It's hard to think of a breakfast less fussy than toast, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be fussy about your toaster. If you're looking for the best toaster for your needs, there are a few main categories to consider: your basic 2-slice, a 4-slice for more capacity, and a long-slot model, which can accommodate slices from longer, taller loaves. Once you decide which is right for you, look for a model that can toast quickly and evenly while retaining enough moisture to leave the center of your bread soft rather than dry. You'll also want to consider how much counter space it takes up and whether it leaves a pile of crumbs behind after toasting. If you're willing to shell out for extra features, you might also want an option that lets you check progress mid-cycle, preferentially toast the cut side of a bagel, or consult a countdown indicator so you know exactly when it's time to start buttering.
We've tested more than 25 models, and these are our recommendations for the best toasters. For a broader look at what's available, check out our overview of the best toaster brands or, if you want to narrow down your search, see the best 2-slice toasters or the best 4-slice toasters.
We've put over 25 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 Toaster
Everyday Use8.0Toasting Evenness8.2Toasting Speed7.0Features10Crumb Management7.0Slice Capacity4-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesIf you want a top-of-the-line toaster with plenty of capacity and quality-of-life upgrades, consider the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster, the best toaster we've tested. With a sturdy aluminum body and buttons instead of levers to operate the slots, it looks great on your countertop and provides remarkably convenient operation, setting it apart from cheaper options. It features a cycle countdown indicator above the shade selector that uses LED lights to indicate approximately when your toast will be ready, along with Breville's 'Lift and Look' button, which lets you check toasting progress mid-cycle, and the 'A Bit More' button to add a little extra toasting time. There's also a one-sided toasting program for bagels, English muffins, and baked goods that toasts only the cut side, so you can avoid burning the seeds on a sesame bagel or keep the outside of an English muffin soft while the cut side turns golden brown.
It toasts very evenly, and with a superb toasting range, you can easily make golden-brown sandwich bread or toast denser slices in a single cycle. While it isn't the fastest toaster we've tested, it still retains enough moisture to keep the center of your toast fairly soft. Some slots produce darker toast than others, so you may get slightly different results depending on which you use. On the plus side, its crumb tray does a decent job of keeping crumbs off your counter.
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Best Mid-Range Toaster
Everyday Use7.8Toasting Evenness9.0Toasting Speed7.0Features10Crumb Management7.0Slice Capacity2-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesFor a small household, the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2-Slice is an excellent mid-range option. It offers all the special features of the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster in a smaller package. This 2-slice model includes 'A Bit More,' 'Lift and Look,' and cycle countdown indicators so you can tell approximately when your toast will be ready, although it has the usual levers instead of buttons for operating the slots. Its long, wide slots easily accommodate thicker slices, and its one-sided toasting mode is perfect for bagels, buns, and English muffins, browning only the cut side while leaving the outside soft.
This model toasts evenly on both sides of the bread, regardless of which slot you use. It has a fantastic range, so you can easily make golden-brown toast with all kinds of bread. However, it's quite slow, so your toast loses a little more moisture before reaching a golden-brown shade. It also leaves a few crumbs and seeds behind after toasting, though not enough that you'll need to clean your counter after every use.
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Best Budget Toaster
Everyday Use7.9Toasting Evenness9.5Toasting Speed8.1Features10Crumb Management4.0Slice Capacity4-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesThe Beautiful 4-Slice Toaster with Touch-Activated Display is a budget-friendly toaster with a sleek design and a wide selection of colorways, so you can find one that matches your kitchen decor. It offers fantastic performance, outperforming many options in a similar price range. It toasts faster and more evenly than the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice, so bread comes out evenly browned while staying soft in the middle. With a wide toasting range, you can achieve golden-brown results in a single cycle, even with thicker or denser breads. Unfortunately, its crumb trays don't do a good job of catching crumbs and seeds, so you'll have to clean your counter after every use.
While it's not as feature-rich as the Breville options above, it still has some extra settings you may find helpful. Its one-sided toasting mode is great for bagels and other baked goods, browning only the cut side while leaving the outside soft. There's also a gluten-free button, which isn't available on many other options, and it's equipped with cycle countdown indicators, so you know approximately when your toast will pop up. However, some aspects of its design aren't ideal. Instead of a shade selector dial, it has light-up buttons. This contributes to its modern, minimalist look, but it also means you can select only one of the seven settings and don't have the option to make smaller adjustments.
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Best Cheap Toaster
Everyday Use7.5Toasting Evenness9.6Toasting Speed8.1Features6.0Crumb Management7.0Slice Capacity2-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorNoIf you only care about the essentials, the Black+Decker 2-Slice Toaster T2569B is a very good option available for a very affordable price, usually less than $40 USD. This basic model is hard to beat when it comes to toasting performance. It toasts just as quickly and evenly as the Beautiful 4-Slice Toaster with Touch-Activated Display and retains more moisture than the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice, so your toast stays softer by the end of the cycle. Its toasting range is outstanding, so you only need one cycle to properly brown denser breads, and its slots are quite wide, so they're suitable for thicker slices of bread.
That said, it doesn't offer many extra features. There's a cancel button, and it has programs for frozen items and bagels. However, its bagel program only adds time to the toasting cycle rather than enabling one-sided toasting, so it's not the best choice if you regularly toast bagels, English muffins, or similar baked goods. On the bright side, it does a decent job of containing crumbs, though a few still fall onto the counter, so you'll have to clean around it fairly regularly.
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Best Long-Slot Toaster
Everyday Use7.3Toasting Evenness8.0Toasting Speed6.7Features7.5Crumb Management4.0Slice Capacity4-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorNoThe Smeg 4-Slice Toaster may not be the right fit for everyone, but if your usual bread doesn't fit in a regular toaster slot, this long-slot model will give you the space you need. Unlike 4-slot toasters like the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster, it has two long slots that can fit two pieces of sandwich bread each and more easily accommodate slices from longer, taller loaves. It does a good job of evenly toasting bread, though the results vary a little depending on which slot you use. However, it's a bit slow, so toast comes out a little drier by the time it reaches a golden-brown shade, and the highest shade setting isn't enough to make charred toast. If you like darker toast or usually eat denser bread that takes longer to toast, it may not be ideal.
This high-end toaster comes in several colors and has a retro look, with a glossy stainless steel body. While its design is simple overall, it includes a couple of useful features, including a one-sided toasting mode for bagels and other split breads that browns only the cut side while leaving the outside soft. On the downside, its narrow crumb tray lets plenty of crumbs and seeds fall onto your counter, so you'll need to clean up after every use.
Notable Mentions
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Dualit 2 Slice NewGen Classic:
The Dualit 2 Slice NewGen Classic, like the Breville the 'A Bit More' 2-Slice, is a high-end unit with a premium design, but simple controls. It doesn't toast as evenly as the Breville, but it works much faster. Plus, unlike most toasters, the manufacturer offers replacement parts that are easy to install at home.
See our review -
Dualit Design Series 4 Slice:
The Dualit Design Series 4 Slice is a high-end 4-slot toaster. Unlike some Dualit models, it's not repairable with replacement parts from the manufacturer, but you can switch its side panels if you want a different color. It does a better job of catching crumbs than the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster, but it doesn't toast very evenly and lacks cycle countdown indicators.
See our review -
Smeg 2-Slice TSF01:
The Smeg 2-Slice Toaster is a high-end model with good performance. It toasts more evenly and faster than the cheaper Breville the 'A Bit More' 2 Slice while retaining more moisture, so you might prefer it if speed is a priority. However, it lacks cycle countdown indicators.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 21, 2026:
We verified that all of our picks are still available and updated this article to reflect our Test Bench Update 1.2, including new moisture retention and one-sided toasting tests.
Jun 12, 2026:
We verified that our picks are in stock and still represent the best toasters for most people.
May 07, 2026:
We've updated the text with results from the latest test bench. We also replaced the Black+Decker 4-Slice Toaster TR4900SSD with the Beautiful 4-Slice Toaster with Touch-Activated Display in the budget category, and added the Dualit Design Series 4 Slice and Smeg 2-Slice Toaster to the Notable Mentions.
Mar 31, 2026:
We added the Dualit 2 Slice NewGen Classic to our Notable Mentions for users looking for a toaster with easily replaceable parts.
Mar 02, 2026:
We made minor edits for clarity and verified that our recommendations are available and represent the best choices.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best options for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all toaster reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no toaster is perfect, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you look for them.