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Best Toaster Ovens for Small Kitchens and Dorms (2026)
A great toaster oven replaces your full oven for 80% of tasks. We tested 8 models for toast, pizza, and baking.
Best Toaster Ovens of 2026
Whether you're in a dorm, a tiny apartment, or just hate preheating your full oven for a single tray of nachos — a toaster oven is the answer.
#1 Breville Smart Oven Compact Convection
The Breville Compact packs 8 cooking functions into a footprint that fits on any counter. Element IQ adjusts heat per function, so toast is golden and pizza is crispy on the bottom.
Pros:
- 8 cooking presets including convection
- Fits 4 slices of bread or a 12-inch pizza
- Interior light and auto-shutoff
- Brushed stainless steel build
#2 Cuisinart TOB-60N2
A solid mid-range pick with convection and enough room for a 12-inch pizza. Simple dial controls — no fussy touchscreens.
#3 Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 Countertop Toaster Oven
For dorm rooms and tight budgets, the Hamilton Beach is under $70 and handles toast, pizza, and reheating without complaints.
What Size Do You Need?
- Dorm/solo: 4-slice capacity, fits a personal pizza
- Couple/apartment: 6-slice, fits a 12-inch pizza
- Family/oven replacement: 9-slice or larger with convection
How We Tested
- Toast evenness across all slots
- Pizza: frozen and fresh dough at recommended temps
- Preheat speed vs. a full-size oven
- Cool-down time and exterior heat