The best toaster in NZ overall is the KitchenAid 4 Slice Toaster, thanks to its extra-wide 3.1cm slots and a run of seven colourways that suit almost any kitchen.
This guide covers ten toasters currently sold in New Zealand, from simple 2-slice budget models to long-slot 4-slice toasters built for a bigger household. Each pick has been checked against a matching New Zealand or Australian retailer listing for its real dimensions, materials and genuine owner feedback, rather than written from spec sheets alone.
Every entry below includes an honest trade-off alongside what it does well, because no toaster in this price range gets everything right. Use the comparison table for a quick overview, then read the full picks for the detail that actually affects day-to-day use.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Slots | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| KitchenAid 4 Slice Toaster | Best for Matching Your Kitchen Colour Scheme | 4 (extra-wide) | 7 colourways |
| Sunbeam Arise Long Slot Toaster | Best for Artisan Bread | 4 (long slot) | LED countdown timer |
| Russell Hobbs Carlton Toaster | Best Budget Buy | 2 | 2-year warranty |
| Breville Lift and Look Pro Toaster | Best for Big Households | 4 (long slot) | Lift and Look + Bagel/Frozen |
| Philips 3000 Series Toaster | Best Compact Pick | 2 (wide) | Integrated bun-warming rack |
| Sunbeam French Riviera Toaster | Best Style Statement | 4 | Dishwasher-safe crumb tray |
| Russell Hobbs Eden Toaster | Best Textured Design | 2 | Textured finish |
| Breville Smart Toast Toaster | Best Premium 2-Slice | 2 | Motorised Lift and Look |
| Braun Breakfast1 Toaster | Best for Bun and Bagel Warming | 2 | Integrated bun warmer |
| Breville Lift and Look Plus Toaster | Best Long Slot 2-Slice | 2 (long slot) | Extra-long self-centring slots |
1. KitchenAid 4 Slice Toaster – Best for Matching Your Kitchen Colour Scheme
Best for shoppers who want the toaster to match the rest of the kitchen, the KitchenAid 4 Slice Toaster is sold in seven colourways from Stainless Steel through to Empire Red and Pistachio, making it one of the few 4-slice models in this list that doubles as a styling choice rather than a stainless-steel default.
The body measures 308.3mm wide, 300mm deep and 211.5mm tall and weighs 3.3kg, giving it a solid footprint that suits a family kitchen bench rather than a small flat. It is built from a mix of stainless steel, aluminium and plastic, and the coloured finishes swap the metal panels for a painted plastic shell, so the feel differs a little between colourways even though the mechanics stay the same.
Four extra-wide 3.1cm slots take everything from thin white bread to thick artisan slices, and the shade dial runs across 7 settings alongside Bagel, Defrost, Reheat and a Little Longer function for a final top-up without restarting the cycle. The high-lift lever brings small items clear of the slots, and the crumb tray slides out from the base for cleaning.
Owners across the wider KitchenAid 4-slice range rate it well overall, though some report the shade needs a setting or two of trial and error on the first few cycles before it settles into an even result, which is a fair trade-off for the colour range on offer.
Key specs: model 5KMT4109ASX, 4 slices, 1800W, 7 browning settings, Bagel/Defrost/Reheat/Little Longer functions, 2-year warranty.
2. Sunbeam Arise Long Slot Toaster – Best for Artisan Bread
Best for households that buy sourdough and ciabatta over standard sliced loaves, the Sunbeam Arise Long Slot Toaster uses self-centring long slots that fit two big artisan slices or four standard slices and muffins at once.
At 400mm deep, 190mm wide and 190mm tall and weighing 2.12kg, it sits neatly on the bench without the wide footprint of a standard 4-slice model. The body is finished in brushed stainless steel with a 0.9m cord, and the electronic control panel carries a small LED countdown timer so testers can see exactly how long is left on the cycle.
Controls run to 7 browning levels plus a dedicated crumpet setting, along with defrost and reheat functions, a QuickCheck lift-and-look lever to peek at the toast without cancelling the cycle, and a high-lift lever for small items. The crumb tray lifts out from the base and the cord wraps away for storage.
The trade-off is consistency: several owners report one side toasting darker than the other, with the inside face nearest the heating element finishing faster than the outer edge, and the toast can eject with more force than expected. The long slots are also a touch shorter than older Sunbeam models, so two standard slices do not always sit as comfortably side by side. Build quality feels lighter than the outgoing Sunbeam range, though the LED timer and QuickCheck feature are genuinely useful day to day.
Key specs: model TAM5003SS, 4 slices, long self-centring slots, 1460-1740W, 7 browning levels, 1-year warranty (2-year extended plan available).
3. Russell Hobbs Carlton Toaster – Best Budget Buy
Best for anyone who wants a straightforward 2-slice toaster without paying for extra functions, the Russell Hobbs Carlton is a compact, no-fuss model finished in brushed stainless steel with high-gloss chrome accents.
It measures 285mm deep, 200mm wide and 220mm tall and weighs 1.8kg, small enough to tuck beside a kettle on a shared bench. The wide, self-centring slots take standard and slightly thicker slices, and the shade dial runs across 7 settings with dedicated cancel, defrost and reheat buttons alongside a high-lift facility for small items. The crumb tray slides out from underneath for cleaning, and the cord wraps into a storage bay in the base.
Testers who have used the Carlton describe it as toasting evenly and quickly for the price, with straightforward controls that need no manual. It carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty, a stronger cover period than several pricier models in this list.
The trade-off shows up in consistency at scale: a number of owners report one side toasting noticeably darker than the other over time, and there are scattered reports of a slot ceasing to heat, or in one case tripping the household circuit breaker, after several months of regular use. These are not universal complaints, but they are worth knowing before buying a toaster mainly on price.
Key specs: model RHT82BRU, 2 slices, wide self-centring slots, 7 browning settings, defrost/reheat/cancel functions, 2-year warranty.
4. Breville Lift and Look Pro Toaster – Best for Big Households
Best for a household that needs four slices done at once every morning, the Breville Lift and Look Pro is a long-slot 4-slice toaster built around extra-wide, extra-deep slots that self-centre bread, crumpets, muffins and bagels.
It measures 399mm wide, 204mm deep and 200mm tall and weighs 2.58kg, finished in brushed stainless steel with a cool-touch exterior that stays safe to handle mid-cycle. The Lift and Look lever raises the carriage so testers can check progress without cancelling the cycle, and a 1-Touch A Bit More button adds a short top-up burn without resetting the shade dial. An LED progress indicator tracks the cycle, and the crumb tray slides out from the front for cleaning.
Dedicated Bagel and Frozen settings cover cold or split bread, and a separate Fruit Bread and crumpet setting adjusts the heating pattern for denser bakes. Owners who get a good unit report even toasting on large artisan loaves and crumpets, and some long-term owners report five to seven years of trouble-free use.
The trade-off is a well-documented reliability gap: a large share of owner reviews describe inconsistent browning between the two toasting chambers, toast popping up before it has finished, and the plastic lift-lever mechanism failing to stay down, often shortly after the 1-year warranty period ends. It is a toaster with strong features when it works as intended, but buyers should go in aware of the pattern of complaints.
Key specs: model BTA730BSS, 4 slices, long slot, 1800W, Lift and Look, Bagel/Frozen functions, 1-year warranty.
5. Philips 3000 Series Toaster – Best Compact Pick
Best for a small kitchen or a single-person household, the Philips 3000 Series Toaster HD2581/00 is a compact 2-slice model that keeps the footprint down without losing the features that matter day to day.
It measures 27.5cm wide, 18.8cm tall and 15.6cm deep and weighs 1.07kg, one of the lightest and smallest units in this list, finished in white. The wide slots are self-centring, and 8 browning settings give finer control over shade than the usual 6 or 7-setting dial. A reheat function and a defrost setting cover cold or frozen bread, and an integrated bun-warming rack sits on top for croissants or bread rolls without a separate accessory.
A high-lift lever brings small items clear of the slots, the crumb tray removes from the base, and non-slip feet keep the unit steady on the bench. The short 0.85m cord suits a toaster that sits close to the wall socket rather than the centre of the bench.
Owner satisfaction sits high overall, with the vast majority of ratings landing in the top two bands. The genuine trade-off is capacity rather than reliability: as a 2-slice-only unit, it is not built for a bigger household making toast for three or four people at once, so anyone feeding a family may find themselves running two cycles back to back.
Key specs: model HD2581/00, 2 slices, wide slot, 830W, 8 browning settings, integrated bun-warming rack, 2-year warranty.
6. Sunbeam French Riviera Toaster – Best Style Statement
Best for shoppers who want a toaster that doubles as a kitchen accent piece, the Sunbeam French Riviera 4 Slice Toaster in Morning Haze pairs a soft matte-blue metallic finish with a matching kettle sold in the same range.
The unit measures 202mm deep, 321mm wide and 298mm tall and weighs 2.7kg, built from metal with a premium matte finish rather than the gloss stainless steel used on most 4-slice toasters. It is also sold in Graphite and White for kitchens that prefer a more neutral palette. Wide, self-centring slots handle four standard slices at once, and a soft glow illumination lights the base while it is running.
Controls stretch to 7 browning levels, a dedicated crumpet setting and a defrost function, alongside a QuickCheck lever that lifts the carriage for a mid-cycle look without cancelling, a high-lift lever for small items, and a three-way safety system. The crumb tray is dishwasher-safe, a genuine convenience most competitors in this list do not offer.
As a recently released model, independent long-term owner feedback is still thin compared with toasters that have been on the market for years, so buyers are relying more on early reviews than an established track record. The verified review located during research was positive, praising the styling and the QuickCheck function, but it is a smaller evidence base than an established model like the Carlton or the Lift and Look Pro.
Key specs: model TAM8104BL, 4 slices, 1500-1800W, 7 browning levels plus crumpet setting, dishwasher-safe crumb tray, 12-month warranty.
7. Russell Hobbs Eden Toaster – Best Textured Design
Best for a kitchen that wants a toaster with more visual texture than plain stainless steel, the Russell Hobbs Eden 2 Slice Toaster uses a textured black finish with chrome accents that reads as more of a statement piece on the bench.
The 2-slice unit runs a browning-control dial alongside two function buttons for a total of 6 browning settings, plus frozen and reheat functions and a cancel button. A high-lift feature brings toast or bagels clear of the slots, and the crumb tray removes from the base for cleaning. It is also sold in a white version of the same textured design for kitchens that prefer a lighter palette.
Testers describe the textured finish as complementing a range of kitchen styles more readily than a plain gloss or brushed panel, and toasting performance is generally described as even and consistent for day-to-day white and wholemeal bread.
The trade-off is practical rather than a performance one: the same textured surface that gives the Eden its look is harder to wipe clean than a smooth panel, since crumbs and fingerprints sit in the texture rather than wiping off in one pass. It is a fair swap for the styling, but worth knowing before buying if easy wipe-downs matter more than looks.
Key specs: model RHT2737BLK, 2 slices, 6 browning settings, frozen/reheat functions, high-lift feature, textured black finish.
8. Breville Smart Toast Toaster – Best Premium 2-Slice
Best for anyone who wants the most precise 2-slice toasting in this list, the Breville Smart Toast pairs a motorised Lift and Look carriage with an electronic browning dial for consistent, repeatable results cycle after cycle.
The unit measures 278mm wide, 197mm tall and 177mm deep and weighs 3.1kg, finished in brushed stainless steel with backlit buttons and two extra-wide, extra-deep self-centring slots. The Lift and Look carriage rises automatically partway through the cycle so testers can check progress without interrupting it, and a dedicated A Bit More button adds a short extra burn with an audible beep once it is done. A Crumpet and Fruit Bread setting adjusts the heating pattern for denser bakes, and defrost, reheat and cancel round out the controls. The crumb tray removes from the front and the cord stores in the base.
Owners who get a good unit rate the Lift and Look and A Bit More features highly, with several describing it as the best toaster they have used for even results across different bread types.
The trade-off is around long-term reliability: some owners report the carriage sticking partway through its cycle, the toast or cancel button wearing out with heavy use, and Breville’s own service advice in some cases being that the unit has no user-replaceable parts. Warranty length is also inconsistent across NZ and Australian retailers, so it is worth confirming cover at the point of purchase.
Key specs: model BTA825BSS, 2 slices, 1000W, motorised Lift and Look, Crumpet/Fruit Bread setting, manufacturer warranty varies by retailer.
9. Braun Breakfast1 Toaster – Best for Bun and Bagel Warming
Best for anyone who regularly warms croissants, bread rolls or bagels alongside their toast, the Braun Breakfast1 Toaster HT1010BK builds an integrated bun-warming rack straight into the top of the unit rather than selling it as a separate accessory.
The 2-slice toaster is finished in black plastic and runs on 900W, with 8 browning settings controlled through a single 3-in-1 knob on the side of the unit that also switches between reheat, defrost and the bun-warming function. An automatic bread-centring system holds slices in place regardless of thickness, and a removable crumb tray sits underneath for cleaning. A 4-way safety system covers overheating and jamming, though it does not include a sandwich or bagel cage.
Owners specifically call out the bun warmer as a genuine point of difference, with several saying it should be a standard feature on more toasters, since it lets them warm cold-stored croissants or rolls at the same time as making toast. General feedback otherwise describes it as doing the job without fuss.
The trade-off centres on consistency and after-sales support: one owner reported the toaster failing to brown one side of the bread from the first use, and a separate review described dealing with Braun’s own warranty process as an absolute chore, even though the retailer’s own customer service was praised. The bun warmer is a genuine point of difference, but buyers should weigh that against a mixed reliability picture.
Key specs: model HT1010BK, 2 slices, 900W, 8 browning settings, integrated bun-warming rack, 12-month warranty.
10. Breville Lift and Look Plus Toaster – Best Long Slot 2-Slice
Best for a household that wants artisan-size slices without stepping up to a 4-slice toaster, the Breville Lift and Look Plus uses extra-long, extra-deep slots that fit two large slices side on, or four regular slices and muffins.
Finished in white with chrome trim, the unit runs on 1000W with 6 browning settings controlled by a dial, plus a frozen setting for bread straight from the freezer. The self-centring slots hold bread upright regardless of thickness, and the Lift and Look lever raises the carriage mid-cycle so testers can check the shade without cancelling and restarting. The crumb tray removes from the base for cleaning.
Owners describe it as simple, cheap to run and easy to keep clean, which suits anyone who wants a long-slot toaster without extra digital features to learn.
The trade-off shows up with age: the browning dial’s printed markings are reported to rub off with regular use, leaving owners toasting from memory rather than a visible setting, and there are reports of inconsistent results where the bottom of the slice chars before the top has browned. Independent review volume for this model is also lower and skews more critical than some of the other picks in this list, so it is worth setting expectations around a genuinely mixed track record rather than a universally loved model.
Key specs: model BTA360WHT, 2 slices, long slot, 1000W, 6 browning settings, frozen setting, 12-month warranty.
How to choose the best toaster
Start with household size. A 2-slice toaster suits one or two people and takes up less bench space, while a 4-slice model saves time for a bigger household by toasting a full breakfast run in one cycle rather than running two batches back to back.
Check the slot type next. Standard slots suit sliced sandwich bread, while long slots are built for artisan loaves like sourdough and ciabatta, and self-centring slots hold bread upright regardless of thickness so it toasts evenly on both sides.
Wattage is a rough guide to speed rather than quality. Most toasters run between 800W and 1800W, with 2-slice models usually closer to 800W to 1000W and 4-slice models closer to 1500W to 1800W. A higher number toasts faster but does not necessarily toast better.
Features worth having include a defrost setting for bread straight from the freezer, a reheat function for toast that has gone cold, a crumpet or bagel setting that adjusts the heating pattern, and a lift-and-look lever to check progress without cancelling the cycle.
Toast rarely stands alone at breakfast. Anyone upgrading a wider kitchen setup alongside a new toaster may also want to check guides to coffee grinders and milk frothers for the rest of the morning routine.
Finally, check the crumb tray design and the warranty length. A tray that slides out easily makes regular cleaning more likely, and warranty cover across this category ranges from 12 months to 2 years, which is worth confirming before buying rather than after something goes wrong.
If you are planning the whole kitchen, the guide to rice cookers covers the other appliances worth costing in.
Verdict
There is no single best toaster for every NZ kitchen, only the right toaster for the household using it. The KitchenAid 4 Slice Toaster is the pick for anyone who wants a 4-slice toaster that matches their kitchen’s colour scheme, while the Russell Hobbs Carlton covers the basics well for shoppers on a tighter budget.
Bigger households after speed should look at the Breville Lift and Look Pro or the Sunbeam Arise Long Slot, and anyone tight on bench space is better served by the compact Philips 3000 Series or a long-slot 2-slice model like the Breville Lift and Look Plus.
For the rest of the benchtop, guides to air fryers, electric frypans and food processors cover the other kitchen appliances most NZ households rely on alongside a good toaster. Whichever model suits, checking the warranty length and real owner reviews for that specific toaster remains the best way to avoid the reliability issues that show up across this category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a 2-slice or 4-slice toaster?
A 2-slice toaster suits one or two people and takes up less bench space, while a 4-slice model saves time for a bigger household by toasting a full breakfast run in one cycle. Long-slot 4-slice toasters also handle artisan bread better than most standard 2-slice units.
How many watts should a toaster have?
Most toasters run between 800W and 1800W, with 2-slice models typically nearer 800W to 1000W and 4-slice models closer to 1500W to 1800W. Higher wattage generally means faster toasting rather than better results, so it is worth matching wattage to household size rather than chasing the highest number.
Why does my toaster toast unevenly?
Uneven toasting is usually caused by crumbs built up on the heating elements, bread slices of different thickness or freshness in the same cycle, or bread sitting off-centre in the slot. Emptying the crumb tray regularly and centring slices before starting the cycle fixes most cases without needing a repair.
How long should a toaster last?
Most toasters last around 5 to 8 years with regular household use, and up to 10 years or more for lightly used or higher-quality models. Signs it is time to replace one include persistent uneven toasting, a lever or carriage that no longer stays down, or any burning smell or electrical fault.
What is the most reliable toaster brand in NZ?
Breville, KitchenAid, Sunbeam and Russell Hobbs are the most widely sold toaster brands in NZ, and reliability varies by individual model rather than by brand alone. Checking real owner reviews for the specific model, not just the brand, is a more reliable way to judge how long a toaster is likely to last.
How do I clean a toaster properly?
Unplug the toaster first, then slide out and empty the crumb tray after every few uses. Turn the unit upside down over a bin and gently shake out any loose crumbs trapped inside, and wipe the exterior with a damp cloth. Never use water or a knife inside the toasting slots.
