Mine is on a shelf in my pantry. It's an inexpensive countertop model. I am not a frequent MW user, so for me, this placement is ideal. If I were a frequent MW user, so that I needed more central access, I'd get the MW drawer by Sharp. Who wants to pay all that money for a beautiful kitchen, and then have to look at a MW in a stack or on a shelf - they're all pretty ugly. The drawer is a great solution.

On the counter. Gasp! I also have a closed kitchen. Mine was less than $100 from Costco.

Above the wall oven. It's a cheap counter top model with a trim kit to make it look built-in.

My kitchen is also not opened up.

On the cabinet in the corner. Ideal? No, but it's not like the corner is good for anything else anyway.

I have the microwave drawer by sharp.

Countertop model microwave, on a shelf under the counter on the working side of my island. We don’t use our microwave all that much so I didn’t want to invest in a drawer microwave. I didn’t have space in my small pantry, and I didn’t want it on my countertops, so this is working perfectly for us.

We have a small one on a shelf to the left of the fridge.

Above my range. Not my favorite spot but that's where the builder put it (we are not the original owners). At least it vents to the outside. I don't have a lot of counter space so for now it's staying where it's at.

Sharp Microwave Drawer

I have a Sharp Microwave Drawer too. Love it!

I was curious because we just bought a new to us house--- and it actually does not have a microwave. I have always had microwave over the stove- well for the last 30 ish years. Before that, when microwaves were still fairly a new amenity we had it on the countertop.

Along the lines of might as well---------the kitchen is quite outdated. I think it's pretty functional in the layout but everything is well maintained original 1995 or so and not very high end. So trying to figure out as long as I am going to get a microwave and update appliances----------- you know the drill. I think in this kitchen it sill probably makes sense to have it over the stove.

I do like the idea of the drawer but I don't know that there is ample room for that.

thank you for all the suggestions though this is quite helpful

For those of you with a countertop model on a shelf, did you have to worry about clearance around it for venting? skmom - do you mind sharing the make and model of the microwave you show? It looks like just the one for my remodel.

We also have a Sharp microwave drawer and really like it.

We’re planning the same placement as SKmom for our remodel. Just an inexpensive counter model on a shelf in the island.

Over the range is not an ideal placement. If everything else is functional, I’d buy a cheap microwave for the countertop and wait six months before I started changing things. You might find you would prefer a microwave that is not over the range.

GE shallow MW in an upper hidden behind an Aventos lift up door. Had this same MW twice before with trim kit. Figured this would be easier to replace. We don't use the MW much so didn't want to invest in a drawer. Like the extra space inside to keep the MW splash shield and pot holders handy.

@Katie, here is a more recent photo of my microwave on the shelf in my island. As you can see, there is quite a bit of clearance on the sides, as well as several inches behind it so yes, we did have the concern of having clearance for venting. I’m not sure of the model number of mine, but it’s a Panasonic and hopefully this better view will help. :) I do find it awkward to view the digital display from a normal angle when the microwave is this low, you have to bend down to see everything clearly... but I also find that most everyone tends to use the same few buttons on any microwave and those are pretty easy to memorize which buttons and how many times you need to press it rather quickly, so I rarely feel a need to actually see the display. LOL! So it’s rarely a hassle, only when it was new and I was still learning it, and when I do something out of the ordinary with it.

Sharp microwave drawer and we love it.

above the oven, in the cabinet, behind closed doors so nobody knows where is it. Until I show them.

I like the placement itself but I was so fixated on getting deeper drawers under the oven, and having oven exactly in the middle, that I'd say it's a bit too high. For somebody of my height.

It's strange why I was so obsessed having oven exacly where I want it, when I use it much less often than the microwave. Maybe because stuff in the oven is heavy, while stuff in microwave, usually not. Anyway, that strange fixation of mine cost us couple inches that I'd happily have now.

On the other hand that cabinet can always be used for something else, because the microwave is freestanding. I don't want to clutter my counter with it, but that's a possibility. But then I'd get a smaller one and in a color. Theoretically speaking..I never had colored appliances before, well, if not to count a teapot. That'd be an affordable version of having colored appliance))

thanks, skmom. From that angle, I see that you do have a lot of space on the sides and above the microwave

In pantry

On the counter. I don't hide any of the appliances I use often. No panels on my fridge or dw. My coffee maker is always inviting me to make coffee. My toaster oven screams at me to heat up a cinnamon bun to have with the coffee. Who am I to argue with such wonderful appliances?

Closed kitchen here. At a beach house now so no pics of my mic placement right now. We just have a tiny $59 microwave that we have had for a few years. It sits inside a 24" tall pantry kitchen cabinet (like a regular 90" wood slab kitchen cabinet). It is out of the way for me, you can't see it. We leave cabinet door open when using mic and it has lots of room to vent. My contractors just added an outlet in the cabinet for me so no cords or anything. I hate looking at mics and we don't use ours much.

Above a single wall oven.

This is the same location as pre-remodel when we had a counter top MW in a cubby behind doors.

The fridge is just out of view to the left on the adjacent wall. Dishes are in drawers in the island. The walk-in pantry is just to the left (door partially visible).

The oven/MW are a few steps further apart from the cook top than it used to be we'd rather have that than to have kept the cook top in the island with its ridiculously limited counter on each side (the cook top moved to the exterior wall directly across from the oven/MS).

I'm just under 5'4" so I'd never want a MW over a range. But I'd hate that placement even if I were taller. They aren't very good at venting cooking grease and fumes out of the kitchen.

The ideal place for a MW is the one that makes the most sense for your kitchen. If you want placement suggestions, post your lay-out and photos of your kitchen.

Lisa a - those new kitchen cabinets are divine, esp with your floors!

Thank you,Elizabeth M!

We just installed a Wolf MW drawer. Still getting used to not having a handle to open/close.

My microwave is on the counter , to the right of my refrigerator and in a corner that’s seems as if it was built for it. I use my microwave frequently and would never want it hidden away.

Microwave use in our house is generally limited to reheating dinner plates so I went with a small one and continued open shelving above. There is a plate on the plug now. I had just finished the grout when I took this.

Aziline, your cabinetry is beautiful! Is it walnut?

Zmith - Thank you! It is.

The microwave has been hidden in our last three kitchens - inside an armoire in the breakfast area (15yrs), walk-in pantry (12+ yrs) and currently a wall of cabinet doors that hide the SZ fridge/freezer towers, two pantries and coffee station/microwave. Two enclosed kitchens and one open concept.

Current kitchen. Microwave, far right. I haven't taken a photo with the door open.

FWIW, just because someone doesn't like seeing appliances, doesn't mean they don't cook. We cook 2-3 meals a day and use the microwave several times each day. While I dislike seeing appliances in our kitchen, it doesn't phase me what other people do in theirs. And I would never be condescending, and make assumptions based on preferences.

We have a Panasonic Genius sitting on the counter in our walk in pantry. The toaster and kettle are in there as well, and the espresso machine is on the kitchen counter just outside. Hubby uses the MW for his porridge (what can I say?) and webuse it fairly often for reheating leftovers for lunch. Works for us,

Over the counter, under the cabinets.