The Best Compact Toastie Makers for Small Spaces
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The best compact toastie maker is the Breville Deep Fill (VST091): it stands upright on its end with the cord stored inside, so it takes up little more shelf space than a book. The Tower T27013 is a smaller-budget alternative, the Morphy Richards Mico takes no worktop at all, and for caravans and boats running on gas a stovetop toastie iron needs no power.
Quick answer:
- Breville Deep Fill (VST091): best compact toastie maker
- Tower T27013: best small and cheap
- Morphy Richards Mico: smallest option, uses your microwave
- Breville 3-in-1 (VST098): best compact multi-use, if you can store the plates
- Russell Hobbs 4-Portion (24550): most compact family-size
- Stovetop toastie iron: best for caravans and boats on gas
On this page
What makes a toastie maker compact
Every two-slice toastie maker has roughly the same plate size, because the plates have to fit a slice of bread. So the real differences in "compactness" are about how it stores, not how it cooks:
- Upright storage. Machines designed to stand on their hinge end take a fraction of the shelf depth. This is the single biggest space saver.
- Cord storage. A cord wrap or compartment underneath stops the flex sprawling across the cupboard.
- Locking latch. A latch that holds the lid closed makes the machine a neat block for storage.
- No spare plates. 3-in-1 machines are no bigger themselves, but the extra plates double the storage space you need.
- Weight. Lighter machines are easier to lift down from a high shelf, which matters when the worktop is too small to leave one out.
Comparison table
Price bands are typical UK prices, not live prices. Dimensions vary slightly by version; check the listing.
| Model | Stores upright | Cord storage | Power (listed) | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville VST091 | Yes | Yes | 850W | £25–£35 |
| Tower T27013 | Check listing | Check listing | 900W | £18–£28 |
| Morphy Richards Mico | Fits a drawer | No cord | Uses your microwave | £20–£30 |
| Breville VST098 | Yes | Yes | About 820–900W | £30–£50 |
| Russell Hobbs 24550 | Yes | Check listing | Check listing | £30–£45 |
| Stovetop toastie iron | Hangs on a hook | No cord | Gas | £10–£35 |
The best compact toastie makers
Breville Deep Fill Sandwich Toaster (VST091)
The VST091 is designed for small kitchens: it stands upright for storage, has built-in cord storage and a cool-touch handle, and listings give its footprint as roughly 24cm wide by 23.5cm deep and under 10cm tall, at about 1.8kg. Despite that, it is a proper deep fill machine with a fully enclosed plate system and 850W of power. It is our first choice for flats, bedsits and galley kitchens. See the Breville range guide.
- Upright storage and cord tidy
- Deep fill despite small size
- Light
- Plates sized for standard bread
- Not the deepest Breville
Tower T27013 Deep Fill Sandwich Maker
Small, light and inexpensive, the T27013 is a good fit for a cramped kitchen or a second machine for a caravan. It has extra-deep moulds, ceramic plates and 900W. Check the listing for storage features if upright storage is essential for you. See our Tower guide.
- Low price
- Light and small
- Storage features vary by version
- Lighter build
Morphy Richards Mico Microwave Toastie Maker
If there is no room at all for another appliance, the Mico lives in a drawer and uses your microwave. It makes one toastie at a time with slightly less even browning than electric, but takes up almost no space. Full details in our microwave toastie maker guide.
- Drawer-sized
- No extra plug or cord
- One at a time
- Needs a microwave
Breville 3-in-1 Ultimate Snack Maker (VST098)
If you would otherwise own a separate waffle maker or grill, one 3-in-1 saves space overall. The VST098 stands upright with cord storage and has removable, dishwasher-safe sandwich, panini and waffle plates. The spare plates are the catch, so only choose it if you have a drawer for them. See best 3-in-1 toastie makers for plate storage tips.
- Replaces three gadgets
- Upright storage
- Spare plates need space
- Pricier
Russell Hobbs 4-Portion Deep Fill (24550)
Four-slice machines are wide, but the 24550 is designed to stand upright, so its storage footprint is much smaller than its worktop footprint. That makes it the best choice for a family in a small kitchen. Compare it in our best 4-slice toastie maker guide.
- Two toasties at once
- Stands upright
- Wide on the worktop
- Fixed plates
Stovetop toastie iron
On a caravan or narrowboat running on gas, or off-grid on battery power, a stovetop toastie iron is the most practical choice. It hangs on a hook, needs no electricity and works on a gas burner. Aluminium irons are lighter and suit gas rings; cast iron is heavier but more even. Most will not work on induction. Our camping toastie maker guide compares them.
- No power needed
- Hangs out of the way
- Gas hobs only
- More hands-on
Caravans, motorhomes and boats: power matters
A typical two-slice toastie maker draws around 750–900W, roughly 3–4 amps from a mains supply. On a campsite hook-up, which in the UK is commonly limited to somewhere between 6 and 16 amps, that is fine on its own, but running it alongside a kettle and a heater can trip the supply. Check your site's rating and switch other high-power appliances off while it is on.
Off-grid, running a toastie maker through an inverter needs an inverter comfortably above the appliance's wattage and a leisure battery that can supply roughly 70–80 amps at 12V for the few minutes it runs. That is a lot for smaller systems. A microwave toastie maker has the same problem, because the microwave itself is power-hungry. If you are mostly off-grid, gas and a toastie iron is simpler. For running costs at home, see toastie maker electricity cost.
How we chose
We do not run lab tests. We compared listed dimensions and weights, storage features (upright standing, cord storage, latch), toastie quality for the size, power draw for caravan and hook-up use, and UK availability at the time of writing. Toastie quality still matters: every pick here makes a properly sealed toastie, not just a small one.
Small-kitchen storage tips
- Let it cool fully before putting it away, and store it latched shut to protect the plates.
- Store upright if the manufacturer says so; do not stand a machine on end if it is not designed for it, as the base may not be stable.
- Keep it near the socket you will use so it comes out quickly; the easier it is to reach, the more you will use it.
- Clean before storing. Leftover grease turns rancid in a closed cupboard. See how to clean a toastie maker.
- Do not store anything on top of a non-stick 3-in-1 plate set.
Students in halls with tight rules should also read toastie makers for students, and anyone on a tight budget our best cheap toastie makers.
Who should not buy a compact model
Compact machines are ideal for one or two people. Look elsewhere if:
- You feed a family most days. Making four toasties one pair at a time is slow; a 4-slice machine that stores upright is a better compromise.
- You want waffles or grilling. A 3-in-1 replaces several gadgets, which can save space overall if you would otherwise own them separately.
- You use large or artisan bread. Compact sealed plates are sized for standard slices; a panini press handles bigger bread.
- Cleaning is your main concern. Most compact two-slice models have fixed plates. See toastie makers with removable plates if you want dishwasher-safe plates.
Measuring your space
Before buying, measure the cupboard or shelf where the machine will live. A two-slice toastie maker standing on end typically needs a gap of roughly 10–12cm wide and around 25cm tall, plus a little room for the handle. Lying flat, it needs a roughly 25cm square of shelf. Check the listed dimensions of the specific model, as handles and feet add a few centimetres, and leave clearance around the machine on the worktop when it is in use so steam can escape away from cupboards above.
FAQs
What is the smallest toastie maker?
The smallest practical option is a microwave toastie maker like the Mico, which fits in a drawer. Among electric machines, two-slice models that store upright, such as the Breville VST091, take the least cupboard space.
Can I use a toastie maker in a caravan?
Yes, on mains hook-up, as long as the total power you are drawing stays within the site's limit. A 750–900W toastie maker is modest compared with a kettle. Off-grid, a gas stovetop toastie iron is usually more practical.
Do compact toastie makers make smaller toasties?
Not usually. Two-slice plates are sized to standard bread, so compact designs save space mainly through storage features rather than smaller plates. Some lower-priced models are slightly shallower.
Is it safe to store a toastie maker upright?
Yes, if it is designed for it: look for "stands upright for storage" in the product description. Let it cool completely first and keep the cord wrapped so it does not pull the machine over.
Can I keep a toastie maker on the worktop?
Yes, as long as it is unplugged when not in use and kept away from the sink and the edge of the worktop. In a small kitchen, many people find upright storage in a cupboard frees useful space, so choose a model designed to stand on end.