Amana appliances are made by Whirlpool Corporation, the American appliance giant headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, which acquired the Amana brand in 2001 and uses it as a value-tier option in its broader appliance portfolio.
Amana is known for its straightforward, no-frills appliances at budget-friendly prices, with refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, and washing machines that deliver reliable function without the premium features or price tags of Whirlpool’s higher-end brands.
Amana is a wholly owned brand of Whirlpool Corporation, which also owns Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Swash, and several other appliance brands serving different market tiers from budget to luxury.
Knowing who makes Amana appliances helps buyers understand the Whirlpool engineering heritage behind a budget-positioned brand and what this means for parts availability, service, and quality.
This article covers Amana’s ownership, founding history, where its appliances are made, its current product range, and how it compares to Maytag and GE within the broader appliance market.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Amana?
Amana is owned by Whirlpool Corporation, which acquired it as part of its 2001 purchase of Maytag Corporation for approximately $1.7 billion.
Whirlpool is a publicly traded American company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker WHR. It is the world’s largest home appliance manufacturer by revenue and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Within Whirlpool’s brand hierarchy, Amana serves as the value entry point, positioned below Whirlpool (mainstream), KitchenAid (premium), and JennAir (luxury). This tiered brand strategy allows Whirlpool to serve every budget level with distinct product lines under different names.
When Was Amana Founded?
Amana traces its origins to 1934 when the Amana Society, a religious communal community in Middle Amana, Iowa, established the Amana Refrigeration company to produce walk-in coolers.
The Amana Society had been making iceboxes and food storage equipment for communal use. Recognizing commercial opportunity, it launched formal refrigeration product sales to outside customers in the 1930s.
Amana invented the home microwave oven in 1967, introducing the Radarange as the first countertop microwave marketed to residential consumers, an achievement that defines Amana’s most significant contribution to modern kitchen technology.
Where Are Amana Appliances Made?
Amana appliances are manufactured at Whirlpool’s US factories alongside other Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid products. Whirlpool operates manufacturing plants in Clyde, Ohio (washing machines), Tulsa, Oklahoma (dishwashers), Marion, Ohio (top-load laundry), and other locations.
Some Amana refrigerator models are manufactured at Whirlpool’s facilities in Ohio. Amana cooking appliances are manufactured at other Whirlpool-owned facilities, often alongside equivalent-tier Whirlpool and Maytag branded products that share engineering platforms.
Because Amana shares production facilities and platforms with higher-end Whirlpool brands, buyers often find that Amana appliances use the same core components as their more expensive Whirlpool counterparts, simply with fewer features and in lower-cost exterior finishes. Full product details are at Amana’s official website.
What Products Does Amana Make?
Amana’s product range covers the major household appliance categories. Refrigerators include top-freezer, bottom-freezer, and side-by-side models at accessible prices. Washing machines include both top-load and front-load options with straightforward controls and no premium smart features.
Ranges include gas and electric freestanding models. Amana also makes microwave ovens, dryers, and dishwashers, all positioned at the lower end of the price spectrum for buyers who want reliable function without extra features.
Amana appliances are most commonly sold at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and regional appliance stores as the budget-tier alternative to better-known brands in the same stores.
Amana vs Maytag vs Whirlpool: Who Makes Each?
All three are owned by Whirlpool Corporation but serve different market positions. Amana is the entry-level brand focused on value and simplicity. Maytag is positioned at the mid-to-upper tier with a focus on durability and dependability. Whirlpool is the mainstream brand offering a full range from basic to feature-rich at moderate prices.
Maytag carries a stronger reliability reputation than Amana in consumer surveys, reflecting its higher build quality and more premium materials. Whirlpool sits between the two in most comparisons.
Whirlpool also owns KitchenAid and JennAir, giving it coverage from Amana’s $400 refrigerators all the way to JennAir’s $10,000+ built-in kitchen appliance packages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Amana Appliances
Is Amana still a good brand?
Amana is considered a reliable budget appliance brand that delivers adequate performance for buyers who prioritize cost over features. Consumer Reports and industry surveys generally give Amana mid-tier marks for reliability. For buyers on a tight budget, Amana provides a Whirlpool-backed option at lower price points.
Who made the first home microwave?
Amana introduced the first countertop microwave oven marketed to residential consumers in 1967, calling it the Radarange. At $495, it was expensive at launch, but it established the concept of the home microwave and eventually led to the appliance becoming standard in virtually every American kitchen.
Is Amana the same as Whirlpool?
Amana and Whirlpool are both owned by Whirlpool Corporation but are different product lines. Amana is the budget tier with simpler features and lower prices. Whirlpool is the mainstream tier with broader feature sets and higher-quality finishes. They often share underlying engineering platforms.
When did Whirlpool buy Amana?
Whirlpool acquired Amana as part of its purchase of Maytag Corporation in 2006 for approximately $1.7 billion. Maytag had previously acquired Amana in 2001. When Whirlpool bought Maytag, it gained both the Maytag and Amana brands simultaneously along with KitchenAid and Jenn-Air.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.