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Kmart Anko: Best buys and what to avoid

We reveal the products that impressed in our tests – and the duds that disappointed.

kmart logo with green tick and red cross graphics
Last updated: 22 February 2024

Kmart has a legion of fans who 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 also been quite a few products that 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.

Heating

anko dl03l

A "warm doorstop": this Kmart heater from 2020 scored just 45%.

Electric heaters

Worth buying? – Maybe

Historically, Kmart hasn't exactly set the world on fire with its electric heaters: CHOICE experts have given Kmart's electric heaters a chilly reception in past years. 

In 2019 an Anko oil column heater came dead last with a score of just 48%. Then in 2020, a $59 Anko convection heater received a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 45%, making it the worst heater we've tested since 2014. The models we tested in 2021 and 2022 didn't fare much better, either.

"Some of the poorest performing electric heaters we've ever seen at CHOICE have come from Kmart," says Matthew Steen, our director of reviews and testing, who referred to the 2020 model as a "warm doorstop".

However, the budget retailer ended its four-year streak in 2023, delivering a $69 Anko panel electric heater that performed reasonably well and was quite energy-efficient.

This particular model isn't currently available, but Kmart generally releases new heaters each year. Perhaps things will heat up with the retailer's next offerings and its upward trend will continue.

Laundry and cleaning

kmart anko cordless stick vacuum cleaner

This $149 Kmart stick vac kind of sucks, and not in a good way.

Vacuum cleaners

Worth buying? – No

Kmart sells a range of different vacuum cleaners, including stick vacuums, upright and bagless models in the Anko range that are priced from about $30 up to $150.

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.

All of the Anko vacuums we recently tested were among the lowest scoring overall, with the best (or rather, the best of the worst) models scoring a mediocre CHOICE Expert Rating of just 67%. 

In fact, Kmart vacs regularly make our lists of stick vacuums to avoid and barrel vacuums to avoid

If you're on a budget, you're better off checking out our recommendations for the best stick vacuums under $250.

Steam mop

Worth buying? – Yes

Finally, a cleaning appliance that Kmart gets right! Our experts found the Anko 1300W Steam Mop easy to use, and it didn't leave much water behind after cleaning the floor. 

At $49, it held its own against far more expensive products – even some costing more than $400. 

Before you buy, though, ask yourself: Is a steam mop worth it?

kmart anko 2400w steam iron kb 932e3

Tough on wrinkles but gentle on your wallet: this $29 Kmart iron did well in our lab tests.

Irons

Worth buying? – 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 the $29 Kmart Anko 2400W steam iron and $39 Kmart Anko Cordless models performed well in our recent irons test

The budget retailer also sells a dirt-cheap iron for just $7.50, but we haven't tested this one so can't comment on whether it's a good buy or not.

Kmart's irons performed well for the price point, but check our expert iron reviews to find out more. 

kmart anko garment steamer gs60 dj

Kmart's freestanding garment steamer made short work of creases in silk, wool, polyester and other fabrics.

Garment steamers

Worth buying? – Yes

While they didn't quite earn a recommendation from our experts, Kmart's $39 handheld garment steamer and $55 garment steamer performed solidly in our tests. 

They do have some wrinkles to iron out, however: the handheld model struggled to steam away creases in cotton, linen and poly-cotton, while the full-size model bombed out on linen. 

The handheld version doesn't have an auto shut-off and its small tank means you'll be running back and forth to the sink to fill it up if you have a large pile of clothes to steam.

Kitchen

kmart anko 9l twin air fryer afd2906

Cheap as (air fried) chips: Kmart's 9L air fryer costs $119.

Air fryers

Worth buying? – Maybe

Air fryers are one of those appliances you either love or find confusing. 

They're touted as a great investment if you're looking for a healthier way to cook foods that you'd typically deep fry – like homemade chips or crumbed chicken – or if you live in a hot climate and 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 doesn't offer any additional functions over and above what your oven already does, while taking up valuable bench space.

Kmart's air fryers have won many fans, most notably because they're significantly cheaper than air fryers from many of the leading brands: just $89 for the Kmart Anko 5.3L air fryer and $119 for the 9L Kmart Anko twin air fryer

But our experts had mixed feelings when they tested them in our labs. Although the Anko air fryers were the two cheapest we tested, the twin model was one of the lowest scoring. 

Not only did it receive a low score in our testing, but the Kmart Anko twin air fryer is also fairly large and heavy, and not very easy to use

Fiona Mair, CHOICE kitchen expert

"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 rated as 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 ($69), so we can't comment on whether it's a good buy or not. 

AnkoCastIronCasserolePot 1 of 4

For just $30, you'll get the same performance as Dutch ovens worth many times more.

Cookware

Worth considering? – 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 ($15) 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 at a tiny fraction of the cost. 

kmart anko food processor fp403

The $75 food processor from Kmart is a whizz in the kitchen.

Food processor

Worth buying? – Yes

If you're after a cheap and cheerful food processor that'll do the job, you can't go wrong with the $75 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 quite noisy though."

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 decent low-cost option if you're looking for a smaller unit. 

If you have a bit more money to spend on a food processor, here are the three best food processors under $300. They're from well-known brands that deliver better performance and might last longer than the Kmart products. 

kmart anko 7 cup rice cooker rc 7004

It's cheap and scored well in our lab tests, but several CHOICE members have had issues with this Anko rice cooker.

Rice cooker

Worth buying? – Maybe

With prices for rice cookers running as high as $269, there's a lot to like about Kmart's 7-cup $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. 

However, it's not been popular with CHOICE members: only two out of seven people recommended it, with several people experiencing faulty electrics, poorly cooked rice, and even one cooker that continually switched itself off before the rice was cooked.

While our experts were impressed with the rice cooker we tested, we suggest you check our rice cooker reviews for other brands before you shop. 

Or you could always cook your rice in a different appliance altogether: Is a multifunction air fryer the kitchen appliance you never knew you needed?

kmart anko induction cooker ic3742 sa 42 715 863

Kmart's portable induction cooktop is small on size and price.

Portable induction cooktop

Worth buying? – Yes

If you're looking for a small, convenient cooking option for a granny flat or campervan, a Kmart Anko Induction Cooker is worth considering. 

It didn't quite make the cut to be recommended by our experts, but it wasn't far off. Its cooking performance was on point but it was let down somewhat by its ease of use. 

At just $55, it's a fraction of the cost of other brands, and it beat more expensive models in our testing. 

kmart anko 20l microwave

A compact model for a compact price: Kmart's 20L microwave.

Microwave

Worth buying? – Yes

At $49, this 20L 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're 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." 

Our experts also recommend the Kmart Anko 25L microwave ($89) and the Kmart Anko 28L microwave ($99). The larger Kmart Anko 34L microwave ($119) didn't impress our experts quite as much, but still scored well for cooking vegetables and defrosting meat.

At these prices, Kmart's microwaves are worth considering for your kitchen, especially if you're on a budget.

kmart anko 17l euro kettle wk8512

Cheap and cheerful, Kmart's kettles get the job done.

Kettles

Worth buying? – Maybe

Kmart's kettles aren't particularly impressive, 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, 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. 

kmart anko 2 slice stainless steel toaster ld t7037

On the other hand, Kmart's toasters are cheap but not so cheerful.

Toasters

Worth buying? – 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 $39), 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 shop elsewhere.

kmart anko bench mixer white fp5071f sa

Unfortunately, you get what you pay for with this $75 bench mixer.

Bench mixer

Worth buying? – No

Competition in the benchtop mixer market is stiffer than the egg whites for your meringue, with the likes of Kitchenaid, Breville, Kenwood, Smeg and more jostling for shoppers' attention. But big-name mixers come with big price tags. 

If you're thinking of nipping down to Kmart to pick up a cheap bench mixer, you're probably better off waiting a little longer to save up for a model that performs better. Your patience could also pay off in the longer term since a cheaper appliance may not last as long.

Kmart's white bench mixer is only $75 but you do get what you pay for with this one. 

And unfortunately the models that scored the best in our testing tend to be at the upper end of the market, but you can pick up a stand mixer recommended by our experts for less than $300 – just check our review first to make sure you're buying the best benchtop mixer for your money. 

kmart anko vacuum food sealer v101 b

Kmart's vacuum sealer is a bargain, but do you even need one at all?

Vacuum sealer

Worth buying? – No

CHOICE's kitchen experts don't think much of vacuum sealers as it is, but they're especially unimpressed by vacuum sealers that don't do their job well, no matter how cheap they are. 

Kmart's $59 Anko Vacuum Food Sealer scored just 67% overall in our tests. But it wasn't the worst of the bunch, and it scored better than some sealers costing hundreds of dollars.

Regardless of how cheap it is, our experts suggest you brush up on how to store meat and produce correctly instead of buying this vacuum sealer (or any other, for that matter). 

kmart anko 65l digital slow cooker 42671732 ky 502t

Kmart's slow cookers may be simple but they deliver on performance.

Slow cookers

Worth buying? – Yes

We recently put Kmart's slow cookers to the test and were impressed with the 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 $29 for the Kmart Anko 3L slow cooker and $45 for the Kmart Anko 6.5L digital slow cooker, those prices are hard to beat.

CHOICE members can exclusively access our slow cooker reviews

kmart anko bread maker black 42974970

The Kmart breadmaker is cheap but is it worth the dough?

Breadmaker

Worth buying? – No

It was the cheapest breadmaker in our test at $79, but unfortunately the Kmart Anko breadmaker 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 breadmaker that's recommended by our experts instead. 

kmart anko 4 slice sandwich press lw 8530a sku p42287438

With a Kmart sandwich press you can enjoy cheese toasties on the cheap.

Sandwich press

Worth buying? – Maybe

A cheese toastie is pretty hard to beat, but if you buy them regularly it can really add up. Buying a sandwich press for your kitchen could be a smart move to save you money on all those cafe lunches – and save you from the tedium of eating untoasted sandwiches each day. 

So in the pursuit of savings, should you go to Kmart for a sandwich press? They're certainly cheap ($22 for a two-slice model and $35 for a four-slice) but they didn't impress our experts in the kitchen, scoring 65% and 70% respectively. 

If you're looking for a low-cost option, you could do worse than one of these Kmart models

They're not bad scores, and they did rank higher than more expensive products we tested, but if you want the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich you may need to spend more. If you're looking for a low-cost option though, you could do worse than one of these Kmart models.

But then again, if you really want to save, you might not need to buy another appliance at all. You can make toasted sandwiches by putting your sandwich on a pre-heated pan and then using a weight (like a flat heavy lid, another frypan/pot or purchasing a cast iron press weight) to press down to create the toastie. You just need to remember to flip it partway through cooking.

Cheap appliances may not last as long

While some of the appliances listed above performed well in our testing, it's important to consider the lifespan of cheap appliances. They may be made with cheaper parts and have shorter warranties than more expensive products. 

It can also be harder to find replacement parts (if they're available at all), and the design can make them difficult to repair (either by yourself or a professional), so they could end up in landfill sooner.

A cheap appliance might save you money at the checkout, but if you have to replace it sooner because it breaks, it'll cost you more in the long run

If things go wrong with your cheap appliance, you might have better luck with customer service from an established brand rather than a discount retailer.

A cheap appliance might save you money at the checkout, but if you have to replace it sooner because it breaks, it'll cost you more in the long run. 

Babies and children

rusted crank kmart bike

This Kmart bike rusted within three months of purchase when we trialled it.

Bicycle

Worth buying? – No

Kids seem to grow out of things almost as soon as you've bought them, and bikes are no exception – so it's understandable that you might not want to spend a fortune on a new bike that'll be too small for them in no time. 

When we compared cheap Kmart bikes with similar ones from bike shops, the Kmart bikes just didn't pass muster. They were poorly assembled, rusted quickly, had faulty parts, needed more replacement parts more quickly, and had to be serviced more frequently. 

When you add up the maintenance costs of a cheap Kmart bike, it quickly becomes a much more expensive ride

When you add up the maintenance costs of a cheap Kmart bike, it quickly becomes a much more expensive ride. And some bicycle mechanics won't even touch cheap bikes from big-box stores like Kmart, so you might struggle to get it repaired or serviced. 

We suggest you save up to buy a better-quality bike or look for a decent second-hand model rather than going for a cheap product from Kmart if you want to have a more enjoyable riding experience. 

kmart anko layback umbrella stroller

This Kmart stroller is cheap, lightweight, durable and, most importantly, safe.

Stroller

Worth buying? – Yes

The Kmart Anko Layback Umbrella Stroller may not have the looks or the street cred of a Bugaboo or Stokke, but what it lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for in value for money. 

It's just $65 but scored better than strollers costing hundreds (and even thousands) of dollars more. Importantly, it passes all our safety and durability tests, and it's light and compact, weighing in at just 5.8kg. 

It's cheap, easy to use and safe – what's not to like about that?

kmart anko bassinet with canopy

Definitely one to avoid: this Kmart bassinet failed our safety tests.

Bassinet

Worth buying? – 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 risks to little ones. 

Unlike some other baby products, there are no Australian safety standards for bassinets that manufacturers must adhere to. So our expert testers have devised procedures to test the safety of bassinets, and unfortunately, they've found that some potentially dangerous products make it onto store shelves.

The $159 Kmart Anko Bassinet with Canopy is no exception – it scored a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 49% due to the lack of continuous breathable zones around the edge of the bassinet, which could be a suffocation risk, and the mattress thickness not matching with safety recommendations. 

Kmart has released other bassinet and co-sleeper products, but we're yet to test them for safety.

See our full bassinet reviews.

kmart anko metal gate 42197096

Kmart Anko baby gates are safe and cheap.

Baby gate

Worth buying? – 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 for the Kmart Anko Metal Gate and $65 for the Kmart Anko Tall & Wide Metal Gate, they're far cheaper than many other products on the market. 

They're both recommended by our experts, so you can buy these knowing that they'll help keep your little one safe. 

kmart anko white wooden

You (and hopefully your baby) can sleep soundly knowing that this cot passes our safety tests.

Cots

Worth buying? – Maybe

We've tested Kmart's $139 Anko White Wooden cot and the $259 Anko 2-in-1 Wooden cot

Both cots passed our safety tests and are recommended by our experts, so you can sleep well knowing you've saved money and your baby is safe. 

Kmart has since released two other cots which we haven't tested, so we can't confirm whether they're safe or not. 

We suggest you stick with the two cots we've tested or check our expert cot reviews before you shop to make sure you're buying a safe product for your baby.

Cot mattress

Worth buying? – Yes

If you're thinking of buying the $89 cot spring mattress from Kmart, you can rest easy knowing that it's safe and firm, and recommended by our experts. 

Surprisingly, there's no mandatory safety standard for cot mattress firmness in Australia, so it's important to check whether a cot mattress meets the voluntary safety standard before buying. We've assessed 50 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 chairs

Worth buying? – Yes

Kmart's $29 Prandium High Low Chair and $149 2-in-1 Wooden Highchair passed our key safety tests with flying colours and are recommended by our experts. 

The $45 Flat Fold High Chair also passed key safety tests, but didn't score quite well enough for our experts to recommend it, as it's a bit difficult to clean. 

To find the safest high chairs that are easiest to use and clean, check our detailed high chair reviews

Portable cots

Worth buying? – No

Neither the Kmart Anko 3-in-1 portacot nor the Kmart Anko Travel Portacot 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. 

kmart anko 3 in 1 playpen

The $145 Anko playpen is the best option.

Playpen

Worth buying? – Yes and no

Almost a third of the 25 playpens we tested failed key safety requirements – but all three Kmart playpens passed. (There's no Australian standard for playpens, but we test to international standards and use in-house methods based on existing Australian standards for other baby products.)

The $145 Anko playpen is the pick, with our experts saying it's easy to use as well as being safe. It's easy to set up and pack down, and comes with a latched gate so you won't hurt your back when reaching over the fence to pick up a heavy toddler.

While the two other Kmart playpens (priced at $99 and $159) passed our safety tests, they didn't score particularly well overall, losing points for being difficult to assemble or being too easy for a child to lift.

See our full playpen reviews.

kmart anko premium hard case 72cm 8 wheels

You'll have more holiday spending money if you buy this $99 Kmart case.

Luggage

Worth buying? – Yes

There's only one Kmart suitcase in our current review, but it's a pretty good buy for the money. While it didn't make the cut to be recommended by our experts, the $99 Premium Hard 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. 

The Kmart Anko suitcase range has expanded and we haven't had the chance to test them all yet, but they've typically performed well in our previous tests, with more hits than misses. 

Learn more about cheap vs expensive carry-on suitcases

We care about accuracy. See something that's not quite right in this article? Let us know or read more about fact-checking at CHOICE.

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.