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Premium Picks
2 picks
If budget isn't a concern, these are the ones to get.
5
Russell Hobbs
Russell Hobbs Fiesta Hot Air Popcorn Maker 24630-56
1290WHot AirMeasuring Spoon Lid
Premium
Rank #5
Russell Hobbs Fiesta Hot Air Popcorn Maker 24630-56
Our Verdict
A 1290W Russell Hobbs hot-air popper with a measuring spoon built into the lid, an on/off switch and BPA-free construction, popping oil-free in under three minutes.
Russell Hobbs is a name Australians know, and the Fiesta brings that reassurance to the hot-air popper format. A 1290W element pops a batch in under three minutes without any fat or oil, and the design is refreshingly simple: a single on/off switch, a removable lid and a measuring spoon that's built into the lid so you're never hunting for it. One spoon of kernels makes 35 to 50 grams of popcorn, which is a generous bowl for one or two, and the brand rates it simple enough for children aged eight and over to use with supervision. Cleaning is a case of lifting off the lid and spoon and wiping the chamber with a damp cloth. It's BPA-free and finished in white and black. Amazon AU buyers give it 4.0 stars across 3,931 reviews, a little below the Gadgy, and it ships from Amazon Germany, so you're looking at a longer delivery, a European plug that needs an adapter and possibly different warranty terms. It sits in our premium tier on price rather than features, so buy it for the brand and the simplicity rather than any extra capability.
Performance
8.4
Ease of Use
8.6
Build Quality
8.2
Capacity
8.2
Value
7.8
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Trusted Russell Hobbs name with 3,931 reviews
+ 1290W pops a batch oil-free in under three minutes
+ Measuring spoon built into the removable lid
+ Simple on/off switch, easy enough for older kids
Cons
− Ships from Amazon Germany: longer delivery and a European plug
− Lower 4.0-star rating than the other electric picks
− Warranty may differ from an Australian-sold appliance
A lit, theatre-style benchtop popcorn machine with a 4-ounce stainless steel stirring kettle that pops five to six servings at once, sold by an Australian seller.
For parties, kids' birthdays or anyone who wants the full cinema experience at home, the Cornrush is the showpiece of this list. It's a vintage theatre-style cabinet in red with plexiglass windows and doors and a lit interior, and inside sits a 4-ounce stainless steel kettle with a stirring rod that keeps the kernels moving for a bigger yield of popped corn than a static pot. One batch makes five to six servings, which is why it's the capacity pick here, and two separate switches run the stirrer and the light independently. Because it pops in oil in a kettle, you get proper cinema-flavoured popcorn that salt actually clings to. There's a removable tray for the finished popcorn, and the kettle wipes clean with a soft cloth. It comes with three measuring spoons, ten serving bags and a plastic scoop tray. It rates 4.2 stars from 865 reviews and is sold by an Australian seller. It's the most expensive pick by a long way, takes up real bench space, and the seller notes the door can break in transit and offers a replacement, which tells you to unpack it carefully.
Performance
8.6
Ease of Use
7.8
Build Quality
8
Capacity
9
Value
7.4
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ 4-ounce stirring kettle pops five to six servings per batch
+ Lit theatre-style cabinet is a genuine party piece
+ Oil-popped kettle corn gives real cinema flavour
+ Sold by an Australian seller, with spoons, bags and a scoop tray included
Cons
− By far the most expensive pick on the list
− Big footprint and more cleaning than a hot-air popper
− Plexiglass door can arrive damaged; seller offers a replacement
The Lékué is the popcorn maker we'd put in most Australian kitchens, and the one Amazon AU buyers rate highest. It's a 2.8 litre bowl made from platinum silicone: you fill it with kernels to the line, pop it in the microwave for around a minute and a half, and a suction lid keeps everything from spilling over the sides as the bowl fills. There's no electric element to break, no oil required unless you want it, and when you're done the whole thing goes in the dishwasher. The clever bit is the collapsible body, which folds from around 5 inches tall down to 2 inches so it slides into a drawer rather than eating cupboard space. With 12,830 reviews sitting at 4.6 stars, it's both the best-reviewed and the best-rated popcorn maker here, and it ships from Amazon AU. The only real limitation is that it's a microwave popper, so you won't get the theatre of a benchtop machine or that oil-popped cinema flavour without adding oil yourself.
Performance
8.8
Ease of Use
9.3
Build Quality
8.6
Capacity
8.4
Value
9.3
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Highest-rated pick here at 4.6 stars from 12,830 reviews
+ Collapses from 5 inches to 2 inches for drawer storage
+ Suction lid stops popcorn overflowing the bowl
+ Dishwasher safe and ships from Amazon AU
Cons
− Needs a microwave, so no benchtop theatre
− You'll add oil or butter yourself for cinema-style flavour
A 3-quart borosilicate glass microwave popper whose 3-in-1 lid measures kernels and melts butter while the corn pops, with 21,952 reviews on Amazon AU.
The Ecolution Micro-Pop is the most-reviewed popcorn maker on Amazon AU by a wide margin, and it earns that following with one genuinely useful trick. Its dual-function lid measures out the right amount of kernels, then sits on top with butter in the well so it melts and drips through as the popcorn pops underneath. That solves the biggest complaint about air-popped corn, which is that nothing sticks to it. The 3-quart bowl is temperature-safe borosilicate glass rather than silicone, so you can watch the batch pop, it won't hold onto smells or stains, and it's thermal shock resistant and made without BPA. A wide mouth and an ergonomic handle make it easy to carry to the couch, it needs no oil at all, and it's dishwasher safe. A batch takes three minutes or less. It rates 4.3 stars across 21,952 reviews and ships from Amazon AU. The glass is the trade-off: it's heavier than a silicone bowl and it doesn't collapse for storage.
Performance
8.5
Ease of Use
8.8
Build Quality
8.7
Capacity
8.6
Value
8.9
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Lid measures kernels and melts butter through the popcorn as it pops
+ Borosilicate glass lets you watch the batch and won't absorb odours
+ Most-reviewed popcorn maker on Amazon AU with 21,952 reviews
+ No oil needed and dishwasher safe
Cons
− Glass bowl is heavier than silicone and won't collapse
− Microwave only, so no standalone benchtop popping
A retro-styled 1200W hot-air popper with a measuring cup and removable lid that pops oil-free popcorn in two to four minutes, the most-reviewed electric machine here.
If you want a proper benchtop machine rather than a microwave bowl, the Gadgy is the hot-air popper Amazon AU buyers have bought and reviewed most. It's a 1200W retro-styled unit in red with a transparent top, so the kids can watch the kernels dance, and there's no preheating: tip in a measuring cup of kernels, press start and you have popcorn in two to four minutes. Because it pops with circulating hot air there's no oil or butter involved at all, which keeps things lighter and means cleaning is nothing more than a wipe with a cloth. The lid lifts off and the measuring cup is included. It rates 4.2 stars across 8,155 reviews. The catch for Australian buyers is that it ships from Amazon Germany, so expect a longer delivery window, a European plug that needs an adapter and warranty terms that may differ from a locally sold appliance. It's still the strongest all-round hot-air machine in the pool, which is why it ranks this high.
Performance
8.7
Ease of Use
8.6
Build Quality
8.3
Capacity
8.5
Value
8.4
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Most-reviewed hot-air machine on Amazon AU with 8,155 reviews
+ 1200W with no preheating, popcorn in two to four minutes
+ Oil-free popping means a simple wipe-clean
+ Transparent top and retro red styling look great on the bench
Cons
− Ships from Amazon Germany: longer delivery and a European plug
− Warranty may differ from an Australian-sold appliance
− Air-popped corn needs butter added separately for seasoning to stick
A collapsible food-grade silicone microwave popper with handles and a suction lid that pops a bowl in two to three minutes, the cheapest pick here from an Australian seller.
The Brensten is the budget way into fresh popcorn, and it's hard to argue with the numbers: 19,030 reviews at 4.5 stars for a bowl that costs less than a couple of cinema tickets. It's made from food-grade silicone that's free of BPA and PVC, with built-in handles so you can lift it out of the microwave and a suction lid that keeps the kernels where they belong. Pop a bowl in two to three minutes, with or without oil depending on how virtuous you're feeling. The body collapses from around 2.7 inches to about 2 inches high, so it stashes in a drawer or a crowded cupboard without a fuss, which makes it a smart pick for units, share-houses and caravans. It's sold by an Australian third-party seller rather than Amazon itself, so delivery is quick and local, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The compromises are the ones you'd expect at this price: a single bowl of popcorn per go, no butter-melting lid and no benchtop theatre.
Performance
8
Ease of Use
8.8
Build Quality
7.5
Capacity
8.3
Value
9.2
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Exceptional value with 19,030 reviews at 4.5 stars
+ Collapses to about 2 inches high for easy storage
+ Handles and a suction lid make it easy to get in and out of the microwave
The TODO is here for one reason: it's the only electric popcorn maker in this guide that's sold from Australia at a budget price. It's a simple 1290W benchtop machine that pops with hot air rather than oil, so there's no grease to deal with, and it makes up to 12 cups of popcorn in minutes, which is plenty for a family movie night. There's no measuring lid, butter melter or retro styling to speak of; you're paying for the basic function and a quick local delivery rather than any polish. The honest caveat is the feedback. It carries a 3.7-star rating from 51 reviews, the lowest on this list and a thin sample, and stock from the seller runs low from time to time. If you specifically want a benchtop popper without waiting on an overseas parcel or paying for a European-branded machine, it fills that gap; if you're happy with a microwave bowl, the Lékué and Brensten above are better rated and cheaper still.
Performance
7.8
Ease of Use
8.2
Build Quality
7.2
Capacity
8.4
Value
8.6
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Only budget-priced hot-air machine sold from Australia
+ Makes up to 12 cups per batch with no fats or oils
+ 1290W element pops quickly
Cons
− Lowest rating here at 3.7 stars from just 51 reviews
− Basic design with no measuring lid or butter melter
We evaluate popcorn makers on popping performance (speed, how few kernels are left unpopped, how evenly they cook), ease of use (filling, portioning, cleaning, storage), build quality (materials, lids, longevity), capacity (how much popcorn a single batch makes and whether that suits a couple or a crowd), and overall value for money. We favour models that ship from Amazon Australia or Australian sellers for fast delivery and easy returns, and we note where a pick ships from overseas. All star ratings and review counts are drawn from live Amazon AU customer feedback.
Scored 0–10 on Performance, Ease of Use, Build Quality, Capacity + more
Hot-air poppers use no oil at all, so the popcorn is lighter, lower in fat and there's nothing greasy to clean. The trade-off is that seasoning doesn't stick as well unless you add melted butter afterwards. Kettle-style machines and stovetop poppers cook the kernels in a little oil, which gives you that classic cinema flavour and lets salt cling properly, at the cost of more cleaning.
Microwave poppers
Silicone and glass microwave bowls are the cheapest way in and the easiest to store, especially collapsible ones that fold down to a couple of inches. They work with or without oil and pop a bowl in around two to three minutes. Most are dishwasher safe, and glass versions let you watch the popcorn pop, although they're heavier and won't collapse.
Batch size
Capacity varies more than you'd think. A single-serve microwave bowl suits one or two people, most hot-air machines pop enough for a couple of bowls, and a kettle machine with a 4-ounce pot turns out five or six servings in one go. Match the batch size to how many people you're usually feeding rather than buying the biggest one.
Cleaning
Hot-air machines are the easiest here: no oil means a quick wipe of the popping chamber and a rinse of the lid. Silicone bowls generally go straight in the dishwasher. Kettle machines need the pot wiped down after every batch while it's still warm, and the glass cabinet and crumb tray cleaned regularly, so factor that in if you're leaning that way.
Butter melting
If you like buttered popcorn, look for a lid that doubles as a butter melter. Some microwave poppers have a measuring lid with a butter well that melts and drips through while the corn pops, and some electric stirring machines have a built-in butter tray. With a plain hot-air popper you'll melt butter separately and toss it through.
Where it ships from
Several well-known hot-air poppers on Amazon AU ship from Europe or the US. They'll still work here on 230V, but expect a longer delivery window and a foreign plug that needs an adapter, and check the warranty terms. Where an Australian-stocked alternative exists at a similar price, we'd take it.
Movie night at home has never been easier to cater for, and a proper popcorn maker is the difference between a sad microwave bag and a big, warm bowl of the real thing. A bag of kernels costs next to nothing, pops in a few minutes and lets you decide exactly how much butter, salt or sugar goes on top. Once you've made it fresh, the pre-packaged stuff is hard to go back to.
The category splits three ways. Hot-air poppers are electric benchtop machines that blow heated air through the kernels, so there's no oil at all and cleanup is a wipe with a cloth. Kettle-style machines use a heated stirring pot and a little oil for that genuine cinema flavour, and they look the part on a party table. Then there are microwave poppers, silicone or glass bowls you fill with kernels and put in the microwave, which cost a fraction of the price, take up almost no cupboard space and have quietly become the most popular way Australians make popcorn at home.
We've compared the top-rated popcorn makers on Amazon Australia, from a collapsible silicone bowl with tens of thousands of reviews to a lit theatre-style kettle machine, and ranked the seven that make the most sense for Australian kitchens. Most ship locally; two hot-air machines ship from overseas, and we've flagged what that means for delivery and plugs.
Compare Top Picks
Can't decide between our top two? See how they stack up head‑to‑head.
Is a hot-air popcorn maker better than a microwave popper?+
They do slightly different jobs. A hot-air machine is a dedicated benchtop appliance that pops with circulating hot air, no oil, and makes a bit of an occasion of it, but it takes up bench or cupboard space. A microwave popper is a silicone or glass bowl that does much the same thing inside the microwave you already own, for a fraction of the price, and often collapses flat for storage. If you pop a lot or want something the kids can watch, go hot air; if you want the cheapest, simplest route to fresh popcorn, a microwave bowl is hard to beat.
How much popcorn does a home popcorn maker make in one batch?+
It varies a lot. A single-serve microwave bowl makes one modest serving, larger silicone and glass bowls hold around 2.8 to 3 litres of popped corn, and most hot-air machines turn a spoonful of kernels into a couple of bowls in one go. Theatre-style kettle machines with a 4-ounce pot pop five or six servings at a time, which is why they're the pick for parties. Think about how many people you're usually feeding before you decide.
How do I get salt and butter to stick to air-popped popcorn?+
This is the one downside of hot-air popping: with no oil on the kernels, dry salt just falls to the bottom of the bowl. The fix is to melt a little butter and drizzle it over while tossing, then season straight away. Some microwave poppers make this easy with a lid that holds butter and melts it through the popcorn as it pops, and some electric stirring machines have a built-in butter tray. Otherwise, a quick spray of oil before seasoning works too.
How do I clean a popcorn maker?+
Hot-air machines are the easiest: unplug them, let them cool, then wipe the popping chamber with a damp cloth and rinse the lid and measuring cup. Most silicone and glass microwave poppers are dishwasher safe, so they can go straight in with the dinner plates. Kettle-style machines need the most attention, wipe the kettle down with a soft cloth after each batch while it's still warm, empty the tray of unpopped kernels and give the glass panels a wipe so the oil haze doesn't build up.
Will a popcorn maker that ships from overseas work in Australia?+
Machines sold from Europe run on 220 to 240V, the same as Australia, so they'll work with a simple plug adapter, but you'll wait longer for delivery and the warranty may be handled differently to a locally sold appliance. Products sold from the US are designed for 110 to 120V and generally shouldn't be plugged into an Australian outlet without a proper voltage converter. Microwave and stovetop poppers have no electrics, so where they ship from only affects delivery time.
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