The 7 Best Toasters in 2025

The Breville Die-Cast 2-Slice Toaster shines brightly in the competitive market of toasters, earning its spot as the best overall due to its impressive set of features. One of the most appealing aspects is its intuitive one-touch automation, which includes the innovative "Lift & Look" function, allowing you to check progress without stopping the cycle, and the "A Bit More" button for those who want their toast just a tad more browned. These smart functionalities really bring an element of precision and usability to your morning routine.

The toaster's capacity is well-suited for varied bread types. Its wider slots accommodate everything from thick bagels to artisanal breads, ensuring even toasting with each use. The variable browning control, complemented by an LED indicator, offers customization, letting you achieve the exact crispness you crave.

While its 900-watt power consumption and 1-year limited warranty are fairly standard, the Breville's thoughtful design, such as the easy-to-clean crumb tray, adds convenience to its stylish, compact form. It is truly a top-notch choice for toast enthusiasts.

When it comes to toasting variety, the KitchenAid KMT2115ER Toaster truly stands out as a champion in the 'Best Value For Money' category. Its extra-wide slots are a versatile feature, accommodating anything from bagels and English muffins to thicker slices of bread, which makes it a convenient choice for families with diverse breakfast preferences.

A particularly thoughtful design element is the bagel function. By reducing the heating element on one side by half, it ensures that bagels are gently browned on the outside while still achieving a satisfying toast on the inside. This attention to detail is a nod to KitchenAid’s commitment to quality.

With an adjustable shade control offering five settings, this toaster allows for customizable browning. The high lift lever and removable crumb tray add to the user-friendly experience, making operation and cleaning a breeze. While these features are quite average, the overall construction and thoughtful design make it a smart buy for those seeking quality without breaking the bank.

The Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Toaster stands out as a top contender in the 'Best 4-Slice Option' category, thanks to its impressive functionality and thoughtful design. One of the most noteworthy features is the extra-wide slots, accommodating a variety of bread types, from thick bagels to dense pastries. This flexibility is perfect for those who love a diverse array of toasted treats.

What sets this toaster apart are the innovative "Lift and Look" and "A Bit More" options. These features allow you to keep an eye on your toast’s progress or extend the toasting time without interrupting the cycle, offering a level of control and convenience that many users appreciate. Moreover, the variable browning control ensures you get the perfect toast every time, with an LED indicator letting you know exactly how much longer you'll need to wait.

While these standout features give it an edge, some may find the overall performance to be simply reliable rather than revolutionary. Nonetheless, easy cleaning with a pull-out crumb tray and a good range of settings, including defrost and bagel functions, make it a robust choice for any kitchen.

The SMEG 2 Slice Toaster is a standout in the 'Best Design' category, primarily due to its harmonious blend of retro charm and modern functionality. Its aesthetic appeal is emphasized by its sleek, steel construction and vibrant powder-coated enamel finish, which can easily become the centerpiece of any kitchen decor. The backlit chrome knob offers a tactile experience with intuitive Reheat, Defrost, Cancel, and Bagel settings, making it a pleasure to use.

The practical aspect of this toaster is equally impressive. The two extra-wide slots are capable of accommodating a diversity of bread types, including bagels, ensuring versatility in your breakfast routine. Its six precise browning levels cater to personal preferences, promising perfectly golden toast every time. Although features like the removable stainless-steel crumb tray and self-centering racks might seem standard, they are executed with finesse, underscoring SMEG's commitment to quality. Overall, this toaster's thoughtful design and functionality truly make it a winner.

When it comes to toasters that combine functionality with a unique design twist, the DASH Clear View Toaster stands out, especially for those who appreciate visual monitoring. One of its most appealing features is the clear-view window, which allows you to watch your bread toasting to perfection without having to pop the toast halfway through. This feature, combined with the seven browning levels, ensures customized toast every time, catering to everyone's preferences.

Aside from its visual appeal, this toaster includes practical functionalities like one-touch defrost, reheat, and bagel settings, making it versatile for various breakfast choices, from bagels to waffles. The auto-shut off ensures safety, a valued characteristic in any kitchen appliance.

Space-conscious cooks will appreciate its compact design, which allows it to fit seamlessly on any countertop. Despite its small size, the DASH Toaster doesn’t compromise on ease of cleaning, thanks to its slide-out crumb tray and glass window, making maintenance a breeze. While these features speak volumes about its performance, it's worth noting that its basic features, like the warranty and recipe guide, are fairly standard. Nonetheless, its ability to monitor progress in real time is a game-changer for toast lovers.

The Breville Toast Select Luxe 2-Slice Toaster shines brightly in the realm of wide slot toasters, particularly for those who enjoy a variety of bread types. Its wide slots are a standout feature, accommodating hefty artisanal loaves and thick bagels with ease, which is quite a feat for compact toasters. The toaster's six preset options offer customized toasting, ensuring perfect results for bread types ranging from whole wheat to English muffins. This adaptability provides an extra layer of convenience and precision for breakfast aficionados.

One of the more charming features is the manual 'Lift & Look' function, allowing you to keep tabs on your toast’s progress without halting the process. Coupled with the LED indicator, it brings more control to the toasting experience. Although the toaster runs at a modest 1000W, it efficiently achieves consistently crispy and satisfying results. The easy-to-clean crumb tray speaks to practical usability, rounding out this stylish kitchen companion well.

When it comes to finding a toaster that balances performance with affordability, the Amazon Basics 2-Slice Toaster stands out in the budget-friendly category. This compact kitchen essential is designed to make your mornings smooth and efficient. It features six shade settings, allowing you to customize your toast to your preferred level of crunchiness, whether you like it lightly golden or extra crispy.

One of the standout features is its extra-wide slots, accommodating not just regular bread slices but also bagels and thicker pieces of bread, making it versatile for different types of breakfast treats. The inclusion of a bagel setting, which ensures only the cut side is toasted, and a frozen setting for defrosting adds to its utility. The illuminated buttons are a thoughtful touch, providing clear indications of your selection.

While the toaster might not have advanced digital displays or settings, it hits the mark with essential features like an extra-lift lever for easy retrieval of smaller pieces and a removable crumb tray that simplifies cleaning. Overall, it's a dependable choice for those seeking a straightforward yet functional toaster without breaking the bank.