Ever stare at your kitchen counter, wishing for a perfectly golden piece of toast, but your bulky toaster takes up all the space? Many of us love toast, but big appliances crowd our kitchens. Finding a toaster that fits your small space *and* makes great toast feels like a real challenge.
Small toasters are the unsung heroes of compact kitchens. They save counter space, which is a huge win for apartments or dorm rooms. However, the market is flooded with tiny toasters that either burn your bread or take forever. You need one that balances size with performance, and that’s where the confusion starts. You want crispiness without the clutter.
This guide cuts through the noise. We will explore the best small toasters available today, focusing on compact design, easy cleaning, and, most importantly, perfect toasting results. Get ready to ditch the counter clutter and welcome perfectly toasted bread into your morning routine.
Top Small Toaster Recommendations
- Slim Design, Big Impact: With a sleek 3.58" profile, the bella 2-Slice Slim Toaster fits comfortably on any countertop without taking up much space. Part of our Fits-anywhere kitchenware collection, it’s the perfect blend of style and practicality
- One Long Slot for Versatile Toasting: The extra-wide, 10-inch long slot accommodates two slices of bread side by side or thick artisan breads like bagels, baguettes, and Texas-style toasts. No more squeezing or cutting—just perfect toast, every time
- Toasted Perfection: Six shade settings with a convenient cancel function allow you to customize your bread to your exact preference, from lightly golden to dark and crispy. Achieve your ideal toast with just a simple turn of the dial
- Easy Cleanup & Clutter-Free Countertop: The removable crumb tray slides out for quick cleaning, ensuring your smart toaster stays tidy and operates efficiently. Plus, the cord wrap feature keeps your countertop neat and free from tangled cords
- Effortless Access: Retrieving smaller slices like English muffins is a breeze with the high-lift lever, giving you easy access without burning your fingers. It’s thoughtful details like these that make this appliance a must-have for every kitchen
- Slim Design, Big Impact: With a sleek 3.58" profile, the bella 2-Slice Slim Toaster fits comfortably on any countertop without taking up much space. Part of our Fits-anywhere kitchenware collection, it’s the perfect blend of style and practicality
- One Long Slot for Versatile Toasting: The extra-wide, 10-inch long slot accommodates two slices of bread side by side or thick artisan breads like bagels, baguettes, and Texas-style toasts. No more squeezing or cutting—just perfect toast, every time
- Toasted Perfection: Six shade settings with a convenient cancel function allow you to customize your bread to your exact preference, from lightly golden to dark and crispy. Achieve your ideal toast with just a simple turn of the dial
- Easy Cleanup & Clutter-Free Countertop: The removable crumb tray slides out for quick cleaning, ensuring your smart toaster stays tidy and operates efficiently. Plus, the cord wrap feature keeps your countertop neat and free from tangled cords
- Effortless Access: Retrieving smaller slices like English muffins is a breeze with the high-lift lever, giving you easy access without burning your fingers. It’s thoughtful details like these that make this appliance a must-have for every kitchen
- Retro 2-Slice Toaster with White & Gold Design: This cute vintage-style toaster adds charming flair to your kitchen, equipped with 7 bread shade settings,reheat,bagel, defrost, and cancel settings to cover daily needs .
- 1.5-inch Extra-Wide Slots: The 1.5-inch wide slots of this 2-slice toaster fit thick bagels, Texas toast, and more—its compact size saves counter space while keeping capacity practical.
- 7 Adjustable Browning Levels: With 6 browning settings, this bread toaster caters to every family member’s taste preference, making breakfast time personalized and enjoyable.
- Easy Clean & Tidy Storage: This 2-slice toaster comes with a removable, rinseable crumb tray (for quick cleanup), a non-slip base (for stability), and hidden cord storage (to keep countertops neat).
- Metal Housing: The QUAXWELL toaster is metal-made—odor-free, BPA-free, sturdy, reliable, and long-lasting.
- NOT JUST FOR TOAST: The extra wide 1.25" slots and 6 browning levels allow for toasting a variety of breakfasts and snacks. Toast bagels, waffles, specialty breads or puff pastry baked snacks.
- COOL TOUCH: With easy-to-use push-down toasting lever and non-slip feet. The swing-out crumb tray has a simple wipe-away surface for quick cleaning.
- PORTABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT: Easy to carry and lightweight, the Elite Gourmet Toaster is perfect for a small apartment, office kitchen, college dorm or camper/RV.
- SELF-CENTERING: The automatic self-centering guides easily center the toast to allow even distribution of heat for perfect browning every time.
- CANCEL FUNCTION: Easily cancel any toasting cycle in the middle of toasting by simply adjusting the knob. No need to push up on the lever to reduce the risk of damage.
- Slim Design, Big Impact: With a sleek 3.58" profile, the bella 2-Slice Slim Toaster fits comfortably on any countertop without taking up much space. Part of our Fits-anywhere kitchenware collection, it’s the perfect blend of style and practicality
- One Long Slot for Versatile Toasting: The extra-wide, 10-inch long slot accommodates two slices of bread side by side or thick artisan breads like bagels, baguettes, and Texas-style toasts. No more squeezing or cutting—just perfect toast, every time
- Toasted Perfection: Six shade settings with a convenient cancel function allow you to customize your bread to your exact preference, from lightly golden to dark and crispy. Achieve your ideal toast with just a simple turn of the dial
- Easy Cleanup & Clutter-Free Countertop: The removable crumb tray slides out for quick cleaning, ensuring your smart toaster stays tidy and operates efficiently. Plus, the cord wrap feature keeps your countertop neat and free from tangled cords
- Effortless Access: Retrieving smaller slices like English muffins is a breeze with the high-lift lever, giving you easy access without burning your fingers. It’s thoughtful details like these that make this appliance a must-have for every kitchen
- 2-slice toaster for toasting 1 or 2 slices of bread at a time
- 6 shade settings accommodate individual preferences
- Extra-wide slots for bagels and thicker slices; each slot measures 5-1/4 inches long by 1-1/4 inches wide
- Bagel setting for toasting just the cut side; Frozen setting for defrosting bread; Cancel function ends the session at any time; buttons illuminate to indicate selected settings
- Extra-lift lever for safely removing smaller pieces
- TOUCH-ACTIVATED DISPLAY: Sleek panel illuminates only when needed—set shade, time, or presets without knobs for a clean, modern countertop.
- 7 SHADE SETTINGS: Dial in your ideal doneness from light to deep golden; LED countdown helps you time eggs, coffee, and busy mornings.
- 3 SMART PRESETS: One-touch Bagel, Frozen, and Reheat modes optimize time/heat so breads, waffles, and leftovers taste just-right.
- EXTRA-WIDE SLOTS: Self-adjusting guides center thin or thick slices, artisan loaves, and bagels for even toasting edge-to-edge.
- HIGH-LIFT LEVER: Durable die-cast lift raises smaller items for safer, easier retrieval—no fishing with utensils.
- EFFORTLESSLY TOAST THICKER BREADS: Wider than the slots on many 2 slice toasters, the toast slots on this Hamilton Beach toaster are extra wide to easily fit thicker breads and bagels.
- EASILY RETRIEVE SMALLER SIZED BREADS: The Toast Boost feature on the 2 slice toaster lifts smaller breads like English muffins so they're easier to retrieve after toasting.
- KEEP COUNTERTOPS CLEANER: Conveniently remove and discard crumbs from the bottom of the bread toaster with the pullout crumb tray, so they don't end up on your countertop.
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOAST SHADE: Use the shade selector to make lighter or darker toast. Choose from 7 toast shades. Simply press the cancel button to stop the toast cycle and get your toast. No need to wait
- NEATLY STORES AWAY: The built in cord wrap in the base of the toaster makes it easy to neatly store the toaster 2 slice when it's not being used.
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Small Toasters
Finding the right small toaster makes breakfast easier. Small toasters fit well in tiny kitchens. They toast bread perfectly. This guide helps you choose the best one for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
A good small toaster has several important features. These features make toasting better and faster.
Slot Size and Capacity
- Slot Width: Check the slot width. Wider slots fit bagels or thicker slices of bread. Narrow slots work best for standard sandwich bread.
- Number of Slots: Small toasters usually have one or two slots. One-slot toasters are great for single users. Two-slot models offer more flexibility for small families.
Browning Control Settings
You need settings to control how dark your toast gets. Look for a dial or buttons with clear numbers (like 1 to 7). Lower numbers mean lighter toast. Higher numbers mean darker, crispier toast. Consistent heating is crucial.
Extra Functions
- Bagel Setting: This setting toasts only one side of the bagel. It keeps the cut side crisp and the other side warm.
- Defrost Setting: If you keep bread in the freezer, this setting thaws and toasts it in one go.
- Cancel Button: Always look for a quick stop button. This lets you stop the cycle immediately if the toast looks too dark.
Important Materials and Build Quality
The materials used affect how long your toaster lasts and how safe it is.
Exterior Housing
Most small toasters use either plastic or stainless steel for the outside. Stainless steel models look nicer and clean up easily. Plastic models are usually lighter and cheaper. Make sure the plastic feels sturdy, not flimsy.
Interior Components
The heating elements inside should be durable. Metal heating coils are standard. Check reviews to see if the coils burn out quickly. High-quality internal wiring lasts longer.
Crumbs Management
A removable crumb tray is essential. This tray catches falling crumbs. You simply slide it out and dump the crumbs. A good tray keeps your counter clean. Poorly designed trays are hard to remove.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality isn’t just about looks; it’s about performance.
Consistency is Key
The best toasters toast evenly across the entire slice. Cheap models often have cold spots. This means one side burns while the other stays soft. Look for reviews that specifically mention even browning.
Lift Height
When the toast pops up, how high does it rise? Small toasters sometimes struggle to lift smaller items, like English muffin halves. A high lift lever prevents burned fingers when retrieving your food.
Cord Length and Storage
A short power cord limits where you can place the toaster. Longer cords offer more placement options. Some models include cord storage underneath, which keeps your cabinets tidy.
User Experience and Use Cases
Consider how you plan to use your new toaster.
Small Kitchens and Dorm Rooms
If counter space is limited, a true “small” toaster (one-slot or compact two-slot) is perfect. They take up minimal room.
Quick Breakfasts
If you only toast one or two slices quickly in the morning, a simple model without too many bells and whistles works well. Speed matters here.
Specialty Items
If you frequently toast bagels or frozen waffles, ensure the toaster has the correct dedicated setting. A dedicated setting ensures these thicker items cook correctly without burning.
Small Toaster Buying Guide FAQ
Q: What size is considered a ‘small’ toaster?
A: Small toasters usually refer to compact two-slot models or single-slot toasters. They take up less than 12 inches of counter width.
Q: Should I choose stainless steel or plastic?
A: Stainless steel is more durable and easier to wipe clean. Plastic is lighter and often less expensive. Both work well if the internal components are high quality.
Q: How important is the bagel setting?
A: The bagel setting is important if you eat bagels often. It toasts the cut side perfectly without drying out the rounded top.
Q: What does ‘shade consistency’ mean?
A: Shade consistency means the toaster heats every part of the bread slice the same way. Good consistency prevents burnt edges and pale centers.
Q: How do I clean a toaster safely?
A: Always unplug the toaster first. Then, slide out the crumb tray and empty it. You can gently wipe the outside with a damp cloth.
Q: What is the purpose of the defrost setting?
A: The defrost setting adds extra time to the normal cycle. This allows the toaster to thaw frozen bread before toasting it to your chosen darkness.
Q: Will a small toaster fit a thick slice of artisan bread?
A: You must check the slot width. Many small toasters have narrow slots. Look specifically for models advertising wider slots for artisan bread.
Q: Is a one-slot toaster faster than a two-slot toaster?
A: Generally, no. Speed depends on the wattage. However, you only have to wait for one piece to finish, which feels faster for a single person.
Q: What wattage should I look for in a small toaster?
A: Most small toasters run between 750 and 1000 watts. Higher wattage usually means faster toasting.
Q: Can I use a toaster rack accessory?
A: Some toasters support special warming racks that sit over the slots. These racks heat pastries like croissants without putting them inside the slots. Check the toaster’s manual for compatibility.
Hi, I’m Larry Fish, the mind behind MyGrinderGuide.com.. With a passion for all things kitchen appliances, I created this blog to share my hands-on experience and expert knowledge. Whether it’s helping you choose the right tools for your culinary adventures or offering tips to make your kitchen more efficient, I’m here to guide you. My goal is to make your time in the kitchen not only easier but also enjoyable! Welcome to my world of kitchen mastery!