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Hub 03 · Bread Machines

The best bread machines for home baking

From a $110 first machine to the dual-heater Zojirushi, ranked on loaf quality, crust control and how much counter space they eat.

A bread machine trades a little craft for a lot of convenience: you weigh the ingredients, press a button, and a few hours later you have a fresh loaf with no kneading, no proofing timer and no oven. For busy households, people avoiding additives in store bread, or anyone who just likes waking up to the smell of it, that trade is easy to make.

The machines differ in three ways that actually matter. Heating: a dual-heater machine (top and bottom, like the Zojirushi) browns the crust evenly, where a single bottom element leaves the top pale. Loaf shape: horizontal pans with two paddles make a standard rectangular loaf; vertical single-paddle machines make a tall, square tower with a bigger paddle hole in the bottom. Programs: gluten-free, whole-wheat, rapid and custom cycles decide how far you can stray from white sandwich bread. Everything else — viewing windows, delay timers, fruit-and-nut dispensers — is genuinely nice but secondary.

Below, the machines ranked with live prices, from the best first-loaf-ever beginner machine to the one serious home bakers keep. We don't bake test loaves in a lab; the scores come from published specifications and the consistent patterns in owner reviews, on a rubric we publish.

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The short answer

Quick picks

#ProductBest forScorePrice
01
Zojirushi Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20)
Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20)

The best bread machine most people can buy, full stop. Dual heaters (top and bottom) brown the crust evenly, the horizontal 2-lb pan makes a standard loaf shape, and the custom programs let you dial in your own recipe. It's expensive because it's better.

Best overall bread machine
8.8
$454.95Amazon
02
Breville Breville Custom Loaf (BBM800XL)
Breville Custom Loaf (BBM800XL)

The tinkerer's machine. Four loaf sizes, an automatic fruit-and-nut dispenser and a collapsible kneading paddle that leaves a smaller hole in the loaf. If you want to program and fuss, this is the one — for a price.

Most customizable
8.1
$399.95Amazon
03
Cuisinart Cuisinart Automatic Bread Maker (CBK-110)
Cuisinart Automatic Bread Maker (CBK-110)

The sensible middle. Twelve programs, three crust shades and three loaf sizes in a compact vertical footprint. Not as even a baker as the Zojirushi, but a big step down in price and shelf space.

Compact all-rounder
8.3
$119.99Amazon
04
Hamilton Beach Hamilton Beach Bread Maker (29882)
Hamilton Beach Bread Maker (29882)

The beginner's machine. Twelve programs including gluten-free, an express bake and two loaf sizes, at a price that makes trying bread-baking low-risk. It's basic, and that's the point.

Best for beginners
8.0
$109.95Amazon
05
KBS KBS Bread Machine (17-in-1)
KBS Bread Machine (17-in-1)

The value-loaded option. Seventeen programs, a fruit-and-nut dispenser and a stainless body at a mid-range price. Fit and finish aren't premium, but you get a lot of machine for the money.

Most features for the money
8.0
$128.99Amazon

#ad · Live prices from the Amazon Product API, as of Jul 21, 2026. Where we have no verified live price we show none — a gap beats a number that has rotted.

In detail

The picks, in full

01
Zojirushi Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20)

Best overall bread machine

Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20)

2-lb loafDual heatersHorizontal panGluten-free cycleCustom programs
8.8/10

The best bread machine most people can buy, full stop. Dual heaters (top and bottom) brown the crust evenly, the horizontal 2-lb pan makes a standard loaf shape, and the custom programs let you dial in your own recipe. It's expensive because it's better.

Loaf quality
9.5
Ease of use
9
Crust & settings
9.5
Build & footprint
8
Value
8

Pros

  • Dual heaters give the most even crust color of any home machine
  • Standard horizontal loaf shape (two paddles), not a tall tower
  • Three programmable custom courses for your own recipes

Cons

  • The priciest bread machine on this list
  • Large footprint on the counter

Don't buy this if…

…you only want the occasional loaf and don't care about crust control — a sub-$150 machine will feed you fine.

$454.95View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 21, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20)

02
Breville Breville Custom Loaf (BBM800XL)

Most customizable

Breville Custom Loaf (BBM800XL)

4 loaf sizesAuto fruit/nut dispenserCollapsible paddle13 settingsGluten-free
8.1/10

The tinkerer's machine. Four loaf sizes, an automatic fruit-and-nut dispenser and a collapsible kneading paddle that leaves a smaller hole in the loaf. If you want to program and fuss, this is the one — for a price.

Loaf quality
8.5
Ease of use
7.5
Crust & settings
9
Build & footprint
8
Value
7.5

Pros

  • Automatic dispenser drops in fruit and nuts at the right moment
  • Collapsible paddle means a smaller hole in the finished loaf
  • Four loaf sizes from 1 lb to 2.5 lb

Cons

  • Premium price, close to the Zojirushi
  • More settings than a casual baker will ever touch

Don't buy this if…

…you want to press one button and walk away — the depth here is wasted on you, and cheaper machines do simple loaves well.

$399.95View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 21, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Breville Custom Loaf (BBM800XL)

03
Cuisinart Cuisinart Automatic Bread Maker (CBK-110)

Compact all-rounder

Cuisinart Automatic Bread Maker (CBK-110)

Up to 2-lb loaf12 programs3 crust shadesVertical pan13-hr delay
8.3/10

The sensible middle. Twelve programs, three crust shades and three loaf sizes in a compact vertical footprint. Not as even a baker as the Zojirushi, but a big step down in price and shelf space.

Loaf quality
8
Ease of use
8.5
Crust & settings
8
Build & footprint
8.5
Value
8.5

Pros

  • Compact vertical build fits under most cabinets
  • 12 programs cover gluten-free, sweet and low-carb
  • 13-hour delay timer for fresh bread on waking

Cons

  • Single paddle makes a tall, square loaf
  • Crust browning is less even than dual-heater machines

Don't buy this if…

…you want the most even crust and a standard loaf shape — that's the Zojirushi's job.

$119.99View on Amazon

$169.9529% off

Price as of Jul 21, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Cuisinart Automatic Bread Maker (CBK-110)

04
Hamilton Beach Hamilton Beach Bread Maker (29882)

Best for beginners

Hamilton Beach Bread Maker (29882)

Up to 2-lb loaf12 programsExpress bakeGluten-free cycleBudget price
8.0/10

The beginner's machine. Twelve programs including gluten-free, an express bake and two loaf sizes, at a price that makes trying bread-baking low-risk. It's basic, and that's the point.

Loaf quality
7
Ease of use
9
Crust & settings
7
Build & footprint
8
Value
9

Pros

  • One of the cheapest ways to start baking bread
  • Express cycle bakes a loaf in well under two hours
  • Simple button set — nothing to overthink

Cons

  • Thin pan and single paddle; crust control is limited
  • Louder kneading than pricier machines

Don't buy this if…

…you already know you'll bake weekly and want great crust — you'll out-grow it quickly.

$109.95View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 21, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Hamilton Beach Bread Maker (29882)

05
KBS KBS Bread Machine (17-in-1)

Most features for the money

KBS Bread Machine (17-in-1)

Up to 2-lb loaf17 programsFruit/nut dispenserGluten-freeStainless body
8.0/10

The value-loaded option. Seventeen programs, a fruit-and-nut dispenser and a stainless body at a mid-range price. Fit and finish aren't premium, but you get a lot of machine for the money.

Loaf quality
7.5
Ease of use
8
Crust & settings
8
Build & footprint
7.5
Value
9

Pros

  • Automatic fruit-and-nut dispenser at a mid-range price
  • Wide program range including yogurt and jam
  • Viewing window and interior light

Cons

  • Long-term durability record is shorter than the big brands
  • Manual translation is rough in places

Don't buy this if…

…you want the most proven long-term reliability — the established Japanese and US brands have the track record.

$128.99View on Amazon

$159.9919% off

Price as of Jul 21, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to KBS Bread Machine (17-in-1)

How to choose a bread machine

Dual heaters make a better crust

The clearest quality difference in bread machines is even browning. Machines with a top heating element as well as a bottom one (the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus is the reference) brown the whole loaf; single-element machines leave the top of the crust pale. If crust matters to you, this is the spec to pay for.

Loaf shape: horizontal vs vertical

Horizontal pans with two paddles produce a familiar rectangular loaf that slices for sandwiches. Vertical single-paddle machines are more compact but bake a tall, square loaf with a larger hole where the paddle sat. Neither is wrong — it's about the slices you want and the counter space you have.

Match the programs to what you'll bake

If you need gluten-free or whole-wheat bread, confirm the machine has a dedicated cycle — they change the knead and rise timing, not just the label. Custom or programmable courses (the Zojirushi and Breville have them) let you dial in your own recipe, which is the difference between a machine you outgrow and one you keep.

Count the counter space

Bread machines are big, and they live out because nobody wants to lift one every time. Measure your counter and cabinet clearance before you buy the biggest one — a compact vertical machine that fits is more useful than a wide horizontal one that gets shoved in a closet.

Go deeper

Bread Machines: the full guides

Questions

Frequently asked

What's the best bread machine for most people?
The Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus is the machine most serious home bakers land on — dual heaters for even crust, a standard horizontal loaf and custom programs. It's expensive; if you want to spend far less to start, the Hamilton Beach and Cuisinart both bake good bread.
Can bread machines make gluten-free bread?
Most modern machines have a dedicated gluten-free cycle that adjusts the kneading and rise. The Breville, Zojirushi and KBS all handle it well; confirm the specific model lists a gluten-free program before buying.
Why does my bread machine loaf have a hole in the bottom?
That's from the kneading paddle. It's normal on most machines; some (like the Breville) use a collapsible paddle that folds down before baking to leave a smaller hole.

Receipts

Sources

We don't run a testing lab, and we don't pretend to. Specs are the manufacturer's published figures, cited above; scores are our judgments from that research. Where we couldn't verify something, we say so on the page rather than quietly leaving it out. Read our full method.