KitchenAid Classic vs. Artisan: What’s the Difference?

Are you shopping for a new stand mixer but can’t decide between the KitchenAid Classic and Artisan?

At a glance, it’s difficult to tell the two apart. But when you look closer (and put both through the same tests) you’ll find some real differences, and a few that turn out to matter less than you’d think.

I bought and tested both mixers side by side using identical ingredients, quantities, and speed settings for whipped cream, chocolate chip cookies, and pizza dough. I also measured noise and power draw at low, medium, and high speeds.

By the end, you’ll know their differences, similarities, and all of the important considerations you should keep in mind when choosing between the two.

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Use the links below to navigate the comparison:

• KitchenAid Classic vs. Artisan: Comparison Chart
• Similarities Between KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mixers
• Difference 1: Number of Models
• Difference 2: Soft Start
• Difference 3: Bowl Size
• Difference 4: Bowl Handle
• Difference 5: Bowl Material and Finish
• Difference 6: Pouring Shield
• Difference 7: Color Options
• Difference 8: Motor Power
• Difference 9: Price
• How They Actually Performed: My Test Results
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy a KitchenAid Classic or Artisan Mixer?

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KitchenAid Classic vs. Artisan: Comparison Chart

This chart shows how KitchenAid Classic and Artisan mixers compare across key categories. 

Note: The Artisan Mini is a smaller, less powerful version of the standard Artisan mixer. Read my comparison of Artisan vs. Artisan Mini for more details.

Feature	Classic & Classic Plus	Artisan	Artisan Mini
Mixer Type	Tilt-head	Tilt-head	Tilt-head
Soft Start	Yes	No	Yes
Bowl Size	4.5-quart	5-quart	3.5-quart
Bowl Materials	Stainless steel	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Bowl Handle	No	Yes	Yes
Bowl Finish	Brushed (matte)	Brushed (matte)	Polished (shiny)
Pouring Shield	No	No	No
Color Options	3 options	20+ options	11 options
Motor (rated)	275-watt	325-watt	250-watt
TESTED power draw (low/med/high)	19W / 41W / 77W	28W / 55W / 125W	Not tested
TESTED power draw while kneading pizza dough	~88–103W	~90–110W	Not tested
TESTED noise (low/med/high)	66 / 75 / 85 dBA	70 / 74 / 81 dBA	Not tested
Speeds	10	10	10
Height (closed / raised)	14 in / 17.75 in	14 in / 17 in	12.5 in / 15.5 in
Weight (no bowl/attachments)	20.2 lb	20 lb	16.5 lb
Dough hook weight	150 g	151 g	—
Whisk dishwasher-safe?	No (aluminum hub)	No (aluminum hub)	No (aluminum hub)
Starts running if plugged in with speed left above 0	Yes	Yes	Yes
Head locks in raised position	No	No	No
Price	$$$$ (Amazon, KitchenAid.com)	$$$$$ (Amazon, KitchenAid.com)	$$$ (Amazon, KitchenAid.com)

Similarities Between KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mixers

The KitchenAid Classic and Artisan mixers share plenty of similarities. Here’s a brief look at what they have in common.

Tilt-Head

KitchenAid offers both bowl-lift or tilt-head mixers, and both the Classic and Artisan are tilt-head versions.

The main difference between tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers is in the way you access the bowl.

With tilt-head mixers like the KitchenAid Classic and Artisan, the head unlocks and tilts back, giving you plenty of room to add ingredients or scrape the bowl.

With bowl-lift mixers, the head is stationary, and you can lower and raise the bowl using a lever.

Learn more in my in-depth comparison of KitchenAid tilt-head vs. bowl-lift mixers.

Power Hub and Attachments

The Classic and Artisan series share the same power hub, which is the part of the mixer that you affix attachments to. Each series comes with a coated flat beater, dough hook, and 6-wire whisk.

Artisan Mini mixers come with a Flex Edge Beater. This attachment is similar to the coated flat beater but has a rubber edge that scrapes the sides of the bowl.

Materials

KitchenAid Classic and Artisan mixers are both made from zinc die castings, which are durable and heavy. The solid construction and weight dampen vibrations, so your mixer stays in place and doesn’t scoot off your counter. The bowls are stainless steel, although the finish varies by model (more on that in a minute).

Where It’s Made

All KitchenAid mixers are made in Greenville, Ohio, in the same factory they’ve been producing these iconic appliances since 1941.

Learn more about how a KitchenAid mixer is made in this quick behind-the-scenes video.

Design Quirks I Found in Testing on Both Mixers

A few things came up during my hands-on testing that apply equally to the Classic and the Artisan, so they’re not really a reason to pick one over the other, but they’re worth knowing before you buy either one:

• The head doesn’t lock in the raised position on either mixer. While scraping cookie dough off the beater during testing, the head on both units dropped unexpectedly and smeared dough back onto the mixer. It’s a minor annoyance in that context, but it could catch you off guard or pinch your fingers, and it’s also an issue when carrying the mixer by the top if the head isn’t locked down.

• Both mixers start running immediately if you plug them in with the speed lever left above zero. I’d prefer a safety reset that requires returning the lever to zero first — something KitchenAid did add on the newer Artisan Plus.
• The included whisk isn’t fully dishwasher-safe on either mixer because of its aluminum hub, which can discolor over time even when it’s clean.

• During heavy kneading, the head-lock lever on both mixers gradually worked itself loose. As pizza dough moved around the bowl, the lever shifted away from fully locked and settled partway toward unlocked on both units, which caused the head to bounce more. I had to reposition the lever several times during each test.

Differences Between KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mixers

Now that you’re familiar with the similarities between the KitchenAid Classic and Artisan mixers, it’s time to review the important differences.

Difference 1: Number of Models

KitchenAid Classic mixers come in two varieties: the Classic (standard) and the Classic Plus.

Although marketed separately, these models are nearly identical, with the only difference being in the colors available.

Classic Plus mixers are available in silver or white, and the regular Classic mixers are offered in white or black.

If you search for “KitchenAid Classic vs. Classic Plus,” you’ll find articles that claim the Classic Plus mixer has a more powerful motor, but that is completely false.

Not only does this product comparison guide on KitchenAid.com show that the only difference is the color options, but I also verified this fact with a KitchenAid customer service rep.

The Artisan series has more product variation than the Classic series, with both a standard 5-quart model and an Artisan Mini 3.5-quart option.

As its name suggests, Artisan Mini mixers are a smaller, lighter, less powerful, and less expensive version of the standard Artisan.

Difference 2: Soft Start

The soft-start feature is a built-in setting that comes with all KitchenAid Classic mixers. It automatically starts all mixer settings slowly to reduce splashing or spills.

The 5-quart Artisan mixer doesn’t have the soft-start feature, but the Artisan Mini does.

Why does the Artisan Mini have this advanced Soft Start feature, but full-sized Artisan mixers don’t? You’d think both mixers could benefit from it. To find out, I reached out to KitchenAid. Here’s what they said:

“The Artisan 5 quart has been available for a long time. The Mini was just made in the last 5 to 6 years with that added feature. KitchenAid has not redesigned the 5 Quart Artisan to have that feature.”

Difference 3: Bowl Size

KitchenAid Classic mixers include a 4.5-quart bowl, the Artisan has a 5-quart bowl, and the Artisan Mini has a 3.5-quart bowl.

To put this into perspective, the Classic bowl can make up to eight dozen cookies in a single batch, the Artisan bowl can handle nine dozen, and the Artisan Mini can produce five dozen.

Difference 4: Bowl Handle

The Artisan series comes with a built-in ergonomic bowl handle that makes it easier to remove it from the base, scrape the sides of the bowl, and transport it from one workstation to another.

The Classic mixer doesn’t include a bowl handle, which saves space but makes it more difficult to maneuver. 

Difference 5: Bowl Material and Finish

Both the Classic and the standard 5-quart Artisan use the same brushed (matte) stainless steel bowl. The polished, shiny finish is actually a feature of the Artisan Mini, not the standard Artisan.

KitchenAid does offer other bowl styles (a ceramic mermaid lace bowl, a glass bowl, and a ceramic hobnail bowl) as separate purchases, regardless of which mixer you buy.

Difference 6: Pouring Shield

Neither the Classic nor the standard 5-quart Artisan comes with a pouring shield. A pouring shield does come standard on some other KitchenAid tilt-head models (including the newer Artisan Plus) but not on the base Artisan.

Difference 7: Color Options

This is still one of the most significant differences between the two. The Classic only comes in black, white, and silver. The Artisan comes in over 20 colors, including neutral tones and bolder options like cobalt blue and aqua sky. The Artisan Mini offers 11 colors — fewer than the standard Artisan, but still more than the Classic. Keep in mind that color options change periodically as KitchenAid cycles new options in each year.

Artisan Mini mixers don’t have as many colors as the standard Artisan, but with 11 different hues to choose from, you still get more options than you do with Classic mixers.

Difference 8: Motor Power

On paper, the Artisan’s 325-watt motor is more powerful than the Classic’s 275-watt motor. But once I actually measured power draw during testing, that rated difference mostly didn’t show up in practice.

At low, medium, and high speeds, the Classic drew 19W, 41W, and 77W, while the Artisan drew 28W, 55W, and 125W; a bit higher, but not dramatically so.

More tellingly, while kneading thick pizza dough, both mixers hovered in roughly the same 90–110 watt range, and their ranges overlapped considerably.

Wattage measures how much electricity a motor can draw, not how much force actually reaches the dough, and my mixing results back that up: I didn’t notice the Artisan handling dense dough any better than the Classic.

Difference 9: Price

As far as mixers go, both the KitchenAid Classic and Artisan series are very expensive.

Artisan mixers are the most expensive models in KitchenAid’s tilt-head mixer category. The Classic and Artisan Mini are a bit cheaper. 

If you’re on a budget, consider a certified refurbished model. These units are lightly used but restored to their original condition and sold for a steep discount.

Price varies by retailer, and it pays to shop around and compare before you buy.

Check the current prices of Classic, Artisan, and Artisan Mini mixers at the links below:

• Classic Mixers on KitchenAid.com and Walmart.com 
• Artisan Mixers on KitchenAid.com, Amazon, Walmart.com, and BedBathAndBeyond.com
• Artisan Mini Mixers on KitchenAid.com, Amazon, and Walmart.com

How They Actually Performed: My Test Results

To see whether the Artisan’s higher price results in better mixing, I ran the Classic and Artisan through the same three tests: whipped cream, chocolate chip cookies, and pizza dough. I used the exact same ingredients, same quantities, and same speeds.

Whipped Cream Test

Both mixers whipped a half cup of cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to stiff peaks in about 2 minutes with no issues.

I didn’t need to scrape either bowl, and both whisks made enough contact with the bottom to fully incorporate the cream.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Test

Both mixers did a very good job on the full batch of cookie dough. I had to scrape the bowl a few times on each, mainly after adding the dry ingredients, since some flour stuck to the upper walls where the beaters couldn’t reach.

That’s a normal limitation for stand mixers in general, not specific to either model. The finished cookies from both batches baked up similarly, with no meaningful difference in spread or browning.

Pizza Dough Test

This was the toughest test, since pizza dough is thick, sticky, and requires several minutes of kneading. Both mixers successfully mixed and kneaded the dough, and the finished dough and pizzas came out well on both.

The main difference I noticed wasn’t in the dough itself but in stability. On both the Classic and the Artisan, the head bounced more than it did during the lighter tests, and the head-lock lever gradually shifted away from fully locked as the dough moved around the bowl. It sometimes settled partway between locked and unlocked, which made the bouncing worse.

I had to reposition the lever back into place several times on each mixer during the same knead.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy a KitchenAid Classic or Artisan Mixer?

Both the KitchenAid Classic and the KitchenAid Artisan share several similarities and a handful of real differences.

To recap the main differences:

• Classic mixers come in one size; Artisan mixers come in two (5-quart and the 3.5-quart Artisan Mini).
• Classic and Artisan Mini mixers have a built-in soft start feature; the 5-quart Artisan does not.
• Artisan mixer bowls have a convenient handle; Classic mixers do not.
• Artisan mixers are available in over 20 colors, while Classic mixers only come in black, white, and silver.
• Artisan mixers have a higher rated motor wattage, though in my testing this didn’t translate into a meaningful mixing performance advantage.
• Artisan mixers cost more than Classic mixers.

What the two don’t meaningfully differ on, based on my own testing: bowl finish (both brushed), pouring shield (neither has one), and actual mixing, whipping, and kneading performance — I found the two nearly identical across whipped cream, cookies, and pizza dough.

If the larger bowl, bowl handle, and wider color selection matter to you, the Artisan is a solid pick. If you just want a mixer that performs the same for less money, the Classic gets the job done.

If you’re ready to buy, or just want to read more reviews, check out KitchenAid Classic and Artisan mixers at the links below:

• Classic Mixers on KitchenAid.com and Walmart.com 
• Artisan Mixers on KitchenAid.com, Amazon
• Artisan Mini Mixers on KitchenAid.com, Amazon