Last spring my younger sister bought her first condo. The kitchen came with a tired 24-inch electric cooktop, one burner that never really worked, and a counter with no room to go bigger. She called me the first night: “You’re the induction person. Which small one do I buy?” I didn’t have a good answer. I’d only ever cooked on full-size cooktops, and the reviews I found online were mostly spec sheets written by people who had never boiled a pot of water on the thing.
So I bought five 24-inch induction cooktops, built a temporary plywood counter at the end of our kitchen, had my electrician run a 240-volt circuit to it, and swapped them in one at a time from August to October. Each one cooked at least a week of our normal dinners for six: pasta nights, Saturday pancakes, a slow tomato sauce, and the crowded weeknight when every pan comes out at once.
My sister ended up with the Bosch 800 Series NIT8461UC, and it’s the one I’d recommend to most people. Its big 11-inch zone held my 12-inch skillet with heat right to the edges, boiled a quart of water in 2 minutes and 45 seconds, and kept a sauce at a lazy bubble without pulsing. If you’d rather have four zones and a griddle bridge, look at the Sharp SCH2443GB. If money is tight, the Empava Ease still cooks well for far less.
Still deciding whether induction is right for you? Start with how induction works and check your pans with the magnet test. If you can fit a little more width, compare my 30-inch picks, and if there’s no 240-volt circuit in your kitchen, a 120-volt plug-in model may be easier.
My rankings at a glance
| Rank | Cooktop | Best for | Boils 1 quart in | Gentle simmer | Pans that fit at once | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosch 800 Series NIT8461UC | Best overall | 2 min 45 sec | Very steady | 3, including a 12-inch skillet | 8.8 |
| 2 | Sharp SCH2443GB | Best four-zone | 3 min 5 sec | Steady | 3 to 4 small pans | 8.2 |
| 3 | Empava Ease 24-inch | Best budget | 3 min 20 sec | Pulses on low | 3 to 4 small pans | 7.5 |
| 4 | Karinear 24-inch 3-burner | Best flex zone | 3 min 15 sec | Mostly steady | 3 | 7.3 |
| Skip | Noxton 24-inch 4-burner | Not recommended | 3 min 30 sec | Big jumps | 3 to 4 small pans | 5.6 |
Boil times are the middle of three runs with the same quart of tap water on each cooktop’s biggest zone. Ratings are out of 10 and compare these five cooktops with each other.
Who a 24-inch induction cooktop is for
A 24-inch cooktop makes sense when the counter decides for you: a condo galley, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) over a garage, a tiny house, a basement kitchenette or a second cooktop on an island. In my tests, the smaller size didn’t mean weaker cooking. Every model boiled water faster than my old gas range, and the best ones simmered as gently as my full-size Bosch.
What you give up is room. Four pans on 24 inches of glass is a squeeze, and big pans crowd each other. That’s why the layout matters more here than on a bigger cooktop: one large zone usually beats four small ones.
24-inch induction cooktop reviews
Here’s how each cooktop did in my kitchen, best first. The boil times are from the same quart of tap water on the biggest zone, so you can compare them directly.
1. Best overall: Bosch 800 Series NIT8461UC
Quick facts: 3 zones (11, 7 and 6 inches) · the big zone boosts to 3,600 watts · AutoChef pan-temperature control · 240 volts, 30 amps · cutout 22 × 19 1/4 inches · about $2,049 at Bosch
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 45 seconds; the lowest setting held a slow, steady bubble. My rating: 8.8 out of 10.
Bosch skipped the four-small-zones idea, and that’s exactly why I like it. The front-left zone is a full 11 inches, the same size as the main zone on my 30-inch cooktop, so my 12-inch cast-iron skillet sat on it with heat right out to the edges. On a busy Tuesday I had that skillet browning chicken, a saucepan of rice and a small pot of green beans going together, which none of the four-zone models managed without pans bumping.
It boiled a quart of water in 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the fastest of the five, and its lowest setting kept my tomato sauce at a slow bubble for the whole half hour without the on-off pulsing the cheaper models had. AutoChef earned its place too: I set it for frying, and the skillet stayed at the same heat through three batches of cutlets. It only needs a 30-amp circuit, which made the wiring simple.
The catch is the price. It costs roughly twice as much as the budget picks, and you only get three zones. If you often cook with four small pans at once, the Sharp below suits you better. You may also see the older NIT8460UC in stores; the NIT8461UC is the current model.
What I liked
- Its big 11-inch zone fits a 12-inch skillet.
- It holds a gentle simmer without pulsing.
- It needs only a 30-amp circuit.
What I didn’t like
- It has three zones, not four.
- It’s the most expensive cooktop in this guide.
My verdict: Buy it if you want one big zone that takes a 12-inch skillet and a simmer you can trust. Skip it if you’d rather have four zones for small pans.
Comparing Bosch’s other series? Read Bosch 500 vs 800 vs Benchmark.
2. Best four-zone cooktop: Sharp SCH2443GB
Quick facts: 4 zones, two of which link into a bridge · power boost on every zone · black mirror-finish glass · 24 × 21 × 2 1/2 inches
My results: 1 quart boiled in 3 minutes and 5 seconds; the simmer was steady. My rating: 8.2 out of 10.
If your cooking is lots of little pans rather than one big one, the Sharp fits more into 24 inches than anything else I tried. Four zones sit in a neat square, and the two on the left link into a bridge. I tested that bridge the way I use mine at home: Saturday pancakes on a 9 × 13 griddle. Every pancake browned the same, with no pale strip down the middle.
It boiled a quart in 3 minutes and 5 seconds and held a steady simmer, a little less gently than the Bosch. With my big skillet on one side, the other zones got tight, so think about your pans before you buy. Sharp is a well-known appliance brand, but this cooktop had very few owner reviews when I checked, so it doesn’t have a long track record yet. Check its installation guide for the breaker size before you call your electrician.
What I liked
- It fits four zones and a bridge into 24 inches.
- The bridge cooked a griddle of pancakes evenly.
- Every zone has a power boost.
What I didn’t like
- Big pans crowd the other zones.
- It has few owner reviews so far.
My verdict: Buy it if you cook with several small pans and want a bridge for a griddle. Skip it if your favorite pan is a 12-inch skillet.
3. Best budget: Empava Ease 24-inch 4-Burner
Quick facts: 4 zones · 9 heat levels · hardwired 240 volts · pan-size sensor and hot-surface light · 23 1/4 × 20 1/2 inches, 25 pounds
My results: 1 quart boiled in 3 minutes and 20 seconds; the lowest setting pulsed on and off. My rating: 7.5 out of 10.
The Empava is the cooktop I’d put in a rental or a garage apartment when the budget is tight. It costs far less than the Bosch and still boiled a quart in 3 minutes and 20 seconds, quicker than any gas burner I’ve owned. For everyday pasta, eggs and stir-fries, it did the job without fuss.
Low heat is where it shows its price. On level 1 it switched fully on and off, so my sauce went from still to bubbling and back every few seconds. I learned to simmer on level 2 instead, which worked fine. Owners like how it looks and how fast it heats, but about one in ten of its Amazon ratings were 1-star when I checked, often about units that stopped working, so keep your receipt and register the warranty.
What I liked
- It costs much less than the name brands.
- It fits four zones into 24 inches.
- It boils quickly for the price.
What I didn’t like
- Its lowest setting pulses on and off.
- Owner reports on durability are mixed.
My verdict: Buy it if you want four zones in 24 inches for far less money. Skip it if you simmer delicate sauces often.
More about the brand: are Empava induction cooktops worth it?
4. Best flex zone on a budget: Karinear 24-inch 3-Burner
Quick facts: 3 zones; the two on the left join into one long zone · slider controls · 9 power levels · 99-minute timer, pause and child lock · hardwired 240 volts
My results: 1 quart boiled in 3 minutes and 15 seconds; the simmer was mostly steady. My rating: 7.3 out of 10.
The Karinear surprised me. Its two left zones join into one long zone, and that’s rare at this price. My oval fish pan, which never fits a round zone properly, cooked evenly from end to end. The slider controls felt fiddly for a day and then quicker than tapping plus and minus.
It boiled a quart in 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Its simmer was mostly steady, with a little drifting on the lowest setting. It’s a newer brand with only a handful of owner reviews, so it’s less proven than the others here.
What I liked
- Its flex zone fits a long pan or griddle.
- The slider controls are quick once you’re used to them.
What I didn’t like
- It has only 9 power levels.
- It has few owner reviews so far.
My verdict: Buy it if you want a long flex zone for a griddle on a budget. Skip it if you want lots of fine power levels.
The one I’d skip: Noxton 24-inch 4-Burner
The Noxton looks almost identical to the budget picks and costs about the same, but it didn’t cook like them. Its low settings jumped in big steps, so there was no gentle simmer between “barely warm” and “boiling”, and the front-left zone browned my pancakes darker in the middle than at the edges. A larger share of its few Amazon ratings were 1-star than for the other budget models. Spend the same money on the Empava Ease instead.
Also worth a look
I didn’t test these two, but they come up often. The Fisher & Paykel CI244DTB4 is a 24-inch induction cooktop from a premium brand, worth a look if you want a name known for its service network. The Karinear 24-inch 4-burner is a cheaper four-zone option, with two 1,400-watt and two 1,800-watt zones, but with even fewer owner reviews than the three-burner model above.
24-inch vs 30-inch: which should you buy?
If your counter can take either, the honest answer is 30 inches for most families. A 30-inch cooktop gives you four or five zones with room between them, and two big pans can cook side by side. My 30-inch picks also cost about the same as the best 24-inch models, because 30 inches is the most popular size.
Choose 24 inches when space decides for you, or when the cooktop is for one to three people. The speed is the same: the Bosch’s 11-inch zone boiled water as fast as the big zone on my 30-inch Bosch. What changes is how many large pans you can use at once.
Cooking a family meal on 24 inches
A small cooktop works best when you plan the pans, not just the recipe. These habits made the biggest difference for me:
- Put your biggest pan on the biggest zone first, then fit the small pans around it.
- Use lids. A covered pot boils faster, so you can free up a zone sooner.
- Cook in a relay: boil the pasta, then use that zone for the sauce while the pasta drains.
- Choose straight-sided pans. Flared skillets take up more room than they cook on.
- Lift pans instead of sliding them when the glass gets crowded, so you don’t scratch it.
Pan sizes matter more on a small cooktop, so it’s worth checking yours against what cookware works on induction. If you use cast iron, read my rules for cast iron on induction.
Fit, cutout and wiring
Measure before you fall in love with a model. There’s no standard cutout for 24-inch cooktops: the Bosch needs an opening of 22 × 19 1/4 inches, and the others differ, so check the installation guide for each model you’re considering. Most 24-inch induction cooktops are hardwired to their own 240-volt circuit rather than plugged in. The Bosch needs 30 amps; check the others before you book the electrician.
Fitting the five into my test counter taught me two things. First, the cutouts really are different: I had to recut the top for almost every model. Second, the junction box needs to sit where you can reach it once the cooktop is in, so plan that with your electrician before the counter is cut.
For the details, read how to install an induction cooktop and induction cooktop electrical requirements. No 240-volt circuit? A 120-volt plug-in built-in drops into a small counter and plugs into a regular outlet.
How to choose a 24-inch induction cooktop
Three big zones or four small ones
If you cook with a 12-inch skillet or a big pasta pot, choose three zones with one large zone, like the Bosch. If you mostly use small saucepans, four zones give you more places to put them.
A bridge or flex zone
A bridge or flex zone turns two zones into one long cooking area for a griddle or fish pan. In a small kitchen, it’s the easiest way to cook pancakes for the whole family at once.
Power and boost
Look at the wattage of the biggest zone, not the total. A big zone with a strong boost, like the Bosch’s 3,600 watts, boils pasta water fast; four small zones with modest power take longer when you need one big pot.
Controls you’ll like every day
Touch keys, sliders and dials all work, but try to picture using them with wet or floury hands. Sliders were quickest for me once I was used to them; tiny plus and minus keys were the most annoying.
A gentle simmer
Cheaper cooktops often switch on and off at their lowest setting. If you make sauces, soups or rice, a steady low setting matters more than a fast boil.
Brand support
Mainstream brands usually have local service technicians, while budget brands often rely on mail-in support. For a cooktop you’ll use every day, a nearby repair service is worth something.
Your cookware
Your pans need to be magnetic. Before you buy anything, stick a fridge magnet to the bottom of the pans you use most.
FAQ
What is the best 24-inch induction cooktop?
In my tests, the Bosch 800 Series NIT8461UC was the best 24-inch induction cooktop. Its 11-inch zone fits a 12-inch skillet, it boiled a quart in 2 minutes and 45 seconds, and it held the gentlest simmer. The Sharp SCH2443GB is the best choice if you want four zones and a bridge.
How many burners does a 24-inch induction cooktop have?
Usually three or four zones. Some let you join two zones into a bridge or flex zone for a griddle or long pan.
What size breaker does a 24-inch induction cooktop need?
It depends on the model. The Bosch NIT8461UC needs a 240-volt, 30-amp circuit. Check the installation guide for the exact model and have an electrician confirm it.
Can a 24-inch induction cooktop plug into a regular outlet?
Most are hardwired to a 240-volt circuit. Some smaller 120-volt built-ins plug into a regular outlet, but they share about 1,800 watts between their zones, so they cook more slowly.
What is the cutout size for a 24-inch induction cooktop?
It varies by model. The Bosch NIT8461UC needs a 22 × 19 1/4-inch cutout. Always check the installation guide before you buy.
Is a 24-inch induction cooktop worth it?
Yes, if your counter only fits 24 inches. In my tests the best 24-inch models boiled water as fast as full-size cooktops and simmered just as gently. You only give up room for big pans.
Do 24-inch induction cooktops need special pans?
They need magnetic pans, like any induction cooktop. Cast iron, carbon steel and most stainless steel work. Pans close in size to each zone heat most evenly.
Is a 24-inch cooktop big enough for a family?
For one to three people, yes. For a bigger family, choose a model with one large zone and plan your pans, or consider a 30-inch cooktop if the counter allows it.