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 toasts quickly and evenly while retaining enough moisture to keep 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 Use8.0Toast7.5Bagels8.7Toasting Evenness8.2Toasting Speed7.0Features10Crumb Management7.0Slice Capacity4-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesThe Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster is the best toaster we've tested, and it's ideal if you want a top-of-the-line model with ample capacity and quality-of-life features. With a sturdy aluminum body and buttons for operating the slots instead of levers, it looks great on your countertop and offers remarkably convenient operation, setting it apart from cheaper options. It features a cycle countdown indicator above the shade selector that uses LED lights to show approximately when your toast will be ready, along with a button that lets you briefly raise the toast to check its progress mid-cycle and another that adds 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 offers a superb toasting range, so 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 Use7.8Toast7.8Bagels8.8Toasting 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 button to add a little extra toasting time, lets you raise the toast mid-cycle to check its progress, and has cycle countdown indicators so you can tell approximately when your toast will be ready, although it uses levers instead of buttons to operate 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, note that your toast tends to come out a bit drier than is ideal since this isn't the fastest toaster. 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 Use7.9Toast8.9Bagels9.4Toasting Evenness9.5Toasting Speed8.1Features10Crumb Management4.0Slice Capacity4-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorYesIf you're looking for four-slot capacity but don't need all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, the Beautiful 4-Slice Toaster with Touch-Activated Display is our budget-friendly toaster recommendation. Most importantly, it makes excellent toast and bagels, 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 and fluffy in the middle. With a wide toasting range, you can achieve golden-brown results in a single cycle, even with thicker or denser breads. But as you'd expect for a budget model, 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 all the essential settings you'll need to make great toast and bagels. 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 Use7.5Toast8.8Bagels7.1Toasting Evenness9.6Toasting Speed8.1Features6.0Crumb Management7.0Slice Capacity2-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorNoIf you only care about the essentials and want to pay as little as possible, the Black+Decker 2-Slice Toaster T2569B is a very good, cheap option. You can usually find it for less than $30 USD, and at that price, this basic model is hard to beat for 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 while it has programs for frozen items and bagels, the bagel button only adds time to the toasting cycle rather than enabling one-sided toasting. As a result, it's not the best choice if you regularly toast bagels, English muffins, or similar baked goods, since they tend to come out more cracker-like. 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 Use7.3Toast7.3Bagels8.6Toasting Evenness8.0Toasting Speed6.7Features7.5Crumb Management4.0Slice Capacity4-SliceSee all our test resultsCycle Countdown IndicatorNoIf you tend to toast country loaves or pastries that require more space than a standard slot offers, consider the Smeg 4-Slice Toaster, our best long-slot toaster pick. Unlike 4-slot toasters like the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster, it has two long slots that can fit slices from longer, taller loaves. It does a good job of toasting bread evenly, though the results vary a little depending on which slot you use. However, it's a bit slow, so toast comes out drier and more cracker-like by the time it reaches a golden-brown shade, and the highest shade setting isn't enough to make charred toast if that is your preference.
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 if you don't keep your toaster on your countertop.
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 toaster manufacturers, this one 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 manufacturer-supplied replacement parts, 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 evenly and lacks a cycle countdown indicator.
See our review -
Smeg 2-Slice TSF01:
The Smeg 2-Slice Toaster is a high-end model that performs well. 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
Sep 15, 2026:
We ensured that our current picks remain the best choices and made minor updates throughout the article.
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.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best options for most people. We factor in price, visitor feedback, 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.
