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Our top picks
Short on time? Our top recommendation is the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4-Slice Toaster Oven with Roll-Top Door.
Compare
At a glance
The traits that separate these picks, side by side.
| # | Product | Best for | Key feature | |
|---|
| 1 | | — | 1300W with roll-top door instead of a swing-down door | Check ↗ |
| 2 | | — | 1300W with natural convection fan | Check ↗ |
| 3 | | — | 1500W with digital display and convection fan | Check ↗ |
| 4 | | — | 1500W with digital controls and convection | Check ↗ |
| 5 | | — | Double infrared heating elements, no preheat required | Check ↗ |
| 6 | | — | 1500W with 14-in-1 preset functions including air fry and dehydrate | Check ↗ |
| 7 | | — | 1800W with broil and toast functions | Check ↗ |
| 8 | | — | 1200W with natural convection fan | Check ↗ |
| 9 | | — | 1100W with toast, bake, and broil functions | Check ↗ |
| 10 | | — | 1200W with bake, broil, and toast functions | Check ↗ |
| 11 | | — | — | Check ↗ |
In depth
The 11 best, explained
Why each made the cut, where it falls short, and who should buy it.
Hamilton Beach
4 cubic foot cavity fits a 9-inch pizza. Keep in mind that no convection fan, a basic radiant-heat design, so browning is less even than convection models.
- 1300W with roll-top door instead of a swing-down door
- 4-slice / 0.4 cubic foot cavity fits a 9-inch pizza
- Toast, bake, and broil functions with analog dials
- Removable crumb tray and non-stick interior
- Auto shutoff after cook cycle completes
✓ Pros
- Roll-top door eliminates dripping grease or food sliding off a hot drop-down door
- Compact footprint fits counters w here a standard swing-door oven can't
- Simple analog controls with no learning curve for toast and reheating
✕ Cons
- No convection fan, a basic radiant-heat design, so browning is less even than convection models
- 0.4 cubic foot cavity is too small for a 12-inch pizza or a 9x13 pan
- No digital timer precision, just a mechanical dial
Black+Decker
Compact 4-slice size suits a solo or couple household without wasted counter space
- 1300W with natural convection fan
- 4-slice cavity fits a 9-inch pizza
- Toast, bake, and broil functions
- 60-minute mechanical timer with stay-on setting
- Under $40 street price
✓ Pros
- Compact 4-slice size suits a solo or couple household without wasted counter space
- Reliable, straightforward dial controls for daily toast and reheating
✕ Cons
- Natural convection is functional but noticeably weaker than the forced high-speed fans on air fry models
- No digital display or precise temperature readout
- Small cavity rules out anything larger than a 9-inch pizza or a handful of muffins
Toshiba
Toshiba's AC25CEW-SS is a convection toaster oven with rotisserie and digital controls.
- 1500W with digital display and convection fan
- 6-slice / 0.5 cubic foot cavity fits a 12-inch pizza
- Bake, toast, broil, warm, and convection functions
- 9 preset digital cook settings
- Interior light for monitoring without opening the door
✓ Pros
- Convection
- Rotisserie
- Digital controls
- Spacious interior
✕ Cons
- Large footprint
- Exterior heat
- Controls learning curve
Panasonic
Double infrared elements reach cooking temperature in 2 to 3 minutes versus 5 to 8 for standard elements
- Double infrared heating elements, no preheat required
- 4-slice compact cavity fits a 9-inch pizza
- Reaches cooking temperature in 2 to 3 minutes
- Toast, bake, and broil functions
- Slide-out crumb tray
✓ Pros
- Double infrared elements reach cooking temperature in 2 to 3 minutes versus 5 to 8 for standard elements
- No-preheat design saves real time on daily toast and quick reheats
- Compact size and infrared heat produce more even results than budget convection models at this size
✕ Cons
- 4-slice cavity is too small for a 12-inch pizza or family-size baking
- Infrared elements run hotter near the glass door, and the exterior gets warm to the touch
- Higher price than other compact models in this list despite the small capacity
Cosori
5 cubic foot cavity fits a 9-inch pizza. 5 cubic foot cavity is smaller than the Oster or Toshiba, so a 12-inch pizza doesn't fit.
- 1500W with 14-in-1 preset functions including air fry and dehydrate
- 12-quart / 0.5 cubic foot cavity fits a 9-inch pizza
- Digital touchscreen with 12 one-touch presets
- Includes non-stick air fry basket and drip pan
- Shade dial for toast darkness control
✓ Pros
- 14 presets simplify cooking common foods without guessing time and temperature
✕ Cons
- 0.5 cubic foot cavity is smaller than the Oster or Toshiba, so a 12-inch pizza doesn't fit
- Touchscreen controls can be less responsive with greasy fingers during cooking
- Build materials are noticeably lighter-duty than the metal-bodied Cuisinart or Oster
Cuisinart
6 cubic foot cavity fits a 12-inch pizza or 4 chicken breasts. Keep in mind that no convection fan, a classic radiant-heat design, so browning is less even than convection models.
- 1800W with broil and toast functions
- 0.6 cubic foot cavity fits a 12-inch pizza or 4 chicken breasts
- Classic dial controls with 30-minute timer
- Includes broil rack and bake pan
- Cuisinart's 3-year limited warranty
✓ Pros
- 3-year warranty exceeds the 1-year coverage typical of budget and even some premium models
- Straightforward dial controls that don't require learning a digital menu system
✕ Cons
- No convection fan, a classic radiant-heat design, so browning is less even than convection models
- No digital display or precise temperature readout
- Dated design compared to digital competitors at a similar price
Mueller
Lowest price of any convection-equipped model in this guide
- 1200W with natural convection fan
- 4-slice cavity fits a 9-inch pizza
- Toast, bake, and broil functions
- 60-minute mechanical timer with auto shutoff
- Under $35 street price
✓ Pros
- Lowest price of any convection-equipped model in this guide
- Compact size and low wattage suit occasional, light use without a big power draw
- Simple mechanical controls are easy for anyone to use without a manual
✕ Cons
- 1200W is the lowest wattage in this list, preheat and cook times run longer than higher-wattage models
- Build quality feels noticeably lighter than Cuisinart or Oster at a similar price
- 4-slice cavity limits use to toast, reheating, and small single-dish baking
Proctor Silex
Cheapest oven in this guide, adequate for basic toast and reheating tasks
- 1100W with toast, bake, and broil functions
- 4-slice cavity fits a 9-inch pizza
- Mechanical timer dial, no digital components
- Removable baking pan and toast rack included
- Under $30 street price
✓ Pros
- Cheapest oven in this guide, adequate for basic toast and reheating tasks
- No digital parts to fail, long service life reported for a purely mechanical design
- Small footprint fits dorm rooms and minimal kitchens
✕ Cons
- No convection fan at all, the least even heat distribution in this guide
- Thermostat variance is the widest of any model here, unsuitable for temperature-sensitive baking
- 4-slice cavity rules out anything beyond toast, small reheats, and a personal pizza
Dash
Smallest footprint in this guide, ideal for dorm rooms, RVs, or a secondary countertop
- 1200W with bake, broil, and toast functions
- Ultra-compact cavity fits a 9-inch pizza or 4 slices of toast
- Includes a removable baking tray
- Mechanical timer dial
- Under $30 street price
✓ Pros
- Smallest footprint in this guide, ideal for dorm rooms, RVs, or a secondary countertop
- Simple mechanical controls, no learning curve
- Lightweight and easy to store or move between counters
✕ Cons
- Smallest cavity of any model here, cannot fit anything larger than a small personal pizza
- No convection fan, so browning is uneven front-to-back
- Thermostat is not precise enough for baking recipes with a specific target temperature
Ninja
An 8-in-1 countertop oven that flips up against the backsplash to free counter space.
✓ Pros
- Flips up for storage
- Air fry, bake, toast and more
- Fits a 12-inch pizza
- Fast heating
✕ Cons
- Low interior height limits tall foods
- Exterior gets hot
- Flip mechanism needs backsplash clearance
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
There's no single 'best' here, only the best match for your situation. Start from your must-have features, then choose the least expensive pick that covers them.
FAQ
Common questions
What are the best toaster ovens under $100 right now?
Our top pick is the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4-Slice Toaster Oven with Roll-Top Door (our top pick), because roll-top door eliminates dripping grease or food sliding off a hot drop-down door. The runner-up is the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven TO1760SS, followed by the Toshiba AC25CEW-SS Digital Toaster Oven with Convection.
Is the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4-Slice Toaster Oven with Roll-Top Door worth it?
For most buyers, yes. It ranks #1 in our toaster ovens under $100 research, though no convection fan, a basic radiant-heat design, so browning is less even than convection models.
Can a toaster oven under $100 bake properly?
Yes, with appropriate expectations. For reheating, pizza, and toast: this variance does not matter. For baking cookies, cakes, or bread w here the recipe temperature is specific: the variance produces over- or under-cooked results. With a thermometer: budget toaster ovens can bake competently. Without one: results are inconsistent.
What is the best toaster oven under $100 for a family?
Both fit a 12-inch pizza, a 9x13 baking dish, or a whole small chicken.
Is the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach worth buying?
Yes for compact cooking and reheating. The roll-top door design is the standout feature, the door rolls up instead of swinging down, which eliminates the common problem of dripping grease or food sliding off the door when pulling a rack out. For households with limited counter depth or those who reheat leftovers and make toast daily: the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach is practical. The cooking performance is basic, one convection fan, analog controls, no digital timer precision. For more than reheating and simple baking: the Toshiba or Oster at similar prices offer better temperature control.
Does the Black+Decker TO1760SS have convection?
Yes, the TO1760SS description says 'natural convection' which means a convection fan that circulates air without the high-speed forced air of dedicated air fry models. It is functional convection, food browns more evenly than without the fan.
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