If you mostly toast for one or have limited counter space, a simple 2-slice toaster could be just what you need. Then again, if you've ever struggled with a toaster that consistently burns the top of your bread (or your fingers when you extract the toast), you know that finding a good toaster isn't necessarily a simple task. Fantastic 2-slice toasters can produce a spectrum of toast shades, ranging from barely browned to charred, batch after batch. You'll also want to ensure your toaster can fit your favorite baked goods, whether you prefer bagels, long slices of focaccia, or frozen waffles, and that it won't take forever to pop up your breakfast.
We've tested 20 toasters, and below are our recommendations for the best 2-slice toasters. If you need more toasting capacity for busy mornings, check out our recommendations for the best 4-slice toasters. For an overview of the best overall, look at our list of the best toasters or the best toaster brands.
We've put our 20 toasters through the wringer to help you make a confident buying decision. But how do we do it? It starts with buying the products ourselves, just like you. We take it a step further with our lab, where we measure a variety of characteristics, like toasting evenness, so that a prospective toaster's performance doesn't come as a shock. You can even compare models and results, making it easy to find the right toaster for your needs.
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Best 2-Slice Toaster
ToastingToaster Type2-Slot RegularCycle Countdown IndicatorToasting RangeToasting EvennessSee all our test resultsRepeated ToastingThe Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice is the best 2-slice toaster we've tested. This model's stainless steel design is very much at home in modern kitchen decor, and it offers some useful extra features. This toaster's slots are long and wide, so it's suitable for various bread types, from regular sandwich bread to thickly sliced sourdough or a chunky bagel. With its 'Lift and Look' feature, you can lift the slots to check the progress of your toast without having to cancel the cycle. Additionally, the LED lights on the side of the toaster serve as a cycle countdown indicator, allowing you to know when your toast is about to be ready.
Its seven presets let you make everything from lightly toasted to charred sandwich bread. The highest setting is sufficient to brown items that take longer to toast, such as denser rye bread, in a single cycle. As far as performance goes, it toasts consistently, so you don't have to adjust the dial to a lower setting after the first batch, and it evenly toasts the bread's surface. That said, if you're just looking for a basic toaster that performs well, you might prefer one of the cheaper options below.
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Best Mid-Range 2-Slice Toaster
ToastingToaster Type2-Slot RegularCycle Countdown IndicatorToasting RangeToasting EvennessSee all our test resultsRepeated ToastingThe Sur La Table Touchscreen 2-Slice Toaster is the best mid-range option we've tested. This toaster offers a good performance and a twist on the usual toaster design. It has touchscreen controls instead of knobs and buttons, and includes programs for different items, such as bread, bagels, and waffles. You can select the shade setting for each program separately. The screen also displays a countdown clock, so you can tell exactly when your toast will be ready, which is an unusual feature in this price range.
It performs well, but not quite as well as the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice. It toasts decently evenly, although it tends to toast one side a little more, and it produces very consistent results after multiple batches. However, it doesn't have the best range. You can make golden-brown toast from sandwich bread in a single cycle, but denser breads may require multiple cycles.
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Best Budget 2-Slice Toaster
ToastingToaster Type2-Slot RegularCycle Countdown IndicatorToasting RangeToasting EvennessSee all our test resultsRepeated ToastingIf you'd prefer a more traditional toaster, the best budget 2-slice toaster we've tested is the Oster 2-Slice Toaster with Quick-Check Lever. This simple toaster stands out because its slots are shallower when raised than most models, including the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice. This makes it easier to grab smaller items, such as frozen waffles or English muffins. Plus, its 'Quick-Check' feature lets you lift the slots to check on your toast without interrupting the cycle.
The downside is that it doesn't offer the same fantastic toasting range as most of the previous picks. Even on the highest setting, it doesn't char white sandwich bread, so you'll have to run another toasting cycle to properly brown denser or thicker breads. It's also not a great choice for bagels as its dedicated 'Bagel' setting extends the toasting time rather than turning down the elements on one side to avoid over-browning the bottom. That said, it toasts bread evenly, with each slot performing similarly batch after batch.
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Best Cheap 2-Slice Toaster
ToastingToaster Type2-Slot RegularCycle Countdown IndicatorToasting RangeToasting EvennessSee all our test resultsRepeated ToastingIf you're looking for a good, cheap toaster, go for the Black+Decker 2-Slice Toaster T2569B. While it doesn't have cycle countdown indicators or extra features like the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice's 'Lift and Look', its performance is hard to beat. You can achieve golden brown toast with one preset, while the highest setting is sufficient for toasting denser bread and thicker slices in a single cycle. Both slots perform the same way, offering even toasting and consistent results, batch after batch.
Its plastic body gives this toaster a less premium feel, but it's also much lighter, which is nice if you plan to store your toaster in a cupboard or on a shelf when it's not in use. Although it doesn't have many extra features, you do get settings for bagels and for thawing/toasting frozen items, such as waffles. Its slots are wide enough for thickly sliced bread, like the Breville's, but they're a little shorter.
Notable Mentions
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Smeg 2-Slice Toaster:
The Smeg 2-Slice Toaster is a premium option that comes in a variety of colors and features a 1950s-style design. Overall, it performs similarly to the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice, although it doesn't toast as consistently batch after batch. That said, it's very expensive for a toaster, so unless you love the look, the Breville is a much better choice.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 09, 2026:
We've updated the article to give price-based recommendations. The Sur La Table Touchscreen 2-Slice Toaster has been added as a pick.
Nov 17, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text and verified that the products are in stock; however, our recommendations remain unchanged.
Apr 25, 2025:
We've checked to ensure our recommendations are in stock and represent the best choices for most people. We also made small text edits for clarity.
Jan 28, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.
Oct 11, 2024: We've removed the Sur La Table Touchscreen 2-Slice Toaster and the 'Best Touchscreen Toaster' category because the Sur La Table isn't easy to find available anymore. We've moved it to the Notable Mentions, since you might be interested in it if you can find it in stock or secondhand.
All Reviews
Here are our recommendations for the best2-slice toasters for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our toaster reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. There's no perfect toaster; most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.