Kmart has a legion of fans who swear by its large offering of products at bargain prices. And with the company's merger with Target, you can now pick up Anko products at the Red Spot Boutique as well.
Whether you love, hate, or feel indifferent towards the Anko brand, its popularity shows no sign of waning. But are Anko products any good? Yes and no.
Anko products keep surprising us, often rivalling – or even outperforming – the big brands in our tests.
While some Anko buys deliver premium performance at low prices, others aren't really worth the (admittedly small) price
But while some Anko buys deliver premium performance at low prices, others aren't really worth the (admittedly small) price.
CHOICE experts have put dozens of Anko products through their paces in our labs over the past year. Here are some of the best and worst performers from our tests.
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Cheap appliances may not last as long
While some of the appliances listed below 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 at the checkout, but if you have to replace it sooner, 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.
Laundry and cleaning
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 from Anko 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've recently tested were among the lowest scoring overall. The best (or rather, the best of the worst) model scored 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
This is one 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?
It costs how much? The cheapest Anko iron was also the best in our 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.
But the highest-scoring iron from the brand is a $7.50 cheapie that outclassed irons costing many times more.
So if picking up an absolute steal will help beat those ironing blues, hot-foot it to Kmart or Target for the Kmart Anko 2000W Steam Iron.
Or if you'd like to invest in an iron with more features and even better performance, check our expert iron reviews to find out more.
Kmart's freestanding garment steamer made short work of creases in some 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.
Since our tests, a $25 compact garment steamer has been released. Stay tuned for our next garment steamers review to see how it performs.
Kitchen
Cheap as (air fried) chips: Kmart's 9L air fryer costs $119.
Air fryers
Worth buying? – Maybe
Anko air fryers have won many fans, most notably because they're significantly cheaper than air fryers from many of the leading brands.
Prices range from just $39 for a mini version through to $139 for a 25L air fryer oven.
But our experts have had mixed feelings when testing them in our labs: there have been some dazzlers and some real duds.
Unfortunately the Kmart Anko 9L twin air fryer falls into the latter camp.
"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 due to its controls, which were rated as only OK," says CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair.
Not only did it receive a low score, but the twin air fryer is also large and heavy, and not very easy to use
Fiona Mair, CHOICE kitchen expert
Other Anko air fryers have fared better in our testing, with one even scoring highly enough to be recommended by our experts.
Some models did well on particular tests but fell down in others, so depending on what you're looking for they could be worth considering.
Check our detailed air fryer reviews to find out which one to grab off the shelf and which to avoid.
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.
And a $20 20cm Kmart saucepan received top marks in our tests, ranking higher than products worth hundreds of dollars.
Premium performance at a bargain-basement price? That's definitely a winner in our book!
But don't just pick up any old Kmart pan: 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%.
And the 20cm Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid ($13) was similarly half-baked, scoring just 66%.
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.
(Unfortunately it had sold out online at the time of writing.)
Related Kmart articles:
Should you buy an Anko vacuum cleaner?
Bargain Kmart pans that beat big brands
The $75 food processor from Kmart is a whizz in the kitchen.
Food processors
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.
"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.
It's cheap and scored well in our lab tests, but several CHOICE members have had issues with this Anko rice cooker.
Rice cookers
Worth buying? – Maybe
With prices for rice cookers running as high as $269, there's a lot to like about affordable Anko models.
The cheapest is the $14 Kmart Anko 7-cup rice cooker.
Sure it's basic, but that's to be expected for the price. And it more than delivers: it scored a solid 86% 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.
If you want to size up, the $39 Anko 10-cup version could also be a winner, with similar scores across the board in our tests, but it's a fairly new product so we haven't yet heard from our members about their experiences with it.
$65 is a lot for a Kmart appliance, but the newly-released rice multi-cooker may appeal to cooks who want more from their appliances. It has 10 pre-set functions and also scored well in our testing.
While our experts were impressed with the Anko rice cookers we've 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'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.
A compact model for a compact price: Kmart's 20L microwave.
Microwaves
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.
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 the Anko kettles we've tested scored higher than 74%, they were among the cheapest, 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 kettle from Kmart (or Target).
However, if you're after something with fancier features or sleek aesthetics, you'll probably need to spend a bit more.If you're after something cheap and cheerful, you could do a lot worse than an Anko kettle
There were more than 10 kettles on the Kmart and Target websites at the time of writing, with new models added to the range so often that we can't always keep up with them in our testing!
To see which Anko kettles are the best we've tested and find other hot buys, check our expert kettle reviews.
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, Anko 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.
They're unlikely to set your world on fire (though they may just burn your toast)
As with its kettles, Kmart releases new toasters regularly so we haven't tested all of the 10+ products currently available on the website.
But from what we've seen so far, they're unlikely to set your world on fire (though they may just burn your toast).
You don't need to spend a fortune to get a good toaster, but you will get a better product if you shop elsewhere.
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 or Target 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.
The Anko 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'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.
The $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).
Anko slow cookers may be simple but they deliver on performance.
Slow cookers
Worth buying? – Yes
When our experts put Anko slow cookers to the test they were impressed with the results.
They may lack the features of some more expensive brands like Sunbeam, Breville and Cuisinart, but these budget 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.
The Anko 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 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 far 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.
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 look to an Anko 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 Anko models
They're not bad scores, and they did rank higher than some 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, you could do worse than one of these Anko 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 to press down to create the toastie.
You just need to remember to flip it partway through cooking.
Babies and children
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.
This Kmart stroller is cheap, lightweight, durable and, most importantly, safe.
Strollers
Worth buying? – Maybe
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?
However, the Kmart Anko Compact Stroller ($179) is definitely one to avoid: it failed our safety tests and scored just 33% overall.
The safety failures and full Kmart response are detailed in the Kmart Anko Compact Stroller review.
(See below for Kmart's responses to our safety test results.)
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.
Until recently, there hasn't been an Australian safety standard for bassinets that manufacturers must adhere to, so our expert testers had to create CHOICE safety tests based on established Australian standards for cots and portacots. These tests are what our current results are based on.
Thankfully, a new mandatory standard that will cover bassinets has been released, but it won't come into effect until 19 January 2026, so until then some potentially dangerous products may 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.
(See accordion above for Kmart's responses to our safety test results.)
Kmart has released other bassinet and co-sleeper products, but we're yet to test them for safety.
See our full bassinet reviews for all the risks we found in our testing.
Kmart Anko baby gates are safe and cheap.
Baby gates
Worth buying? – Yes
Both Anko 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 Anko Metal Gate and $65 for the 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.
You (and hopefully your baby) can sleep soundly knowing that this cot passes our safety tests.
Cots
Worth buying? – Maybe
We've tested the $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 another cot which we haven't tested, so we can't confirm whether it's 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 or Target, 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
The $29 Anko 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 Anko 3-in-1 portacot nor the Anko Travel Portacot passed our safety tests, with our experts finding that their mattresses pose serious safety risks to babies.
(See accordion above for Kmart's responses to our safety test results.)
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.
For portacots, there is an Australian safety standard which is mandatory, but there's also a voluntary standard that manufacturers don't have to meet. It's more stringent and we think it keeps babies safer, so we test portacots to the voluntary standard.
"We assess all models in our labs against the most current Australian safety standard for portable cots. But there are still many models failing to even meet the minimum mandatory requirements, such as mattress firmness," says CHOICE expert Kim Gilmour.
Find out the portable cots to avoid buying.
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 Anko 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 Anko 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.
(The $159 wooden playpen appears to have been discontinued since we tested it.)
See our full playpen reviews.
Thinking of buying this change table? Our safety tests will change your mind.
Change table
Worth buying? No
It's a good price and with its white finish and timber accents, it's very on-trend, but the $99 Kmart Anko Wooden Change Table is definitely not a good buy.
It failed CHOICE safety tests, with our expert testers discovering gaps along the side rails and head end of the change table where a baby's limbs could become trapped. We consider this to be a serious safety failure.
(See accordion above for Kmart's responses to our safety test results.)
Unfortunately there's no current Australian Standard to ensure that change tables are safe, so we've devised our own safety tests based on various existing Australian standards for similar children's products such as cots, plus overseas standards including the American Standard for baby changing tables, ASTM 2388.
Here's more about how we test change tables.
You'll have more holiday spending money if you buy this $99 Kmart case.
Luggage
Worth buying? – Yes
There's only one Anko carry-on suitcase in our current review, but it's a pretty good buy for the money.
At just $40, the Anko Carry-on Hard Case 4 Wheels ranked alongside premium brands such as Samsonite, American Tourister and Antler, some of which cost hundreds of dollars.
"You could buy the $40 Kmart carry-on plus return flights from Sydney to Melbourne, and you still wouldn't have spent as much as the most expensive suitcases in our test," says CHOICE luggage tester Matthew Tung.
Carrying too much for carry-on? The $99 Anko Premium Hard Case 72cm 8 Wheels is a decent option for check-in luggage. It didn't score quite as well as its smaller sibling, but for the price it's a durable suitcase that performed as well as other suitcases costing nearly 10 times as much.
The 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.
Heating
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.
A "warm doorstop": this Kmart heater from 2020 scored just 45%.
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
Matthew Steen, CHOICE director of reviews and testing
"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 was sold throughout 2024 but wasn't available on the Kmart or Target websites at the time of writing, but Kmart generally releases new heaters each year.
Perhaps things will heat up with the retailer's offerings in 2025 and its upward trend will continue.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
