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Our top picks
Short on time? Our top recommendation is the Breville BTA720XL Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster.
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At a glance
The traits that separate these picks, side by side.
| # | Product | Best for | Key feature | |
|---|
| 1 | | — | Thermostatic (Element IQ) shade control | Check ↗ |
| 2 | | — | Compact footprint under 8 inches wide | Check ↗ |
| 3 | | — | Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots | Check ↗ |
| 4 | | — | Available in 16 exterior colors | Check ↗ |
| 5 | | — | Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots | Check ↗ |
| 6 | | — | Clear side windows to watch toast browning | Check ↗ |
| 7 | | — | 1.25-inch wide slots | Check ↗ |
| 8 | | — | 12-inch long slots for baguette and sandwich-loaf slices | Check ↗ |
| 9 | | — | 1.5-inch wide slots | Check ↗ |
| 10 | | — | 1.0-inch slots | Check ↗ |
In depth
The 10 best, explained
Why each made the cut, where it falls short, and who should buy it.
Best overallBreville
5-inch wide slots. The tradeoff: the most expensive 2-slice toaster in this roundup by a wide margin.
- Thermostatic (Element IQ) shade control
- 1.5-inch wide slots
- Lift-and-look mid-cycle inspection
- 6-shade settings plus bagel and frozen modes
- Die-cast zinc alloy housing
✓ Pros
- Same thermostatic browning consistency as the 4-slice BTA840XL, just in a smaller footprint
- 1.5-inch slots are the widest of any 2-slice toasterhere, handling bagels without compression
- Lift-and-look avoids resetting the cycle when checking progress
- Die-cast housing feels noticeably more solid than the stamped-metal budget models
✕ Cons
- The most expensive 2-slice toaster in this roundup by a wide margin
- 1-year warranty is shorter than the Cuisinart CPT-320's 3-year coverage
- Die-cast finish shows fingerprints and needs regular wiping
Cuisinart
Its case rests on cuisinart's shading consistency at roughly half the price of premium models and compact 8-inch footprint fits tight counters and small apartments. 1 inches wide, squeezes thick artisan bread.
- Compact footprint under 8 inches wide
- 6-setting shade dial
- Slide-out crumb tray
- Cord storage in the base
- Bagel/defrost/toast function switch
✓ Pros
- Cuisinart's shading consistency at roughly half the price of premium models
- Compact 8-inch footprint fits tight counters and small apartments
- Slide-out crumb tray empties without disassembling the toaster
- 3-year warranty, standard across the Cuisinart lineup
✕ Cons
- Slots are around 1.1 inches wide, squeezes thick artisan bread
- No lift-and-look; canceling mid-cycle resets the toast
- Plastic housing runs warmer to the touch than metal-bodied models
Smeg
4-inch wide slots. The tradeoff: priced at a premium mainly for the design; browning performance is good but not class-leading.
- Available in 16 exterior colors
- 1.4-inch wide slots
- 9 shade settings
- Defrost, reheat, and bagel functions
- Auto-centering bread guides
✓ Pros
- The most visually distinctive toaster in this category, with 16 color options to match kitchen decor
- 9-position shade dial gives finer browning control than the typical 6-setting toaster
- Auto-centering guides keep uneven or oddly shaped slices positioned against the elements
- Build quality feels premium, solid door latch, weighted base, minimal wobble
✕ Cons
- Priced at a premium mainly for the design; browning performance is good but not class-leading
- 1.4-inch slots are slightly narrower than the Breville's 1.5-inch, so the largest bagels compress a bit
- Limited color availability at any given time, popular colors go out of stock
Dash
The clear windows genuinely let you watch browning progress without lifting the lever, useful for calibrating a new shade setting
- Clear side windows to watch toast browning
- 1.1-inch slots
- 6-shade settings
- Removable crumb tray
- Compact 7-inch-wide housing
✓ Pros
- The clear windows genuinely let you watch browning progress without lifting the lever, useful for calibrating a new shade setting
- Compact 7-inch footprint is one of the smallest 2-slice toasters available
- Simple to clean, no crevices around the viewing windows to trap crumbs
✕ Cons
- 1.1-inch slots are narrow, thick artisan bread and large bagels compress noticeably
- Plastic housing feels less substantial than metal-bodied competitors
- The viewing windows fog slightly with steam on longer cycles, reducing visibility right when it matters most
Cuisinart
25-inch wide slots and Brushed stainless housing. The tradeoff: costs more than the CPT-122 for a moderate slot-width upgrade, a marginal ga in for some households.
- 1.25-inch wide slots
- Brushed stainless housing
- 6-shade settings with bagel and defrost modes
- Compact countdown-free timer circuit
- 3-year Cuisinart warranty
✓ Pros
- The best-rated Cuisinart 2-slice in this roundup, at 4.4 stars across nearly 8,000 buyers
- 1.25-inch slots handle most bagels and thick sandwich bread without excessive compression
- Compact stainless housing fits small counters while looking more upscale than plastic budget models
- 3-year warranty matches the CPT-122 and beats every non-Cuisinart budget option here
✕ Cons
- Costs more than the CPT-122 for a moderate slot-width upgrade, a marginal ga in for some households
- Timer-based control, not thermostatic, first cold cycle runs slightly lighter
- No lift-and-look feature
KitchenAid
3-inch slot width. The tradeoff: fewer reviews (2,200) than most toasters in this list, a smaller sample to judge long-term reliability.
- 12-inch long slots for baguette and sandwich-loaf slices
- 1.3-inch slot width
- 5 toast settings plus bagel, reheat, and defrost
- Die-cast metal housing
- Available in matching KitchenAid stand mixer colors
✓ Pros
- The only 2-slice toaster in this roundup with true 12-inch long slots, fitting baguette slices standard toasters can't
- Die-cast housing feels substantially more solid than the stamped-metal budget competitors
- Color options let it match a KitchenAid stand mixer or other small appliances
- 5-setting dial is simple and reliable, with dedicated bagel and reheat buttons
✕ Cons
- Fewer reviews (2,200) than most toasters in this list, a smaller sample to judge long-term reliability
- Priced closer to the Breville than to the mid-range Cuisinart options, a premium mainly for slot length
- 1.3-inch width is adequate but not as wide as the Breville's 1.5 inches for very thick bread
Hamilton Beach
5-inch wide slots and Bagel and reheat functions. The tradeoff: timer-based heating produces a noticeably lighter first slice on a cold toaster.
- 1.5-inch wide slots
- Toast boost lever
- 6-shade settings
- Bagel and reheat functions
- Slide-out crumb tray
✓ Pros
- 1.5-inch slots match the Breville's slot width at a fraction of the price
- Toast boost lever lifts short items high enough to remove safely
- One of the most-reviewed budget 2-slice toasters, with over 8,000 ratings averaging 4.3 stars
- Straightforward mechanical controls with no software or display to fail
✕ Cons
- Timer-based heating produces a noticeably lighter first slice on a cold toaster
- Plastic housing runs warm during back-to-back cycles
- 1-year warranty is short compared to the Cuisinart models' 3-year coverage
BELLA
Compact footprint fits the tightest counters and dorm-size kitchens
- 1.0-inch slots
- 6-shade dial
- Removable crumb tray
- Cancel and reheat buttons
- Compact under-7-inch housing
✓ Pros
- Compact footprint fits the tightest counters and dorm-size kitchens
- Basic functions (toast, cancel, reheat) work reliably for standard sandwich bread
- Simple dial control with no components likely to fail beyond the heating element
✕ Cons
- 1.0-inch slots are too narrow for bagels or thick artisan bread without heavy compression
- Browning is noticeably less even at the top and bottom edges than mid-range models
- Lightweight plastic housing can shift on the counter during use
How we chose these picks
Every pick below earned its place through documented strengths, verified specifications, consistent praise in reputable reviews, and owner-feedback patterns. We don't sell placements, and we don't invent test scores.
Mistakes buyers often make
- Buying on brand name alone instead of matching features to your actual use case.
- Overpaying for headline specs you'll never use, define must-haves first.
- Ignoring size — compatibility, and ongoing costs (filters, accessories, refills).
- Trusting star ratings without reading what owners compla in about after 6 months.
How to choose: the factors that matter
- Capacity and sizing — Measure your space and your actual use before falling for bigger-is-better. The right size is the one that fits your routine, not the spec sheet's maximum.
- Build quality and materials — Heavier-gauge materials, tight tolerances, and solid joints outlast thin, rattly construction. In reviews, look for longevity comments over first-impression praise.
- Ease of use and setup — Clear instructions, intuitive controls, and minimal assembly separate daily drivers from garage ornaments.
- Maintenance and cleaning — Whatever you buy will need cleaning. Removable, dishwasher-safe, or wipe-clean parts get maintained; fiddly ones get neglected.
- Warranty and support — A multi-year warranty signals the manufacturer expects it to last. Check what's actually covered, motors and frames matter more than accessories.
The bottom line
If you want the short answer: the top pick above suits most buyers, the value pick suits tight budgets, and the specialist picks suit specific needs. Match the pick to your use case, not to the hype.
FAQ
Common questions
What are the best 2-Slice toasters right now?
Our top pick is the Breville BTA720XL Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster (best overall), because same thermostatic browning consistency as the 4-slice BTA840XL, just in a smaller footprint. The runner-up is the Cuisinart CPT-122 2-Slice Compact Toaster, followed by the Black+Decker T2707S 2-Slice Extra-Wide.
Is the Breville BTA720XL Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster worth it?
For most buyers, yes. It ranks #1 in our 2-Slice toasters research, though the most expensive 2-slice toaster in this roundup by a wide margin.
Is a 2-slice toaster enough for a household of two?
For most couples: yes. Two slices per cycle accommodates both people in one toast (standard meals) or allows sequential toasting without a long wait. The exception: weekend brunch w here both people want toast, eggs, and avocado simultaneously, the 2-slice toaster requires one person to wait 1 to 2 minutes for the second batch while the first person's toast cools. For weekday mornings w here the cycle time does not matter: 2-slice is adequate. For weekend brunch for two that must all be ready simultaneously: a 4-slice toaster or a 2-slice with a parallel toaster is more practical.
What is the longest slot size in a 2-slice toaster?
Long-slot 2-slice toasters (KitchenAid KMT2116, Smeg long-slot) accommodate toast that is up to 12 inches long, allowing toasting of baguette slices and longer sandwich loaf slices that would not fit horizontally in standard 7-inch slots. Standard slots: approximately 7 inches long, accommodating standard sandwich bread and most artisan loaves. For standard bread use: standard slot length is adequate. For sourdough boules or baguette pieces: a long-slot 2-slice is the solution.
Which 2-slice toaster has the widest slots?
The Breville BTA720XL has 1.5-inch wide slots, the widest standard available in a consumer 2-slice toaster. The KitchenAid KMT2116 long-slot also accommodates thick bread at similar width. Standard slots: approximately 1.0 to 1.25 inches. Budget toasters: 0.85 to 1.0 inches, not suitable for artisan bread, thick-cut homemade bread, or most bagels without compression.
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