KitchenAid Classic or Artisan: what is the difference?

Per KitchenAid's US pages, both are 10-speed tilt-head mixers with metal construction and the same attachment hub. The Artisan KSM150PS has a 5 qt bowl with a handle (up to 9 dozen cookies, per KitchenAid) and a pouring shield; the Classic K45SS has a 4.5 qt bowl (up to 8 dozen) and no pouring shield in its box list. The Amazon listings state 325 W for the Artisan and 275 W for the Classic.

KitchenAid Classic vs Artisan

Last checked 2026-10-11.

Per KitchenAid's US pages, the Classic (K45SS) and the Artisan (KSM150PS) are both 10-speed tilt-head mixers with metal construction and the same attachment hub. The Artisan has a 5 qt bowl with a handle instead of 4.5 qt, KitchenAid rates it at 9 dozen cookies against 8, and it adds a pouring shield. The Amazon listings give 325 W for the Artisan and 275 W for the Classic.

As an Amazon Associate ApplianceEvidence earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate status never decides what is listed or how it compares. The page links only offers sold by Amazon.com. No prices are shown; check the current price at the retailer. More.

Side by side

	KitchenAid Classic K45SS	KitchenAid Artisan KSM150PS
Model	K45SS (KitchenAid's page shows K45SSWH, white)	KSM150PS (KitchenAid's page shows KSM150PSER, Empire Red)
Type	tilt-head; the head locks in place while mixing	tilt-head; the head locks in place while mixing
Bowl	4.5 qt stainless steel, dishwasher safe	5 qt stainless steel with a handle, dishwasher safe
Batch size (KitchenAid)	up to 8 dozen cookies (flat beater, 28 g of dough each)	up to 9 dozen cookies (flat beater, 28 g of dough each)
Speeds	10	10
In the box	4 accessories: bowl, coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip	5 accessories: 5 qt bowl, coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip, pouring shield
Pouring shield	not in the box list	included
Construction	metal; 59 touchpoints around the bowl	metal; 59 touchpoints around the bowl
Attachments	10+ optional attachments	over 10 optional hub-powered attachments
Power	275 W, 120 V (Amazon listing; the KitchenAid page read does not state it)	325 W, 120 V (Amazon listing; the KitchenAid page read does not state it)
Colors	not stated in the sources read	over 20 (KitchenAid)

Each value is as its source states it. No prices are shown.

What differs

Bowl and batch: the Artisan's bowl is 5 qt with a handle; the Classic's is 4.5 qt. KitchenAid rates them at 9 and 8 dozen cookies, using the flat beater and 28 g of dough each.
In the box: both include a coated flat beater, a coated dough hook and a 6-wire whip. Only the Artisan's box list includes a pouring shield.
Power: the Amazon listings state 325 W for the Artisan and 275 W for the Classic. The KitchenAid pages read state no wattage, and wattage is not a measure of mixing results.
The same on both: 10 speeds, tilt-head design that locks while mixing, metal construction, 59 touchpoints and the attachment hub.
Bowls do not swap by default: KitchenAid's Classic page says its bowl fits model K45. For which bowls fit which mixer, see the bowl and attachment page linked below.

Where to buy in the US

KitchenAid Classic K45SS (K45SS, White, ASIN B00004SGFW): shipper and seller Amazon.com in the US buy box. KitchenAid Classic K45SS on Amazon ›
KitchenAid Artisan KSM150PS (KSM150PS, Empire Red, ASIN B00005UP2P): shipper and seller Amazon.com in the US buy box. KitchenAid Artisan KSM150PS on Amazon ›

Sources

KitchenAid Classic K45SS: KitchenAid's US Classic Series 4.5 Quart page (K45SSWH); the Amazon US listing for ASIN B00004SGFW (power only).
KitchenAid Artisan KSM150PS: KitchenAid's US Artisan Series 5 Quart page (KSM150PSER); the Amazon US listing for ASIN B00005UP2P (power only).

Kinds of claim on this page: Bowl, batch, speed and box contents are KitchenAid's own statements, manufacturer claims. The wattage is the Amazon listing's stated figure, product evidence from the retail listing. Nothing here was tested. Sources read 2026-10-11; Amazon US offers read 2026-10-11 (14:16 to 14:25 UTC, US delivery address East Hanover NJ 07936; every buy box showed Shipper / Seller Amazon.com, In Stock and Add to cart, not a pre-order). Recall check: the CPSC recall database on 2026-10-11 (saferproducts.gov recall API: recall titles 'breville', 'kitchenaid', 'coway', 'levoit', 'ninja' and 'sharkninja', and product names 'creami', 'ice cream', 'stand mixer' and 'air purifier'); no recall of any of these eight models was returned; every result named other products, for example a 2025 SharkNinja pressure cooker, a 2015 Breville pressure cooker and KitchenAid kettles, coffee makers, toasters and food processors. That is not proof of safety.