A toaster oven earns its counter space by doing several jobs a regular toaster can’t: toast, bake, broil, reheat, and on newer models, air-fry. The tradeoff is size and price — buy the wrong one and you’ve got a smaller, slower version of your kitchen oven. Here’s what actually matters when picking one, and where to find my picks.
What to Look For
- Capacity: Measured in liters or by what physically fits — a 9×13 sheet pan, a whole chicken, six slices of bread. Match it to your household size, not the biggest number on the box.
- Convection fan: Circulates hot air for faster, more even cooking than a standard toaster oven. Worth paying for if you bake or roast regularly.
- Air-fry function: Increasingly common on newer models — essentially a convection oven with a fry basket. Check whether the basket ships with the unit or costs extra.
- Interior material: Enamel or ceramic interiors wipe clean faster than bare metal, which holds grease and scorches with repeated use.
- Footprint: A large-capacity toaster oven can take up more counter space than a microwave. Measure your counter before you buy, not after.
Convection Toaster Ovens
If a convection fan and faster, more even cooking matter to you, start with the comparison of the top convection toaster ovens, covering five models from budget to full-size.
Reviews
Read the full Breville Smart Oven Pro review for a closer look at the comparison’s top pick.
Also reviewed: the Ninja Foodi XL Pro, the comparison’s largest-capacity, dedicated air-fry pick, the Cuisinart TOA-70NAS, the comparison’s best-value air-fry pick, and the Oster XL 42L French Door, the comparison’s biggest-capacity pick, and the BLACK+DECKER TO3250XSBD, the comparison’s best-budget pick.
Toaster Oven Guides
- The best way to clean a toaster oven — what actually gets baked-on grease off without scratching the interior.
- How a microwave-toaster oven combo works — whether a combo unit is worth it over two separate appliances.
- Air fryer vs toaster oven — crisping, capacity, speed and energy use, and which household each one suits.
If all you actually want is air-frying without the toast and bake functions, the air fryer guide covers dedicated air fryers, which are usually cheaper and faster for that one job.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a toaster oven do I actually need?
Match it to your household, not the biggest number on the box. Capacity is usually measured in liters or by what physically fits — a 9×13 sheet pan, a whole chicken, six slices of bread — and a large-capacity model can take up more counter space than a microwave, so measure the counter before buying.
Is a convection fan worth paying extra for?
If baking or roasting regularly, yes. A convection fan circulates hot air for faster, more even cooking than a standard toaster oven, though it matters less if the oven is mainly used for toast and reheating.
Does the air-fry function on a toaster oven replace a dedicated air fryer?
Not really. It is essentially a convection oven with a fry basket, and it is worth checking whether the basket ships with the unit or costs extra. For air-frying as the main job, a dedicated air fryer is usually cheaper and faster; the toaster oven’s version suits people who also want toast and bake from the same appliance.
I'm Glenn, and I started Kitchenware Compare to cut through conflicting product reviews and help readers pick kitchen gear with confidence. I don't own or test the products I write about — these guides are built from verified-purchase reviews, manufacturer specifications, and independent testing where it exists, with the reasoning shown, not just a rating.