Best toasters for 2021

We've selected five of our favourite toasters to help you choose a model that will serve up slice after slice of golden crunchy goodness.

We've tested hundreds of toasters, from budget to premium models, so we've got the inside track on which ones are worth buying – and which to avoid. 

Whether you’re after the best cheap model, the best four-slice toaster, or the best toaster for fitting larger homemade loaves, we’ve got a toaster for you. 

Each of the toasters recommended below has aced our rigorous lab tests, which include in-depth toasting evenness and speed assessments, as well as checking if different-sized slices fit and how easy it is to use. 

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Table last updated: November 2020

Not found the product for you? Browse all of our toaster reviews to find the best option for your budget.

Three toasters to avoid 

These terrible toasters limped in at the bottom of our toaster scoreboard. 

They make poor, patchy toast, with burned and underdone patches. Some struggle to brown toast at all, or are very slow to do so. 

Overall, they're pretty much the worst toasters money can buy, so we recommend steering clear.

Buying the best toaster for you

It's a pretty simple gadget, but there's plenty that can go wrong. Here's a quick run-down of five things to consider when narrowing down your search:

1. What to spend

These days you can buy a toaster for less than £10, as well as parting with the best part of £300. 

Pricier toasters will usually have more capacity and extra features such as illuminated countdown controls and specialist toast settings for items such as bagels and crumpets, as well as stylish designs and premium metallic finishes. 

Paying more is no guarantee of good results, though. We've found some brilliant cheap toasters, and disappointingly bad expensive ones. Check out our Best Buy toasters for our top recommendations for every price point.

2. Capacity

If you've got lots of mouths to feed at breakfast time, you might want to opt for a four-slice toaster. 

If you're a bagel fan, or like a rustic loaf, check that these larger or thicker items will fit in the toaster - plenty of models are so snug that even a standard slice won't get properly toasted. See our toaster reviews to find out which models are most versatile.

3. Looks

With the rise of open plan living and dining areas, most toasters on the market have aesthetics in mind. You can buy anything from a retro-look toaster to a stylish steel model. Even the cheaper plastic toasters have colour variations. 

Patterned or textured models are popular, but bear in mind that these and polished metal finishes can be harder to keep clean. Browse our toaster reviews to find your perfect match.

4. Performance 

You'll want to know your toaster gets the basics right, a surprising number can't actually toast evenly. We make multiple rounds of toast and inspect each slice for evenness of browning. 

We also check if the toaster will fit your favourite types of bread, how quick and quiet it is and if it's easy to use and clean.

Find out more about how we test toasters.

5. Reliability 

If you’re keen to get a toaster that will last, check our guide to the most reliable toaster brands. 

We surveyed thousands of toaster owners in 2019 to find out which brands can be counted on to toast perfectly for years to come.

For more advice on choosing a toaster, see our full toaster buying guide.