Toaster: compare the models, the colours and the prices

A toaster is chosen first on the shape of your bread: two wide slots for sliced bread and brioche, a long slot for baguette, four slots for a family. Then come power, browning levels, the functions that matter in the morning (defrost, reheat, bun warmer) and the colour, from a black toaster to a pastel green one. I compared 14 toasters on sale, from Philips to Smeg by way of Moulinex, Tefal, Russell Hobbs, KitchenAid, De'Longhi, Bosch and Krups, reading their manufacturer pages and checking their price on 07/10/2026. Each one has its drawback spelled out.

Our 2026 toaster comparison

The detailed comparison will pick the best models for each profile: small budget, family, baguette, design. It will be published on our best toaster page, with a summary table and a review of each appliance. This page first helps you choose the right type of toaster and the right colour before comparing models.

Which type of toaster should you choose?

There are four main formats: the classic 2-slot toaster, the long-slot model for baguette, the 4-slice toaster and the design or vintage toaster. The table at the end of this section sums them up.

The 2-slot toaster, for sliced bread and brioche

This is the best-selling type: two short slots for a slice of sandwich bread, country bread or brioche. Extra-wide slots (36 mm on the Smeg, 3.8 cm on the Cecotec) take thick slices and bagels, and self-centring keeps the slice at the same distance from both elements for even browning. Its strength: a compact format that can stay on the worktop. Its limit: baguette only goes in as small pieces. The Philips Daily, the Bosch MyMoment and the Russell Hobbs Victory belong to this family.

The long-slot toaster, for baguette

A long slot (26 cm on the Moulinex Subito Select) takes a piece of baguette cut lengthwise or two slices side by side. Tefal (Express TL365ETR, up to 3 baguette pieces according to Tefal) and Russell Hobbs (Colours Plus) offer a single one; the Russell Hobbs Adventure and the Moulinex Subito Select have two, enough for 4 slices or 2 pieces of baguette. It is the French breakfast format, with buttered baguette. Horizontal toasters, which are rarer, and these baguette models will be grouped on our baguette toaster page.

The 4-slice toaster, for families

With four at the breakfast table, a 4-slice toaster saves everyone waiting their turn. There are two layouts: four short slots side by side, like the Bosch TAT7S45, whose two chambers are set separately (1,800 W), or two long slots taking two slices each, like the Russell Hobbs Adventure (1,600 W). The first is shorter, the second also takes baguette. Expect 1,500 to 1,800 W in this format. Our 4-slice toaster selection will cover the family models.

The vintage and design toaster

The vintage toaster borrows the rounded lines of the 1950s, in lacquered steel. Smeg made it its signature with the TSF01, available in many colours; De'Longhi (Icona Vintage) and KitchenAid play the same card. You pay for the style: from €69.00 for the De'Longhi to €159.00 for the cream Smeg, prices checked on 07/10/2026. Our design toaster page will compare them, and the Italian brand's range will get its own Smeg toaster page.

The stainless steel toaster

Stainless steel covers entry-level and premium models alike: the Russell Hobbs Victory in polished steel, the Krups Control Line, the Moulinex Subito Select and the Russell Hobbs Adventure in brushed steel. A metal body says nothing about power or browning, but it stands up to knocks better than a plastic housing.

The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.

Black, red, cream, white or green toaster: which colour?

Colour changes nothing about toasting, but it points to a range: black and white for entry-level models, red, cream and green for design ranges.

• Black toaster: the most common, from entry level (Philips Daily, €18.99) to lacquered models. The black Smeg TSF01 was listed as shipping within several months when we checked, unlike its cream version.
• Red toaster: Russell Hobbs Colours Plus (€33.90) and KitchenAid 5KMT221 Empire Red (€78.80), both with a lacquer finish.
• Cream or beige toaster: beige Moulinex Subito (€32.99), cream De'Longhi Icona Vintage (€69.00) and cream Smeg TSF01 (€159.00), from the simplest to the most retro.
• White toaster: Bosch MyMoment TAT2M121 in matt white (€27.54) and white Philips Daily (€20.49).
• Green toaster: the Cecotec Toastin' time 1500 Green (€37.90) is the only green model in our selection.

The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.

To match the rest of your small appliances, several brands offer the same colour on a kettle and a coffee maker: Smeg, KitchenAid and De'Longhi do. Our coffee machine selection follows the same method as this page.

How to choose a toaster

A toaster is chosen on five criteria: power, the number and size of the slots, the thermostat and its browning levels, the functions and cleaning.

Power in watts

Toaster power ranges from 850 to 1,670 W for a 2-slot model and from 1,500 to 1,800 W for a 4-slice or twin long-slot model, according to our checks. Higher power toasts faster: Moulinex claims faster toasting on its 1,200 W Subito than on a standard 780 W toaster. Beyond that, the result depends mostly on the browning setting.

Number and width of slots

Count one slot per slice on a classic model: 2 slots for 1 to 2 people, 4 for a family. Width matters just as much: extra-wide slots, like the Smeg's 36 mm, take brioche, sourdough or bagels without forcing. If you mostly eat baguette, go for a long slot, or you will be toasting it in pieces.

Thermostat and browning levels

The toasters in our selection offer 6 to 8 browning levels when the manufacturer gives a number, set with a dial or an electronic thermostat. Eight levels (Philips Daily) leave more room between barely warm bread and crisp toast. The cancel button, found on most of the models we picked, stops toasting at any moment.

Functions: defrost, reheat, bagel

Three functions appear on almost every listing: defrost, which toasts bread straight from the freezer in one go, reheat, which warms a slice that has already been toasted without browning it further, and the bagel function, which toasts one side only (Smeg, KitchenAid). The bun warmer sits on top of the slots to warm a croissant or brioche: it is built in on the Philips Daily, Bosch MyMoment, Moulinex Subito and Krups Control Line. An extra-high lift helps you reach small slices without burning your fingers.

Cleaning and safety

Look at three things: a removable crumb tray, cord storage under the base and an automatic shut-off. Most of the models we picked have a removable crumb tray; Bosch put it at the front of its MyMoment. Automatic shut-off cuts the element if a slice gets stuck (Bosch TAT7S45, Philips). Always unplug the appliance before cleaning it and never put a metal object in the slots.

What budget for a toaster?

A toaster costs from €18.99 to €159.00 according to our checks on 07/10/2026. The budget follows the finish and the format more than browning quality.

• Under €30: the 2-slot essentials, with the Philips Daily (€18.99 in black, €20.49 in white) and the Bosch MyMoment TAT2M121 (€27.54). Our budget toaster page will cover this segment.
• €30 to €55: the widest choice, in stainless steel or colour, with a long slot or extra-wide slots: Moulinex Subito (€32.99), Russell Hobbs Colours Plus (€33.90) and Victory (€36.66), green Cecotec (€37.90), Tefal Express (€45.00), Krups Control Line (€50.56), Russell Hobbs Adventure (€52.99).
• €60 to €85: 4-slice toasters and design ranges, from the Moulinex Subito Select (€62.54) to the Bosch TAT7S45 (€82.97), by way of De'Longhi (€69.00) and KitchenAid (€78.80).
• Over €150: the cream Smeg TSF01 (€159.00), for its design.

The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.

The 14 toasters in the selection at a glance

Here is each model in the grid with its format, power and the drawback we hold against it.

The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.

How we selected these models

I picked 14 toasters available on 07/10/2026, covering every format (2-slot, long slot, 4-slice, vintage), every major brand and the most searched colours. For each one, I recorded the price, availability and seller on the Amazon listing, then cross-checked power, number of slots, browning levels and functions against the manufacturer's page; when the manufacturer and the seller disagree, the manufacturer's page wins, and any value that was missing or contradictory is marked "n.c." (not communicated). The black versions of the Smeg TSF01 and the TSF02 4-slice, listed as shipping within several months when we checked, were left out. Magimix, Kenwood, SEB, Ariete and Riviera & Bar also sell toasters: they will come into our next updates. None of these appliances has been tested hands-on: the score out of 5 is an editor's review based on slot width, power, functions, cleaning and price. The details are on our methodology page. For the rest of your small appliances, our air fryer selection follows the same method, as will our upcoming electric deep fryer page.

Frequently asked questions