How many watts do I need in a stand mixer?

For standard home baking (cookies, cakes, frostings), 250 300 watts is sufficient. For regular bread baking and heavy doughs, aim for 450+ watts. The sweet spot for most home bakers is 300 500 watts, which handles everything from whipped cream to bread dough. Motors above 500 watts are typically only necessary for commercial level baking or very frequent use.