KitchenAid Stand Mixers 2026 – Which One Belongs On Your Bench?
Which One Belongs On Your Bench?
There are appliances you tuck away in a cupboard and appliances you leave out on the bench because you’re proud of them. The KitchenAid stand mixer has been firmly in the second camp for decades. It’s the one gadget that looks just as good switched off as it does whipping a pavlova, and it’s still the mixer serious home bakers save up for. The tricky part is choosing which one. Today we’re looking at three very different models: the KSM195, the KSM156 and the big gun, the KSM70.
The KSM195 – The One With Everything In The Box
If you want the classic Artisan and don’t want to buy extras later, this is the pick. KitchenAid calls it its ultimate tilt-head model, and it earns the title by packing in two stainless steel bowls: a 4.7L for your main mix and a 2.8L for the smaller jobs. That means you can cream a cake batter in one and whip the icing in the other without stopping to wash up in between, which anyone who has made a layer cake will appreciate.
It also comes with five accessories, including the flex edge beater (a silicone edge that scrapes the bowl as it goes, so you’re not constantly stopping to use a spatula) and a pastry beater designed to cut cold butter into flour for flaky shortcrust. There are 10 speeds, a full metal body and a 5-year warranty. It’s the sensible, well-rounded choice for keen home bakers and makes a very generous wedding present.
The KSM156 – For When The Bowl Is The Showpiece
The KSM156 is the same trusted Artisan tilt-head underneath, but the story here is the bowl. KitchenAid releases this model with special edition bowls that turn the mixer into a design piece. The current range includes a Wildflower edition in soft satin purple with a floral ceramic bowl, and a Porcelain edition paired with a genuine walnut wood bowl, each with its own natural grain. Earlier versions came with a glass bowl, which bakers loved for being able to watch the mix come together.
It’s the mixer for the person whose kitchen is part of their home’s personality. You still get the 10 speeds, the planetary mixing action and the attachment hub, so it’s no less capable. It just happens to look like it belongs in a magazine shoot.
A small tip: decorative bowls deserve a bit of care. Check the care instructions for your edition, particularly with wood, and consider a spare stainless bowl for everyday heavy work.
The KSM70 – The Heavyweight
Now for the serious one. The KSM70 is KitchenAid’s Artisan bowl-lift, and it’s built for people who bake in volume. The stainless steel bowl holds a whopping 6.6L, and KitchenAid says it offers 1.5 times the power and 40% more capacity than its tilt-head models. One happy owner on a retailer review noted they could finally fit a quadruple batch of cookie dough. Sourdough bakers, pizza night hosts and anyone making a Christmas cake for the whole extended family, take note.
The clever extra is the speed dial. The KSM70 has 11 speeds including a half speed, which is gentle enough to fold flour into creamed butter without a snowstorm across the bench, or to stir blueberries through a batter without squashing them. It comes with a spiral dough hook that handles heavy bread dough far better than the standard hook, a flex edge beater, a flat beater, a wire whip and a pouring shield, all in stainless steel.
It is taller and heavier than a tilt-head, so this is a mixer you find a permanent home for rather than hauling in and out of a cupboard.
One Hub, A Dozen Extra Appliances
All three models share KitchenAid’s front attachment hub, and this is where the value really stacks up. Over a dozen optional attachments plug in and turn the mixer into a pasta roller, food grinder, spiralizer, ice cream maker or vegetable sheet cutter. Rather than buying separate machines, you buy the attachment and keep one motor on the bench. Fresh pappardelle on a Sunday afternoon suddenly feels a lot more achievable.
So Which One Is Right For You?
If you bake regularly and want the most complete kit, choose the KSM195. If you want a mixer that doubles as a piece of kitchen décor, go for the KSM156. If you bake in big batches, make a lot of bread or have a large family to feed, the KSM70 is worth every extra centimetre of bench space.
Whichever you choose, it’s the kind of appliance that will be making birthday cakes for years to come. Browse the KitchenAid stand mixer range at Peter’s of Kensington and find the one that’s calling your name (and matching your kitchen).