The 11 Best Toasters Under $50
We looked at toasters under $50 using manufacturer specs, independent reviews and owner reports. Each pick lists what it does well and where it falls short, so you can match it to how you'll use it.
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Quick picks
Key specs: Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots, 4-slice capacity, 6-shade settings.
Key Specifications & Features:
- Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots
- 4-slice capacity
- 6-shade settings
- Bagel, frozen, and reheat functions
- Slide-out crumb tray
Strengths
- 4-slice capacity toasts a full breakfast in one cycle for a family of two to four
- Consistent browning edge-to-edge for a toaster in this price bracket
Limitations
- Timer-based control, not thermostatic, first cold cycle runs slightly lighter
- 1-year warranty, shorter than Cuisinart's 3-year coverage at a similar price
- Plastic housing runs warm to the touch during back-to-back cycles
Key specs: 4-slice capacity, 1.2-inch slots, Toast boost lever.
Key Specifications & Features:
- 4-slice capacity
- 1.2-inch slots
- Toast boost lever
- 6-shade settings
- Bagel and cancel functions
Strengths
- Toast boost lever raises short slices for easy removal without touching the hot housing
- Simple mechanical dial that's easy to use and unlikely to need recalibration
- Wide enough slots (1.2 inches) for most sandwich bread and standard bagels
Limitations
- Browning is noticeably less even at the slot edges than the West Bend or Cuisinart options
- 1-year warranty, shorter than the Cuisinart CPT-122's 3-year coverage
- Housing is stamped metal and plastic, feels less substantial than die-cast competitors
Key specs: Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots, Toast boost lever, 6-shade browning dial.
Key Specifications & Features:
- Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots
- Toast boost lever
- 6-shade browning dial
- Bagel and defrost settings
- Removable crumb tray
Strengths
- Toast boost lever raises short slices high enough to grab without tongs
- Simple mechanical dial rarely needs recalibrating
Limitations
- Shade consistency varies more between a cold and warm toaster than on timer-compensated models
- Housing is stamped metal and plastic, not die-cast, lighter and less rigid than premium models
- Crumb tray is small and needs frequent emptying with regular use
Key specs: Compact footprint under 8 inches wide, 6-setting shade dial, Slide-out crumb tray.
Key Specifications & Features:
- Compact footprint under 8 inches wide
- 6-setting shade dial
- Slide-out crumb tray
- Cord storage in the base
- Bagel/defrost/toast function switch
Strengths
- Cuisinart's shading consistency at close to the lowest price in the Cuisinart lineup
- Compact 8-inch footprint fits tight counters and small apartments
- Slide-out crumb tray empties without disassembling the toaster
- 3-year warranty, longer than every other toaster in this roundup except the CPT-320
Limitations
- Slots are around 1.1 inches wide, squeezes thick artisan bread
- No lift-and-look; canceling mid-cycle to check toast resets the cycle
- Plastic housing runs warmer to the touch than metal-bodied models
Key specs: Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots, Stainless steel exterior, 6-shade settings.
Key Specifications & Features:
- Extra-wide 1.5-inch slots
- Stainless steel exterior
- 6-shade settings
- Frozen and bagel functions
- Extra-lift lever for small items
Strengths
- 1.5-inch slots at a budget price, wide enough for bagels and thick bread without forcing
- Stainless exterior looks and wipes cleaner than the plastic-bodied competitors at this price
- Extra-lift lever raises short slices high enough to remove without touching the hot housing
Limitations
- Shade dial has visible gaps between settings, fine adjustment isn't really possible
- No lift-and-look; checking toast mid-cycle means canceling and restarting
- Exterior runs hotter to the touch than die-cast models during back-to-back cycles
Key specs: Clear side windows to watch toast browning, 1.1-inch slots, 6-shade settings.
Key Specifications & Features:
- Clear side windows to watch toast browning
- 1.1-inch slots
- 6-shade settings
- Removable crumb tray
- Compact 7-inch-wide housing
Strengths
- Clear windows let you watch browning progress without lifting the lever
- Compact 7-inch footprint is one of the smallest toasters in this roundup
- Simple to clean, no crevices around the viewing windows to trap crumbs
Limitations
- 1.1-inch slots are narrow, thick artisan bread and large bagels compress noticeably
- Plastic housing feels less substantial than metal-bodied competitors
- Viewing windows fog slightly with steam on longer cycles, reducing visibility
Key specs: 4-slice capacity, Extra-wide slots, 6-shade settings.
Key Specifications & Features:
- 4-slice capacity
- Extra-wide slots
- 6-shade settings
- Toast boost lever
- Removable crumb tray
Strengths
- Extra-wide slots handle standard bagels without much compression
- Toast boost lever raises short items for safer removal
- Simple dial controls with minimal parts to fail
Limitations
- Browning evenness is noticeably inconsistent at the slot edges
- Housing is entirely plastic and feels the least substantial in this list
Key specs: 4-slice long-slot design, 1.3-inch wide slots, 7-shade settings.
Key Specifications & Features:
- 4-slice long-slot design
- 1.3-inch wide slots
- 7-shade settings
- Bagel, reheat, and defrost functions
- Removable crumb tray
Strengths
- 7-shade dial offers finer control than the typical 6-setting budget toaster
- 1.3-inch width handles bagels and thick bread better than most toasters at this price
Limitations
- Smaller review base (4,800) than the more established brands in this roundup
- Build quality feels noticeably lighter-duty than Cuisinart or West Bend
- No countdown display or lift-and-look, no way to check progress without canceling
Key specs: 4-slice long-slot design, 1.3-inch wide slots, Stainless steel housing.
Key Specifications & Features:
- 4-slice long-slot design
- 1.3-inch wide slots
- Stainless steel housing
- 6-shade settings
- Bagel, reheat, and defrost functions
Strengths
- Long-slot design with a stainless housing at a price closer to plastic budget models
- 1.3-inch slots comfortably fit bagels and thick artisan bread
- Bagel, reheat, and defrost cover the functions most households actually use
Limitations
- Stainless finish shows fingerprints and needs regular wiping
- Timer-based control produces a lighter first cycle on a cold toaster
- 1-year warranty is shorter than Cuisinart's 3-year coverage at a similar price
Key specs: 4-slice capacity, Extra-wide 1.4-inch slots, 6-shade settings.
Key Specifications & Features:
- 4-slice capacity
- Extra-wide 1.4-inch slots
- 6-shade settings
- Bagel and frozen functions
- Slide-out crumb tray
Strengths
- Bagel and frozen functions cover the settings most households actually use daily
- Slide-out crumb tray simplifies regular cleaning
- West Bend's build quality is consistent with its higher-rated 4-Slice Extra-Wide sibling
Limitations
- Smallest review base (3,600) of the 4-slice toasters in this roundup
- 4.2-star average is on the lower end for this list
- Timer-based control, not thermostatic, first cold cycle runs slightly lighter
Strengths
- Extra-wide slots fit bagels and thick bread
- Manual high-lift lever for small items
- Removable crumb tray
- Several color finishes
Limitations
- Only 5 shade settings
- No bagel or defrost presets on some versions
- Exterior gets warm
How we chose
- Picks are based on manufacturer specs, independent reviews and owner reports. We don't claim our own testing.
- We do not list prices or star ratings because they change. Check Amazon for current details.