Kmart has a legion of fans that swear by the large offering of products at bargain prices. And it certainly does keep surprising us in our expert testing, with some Kmart Anko own-brand products often rivalling – or even outperforming – the big brands.
But while Kmart may offer some great buys that deliver premium performance at low prices, there have been quite a few products that have performed poorly in our tests.
CHOICE experts have put dozens of Kmart products through their paces in our labs over the past year. Here are some of the best and worst performers from our tests to help you with your shopping.
On this page:
- Heating and cooling
- Laundry and cleaning
- Kitchen
- Babies and children
- Period undies
- Carry-on suitcase
Heating and cooling
Pedestal fan
One to buy? – Yes
Dyson's bladeless fans may be the glamorous darlings of the fan world, but if they're financially out of your reach, Kmart's pedestal fans are a great alternative.
We've tested four of Kmart's fans and while some of them performed well (especially for the price!), performance does vary by model, so make sure you check our reviews before you buy.
Kmart's product range tend to change rapidly, especially with the seasons, so while we can't guarantee that every single fan Kmart sells will be a winner, we have been pleasantly surprised by the ones we have tested.
Heater
One to buy? – No
Kmart's heater offering is definitely not going to set the world on fire. In fact, CHOICE experts have given a chilly reception to Kmart's electric heaters for four years running. In 2020, the $59 Anko DL03L convection heater received a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 45%, making it the worst heater we've tested since 2014. 2021's tested models, a small Kmart Anko ceramic fan heater and a digital oil heater, didn't fare much better.
And in 2022, the $59 oil column heater didn't even manage to heat a small room by 10°C in two hours, and took almost an hour to raise the temperature by 5°C.
"Some of the poorest performing electric heaters we've ever seen at CHOICE have come from Kmart," says Matthew Steen, our director of testing and reviews.
"Being cheap doesn't have to mean poor performance, which we see time and again in many of our product reviews, so it's disappointing that Kmart continues to deliver inferior products in this category. Several models from other brands cost only marginally more but score a lot better."
Find out more: Should you buy an electric heater from Kmart?
Air purifier
One to buy? – No
The $159 Kmart air purifier received a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 66%, which is actually OK for that price, and it could be worth considering if you're on a tight budget. But if you're going to bother buying an air purifier, you want it to do the job properly, right?
Kmart sells a number of other air purifiers that we haven't tested in our labs, however, if you're looking for a top-notch air purifier, you're probably not going to find it at Kmart: our expert says you'll likely need to spend at least around $500 to get an air purifier that performs well at removing dust, smoke and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the air.
We answer the question of whether cheap air purifiers are any good.
Laundry and cleaning
Washing machine
One to buy? – No
With prices well under $500, Kmart's new washing machines are very cheap, and with many households feeling the squeeze of increased cost of living, the budget price tags are very appealing.
But what you save in money you'll likely lose in increased energy costs, huge water usage and short lifespan.
It uses an outrageous 199L of water per cycle – the highest water usage of all the washing machines in our current test. And that figure is even more shocking when you consider that the Kmart machine's capacity is only 8kg: other top loaders with larger capacities use less water to wash larger loads.
We've seen washers that can get the job done with as little as 40L. And the average water consumption for top loaders in our test is 125L – a little over half of what Kmart's water-wasting washing machine guzzles.
"Kmart's 8kg-capacity top-loader may be cheap to buy but it wastes a huge amount of water when the normal cycle is used, which means it will likely cost you more in electricity bills than another model over its lifetime," says CHOICE washer expert Ashley Iredale.
"To be priced this low, it's likely also made with cheaper parts and materials, with less consideration for how easy it will be to repair or how long it should last."
Vacuum cleaners
Ones to buy? – No
Kmart sells a range of different vacuum cleaners, including stick vacuums, upright, bagged and bagless models in the Anko range that are priced from about $30 to $160.
Although we do love it when we find a bargain appliance that really shines, in the case of Kmart vacuum cleaners, it's sadly not so.
The upright, bagged and bagless models we most recently tested were among the lowest scoring when it comes to giving your carpet a thorough clean. And the stick vacuums didn't fare much better. Read the grim details here: Should I buy a Kmart vacuum cleaner?
Steam mop
One to buy? Yes and no
Kmart sells two steam mops at two different price points: $49 and $89. In this instance, you'll get more for less: the cheaper model actually performed better. It's also the cheapest steam mop we tested.
Before you buy, though, ask yourself: Is buying a steam mop worth it?
Iron
One to buy? – Yes
Ironing is one household task that many of us loathe. And if you're ironing-averse, you probably don't want to fork out a fortune to buy a decent iron.
Fortunately, Kmart does come to the rescue in this situation. Its irons are inexpensive and performed well in our recent irons test (although due to Kmart's frequently-changing product range, not all of them are still available).
Kmart's irons compared favourably for the price point, but check our expert iron reviews to find out more.
Kitchen
Air fryer
One to buy? – Maybe
Air fryers are one of those appliances you either love or find confusing.
They're touted as a great investment if you want to cook foods that you'd typically deep fry – but in a healthier way, as with homemade chips or frozen crumbed chicken – or if you live in a hot climate and you want to cook dinner without heating up the whole house by using your oven.
But many people also see air fryers as a needless appliance that performs many functions your oven already does, while taking up valuable bench space.
Kmart's $129 twin air fryer has won many fans, most notably because it's significantly cheaper than air fryers from many of the leading brands. But our experts weren't impressed when we tested it in our labs. In fact, although the Kmart Anko air fryer was one of the cheapest models we tested, it was also one of the lowest scoring.
"Not only did it receive a low score in our testing, but the Kmart Anko air fryer is also fairly large and heavy, and not very easy to use due to its controls, which were only OK," says CHOICE kitchen expert, Fiona Mair.
The Kmart 5.3L air fryer performed a little better, but our experts didn't find it easy to use or clean. It did score well for cooking crumbed chicken, however, so if you're a household of chicken nugget or schnitzel fans, this one could be for you.
At the time of writing, we hadn't tested the 3.2L air fryer, so we can't comment on whether it's a good buy or not.
Coffee machine
One to buy? – No
While a previous Kmart coffee machine we tested scored well on taste, the most recent machine we tested failed to impress.
It scored just 60% on our taste test and 60% for milk frothing. Overall, our experts gave it a CHOICE Expert Rating of 64%.
If you're looking for a cheap coffee machine, a pod machine might be a better bet for your money.
Rice cooker
One to buy? – Yes
With prices for rice cookers running as high as $269, there's a lot to like about Kmart's $14 rice cooker. Sure it's basic, but that's to be expected for the price. And it more than delivers: it scored a solid 81% overall in our tests, emphatically beating models costing many times more.
If you're after a rice cooker with more features such as a timer, delayed cooking option, or a larger capacity, check our rice cooker reviews before you buy.
Microwave
One to buy? – Yes
At $52, this Kmart Anko microwave certainly delivers bang for your buck. Our experts recommend it, rating it as excellent for cooking performance and giving it perfect scores for cooking vegetables and defrosting mince.
"If you are looking for a basic compact microwave that reheats well and is great for cooking and defrosting, then the Anko 20-litre model is all you need," says Fiona.
"It is, however, only a 700W microwave, so reheating times will be a little slower than for a 900W or 1000W microwave."
In fact, all the Kmart products in our most recent microwaves test performed well, especially considering their cheap prices.
Kettle
One to buy? – It depends
Kmart's kettles won't set your world on fire, but they're not a bad purchase either. While none of them scored higher than 74% in our kettles test, they were among the cheapest we tested, so they're not bad value for money.
If you're after something cheap and cheerful to make a simple cup of tea with, but don't want to spend a fortune, you could do a lot worse than a Kmart kettle. But if you're after something with fancier features or sleek aesthetics, you'll probably need to spend a bit more.
Toasters
One to buy? – No
While there's definitely something to be said for affordable kitchen appliances that take care of the basics, Kmart's toasters don't quite hit the mark. They're undoubtedly cheap (the most expensive one we tested costs $45), but they're also pretty lacklustre.
You don't need to spend a fortune to get a good toaster, but you will get a better product if you spend a little more than Kmart's bargain-basement prices.
Food processor
One to buy? – Yes
If you're after a cheap and cheerful food processor that'll do the job, you can't go wrong with the $79 Kmart Anko food processor FP403.
"The Kmart food processor is a very good performer that's great for chopping, slicing, mixing and emulsifying," says Fiona.
"It is a compact unit so it's easier to store, and all blades are stored in the unit. It is however relatively noisy in operation."
We've also tested a smaller Kmart Anko 1.2L food processor, which was the cheapest product in our test. Our experts weren't as impressed by this one, finding some functions frustrating to use, but at $55 it's a relatively cheap option if you're looking for a smaller unit.
If you have a bit more money to spend on a food processor, we've found several options under $150 from well-known brands that deliver slightly better performance and might last longer than the Kmart products.
Cookware
One to consider? - Yes
Kmart's 24cm frypan costs just $19 but performed as well as more expensive brands including Tefal, Scanpan, Chasseur and Essteele. That's definitely a winner in our book!
Read more here: The cheap Kmart frypan that impressed in our tests.
But don't just pick up any old 24cm frypan when you hit Kmart: the Kmart Anko 24cm Aluminium 3 Layer Non-Stick Frypan ($14) and 24cm Aluminium 4 Layer Non-Stick Frypan ($17) failed to sizzle in our tests, both scoring a lukewarm 54%.
Kmart's cast iron casserole pot ($30) compared well with big-name brands such as Le Creuset, Chasseur and Staub when we tested casserole pots and Dutch ovens.
And the $3 non-stick round cake tin outperformed other cake tins worth many times more. Heck, you could even buy four of these to make a multi-tiered birthday cake and still have change left from $20 to buy birthday candles!
Slow cooker
One to buy? – Yes
We recently put three of Kmart's slow cookers to the test with great results.
They may lack the features of some more expensive brands like Sunbeam, Breville and Cuisinart, but Kmart's slow cookers perform quite well. And at $27 for the 3L, $20 for the 5L and $39 for the 6.5L digital slow cooker, those prices are hard to beat.
CHOICE members can exclusively access our slow cooker reviews.
Bread maker
One to buy? – No
It was the cheapest bread maker in our test, but unfortunately Kmart's bread maker didn't exactly wow our experts.
It scored 73%, which isn't a terrible score, but considering that the lowest scoring product in our test received a CHOICE Expert Rating of 69%, it wasn't a long way from the bottom.
If you can stretch to paying a bit more, you could pick up a machine that's recommended by our experts instead.
Food containers
One to buy? – Yes and no
Kmart food containers certainly won't strain your budget like Tupperware can, but if you're thinking of stocking up on them, be selective about what you buy.
The 1.3L Rectangle Clip Food Container costs just $3.50 but performed quite well in our testing and is recommended by our experts. It didn't perform as well as the Tupperware product we tested, but considering that it's less than a tenth of the price, it's definitely worthy of consideration.
Steer clear of the 1L Rectangular Containers and the 1L Wide Food Storage Container, though: they scored just 55% and 30% respectively.
Here's what we think about cheap vs expensive plastic food containers.
Babies and children
Playpen
One to buy? – Yes
Kmart's $145 playpen is one of only a few playpens we tested that actually passed key safety requirements. (There's no Australian standard for playpens, but we test to international standards and in-house methods based on existing Australian standards for other baby products.)
It's also easy to set up and pack down, and comes with a latched gate so you won't crick your back when reaching over the fence to pick up a heavy toddler. See our full playpen reviews.
Bassinet
One to buy? – No
A cheap bassinet can be a tempting buy, but our expert testing reveals that many bassinets fail on basic safety features and can pose serious risk to little ones.
Unlike some other baby products, there are no Australian safety standards for bassinets that manufacturers must adhere to, which is why some potentially dangerous products still make it onto our shelves.
The $99 Kmart Anko bassinet is no exception – it got a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 40% due to the lack of continuous breathable zones around the edge of the bassinet, which could be a suffocation risk. See our full bassinet reviews.
Baby gate
One to buy? Yes
Both of Kmart's metal baby gates passed key safety requirements in our stringent testing, which is more than we can say for quite a number of baby gates.
And at $55 and $65, they're far cheaper than many other products.
They're both recommended by our experts, so you can buy these knowing that they'll help keep your little one safe.
Cots
Ones to buy? Yes and no
Kmart's cots vary wildly in quality and safety: one cot scored 79% and is recommended by our experts, while the other scored just 49% and was marked down by our experts for a number of safety failures.
We've found that cot safety has improved over the years, but still leaves something to be desired: a third of the cots in our latest test failed key safety tests.
To ensure your baby's safety, check our expert cot reviews before you shop.
Cot mattress
One to buy? – Yes
If you're thinking of buying the $89 cot mattress from Kmart, you can rest easy knowing that it's safe and recommended by our experts.
Surprisingly, there's no mandatory safety standard for cot mattresses in Australia, so it's important to check whether a cot mattress meets the voluntary safety standard before buying. We've assessed the safety of 45 cot mattresses in our labs to make sure they pass our stringent safety testing.
See the full results of our cot mattress tests for all the details.
High chair
One to buy? – Yes
Kmart's Prandium and Flat Fold High Chairs passed our key safety tests with flying colours and are recommended by our experts.
Selling for $29 and $45 respectively, the price is right, too.
Portable cots
One to buy? – No
Neither of Kmart's portable cots passed our safety tests, with our experts finding that their mattresses pose serious risks to babies.
However, more than two-thirds of portable cots failed safety standards, so it's important to check our portable cot reviews before you buy to make sure you're not buying an unsafe portacot.
Period undies
One to buy? – Yes
At $12 a pair, Kmart's period undies are some of the cheapest on the market. When we tested their bikini and full brief period undies, our triallists were generally pretty happy with their performance.
The full brief was the pick of the two styles, with 15 out of 16 triallists reporting that they were leak-free, with 12 out of the 16 rating them good, very good or excellent overall.
With other brands of period undies costing $30 and more for a pair, Kmart's offerings deliver great value for money and could be a good option if you're considering switching to period undies but don't want to spend a fortune to trial them.
Read our full period undies review, and our in-depth look at Kmart period undies for all the details.
Carry-on suitcase
One to buy? – Yes
We've only tested one Kmart suitcase, but it's a pretty good buy for the money. While it didn't make the cut to be recommended by our experts, the $49 soft case performed as well as other suitcases costing nearly 10 times as much.
And with the money you'll save by buying this cheap number, you can probably afford to shout yourself some extra domestic flights.
Learn more about cheap vs expensive carry-on suitcases.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
