Ranked · Food & Drink
Best toasters in 2026
The ten best toasters of 2026, from repairable Dualit and clever Sage models to budget Cuisinart and Russell Hobbs picks and a smart single-slot Haier.
Bitezine Editorial TeamRankings, reviews & guides 9 min read
AI generatedThe best toaster browns bread evenly on both sides, fits thick slices and bagels, and lasts for years rather than months. Most people need nothing more than a reliable two-slice toaster, but four-slice toasters suit families, wide and long slots suit sourdough, and extras such as lift-and-look, a bagel setting and a frozen mode make everyday toast more consistent.
To build this ranking we compared recent hands-on tests from Wirecutter, T3 and Expert Reviews and checked slots, power and settings on each maker's website. We ranked toasters on browning consistency, slot size, useful features, build quality and repairability, ease of cleaning and value.
At a glance
- 1
Dualit NewGen 4-Slot Toaster - 2
Sage/Breville the 'A Bit More' Toaster - 3
Cuisinart CPT-122 Compact 2-Slice Toaster - 4Smeg TSF01
- 5
KitchenAid Artisan 2-Slice Toaster - 6
Sage the Smart Toast - 7
Haier I-Master Series 7 Toaster - 8Russell Hobbs Groove 2-Slice Toaster
- 9
Braun PurEase Series 3 Toaster - 10
Cuisinart SimpliTouch 2-Slice Toaster
#1 · Best for Buy-it-once shoppers
Dualit NewGen 4-Slot Toaster
Best toaster that lasts
Dualit's NewGen draws on the brand's commercial toasters: almost every part can be replaced or serviced, so it is built for years of use. T3 ranks it best overall for excellent browning, and Expert Reviews notes its protected elements and quick toast. It has a manual timer, a bagel setting and a frozen setting, and comes in many colours. It is expensive and uses a lot of power.
- Replaceable, repairable parts
- Bagel and frozen settings
- Protected heating elements
- Many colour options
- 2,200 W
- Slots
- 4 (2-slot version available)
- Based in
- United Kingdom
- Price range
- Premium
#2 · Best for Even toast with handy extras
Sage/Breville the 'A Bit More' Toaster
Best for even browning
Wirecutter found the two-slot Breville Bit More gave the most consistent toast of any model it tested, golden all over with no pale patches even after back-to-back batches. Its A Bit More button adds a little extra time, and Lift and Look lets you check the toast without cancelling. A four-slice version suits families, and it also has crumpet and frozen settings.
- A Bit More button
- Lift and Look
- Crumpet and frozen settings
- Two and four-slice versions
- Slots
- 2 or 4
- Brand
- Sage in UK and EU, Breville elsewhere
- Price range
- Mid-range
#3 · Best for Everyday toast on a budget
Cuisinart CPT-122 Compact 2-Slice Toaster
Best budget toaster
Cuisinart's compact two-slice toaster has been Wirecutter's top pick for years because it toasts evenly for a low price and has the settings most people use. A four-slice sibling, the CPT-142, is Wirecutter's four-slot pick. It is plastic-bodied and basic, but it gets the job done.
- Even browning for the price
- Bagel, defrost and reheat settings
- Compact footprint
- Four-slice CPT-142 sibling
- Slots
- 2
- Body
- Plastic
- Price range
- Budget
#4 · Best for Style-conscious kitchens
Smeg TSF01
Best-looking toaster
Smeg's retro two-slice toaster is a design icon in many colours, and it backs up the looks with extra-wide slots, six browning levels and defrost, reheat and bagel functions. Expert Reviews found its toast even and fast. A four-slice version with two long slots is available for longer bread.
- Retro 1950s design, many colours
- Extra-wide slots
- Six browning levels
- Defrost, reheat and bagel
- Slots
- 2 (4-slice version available)
- Power
- 950 W
- Price range
- Upper mid-range
#5 · Best for People who like precise control
KitchenAid Artisan 2-Slice Toaster
Best for settings
The KitchenAid Artisan toaster has a solid build, seven shade settings and an LED countdown so you know when toast will be ready. T3 liked its automatic lift, keep-warm function and bagel setting. It is available in two and four-slice versions and in KitchenAid's range of colours.
- Seven browning settings
- LED countdown
- Automatic lift
- Keep-warm and bagel functions
- Slots
- 2 (4-slice version available)
- Power
- 1,250 W
- Price range
- Premium
#6 · Best for Hands-off premium toast
Sage the Smart Toast
Best premium automatic toaster
Sage's Smart Toast lowers and raises bread with a motor at the touch of a button, and its wide slots and one-touch settings made flawless toast in T3's tests. It includes Lift and Look, A Bit More, crumpet and frozen settings. It has no keep-warm mode.
- Motorised lowering and lifting
- Wide slots
- Lift and Look and A Bit More
- Crumpet and frozen settings
- Slots
- 4 (2-slice version available)
- Power
- 1,900 W
- Price range
- Premium
#7 · Best for Gadget lovers and long loaves
Haier I-Master Series 7 Toaster
Most innovative toaster
Haier's I-Master Series 7 has one extra-long slot and a glass viewing window, so you can watch your toast brown. T3 counted 12 presets, from bread and bagels to waffles and pizza slices, each with seven browning levels, plus Wi-Fi smart features and removable, dishwasher-safe glass panels. It is slower than a traditional toaster and has only one slot.
- Glass viewing window
- Single extra-long slot
- 12 presets, 7 browning levels
- Wi-Fi smart features
- Dishwasher-safe glass panels
- Slots
- 1 long slot
- Power
- 1,300 W
- Price range
- Upper mid-range
#8 · Best for Thicker bread on a budget
Russell Hobbs Groove 2-Slice Toaster
Best affordable wide-slot toaster
The Groove is T3's best affordable toaster, with wider slots than most budget models, six browning levels and a high-lift feature to retrieve small items. It also has frozen, cancel and reheat buttons. It is mostly plastic, and the decorative trim will not suit every kitchen.
- Wider slots
- Six browning levels
- High-lift lever
- Frozen, cancel and reheat
- Slots
- 2
- Power
- 850 W
- Price range
- Budget
#9 · Best for Small kitchens
Braun PurEase Series 3 Toaster
Best compact two-slice toaster
Braun's PurEase Series 3 is a slim, simple two-slice toaster for small kitchens and solo households. Expert Reviews rated it the best budget two-slice option, with seven browning settings and useful defrost and reheat buttons. The slots are fairly narrow, so it is better for sliced bread than chunky doorsteps.
- Seven browning settings
- Defrost and reheat
- Slim, compact body
- Fits crumpets
- Slots
- 2
- Size
- Compact
- Price range
- Budget
#10 · Best for Modern kitchens that like touch controls
Cuisinart SimpliTouch 2-Slice Toaster
Best touchscreen toaster
Cuisinart's SimpliTouch swaps dials for a colourful touch panel with six shade settings, a Toast Boost feature and a high-lift lever with a quick-view function. T3 liked its smooth lever and quiet pop-up. The body gets hot during use and the cord is short.
- Touch control panel
- Six shade settings
- Toast Boost
- High-lift with quick view
- Slots
- 2
- Power
- 1,000 W
- Price range
- Mid-range
How to choose
Start with slots. A two-slice toaster is fine for most households, a four-slice toaster saves time for families, and a long-slot model or one with extra-wide slots is the best toaster for sourdough and bloomer loaves. If you toast bagels often, look for a bagel setting that heats only the cut side.
Then think about how long you want it to last. Cheaper toasters often fail within a few years, while models like the Dualit NewGen are built to be repaired with replaceable parts. Handy features include lift-and-look to check progress, a 'bit more' button, a frozen setting, a removable crumb tray and a high-lift lever so small items do not get stuck.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best toaster to buy?
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The Dualit NewGen is a top choice if you want a durable, repairable toaster, and the Sage or Breville A Bit More toaster is excellent for even browning. On a budget, Wirecutter's long-standing pick is the Cuisinart CPT-122 two-slice toaster.
Which toaster brand is most reliable?
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Dualit is known for toasters with replaceable parts that can be repaired rather than thrown away. Most other toasters are hard to repair, so look for a solid build, a good warranty and simple mechanics if reliability is your priority.
Should I buy a 2 slice or 4 slice toaster?
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A two-slice toaster suits singles, couples and small kitchens. A four-slice toaster makes breakfast faster for families, and many four-slice models let you use just two slots. Models with two long slots, like Smeg's four-slice version, also fit longer bread.
What is the best toaster for sourdough?
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Choose a toaster with wide or long slots and a high-lift lever, such as the Haier I-Master Series 7 with its single extra-long slot, or the Russell Hobbs Groove with its wider slots. Thick, uneven slices toast more evenly when they are not squeezed.
How long should a toaster last?
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Many modern toasters last only a few years because their parts cannot be replaced. A repairable model like the Dualit NewGen can last much longer, since its elements and timer can be swapped.
What does the bagel setting on a toaster do?
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The bagel setting reduces the heat on one side, so the cut side of the bagel toasts and the outside stays soft. Put the bagel in with the cut sides facing the inner elements as the manual shows.
How do you clean a toaster?
+
Unplug it and let it cool, then empty the crumb tray and gently shake out loose crumbs over the sink. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth. Never put metal objects into the slots or immerse the toaster in water.
The Dualit NewGen is the best toaster for people who want one that lasts, with replaceable parts and excellent toast. The Sage and Breville A Bit More toaster is the best all-rounder for even browning and handy features, and the Cuisinart compact two-slice toaster is the best budget toaster in Wirecutter's long-running tests.
How we research: We compare each product on the same criteria, using makers’ documentation, independent reviews and owner feedback, and re-check the list when products change.
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Bitezine Editorial Team
Rankings, reviews & guides
Our editors research every piece from makers’ documentation, independent tests and owner reports, and update it when products change.
