Renowned for their versatility, durability, and bright colors, KitchenAid stand mixers are staple kitchen appliances that take a lot of manual labor out of cooking and baking. Each KitchenAid stand mixer shares one thing in common – it holds your mixing bowl in place and uses a variety of mixer attachments to perform mixing, kneading, whisking, and beating tasks relatively hands-free. But not all KitchenAid stand mixers are exactly the same, and that's why we're here to help. In this guide, we'll go over all the different types of KitchenAid mixers so you can feel confident that you're choosing the right type of KitchenAid mixer for your culinary needs.

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Why a KitchenAid Stand Mixer?
Types of KitchenAid Stand Mixers
Types of KitchenAid Stand Mixer Designs
KitchenAid Stand Mixer Series

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Why a KitchenAid Stand Mixer?

KitchenAid stand mixers are some of the most reliable stand mixers on the market, and they are able to effectively and efficiently handle a wide variety of tasks that take much of the tough manual labor out of cooking and baking. They can be used to make so much more than cookies or kneading bread dough – specialized attachments can turn them into vegetable spiralizers, pasta cutters, ice cream makers, and more. Switching out attachments is a cinch, and all KitchenAid attachments, accessories, and mixing bowls are dishwasher-safe, meaning even less work for you after the cooking is done. And we haven't even mentioned their appearance – some KitchenAid stand mixer models are available in over 20 concentrated hues. You can find a KitchenAid stand mixer to perfectly match your kitchen or stand out with eye-catching contrast. And that color won't fade – KitchenAid stand mixers' full-metal bases are coated in powder paint that will withstand years of activity in the kitchen. If you're ready to take your baking to the next level, a KitchenAid stand mixer is an absolute must-have.

Types of KitchenAid Stand Mixers

There are many different types of KitchenAid mixers that can be broken down by design and series. We'll start by discussing the two main types of KitchenAid stand mixer designs.

Types of KitchenAid Stand Mixer Designs

The two primary KitchenAid mixer types are tilt-head stand mixers and bowl-lift stand mixers. They have a few differences, the most notable of which is the mechanism by which the mixer attachment meets the bowl.

Tilt-Head

Tilt-head KitchenAid mixers have a hinge between the base and the motor head that allows the motor head to be tilted backward. When a mixer attachment is in place, this backward tilt pulls it out of the bowl, allowing you to add more ingredients to the bowl, exchange mixer attachments, or remove the bowl from the mixer with ease. Tilt-head KitchenAid stand mixers have a classic silhouette and are some of the best KitchenAid stand mixers for household bakers.
Capacity: 4.5–5 qt. or 8–9 dozen cookies.
Height: 14.5"
Weight: 26 lbs.
Best Use: Casual to frequent residential use.

Bowl-Lift

Unlike the hinged motor heads on tilt-head KitchenAid stand mixers, the motor heads on bowl-lift mixers are stationary. A bowl-lift stand mixer has a lever on its right side that raises and lowers the mixing bowl once it's snapped into place. Bowl-lift stand mixers are larger and heavier than tilt-head stand mixers, with more professional silhouettes and uses. They're your best KitchenAid stand mixer option if you are a habitual baker or a culinary professional.
Capacity: 5–6 qt. or 9–13 dozen cookies.
Height: 16.5" tall
Weight: 29–32 lbs.
Best Use: Frequent residential or commercial use.

Tip!

Not sure which size you need? Check out our guide KitchenAid Mixer Sizes: Which One Do You Need? to learn all about the different sizes.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer Series

You can also consider KitchenAid stand mixers by their series, of which there are four: Artisan, Artisan Design, Classic, and Professional. A KitchenAid stand mixer's series dictates its capacity, appearance, and available colorways.

Artisan Series

KitchenAid Artisan Series stand mixers are modern classics, set apart by their vivid colors and polished finishes. These 10-speed tilt-head mixers have polished stainless steel bowls and come in over 20 available colorways, all of which are absolutely stunning. They have full-metal bodies and dishwasher-safe mixing bowls and mixing attachments. Their mixers have 59 planetary mixing-action touch points, meaning that the mixer makes contact with the bowl in 59 separate places as it rotates around the bowl. This makes for more effective mixing and less work for you. Artisan Series mixers also have a second attachment hub on their motor heads for grinders, pasta-making tools, and other culinary attachments that take full advantage of the power of the stand mixer and further increase its versatility.
Capacity: 5 qt. or 9 dozen cookies.
Height: 13.3"
Weight: 27 lbs.
Includes: One polished stainless steel mixing bowl with handle, one coated flat beater, one coated dough hook, one six-wire whip, and one pouring shield.
Best Use: Casual to frequent residential use.

Artisan Design Series

Stand mixers in the KitchenAid Artisan and Artisan Design Series are almost identical except for two things: their size and their mixing bowls. Artisan Design Series mixers are a little taller (but lighter) than Artisan Series mixers. Artisan Series mixers have polished stainless steel bowls, while Artisan Design Series mixers have glass mixing bowls. Your choice will come down to which stand mixer you think looks best!
Capacity: 5 qt. or 9 dozen cookies.
Height: 14"
Weight: 24 lbs.
Includes: One glass mixing bowl with handle, one coated flat beater, one coated dough hook, and one six-wire whip.
Best Use: Casual to frequent residential use.

Tip!

The glass bowl from the Artisan Design Series has measurements listed on the side and can be microwaved, making it ideal for melting butter or chocolate in recipes.

Classic Series

Classic Series mixers are 10-speed, tilt-head mixers that are optimal for household use.
They look and operate very similarly to Artisan Series stand mixers, though they are smaller and come in fewer colors. While Artisan Series mixers are available in over 20 colors, Classic Series mixers are only available in one or two colors depending on the model. They also have brushed stainless steel bowls instead of polished stainless steel or glass mixing bowls. These stand mixers boast the same 59-point planetary mixing capabilities as Artisan Series mixers and also come with a separate attachment hub for grinders, pasta-making tools, shredders, and more.
Capacity: 4.5 qt. or 8 dozen cookies.
Height: 13.9"
Weight: 22 lbs.
Includes: One brushed stainless steel mixing bowl, one coated flat beater, one coated dough hook, and one six-wire whip.
Best Use: Casual to frequent residential use.

Professional Series

As its name suggests, a Professional Series stand mixer is appropriate for professional culinary settings due to its size and robustness. If you're an avid bread maker, you'll love this stand mixer – it can easily handle the burden of mixing and kneading heavy bread dough. Professional Series mixers are bowl-lift stand mixers rather than tilt-head mixers. Their bowl-lift mechanism and tall, sturdy construction enables them to handle larger, heavier concoctions. Professional Series stand mixers come with polished stainless steel mixing bowls with handles for ease of transport and cleaning – the mixing bowls and mixer attachments are all dishwasher-safe. Like the other KitchenAid stand mixers on this list, Professional Series stand mixers have 10 speeds and a separate attachment hub for added versatility. They come in 19 eye-catching colors. It's worth noting that Professional Series stand mixers have 67 coveted planetary mixing action touch points rather than 59.
Capacity: 6 qt. or 13 dozen cookies.
Height: 16.5"
Weight: 25 lbs.
Includes: One polished stainless steel mixing bowl with handle, one coated flat beater, one coated dough hook, and one six-wire whip.
Best Use: Frequent residential or commercial use.

Tip!

There are many more KitchenAid stand mixer attachments and accessories that can improve the utility and versatility of your KitchenAid stand mixer, including additional mixing bowls, mixers, pasta-making attachments, vegetable-spiralizer attachments, and more.