Best Bread Machine (7 Picks by Loaf Shape, Size and Counter Space)

A bread machine does the slow, boring parts of baking for you. It mixes, kneads, waits for the dough to rise and bakes it, all in one pan with one button.

The short version: For most homes, the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus is the one to buy. Its two paddles and lid heater give you an even, normal-shaped loaf with a browned top. On a tight budget, the Hamilton Beach 2-Pound Bread Maker covers the basics well. Before you buy any machine, check one thing: the loaf size you will actually eat before it goes stale.

Quick Picks by Kitchen and Household

• Best overall: Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20Jump to review ↓
• Best budget: Hamilton Beach 2-Pound Bread Maker 29982Jump to review ↓
• Best for big loaves: West Bend Hi-Rise Bread Maker 47413Jump to review ↓
• Best mid-price with a nut dispenser: KBS 17-in-1 Bread Maker with Dual HeatersJump to review ↓
• Best for mix-ins and custom recipes: Breville Custom Loaf BBM800XLJump to review ↓
• Best Zojirushi for less: Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20Jump to review ↓
• Best for one or two people: Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini BB-HAC10Jump to review ↓

This list is about machines that bake the whole loaf for you. If you would rather knead by machine and shape loaves by hand, that is a different job, covered in our guides to the best stand mixer and the best bread proofing baskets.

Bread Machine Comparison Table

Machine	Largest loaf	Pan and paddles	Gluten-free setting	Extras	Footprint (W x D x H)
Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus	2 lb	Horizontal, 2 paddles	Yes	Lid heater, sourdough starter course	18 x 10.5 x 12.9 in
Hamilton Beach 29982	2 lb	Upright, 1 paddle	Yes	PFAS-free pan, dishwasher-safe pan	11.4 x 13.9 x 11.2 in
West Bend Hi-Rise	3 lb	Horizontal, 2 paddles	Yes	Custom mode	Not listed by maker
KBS 17-in-1	2.2 lb	Upright, ceramic pan	Yes	Nut dispenser, 15-hour timer	Not listed by maker
Breville Custom Loaf	2.5 lb	Upright, folding paddle	Yes	Nut dispenser, interior light	16.4 x 9.6 x 13.3 in
Zojirushi Supreme	2 lb	Horizontal, 2 paddles	No (use Home Made)	Sourdough starter course	17 x 8.5 x 12.3 in
Zojirushi Mini	1 lb	Small pan, 1 paddle	No	Cookie and pasta dough menu	8.5 x 11.3 x 12.3 in

Footprint numbers come from each maker. Width is the side-to-side measurement on your counter.

We picked these seven by reading maker specs, owner review patterns and repair complaints, then checking that each model is still sold by its maker.

1. Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20: Best Overall

Most bread machines bake from the bottom only. That is why so many machine loaves come out with a pale, soft top. The Virtuoso Plus adds a second heater in the lid, so the top of the loaf browns too. It is the main thing that sets it apart from every other machine here.

The pan lies flat and makes a loaf shaped like the bread you buy at the store. A long pan is harder to knead evenly, so Zojirushi puts two blades in it, one at each end. The dough gets worked from both sides, and you get fewer dense corners.

The course list is also unusually useful. Gluten Free, Salt Free, Sugar Free and Vegan each have their own settings. The Home Made settings let you change how long it kneads, rises and bakes, then save it. Once you find a recipe you like, it is one button every time.

Who should buy it: Anyone who will bake two or three loaves a week and wants bread that looks like a bakery sandwich loaf. If you would rather avoid a traditional nonstick coating, Zojirushi also sells a version with a PFAS-free ceramic pan, the BB-PPC20. Our explainer on what nonstick cookware is covers the difference.

2. Hamilton Beach 2-Pound Bread Maker 29982: Best Budget

This is a simple machine that does the everyday jobs well and costs a fraction of a Zojirushi. You get three loaf sizes, three crust shades, a delay start and an hour of keep-warm after baking. That covers most of what people actually use.

Two details lift it above other cheap machines. The pan and paddle use a PFAS-free nonstick coating. And they go in the dishwasher, which many budget machines do not allow. The machine also beeps before the second knead, so you know when to add raisins, seeds or nuts.

The pan stands upright, so the loaf comes out taller and squarer than a store loaf. Slices are a bit larger at the top. Most people stop noticing after a week of toast.

Who should buy it: First-time bread bakers, renters and anyone who wants to try machine bread before spending a lot. It fits well alongside the other small kitchen appliances for cooking for one because the 1 lb setting stops you baking more than you can eat.

3. West Bend Hi-Rise Bread Maker 47413: Best for Big Loaves

The West Bend is the cheapest way to get a horizontal pan with two paddles. Those are the same basic features that make the Zojirushi loaf look normal. It does not have a lid heater or the same finish, but it costs far less.

Its other strength is size. It bakes loaves up to 3 pounds, which is bigger than any other machine here. For a family that goes through a loaf a day, that means fewer bakes. The Custom mode lets you change cycle times once you know what you are doing.

Who should buy it: Families of four or more, and anyone who wants a classic loaf shape without paying Zojirushi prices. If you bake big and freeze half, our guide to freezing single portions shows how to wrap slices so they toast straight from frozen.

4. KBS 17-in-1 Bread Maker with Dual Heaters: Best Mid-Price With a Nut Dispenser

KBS is a smaller brand that sells mostly online, but it has built a loyal following. This model brings features you usually find on pricier machines. The most useful is the automatic dispenser. You load nuts, seeds or dried fruit into a small box in the lid, and the machine drops them in at the right moment. You do not have to wait for a beep.

The pan has a ceramic coating instead of traditional nonstick. That matters to buyers who want to avoid PTFE, the chemical behind most nonstick pans. Our article on whether ceramic-titanium cookware is safe explains how ceramic coatings differ. The stainless body also looks tidier on an open counter than white plastic.

Owners often mention that it runs quieter than they expected. That is worth knowing if you plan to use the delay timer overnight in a small flat.

Who should buy it: Anyone who bakes a lot of seeded, fruit or nut breads and wants the dispenser without paying Breville prices.

5. Breville Custom Loaf BBM800XL: Best for Mix-Ins and Custom Recipes

The Breville solves the most common complaint about machine bread: the paddle hole. Its paddle folds flat before baking starts. The loaf still has a mark where the shaft sits, but the big tear from a standing paddle is gone.

It is also the most flexible machine here. You pick from four loaf sizes, and nine custom slots store your own recipes. A pause button lets you stop the cycle to shape the dough by hand, for example to fold in a cinnamon swirl. There is a light inside, so you can check the rise without lifting the lid and letting the heat out.

The fruit and nut dispenser works like the one on the KBS. Load it at the start and the machine adds the extras during kneading. A mute button turns off the beeps, which helps if the timer is set to finish at 6 a.m.

Who should buy it: Bakers who want to experiment and like mix-in breads. It is also a good fit if the paddle hole bothers you more than the loaf shape.

6. Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20: Best Zojirushi for Less

The Supreme is the older, simpler sibling of the Virtuoso Plus. It shares the horizontal pan and twin paddles, so you get the same classic loaf shape. What it does not have is the lid heater and the long list of special-diet courses.

It is also narrower front to back, at 8.5 inches deep. That is two inches less than the Virtuoso Plus, which helps on a shallow counter or a slim shelf. There is no Gluten Free button. You can still bake gluten-free bread by building your own cycle in a Home Made setting.

Who should buy it: People who want a Zojirushi loaf for everyday white and wheat bread, and do not need special-diet settings.

7. Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini BB-HAC10: Best for One or Two People

Most bread machines are built for families. A 2 lb loaf is a lot of bread for one person, and homemade bread goes stale faster than store bread. The Mini fixes that by baking a 1 lb loaf. It is about the right amount for one or two people to finish while it is still fresh.

It is also the narrowest machine here, at 8.5 inches wide. That is less than half the width of the Virtuoso Plus. It can live in a corner of the counter or slide into a cabinet without a fight. At 450 watts, it also draws less power than the full-size machines.

The menu has one unusual extra: a Cookie/Pasta Dough setting. It mixes stiff doughs that a normal bread cycle would struggle with. Paired with the regular Dough setting, the Mini can handle much of the mixing that a stand mixer would do in a small home.

Who should buy it: Singles, couples and anyone in a studio or small apartment kitchen who wants fresh bread without leftovers. Our guide to cooking for one without wasting food has more ideas along the same lines.

Horizontal or Vertical Pan: What Changes in the Loaf?

The pan shape decides what your slices look like.

A horizontal pan lies flat, like a loaf tin. It makes a long, low loaf with slices that fit a toaster and a sandwich. Because the pan is long, one paddle in the middle cannot reach the ends well. So good horizontal machines use two paddles, one at each end. The Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus, Zojirushi Supreme and West Bend work this way.

A vertical pan stands upright. It makes a tall, almost square loaf. The slices are large, and they may stick out of a narrow toaster slot. The upside is a smaller footprint, since the machine can be narrow and deep instead of wide. One paddle is enough for a pan this shape.

	Horizontal pan	Vertical (upright) pan
Loaf shape	Long and low, like store bread	Tall and square
Paddles	Usually two	Usually one
Counter width	Wider	Narrower
Slices in a toaster	Fit easily	Can stick out of the top
Typical price	Mid to high	Budget to mid

If you mainly make toast and sandwiches, a horizontal pan is the better choice. If the loaf is mostly for tearing and dipping, the shape matters less. Pair it with a 2-slice toaster that has wide slots.

What Loaf Size Do You Need?

Loaf size is the weight of the finished bread. Most machines offer two or three sizes, and you pick one before you start.

Household	Loaf size	Lasts about
1 person	1 lb	3 to 4 days
2 people	1 to 1.5 lb	2 to 3 days
3 to 4 people	2 lb	2 to 3 days
5 or more	2.5 to 3 lb	2 days

Homemade bread has no preservatives, so it goes stale faster than store bread. A smaller loaf you finish is better than a big one you throw away. If you are cooking for one, our guide to scaling down recipes for one shows how to adjust ingredient amounts. The same ideas apply in small-batch baking.

Store the finished loaf in a bread box or an airtight container once it has fully cooled. Slice and freeze what you will not eat in three days.

Single vs Dual Paddles, and the Paddle Hole

The paddle is the small blade at the bottom of the pan that kneads the dough. It sits on a metal shaft that turns from underneath.

Here is the catch. The paddle stays in the pan while the bread bakes, so the loaf forms around it. When you tip the loaf out, the paddle either comes with it or leaves a hole. A two-paddle machine leaves two holes.

You have three ways to deal with it:

1. Pull the paddle out early. Wait for the last knead to finish, then lift the dough, take out the paddle and put the dough back. Use wet or oiled hands.
2. Use a folding paddle. The Breville Custom Loaf folds its paddle flat before baking, which leaves a much smaller mark.
3. Use the dough setting and bake in a tin. You get no hole at all, and any loaf shape you like.

Most people simply stop caring after a few loaves. Still, if the hole bothers you, choose your machine with that in mind.

What the Settings Actually Do

Gluten-Free

Gluten is what makes wheat dough stretchy. Gluten-free dough has none, so long kneading does nothing useful. It is closer to a thick batter. The gluten-free setting mixes it well, gives it one rise and bakes it, skipping the punch-down that would knock the air out. Use a gluten-free bread mix or a recipe written for your machine. Keep your gluten-free flours in sealed containers in a cool spot so they stay fresh.

Jam

The jam setting heats chopped fruit, sugar and pectin while the paddle stirs slowly. You get a small batch of soft jam in about an hour, with no pot to watch on the stove. Stick to the fruit amounts in the manual so it does not bubble over.

Dough

This is the setting many owners end up using most. The machine mixes and kneads, then lets the dough rise once in the warm pan. When it beeps, you take it out, shape it and bake it in your oven. It is the easiest way to make pizza dough, rolls, bagels and cinnamon rolls. For crisp pizza, bake it on a pizza stone.

Delay Timer

The delay timer lets you load the pan at night and set the finish time. Most machines here allow 13 hours, and the KBS allows 15. Do not use the delay timer with fresh milk, eggs or other foods that spoil at room temperature. Use dried milk powder in delayed recipes instead. Also keep the yeast away from the water and salt until mixing starts. Most recipes do this by adding liquid first and yeast last, in a small dip on top of the flour.

Can You Use a Bread Machine Only for Dough?

Yes, and it is a smart way to get crusty bread. The machine is good at kneading and keeping dough warm. It is less good at baking a crisp, open crust, because the pan is closed and the heat is gentle.

So use the dough cycle, then shape the loaf and bake it in a hot pot. This is how you get a crackly, artisan-style crust from a machine. A heavy lidded pot traps steam for the first part of the bake. Our guide to the best Dutch oven covers good pots for this.

For a free-form loaf, a proofing basket holds the shape during the final rise. A hand mixer cannot knead stiff bread dough well, so the machine fills that gap.

Will a Bread Machine Fit in a Small Kitchen?

A bread machine is one of the bulkier small appliances. The widest model here is 18 inches across. The slimmest is 8.5 inches. All are about 11 to 13 inches tall, so most fit under upper cabinets.

Measure two things before you buy:

• Counter width. Leave a few inches on each side for air to move.
• Space above. The lid needs to open fully, and steam comes out of the vent during baking. Do not run it under a low shelf.

If it will not live on the counter, plan where it goes between bakes. A low cabinet near an outlet works best, because these machines are heavy. Our guide to storing small appliances in a small kitchen has ideas for appliance shelves and rolling carts. To clear room for it, try these ways to make more counter space and these countertop organization ideas.

A bread machine can also save space overall. It mixes, rises and bakes in one pan, so you skip the big bowl, the floured board and the loaf tin. For more on that, see how to bake in a small kitchen without extra counter space.

How Loud Is a Bread Machine?

The kneading stage is the loud part. The motor hums and the pan can thump as the dough moves. It lasts about 15 to 30 minutes per cycle, split into short bursts. Rising and baking are close to silent.

The beeps can be more annoying than the motor. Most machines beep for add-ins and again when the loaf is done. The Breville has a mute button. If you set a delay timer to finish early in the morning, check that the kneading will not start while people are asleep nearby.

Place the machine on a solid, level surface. A wobbly table makes the kneading noise much worse, and a heavy machine can creep toward the edge.

How Much Should You Spend on a Bread Machine?

Budget	What you get	Examples on this list
Under $130	Upright or horizontal pan, gluten-free setting, delay timer	Hamilton Beach, West Bend, KBS
About $300 to $400	Better build, two paddles or a folding paddle, custom settings	Zojirushi Supreme, Zojirushi Mini, Breville
About $400 and up	Lid heater, many special-diet courses, best loaf shape	Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus

A cheap machine makes good bread. What you pay more for is loaf shape, even browning, quieter running and a machine that lasts many years of weekly use. If you are not sure you will bake often, start at the low end. Our piece on whether expensive cookware is actually worth it follows the same logic.

Bread machines also use little energy for what they do. They draw 450 to 830 watts, far less than a full oven. That makes them a sensible pick among energy-efficient small kitchen appliances, especially in summer when you do not want to heat the whole flat.

Getting Good Bread From Day One

• Measure flour by weight if you can. Too much flour is the most common cause of a short, dense loaf.
• Use bread flour for wheat loaves. It has more protein, so the loaf rises higher.
• Add ingredients in the order the manual gives. Machines are designed around that order.
• Let the loaf cool for an hour before slicing. It keeps baking inside as it cools. Use a serrated knife on a sturdy cutting board.
• Wipe the pan, do not scrub it. Soak stuck bits with warm water, then wipe with a soft cloth.

Keep your flour, yeast and mixes together in one spot. Our small pantry organization ideas help with that, and space-saving baking tools cover the few extras worth owning.

Which Bread Machine Should You Buy?

• You want the best loaf and bake often: Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus.
• You want to try machine bread without spending much: Hamilton Beach 29982.
• You feed a big household: West Bend Hi-Rise.
• You love seeded and fruit breads on a mid budget: KBS 17-in-1.
• The paddle hole bugs you, or you want custom programs: Breville Custom Loaf.
• You want a Zojirushi loaf for everyday bread: Zojirushi Supreme.
• You live alone or with one other person: Zojirushi Mini.

If you have no room for another appliance at all, you can still bake. Our guides to baking without an oven and the best small ovens for baking show other routes.

Related Guides

• Best Bread Proofing Baskets
• Best Dutch Oven
• Best Small Kitchen Appliances for Cooking for One
• How to Store Baking Supplies in a Small Kitchen
• Small Kitchen Storage Ideas
• Best Compact Energy Star Appliances for Small Kitchens
• How to Stock a Small Kitchen for Solo Cooking

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a bread machine worth it?

It is if you eat bread most days or want dough without the work. A machine mixes, kneads, rises and bakes in one pan, so fresh bread takes about ten minutes of your time. It also makes pizza dough, jam and gluten-free loaves. It is not a good buy if you bake once a month and have little counter or cabinet space to give it.

Can you use a bread machine just to make dough?

Yes. Every machine on this list has a dough setting. It mixes and kneads the dough, then lets it rise once in the warm pan. When it beeps, you take the dough out, shape it, let it rise again and bake it in your oven. This is the easiest way to make pizza dough, rolls, cinnamon rolls and bagels.

Can you make sourdough in a bread machine?

You can make a loaf with sourdough starter in it, but a bread machine cannot copy a true slow-rise sourdough baked in a hot pot. Some machines, like the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus and Supreme, have a course for making the starter itself. For a crusty, open sourdough, use the dough setting to knead, then shape and bake it in a Dutch oven.

Why is there a hole in the bottom of bread machine bread?

The kneading paddle sits on a shaft at the bottom of the pan and stays in place during baking, so the loaf bakes around it. When you pull the loaf out, the paddle leaves a hole. You can make it smaller by removing the paddle after the last knead, or by choosing a machine with a folding paddle like the Breville Custom Loaf.

Is bread machine yeast the same as instant yeast?

Bread machine yeast is a type of instant yeast, so the two can be swapped one for one in most recipes. Both have fine granules that work without being dissolved in water first. Active dry yeast works too, but it is a little slower, so it suits the regular cycles better than the express ones.