The KitchenAid Artisan Mixer and the Professional 500 Series are two of the most popular stand mixers from KitchenAid, but they are built for different users. The Artisan features a user-friendly tilt-head design and a 325-watt motor ideal for most home bakers, while the Professional 500 has a more powerful 475-watt motor and a stable bowl-lift design for heavy, dense mixes and larger batches.
Here’s everything you need to know to decide which KitchenAid mixer belongs on your counter.
KitchenAid Artisan Mixer
The Artisan is KitchenAid's iconic stand mixer, famous for its performance, durability, and classic design. It has become a kitchen staple for home cooks due to its perfect balance of power for everyday tasks and an extensive color palette that allows you to match it perfectly to your kitchen decor.
- What it is: A 5-quart tilt-head stand mixer designed for the average home baker and cook.
- Key features: 325-watt motor, convenient tilt-head for easy access, 10-speed control, and a 5-quart stainless steel bowl with a handle.
- Price: Ranges from $429 to $499.
- Dimensions: 14.3" D x 8.7" W x 14.2" H.
- Style: Classic, vintage-inspired design available in over 40 colors, from pastels to bold tones. It’s an appliance meant to be displayed.
- Pros: Wide range of color options, tilt-head design is easy to use and provides clear access to the bowl, fits comfortably under most kitchen cabinets, powerful enough for most home baking needs.
- Cons: Less powerful motor may struggle with very dense bread doughs, tilt-head can sometimes wobble slightly during heavy mixing jobs, 5-quart capacity may be limiting for very large batches.
This mixer is ideal for anyone who bakes regularly but doesn't require commercial-grade power, and for home cooks who prioritize style and color choice in their kitchen appliances.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/artisan-design-series-5-quart-stand-mixer-kSM150PSER.html
KitchenAid Professional 500
The KitchenAid Professional 500 steps up the power and stability for more serious home bakers or those who frequently work with heavy mixtures. Its bowl-lift design and more robust motor are built to handle double batches of cookies, tough bread doughs, and other demanding tasks with ease.
- What it is: A heavy-duty, 5-quart bowl-lift stand mixer for frequent bakers and larger-scale recipes.
- Key features: Powerful 475-watt motor, a stable bowl-lift design where the bowl raises to the beater, 10 speeds, and a 5-quart polished stainless steel bowl.
- Price: Typically costs between $499 and $599.
- Dimensions: 16.4" D x 8.7" W x 14.8" H.
- Style: Utilitarian and industrial with a focus on function over form. Available in a smaller selection of classic colors, like Contour Silver, Onyx Black, and Empire Red.
- Pros: Significantly more powerful motor handles dense doughs effortlessly, bowl-lift design is extremely stable during tough jobs, durable die-cast metal construction feels substantial.
- Cons: Taller design may not fit under standard kitchen cabinets, adding ingredients can be less convenient due to the fixed head, much heavier to move, fewer color choices.
This mixer works for dedicated home bakers who frequently make bread, knead pasta dough, or work with large quantities and require superior power and stability.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/professional-5-plus-stand-mixer-kSM8990P.html
Artisan vs. Professional 500 Comparison
Motor Power & Performance
The most significant difference lies in the motor. The Artisan's 325-watt motor is a workhorse for tasks like whipping cream, mixing cake batter, and making cookie dough. It can handle occasional bread making, but might strain with very stiff, low-hydration doughs regularly.
The Professional 500 is equipped with a 475-watt motor designed for exactly those tough jobs. It won't break a sweat kneading multiple loaves of sourdough or mixing thick fruit cake batter. For bakers who make bread more than once a week, the added power is a clear advantage.
Design & Usability
The Artisan features a tilt-head design, where the motor head hinges back to provide full, open access to the bowl for adding ingredients or scraping down the sides. This is intuitive and highly convenient, especially for beginners.
The Professional 500 uses a bowl-lift mechanism. The motor head is fixed, and a lever raises the bowl into the mixing position. This design provides superior stability - the mixer base is solid and won't rock during heavy tasks. The trade-off is that it can feel more cumbersome to add ingredients, as there's less clearance between the beater and the bowl's edge.
Dimensions & Footprint
While both mixers have the same 5-quart bowl capacity, their physical dimensions differ. The Artisan is shorter, measuring 14.2 inches tall, allowing it to fit neatly under most standard-height kitchen cabinets for easy storage on the counter.
The Professional 500 is taller at 14.8 inches. While seemingly a small difference, that extra half-inch means it often won’t fit under cabinets. This requires either dedicated open counter space or storage in a pantry, which is less convenient due to its heavier weight.
Price & Value
The Artisan mixer is the more budget-friendly option, typically coming in about $100-$150 cheaper than the Professional 500. For the average home cook, it provides exceptional value, delivering all the performance needed for years of reliable service.
The Professional 500 costs more, but the investment is justified for serious bakers. Its powerful motor and robust construction mean it can withstand frequent, heavy use without straining, offering better long-term value for a high-demand user.
Style & Aesthetics
This is where the Artisan truly shines. With over 40 color choices, it can be a vibrant decor piece in your kitchen. Whether you want a pop of Aqua Sky or a subtle Dried Rose, there’s an Artisan to match your style.
The Professional 500 is more functional in its appearance. It comes in a handful of classic colors and has a more industrial, powerful presence on the counter. The aesthetic choice is clear: do you want a stylish statement piece or a high-performance tool?
Which One Should You Choose?
Both KitchenAid mixers are excellent kitchen tools, but they excel in different scenarios.
Choose the Artisan if:
- You bake for fun - cakes, cookies, and other lighter mixes are your specialty.
- You value aesthetics and want to choose from dozens of colors to match your kitchen.
- You need an appliance that fits comfortably under standard kitchen cabinets.
- You occasionally make bread but it's not a primary use.
Choose the Professional 500 if:
- You are a serious and frequent baker, especially of bread or other dense doughs.
- Power and stability are your top priorities over aesthetics or color choice.
- You regularly make large batches for family gatherings or events.
- You have dedicated countertop space where the mixer's height is not an issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the KitchenAid Artisan and Professional 500?
The main differences are in their design and motor power. The Artisan has a 325-watt motor and a tilt-head design, which is great for everyday baking. The Professional 500 has a beefier 475-watt motor and a stationary bowl-lift design for superior stability and power with heavy tasks.
Can the Artisan handle bread dough?
Yes, the Artisan mixer can handle bread dough in smaller batches. It's perfectly capable of kneading dough for one or two loaves. However, if you plan to make bread several times a week or work with very dense, whole-grain doughs, the extra power of the Professional 500 will perform better long-term.
Which mixer is better for a small kitchen?
The Artisan is generally better for smaller kitchens. Its slightly more compact dimensions and shorter height mean it's more likely to fit under countertops, saving valuable counter space.
Is the Professional 500 mixer worth the extra cost?
For the right user, absolutely. If you're a serious hobbyist who bakes bread frequently, makes double batches of cookies, or uses your mixer multiple times a week for heavy jobs, the stronger motor and stable construction of the Professional 500 justify the higher price.
Do the Artisan and Professional 500 use the same attachments?
The attachments that fit onto the front power hub (like the pasta maker, meat grinder, etc.) are compatible with both models. However, the bowl-specific tools like the flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip are not interchangeable due to the different designs (tilt-head vs. bowl-lift).
Which one is easier to use for beginners?
Most beginners find the Artisan's tilt-head design more intuitive. It’s easier to see into the bowl and add ingredients when the head is tilted back. The bowl-lift on the Professional 500 can take a little getting used to.
How many colors does the Artisan mixer come in?
The KitchenAid Artisan series is famous for its color variety, often available in over 40 different colors and finishes. This allows it to serve as both a high-performance appliance and a piece of kitchen decor.
Can both mixers fit under standard kitchen cabinets?
The Artisan comfortably fits under most standard cabinets. The Professional 500, being taller, often does not and will need to be pulled forward for use or stored on a counter with open vertical space.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
