The KitchenAid Artisan Series Mixer and the Professional 5 Plus Series Mixer are two of the most popular stand mixers, but they are built for different bakers. The Artisan is a highly versatile tilt-head mixer with dozens of color options, designed for typical home baking tasks. The Professional model steps up with a more powerful motor and a stable bowl-lift design, engineered to handle heavy, dense doughs and larger quantities with ease.
Here’s everything you need to know to choose the right KitchenAid mixer for your baking needs.
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
The Artisan is KitchenAid's iconic mixer, blending classic design with reliable performance. It's best known for its user-friendly tilt-head mechanism and an enormous range of color choices, making it as much a style statement as it is a functional appliance. This mixer is the go-to for most home bakers who create everything from birthday cakes and cookies to the occasional loaf of bread.
- What it is: A versatile tilt-head stand mixer designed for the everyday home cook and baker.
- Key features: 325-watt motor, tilt-head design for easy bowl access, 5-quart stainless steel bowl with handle, 10-speed settings, and compatibility with over 10 attachments.
- Price: Around $400 - $500
- Style: Retro-inspired, curved design available in dozens of colors and finishes, allowing it to be a decorative piece in the kitchen.
- Materials/Construction: Built with a durable die-cast metal body and a high-quality enamel finish to ensure longevity.
- Pros: Huge selection of colors to match any kitchen decor. Tilt-head design makes adding ingredients simple. Lighter and more compact than the Professional series. Powerful enough for most common baking recipes.
- Cons: The 325-watt motor can strain with very dense batches of bread dough. The tilt-head locking mechanism can be a wear point over years of heavy use.
The Artisan is for home bakers who want a dependable and stylish mixer for everyday tasks and value aesthetics and ease of use.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/artisan
KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series Stand Mixer
The Professional 5 Plus is KitchenAid's answer for the serious home baker who needs more power and stability. It features a robust bowl-lift design and a stronger motor, allowing it to handle double batches of cookies or knead stiff bread dough without breaking a sweat. Its design is more utilitarian, prioritizing raw power and durability over a wide color palette.
- What it is: A heavy-duty, commercial-style stand mixer for frequent bakers and larger-quantity recipes.
- Key features: 525-watt motor, bowl-lift design for increased stability, 5-quart polished stainless steel bowl, and commercial-style accessories like a spiral dough hook.
- Price: Around $500 - $700
- Style: A more industrial and functional design with a professional appearance. Available in a smaller selection of classic colors like black, silver, and red.
- Materials/Construction: Heavy-duty metal construction with commercial-grade internal components engineered for high-torque tasks and frequent use.
- Pros: Very powerful motor easily handles dense doughs and large batches. Extremely stable bowl-lift design prevents rocking or wobbling during heavy mixing. Built for higher durability and an extended lifespan.
- Cons: Heavier and larger, requiring more dedicated counter space. Bowl-lift design can be less convenient for adding ingredients. More expensive and available in fewer colors.
The Professional 5 Plus is ideal for avid bakers who often work with large quantities or tough doughs and prioritize performance over aesthetics.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/professional-5-plus
KitchenAid Artisan vs. Professional 5 Plus Comparison
Power &, Performance
The biggest difference lies in the motor. The Artisan's 325-watt motor is a perfect match for cakes, meringues, and occasional bread making. It works great for the vast majority of recipes a home baker will tackle. If you try to knead a very stiff, large batch of bagel dough, you may feel it begin to labor.
The Professional 5 Plus, with its 525-watt motor, is in a different class. This power difference is immediately noticeable when kneading heavy bread doughs or mixing thick buttercreams. The motor doesn’t strain, and the mixer handles tough jobs consistently and efficiently, making it the clear choice for anyone who bakes bread several times a week or makes large, multi-dozen cookie batches.
Design &, Ease of Use
The Artisan's tilt-head design is intuitive and familiar. You simply tilt the head back to access the bowl and beater, making it easy to scrape the sides or add ingredients. The trade-off is that the hinge creates a point of motion, which can cause slight head-bobbing under very heavy loads.
The Professional’s bowl-lift design is purpose-built for stability. The motor head is fixed, and you use a lever to raise and lower the bowl into position. This anchors the mixing action, eliminating movement and keeping it planted on the counter. While this is superior for heavy jobs, some users find it less convenient to add ingredients or change a beater, as the access isn't as open as on a tilt-head.
Style & Color Options
If the mixer is a centerpiece of your kitchen decor, the Artisan wins by a landslide. With dozens of vibrant colors and finishes - from matte black to high-gloss lavender - it’s designed to be shown off. It functions as both a powerful tool and an element of your personal style.
The Professional 5 Plus focuses squarely on performance. Its available color palette is much smaller, usually limited to timeless basics like Empire Red, Onyx Black, and Contour Silver. Its aesthetic is more commercial and substantial, speaking to its power rather than its visual flair.
Price & Value
At around $400-$500, the Artisan offers fantastic value for most people. It's powerful enough, beautifully designed, and built to last for many years of routine home use. For the average baker, it's a worthwhile investment that delivers on all fronts.
The Professional 5 Plus costs more, starting around $500 and heading upward. This price bump buys you significantly more motor power and a tougher build. For a casual baker, it might be overkill. For a serious bread enthusiast or someone who regularly bakes in large volumes, that extra cost is a solid investment in durability and performance that will pay off for years to come.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both models are excellent kitchen appliances, but they serve different users and baking styles.
Choose the KitchenAid Artisan if:
- You want more than an appliance - you want a style statement for your counter.
- Your baking repertoire mostly consists of cakes, whipping cream, cookies, and occasional bread.
- You value the convenience of a tilt-head design for easy bowl access.
- You have a typical-sized kitchen and appreciate a slightly smaller footprint.
Choose the KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus if:
- You frequently bake heavy bread dough or make huge batches of cookies.
- A powerful, non-straining motor is your biggest must-have.
- Your primary concern is performance and long-term durability over aesthetics.
- You have dedicated counter space for a larger, heavier appliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the KitchenAid Artisan and Professional?
The two primary differences are motor power and design. The Professional model has a significantly more powerful motor (525 watts vs. 325 watts) and uses a sturdy bowl-lift design for stability, while the Artisan uses a more convenient tilt-head design better suited for everyday baking.
Can the KitchenAid Artisan handle bread dough?
Yes, the Artisan can handle bread dough in standard recipe sizes (one loaf). However, if you make bread frequently or use particularly low-hydration, stiff doughs, the mixer's motor may strain over time. The Professional model is better suited for regular, heavy kneading tasks.
Can I use the attachments for both models interchangeably?
No, the beaters and bowls designed for the Artisan (tilt-head) and Professional (bowl-lift) models are not interchangeable due to the different designs and sizes. However, attachments that plug into the power hub at the front of the mixer - like the pasta maker or meat grinder - fit on all KitchenAid stand mixers.
Is the Professional 5 Plus mixer worth the extra cost?
It depends entirely on your needs. For daily bakers, bread enthusiasts, or those who run a home baking business, the extra power and stability are absolutely worth the price. For the casual home baker, the Artisan is more than capable and a better overall value.
Which mixer is better for a beginner?
The Artisan is generally the better choice for beginners. Its tilt-head design is more intuitive, its power is sufficient for most recipes, and its lower price point makes it a more accessible entry into the world of stand mixers.
Are the bowls for the Artisan and Professional the same size?
Both models typically come with a 5-quart bowl capacity. However, due to the different mounting designs (tilt-head vs. bowl-lift), the bowls are shaped differently and cannot be swapped between the two mixers.
How much bigger is the Professional 5 Plus?
The Professional 5 Plus is a few inches taller and deeper, and also significantly heavier than the Artisan. It's intended to be a fixture on your countertop, whereas the lighter Artisan can more easily be moved and stored in a cabinet if needed.
Which one is quieter?
Generally, both mixers produce a similar level of sound. However, a Professional model working easily through a dense dough may run quieter than an Artisan motor that is straining under the same heavy load.
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.
