Microwave Size Guide: How Many Litres Do You Need?

Choose microwave capacity around the dishes and portions you heat, then measure the installation space. Litres, turntable size and external dimensions answer different questions. None of them alone guarantees that a family meal or a particular tray will fit.

What microwave size suits a small apartment?

Measure the available counter space and compare the exact model’s width, height, depth and required ventilation gaps. Then check your usual microwave-safe plate, bowl or covered container against the usable cavity and any turntable movement. A small apartment does not automatically require the smallest capacity, and a larger litre number does not guarantee that a wide rectangular dish will fit. Choose a model that accommodates the portions you actually heat, or decide whether separate batches are practical. Check that its door can open and that you can lift hot dishes out comfortably. Consider a grill only if you expect to use it, and compare the actual dimensions instead of assuming that every grill model takes more space than every solo model.

Check the dish, not just the litre label

Compare the dish’s full width, length and height, including handles and any permitted cover. Look for the usable cavity dimensions and loading instructions. Where a turntable is used, check that the chosen dish can move as the manual requires without contacting the walls.

A turntable diameter is not the same as the cavity’s width or a guaranteed maximum dish size. Nor does a 25L rating prove that a complete meal for four people fits in one batch. Match the vessel and portion to the appliance instructions. The FDA’s microwave guidance also makes suitable cookware and manufacturer instructions part of correct use.

Countertop and built-in are different installations

The Electrolux buying guide distinguishes built-in and freestanding appliances. Do not put a countertop model inside an enclosed cupboard merely because its body fits. Check the exact manual for permitted placement, ventilation, supporting surface and electrical requirements.

Compare each model’s measurements rather than assuming that every 25L unit has the footprint of a 20L one, or that a grill always makes the body taller. If the required space is unavailable, compare another suitable model or position instead of reducing the specified clearances.

The LG example: three separate measurements

LG Egypt’s MH8265DIS specifications list 42L capacity, 544 × 307 × 458mm exterior dimensions, width × height × depth, and a 360mm turntable. The exterior dimensions exclude the extra installation space required by the manual; the turntable figure does not promise that any 360mm dish or party tray is suitable.

The product card records about 10,600 EGP on September 26, 2026, with an international-warranty listing. Confirm the applicable service terms for that offer.

Read the older price bands as historical references

Earlier guide observations quoted about 3,800-6,700 EGP for 20-23L, 4,500-9,000 EGP for 25L and 6,800-12,300 EGP for 36-42L. An older FAQ used a narrower 4,500-7,200 EGP range. These are historical figures, not current market minima or proof that each capacity suits a fixed household size.

Compare the dated microwave prices and shortlist after checking fit. For other decisions, read solo versus grill, the buying guide and the microwaves section.