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. There are a few main categories to consider: your basic 2-slice, 4-slice for more capacity, and long slot, which can accommodate slices from longer and taller loaves. The best toasters offer useful quality-of-life features that let you check progress mid-cycle, toast just one side of a bagel, or even consult a countdown timer, so you know exactly when it's time to start buttering. They also work quickly, toast evenly, and make golden-brown toast with all kinds of bread, from light sandwich bread to dense rye or multi-grain.
We've tested more than 20 models, and these are our recommendations for the best toasters. If you want to know more about how we test toasters, check out the changelog for our newest test bench. Or, 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 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.
Check out our About Us page to learn more!
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Best Toaster
Everyday Use8.1Toasting Range10Toasting Evenness8.2Toasting Speed6.7Slice Capacity4-SliceBagel ModeOne-Sided ToastingSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesIf you want a top-of-the-line toaster with plenty of quality-of-life upgrades, the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster is the best toaster we've tested. This toaster's design and extra features set it apart from cheaper options. 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. It includes a bagel program that toasts only the cut side of the bagel, so you can avoid a too-crispy bagel bottom. It also has some more unique features, like 'Lift and Look', which lets you check toasting progress mid-cycle. There's also a cycle countdown indicator above the shade selector that uses LED lights to indicate approximately when your toast will be ready.
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. However, even though it's one of the best-performing 4-slot toasters we've tested, it doesn't brown bread as evenly as most 2-slot toasters, and as a result, some slots produce darker toast. It doesn't compensate very well for the toaster heating up after the first batch, either, so if you're making a lot of toast, you'll want to use a lower setting for the second round to avoid burning your toast. 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 Use8.0Toasting Range10Toasting Evenness9.0Toasting Speed6.7Slice Capacity2-SliceBagel ModeOne-Sided ToastingSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesThe Breville the 'A Bit More' 2-Slice is a great mid-range option if you want the the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster's extra features in a smaller package. This 2-slice model includes 'A Bit More', 'Lift and Look', and cycle countdown indicators so you can tell when your toast will be ready, although it has the usual levers instead of buttons for operating the slots. It can fit thicker and taller slices, and its bagel program switches off the elements on one side for when you want to toast only the cut side of the bagel. Like the previous pick, its crumb tray does a satisfactory job of trapping crumbs.
This toaster produces consistent results after multiple batches, so it's a convenient option for serving a crowd. It also toasts evenly on both sides of the bread and has a fantastic range, so you can easily make golden-brown toast with all kinds of bread. However, it's quite slow, so you'll have to be patient if you usually use denser breads or prefer your toast nearly burnt.
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Best Budget Toaster
Everyday Use7.9Toasting Range10Toasting Evenness9.5Toasting Speed8.0Slice Capacity4-SliceBagel ModeOne-Sided ToastingSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesIf you're looking for a budget-friendly option, consider the Beautiful 4-Slice Toaster with Touch-Activated Display. This toaster offers fantastic performance. It's very fast and has a wide toasting range, so you can get golden brown results in one cycle, even with thicker or denser breads. It also toasts extremely evenly on both sides of the bread and across all four slots. Unlike some cheaper models, its bagel program switches off the elements on one side, so you can avoid burning the bottom of your bagel while the cut side toasts. It's also equipped with cycle countdown indicators.
However, some aspects of its design aren't ideal. Instead of a shade selector dial, it has light-up buttons. This gives it a modern, minimalist look, but it also means you can only select one of the seven settings, and don't have the option of making smaller adjustments. Its crumb tray doesn't do a good job of catching crumbs, so it'll leave more of a mess on your counter than previous picks like the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster.
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Best Cheap Toaster
Everyday Use7.5Toasting Range10Toasting Evenness9.6Toasting Speed8.0Slice Capacity2-SliceBagel ModeTimer Increase OnlySee 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 significantly more evenly and quickly than the Breville 'A Bit More' 2-Slice Toaster, and also produces slightly more consistent results over multiple batches, which makes it a more convenient option when you need to make a lot of toast. Its toasting range is outstanding, so you only need one cycle to properly brown denser breads, and its slots are quite wide and long, so it's suitable for toasting chunkier bagels or thicker slices.
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, instead of switching off the elements on one side, which isn't ideal if you want to avoid over-toasting the bottom of your bagel. On the bright side, it does a decent job of keeping crumbs off the counter.
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Best Long-Slot Toaster
Everyday Use7.4Toasting Range7.7Toasting Evenness8.0Toasting Speed6.5Slice Capacity4-SliceBagel ModeOne-Sided ToastingSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorNoIf you find that your usual bread doesn't fit in a regular toaster slot, you might want the Smeg 4-Slice Toaster. 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 and taller loaves. 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 some useful features, including a bagel program that toasts only the cut side of the bagel.
It does a great job of evenly toasting the bread and doesn't heat up very much after the first batch, so you can make a lot of toast without adjusting the shade setting. However, it's a bit slow, 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. The crumb tray doesn't do a good job of trapping crumbs, so you'll have to clean your counter more often.
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 a good performance. It toasts evenly and faster than the cheaper Breville the 'A Bit More' 2-Slice, so you might prefer it if speed is a priority. However, it heats up a lot after the first batch, so you have to adjust the shade setting if you're making a lot of toast. It also lacks cycle countdown indicators.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
Feb 02, 2026:
We rearranged our picks in order to list them by price. We also added the Smeg 2-Slice Toaster as our pick for the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Toaster' and made edits for clarity and conciseness throughout.
Dec 01, 2025:
We've verified that our picks are available and made minor edits for clarity.
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.