microwave started sparking a couple months ago, and Sharp refuses to replace it although it's only 6 years old. So now I have a big hassle and expense ahead of me. Moral: do NOT use a drawer microwave, and NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM SHARP!