Best Bread Machine: 4 Bread Makers for Every Kitchen
Best bread machine for most bakers: the KBS Pro. The Cuisinart is the easy first pick. Bread makers compared on loaf size, programs and owner reports.
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Best overall
Most home bakers: seeds, nuts or dried fruit added automatically, plus sourdough and gluten-free programs
Check priceBest for first-time bakers
First-time bread machine owners who want a simple, compact, well-known model
Check priceBest for large families
Big households that want 2.7 to 3.3 lb loaves and an automatic fruit and nut dispenser
Check priceBest for sandwich-shaped loaves
Families who slice bread for sandwiches and toast and want a rectangular horizontal loaf
Check priceThe short answer
- Best overall: the KBS Pro, our best bread machine for most bakers, with 17 programs, an automatic mix-in dispenser and loaves up to 2.2 lb.
- Cuisinart CBK-110P1ES is the simple first bread maker: 12 programs, loaves up to 2 lb and the highest sales volume of the four.
- Neretva 3.3LB bakes the biggest loaves (up to 3.3 lb) but owners report a cycle that cannot be paused; KBS Premium bakes a rectangular sandwich loaf.
- Every model has owners who report an early failure, so buy where returns are easy and bake several loaves in the first weeks.
On this page
For most home bakers, the best bread machine is the KBS Pro MBF-010: it adds nuts, seeds or dried fruit automatically, runs 17 programs including sourdough and gluten-free, and bakes loaves up to 2.2 lb in the $100s price tier. If you want a simple first bread maker, the Cuisinart CBK-110P1ES is the easy pick, the Neretva 3.3LB bakes the biggest loaf, and the KBS Premium is the one to buy if you slice sandwiches.
One thing to know before you shop: every bread machine on this list has owners who report a unit that quit early, and most of them also have owners who report years of regular use. These are inexpensive appliances, and reliability is the main variable. Buy where returns are easy and bake a few loaves of basic white or whole wheat bread in the first weeks.
How we picked the best bread machines
Every bread maker here went through the same data-driven research process. We compare the published specifications of every serious contender side by side, track each model’s price over the past year, and analyze verified owner reviews for the patterns that show up after weeks and months of real use. The full method is on how we research. We started with six bread machines that sell well on Amazon, kept the four with the clearest mix of loaf size, settings and sales history, and compared them on what decides the result on your counter: loaf size, pan type, programs, mix-in handling, footprint and the failure patterns owners describe. We give price bands, never exact prices.
The 1-10 scores on each card are our own editorial judgment, not Amazon star ratings. Scores compare each machine with the realistic alternatives in its category: 9-10 is the best you can buy here, 8-9 is excellent for its use, and 7.5-8 is a good pick with a clear trade-off. The KBS Pro edges out the Cuisinart because its feature set is far deeper at a similar price; the Cuisinart wins on ease of use.
Bread makers compared side by side
Swipe sideways to see every spec →
| Pick | Loaf capacity | Programs | Pan | Delay timer | Mix-in dispenser | Footprint | Weight | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KBS Pro 710W Bread Maker MBF-010 Best overall | Up to 2.2 lb (also 1 and 1.5 lb) | 17, plus a custom program | Ceramic pan and paddle | 15 hours | Automatic | 13.7 x 8.6 x 11.8 in | About 14.7 lb | See on Amazon |
| Cuisinart Bread Maker CBK-110P1ES Best for first-time bakers | Up to 2 lb (also 1 and 1.5 lb) | 12 | Removable nonstick, vertical | 13 hours | — | 10.2 x 13.3 x 11.3 in | About 11 lb | See on Amazon |
| Neretva 3.3LB 15-in-1 Bread Maker PE9806U Best for large families | Up to 3.3 lb (also 2.2 and 2.76 lb) | 15 | Nonstick ceramic, two kneading paddles | 15 hours | Automatic, detachable | 14.4 x 11.3 x 13.0 in | — | See on Amazon |
| KBS Premium 2.2LB Convection Bread Maker MBF-011 Best for sandwich-shaped loaves | Up to 2.2 lb (also 1 and 1.5 lb) | 17 | Ceramic, horizontal | 15 hours | Automatic | 13.7 x 8.6 x 11.8 in | About 14.7 lb | See on Amazon |
A dash means the figure was not in the data we reviewed, and we chose not to guess. Only the KBS models and the Neretva list an automatic mix-in dispenser.
Weigh your flour
Bread machine recipes depend on a precise ratio of flour to water. Whatever machine you buy, weigh flour on a kitchen scale and follow a recipe written in grams. It is the cheapest way to get a light, airy, evenly browned loaf.
Our 4 best bread machine picks
Best overall: KBS Pro 710W (MBF-010)
Best overall
KBS Pro 710W Bread Maker MBF-010
by KBS
Best for: Most home bakers: seeds, nuts or dried fruit added automatically, plus sourdough and gluten-free programs
- Loaf capacity
- Up to 2.2 lb (also 1 and 1.5 lb)
- Programs
- 17, plus a custom program
- Motor
- 710W
- Pan
- Ceramic pan and paddle
- Delay timer
- 15 hours
- Mix-in dispenser
- Automatic
- Footprint
- 13.7 x 8.6 x 11.8 in
- Weight
- About 14.7 lb
- Automatic ingredient dispenser drops mix-ins at the right moment
- 17 programs including sourdough, gluten-free, French and whole wheat, plus a custom program
- Custom program lets you set your own bake time and temperature
- 15-hour timer, 1-hour keep-warm and a 15-minute power-failure backup
- Owner reports include paddles that lock up or are very hard to remove from the pan
- Some owners say the control panel stopped responding
- One owner says the loaf sinks in the middle
What owners report
Among the owner reports we reviewed, the positive group liked the range of programs, the loaf size and crust color, the sourdough and dough cycles, and the customer service, with one owner offered a full replacement after three years of weekly use. The critical group described paddles that seize or will not release, a control panel that stopped working, a sunken loaf, a machine that quit within a couple of months and a unit that vibrated off the counter. A few said the two recipe books gave unclear instructions.
Verdict: The best all-round pick: a deep feature set with a dispenser and custom program, loaves up to 2.2 lb and service that owners praise. Expect some owners to fight the paddle, put a non-slip mat under it and bake several loaves inside the return window.
Buy timing · checked Nov 13, 2026
Fair price. It is at its usual price. No need to wait unless a big sale event is close. All buy-timing checks
The KBS Pro earns “best overall” because it does everything the simpler machines do and then some, in the $100s tier. Its automatic dispenser drops in seeds, nuts or dried fruit at the right point in the cycle, so you can load it and walk away. It has 17 programs, including sourdough, gluten-free, French, whole wheat and a dough setting, plus a custom program that lets you set your own bake time and temperature. Loaves go up to 2.2 lb, and the machine also bakes 1 and 1.5 lb loaves.
The 710W motor is the maker’s spec, and the listing says it surpasses the 600W standard. The ceramic pan and paddle are described by the maker as a healthier alternative to Teflon-style coatings, and several owners said customer service fixed problems quickly, in one case with a replacement machine.
The weak spot is the paddle. Owners describe paddles that lock up or are nearly impossible to remove from the pan, and the control panel stopped responding for some owners. One owner reported the machine walked off the counter while kneading, so set it on a non-slip mat. Early-failure reports are about as common here as on the Cuisinart, so the lead is a feature lead, not a reliability one. Over the past year the price has ranged from the $110s to the $150s.
Best for first-time bakers: Cuisinart CBK-110P1ES
Best for first-time bakers
Cuisinart Bread Maker CBK-110P1ES
by Cuisinart
Best for: First-time bread machine owners who want a simple, compact, well-known model
- Loaf capacity
- Up to 2 lb (also 1 and 1.5 lb)
- Programs
- 12
- Pan
- Removable nonstick, vertical
- Delay timer
- 13 hours
- Footprint
- 10.2 x 13.3 x 11.3 in
- Weight
- About 11 lb
- Three loaf sizes and three crust colors cover most household needs
- 13-hour delay timer and a 60-minute keep-warm cycle
- Compact vertical design with an LCD countdown display and audible beep reminders
- Sells in far higher volume than any other machine on this list
- No automatic fruit and nut dispenser is listed
- Vertical pan bakes a tall, narrow loaf rather than a sandwich-shaped one
- Owner reports include machines that stopped heating or kneading after a few loaves, or after about three years
What owners report
In the owner reports we analyzed, the happy group called it easy to use and easy to clean, said older bread machine recipes worked without tweaking, and described it as a kitchen mainstay, one with a year of trouble-free use. The critical group centered on durability: units that quit after two or three loaves, a heating element that appeared to fail, a machine that overheated and shut down, and a paddle that skipped or would not seat. One owner said basic white bread came out dense, and another found the loaf smaller than expected.
Verdict: The default recommendation for a first machine: simple, compact and the most widely sold of the four. It has fewer programs and no mix-in dispenser compared with the KBS Pro, and some owners report a lifespan of only a few years.
Buy timing · checked Nov 13, 2026
Consider waiting. It is priced above its usual level; our tracking shows it has sold for less recently. All buy-timing checks
The Cuisinart is the pick for a first machine because it does the basics with the fewest surprises. Its three loaf sizes (1, 1.5 and 2 lb), three crust colors and 12 programs cover bread, cakes, pizza dough and other treats, and the 13-hour delay timer lets you set it at night and wake up to a warm loaf. An LCD shows the countdown and cycle, with a 60-minute keep-warm cycle at the end. It has been listed since 2018 and sells in much higher volume than any of the others.
It is compact, at about 10 by 13 inches on the counter. The trade-off is the vertical pan, which bakes a taller, narrower loaf than the rectangular one you would get from a horizontal pan. It also has no mix-in dispenser, which is the main reason it sits just behind the KBS Pro.
Price history shows it in the $100s tier right now, and it has dipped below $100 at its lowest point in the past year, so it is worth setting a price alert. Owners who report trouble mostly describe machines that quit after a few loaves or after two or three years of steady use, and some say the paddle skips under a heavy whole wheat dough. That is a real risk, so bake several loaves while you can still return it.
Best for large families: Neretva 3.3LB 15-in-1
Best for large families
Neretva 3.3LB 15-in-1 Bread Maker PE9806U
by Neretva
Best for: Big households that want 2.7 to 3.3 lb loaves and an automatic fruit and nut dispenser
- Loaf capacity
- Up to 3.3 lb (also 2.2 and 2.76 lb)
- Programs
- 15
- Pan
- Nonstick ceramic, two kneading paddles
- Delay timer
- 15 hours
- Mix-in dispenser
- Automatic, detachable
- Footprint
- 14.4 x 11.3 x 13.0 in
- Largest loaf here, up to 3.3 lb, which the maker says serves 7 to 8 people
- Dual top and bottom heaters aim for even baking
- Detachable nut and fruit dispenser and two kneading paddles
- 15 programs including gluten-free, quick, French, jam and yogurt
- Several owners say a started cycle cannot be paused or cancelled
- Settings are in grams and millimeters, which one American owner found confusing
- Owner reports include paddles that detach and end up in the loaf
What owners report
Among the owner reports we reviewed, the positive group enjoyed the large loaf, the seed and nut compartment and the two dough hooks, used it for sourdough, and said the support team sent a replacement pan when the paddles stopped moving freely. One owner suggested scaling up the booklet recipes. The critical group described a locked screen and a cycle that could only be stopped by unplugging the machine for 15 to 20 minutes, uneven or raw loaves, a lid that did not close fully, paddles that came loose, a first loaf that kneaded for hours and slow customer service.
Verdict: Choose it only if loaf size is the deciding factor: nothing else here bakes a 3 lb loaf. The control panel and paddle complaints keep it fourth for ease of use, so test it hard inside the return window.
Buy timing · checked Nov 13, 2026
Fair price. It is at its usual price. No need to wait unless a big sale event is close. All buy-timing checks
This is the model to buy if loaf size matters most. It bakes 2.2, 2.76 or 3.3 lb loaves, and the maker says the largest serves 7 to 8 people. It has 15 programs, including gluten-free, quick, French, jam and yogurt, heaters on the top and the bottom of the pan for even baking, two kneading paddles and a detachable fruit and nut dispenser. Owners who liked it said the dispenser releases seeds when the dough is ready and that the big pan handled sourdough, and one recommended scaling up the booklet recipes because they are conservative.
The owner reports are why it is not higher. Several buyers say a cycle cannot be paused or cancelled once it starts, and that the only way out is to unplug the machine for 15 to 20 minutes. One American owner found the settings are in grams and millimeters, with no 1, 2 or 3 lb setting. Others describe paddles that come off and bake into the bread, a lid that does not close fully, and a pan that slid out of its lock after months of weekly baking. It is the priciest of the four, from the $160s to the high $190s over the past year, so read the manual before the first loaf.
Best for sandwich-shaped loaves: KBS Premium (MBF-011)
Best for sandwich-shaped loaves
KBS Premium 2.2LB Convection Bread Maker MBF-011
by KBS
Best for: Families who slice bread for sandwiches and toast and want a rectangular horizontal loaf
- Loaf capacity
- Up to 2.2 lb (also 1 and 1.5 lb)
- Programs
- 17
- Motor
- 710W
- Pan
- Ceramic, horizontal
- Delay timer
- 15 hours
- Mix-in dispenser
- Automatic
- Footprint
- 13.7 x 8.6 x 11.8 in
- Weight
- About 14.7 lb
- Horizontal ceramic pan bakes a rectangular loaf
- Dual heaters with convection airflow aim for even browning
- Automatic nut and fruit dispenser and a 15-hour timer
- 17 programs like the Pro, with a 53-recipe book
- One owner says the ceramic coating lost its nonstick grip within a year
- The nut dispenser would not open for one owner
- Reports of dense loaves and undercooked tops
- Some owners say the manual is unclear
What owners report
In the owner reports we analyzed, the positive group called it easy to use and praised the delay feature and the customer service. A few had come from sourdough baking or an earlier machine. The critical group described a pan coating that wore quickly, a dispenser that did not open, loaves that were dense or raw on top, paddles that were hard to pull from the bread, and instructions that were hard to follow.
Verdict: Choose it over the Pro if you care more about the loaf shape than the extras. The pan coating is the long-term question mark, so plan on possibly replacing the pan if you bake weekly.
Buy timing · checked Nov 13, 2026
Fair price. It is at its usual price. No need to wait unless a big sale event is close. All buy-timing checks
This is the KBS with the horizontal pan, which bakes a rectangular loaf. It shares the 710W motor, 17 programs, automatic dispenser and 15-hour timer with the Pro, and its listing highlights dual heaters with 360-degree convection airflow for more even browning.
The question is how long the ceramic coating lasts. One owner said the pan lost its nonstick grip in under a year, and others said the nut dispenser did not open or that the top of the loaf came out almost raw. Those complaints are why it sits below the KBS Pro and the Cuisinart. Its price has swung between roughly the $130s and the high $160s over the past year.
How to choose a bread maker: buying guide and pros and cons
The pros of a bread machine (and of every option here) are convenience, control of ingredients and a fresh homemade loaf with almost no hands-on time. The cons are counter space, the process of cleaning the pan and, on cheaper models, a limited lifespan. Six decisions separate one model from another.
- Match the loaf shape to how you eat. A vertical pan (Cuisinart) gives a taller, narrower loaf, which suits toast and sandwiches cut small. Pan shape matters more than program count.
- Pick a size you will finish. A 2 to 2.2 lb loaf suits most households. The Neretva 3.3LB maker says its largest loaf serves 7 to 8 people, so choose it only if you bake for a crowd.
- Decide whether you want a mix-in dispenser. If you bake with seeds, nuts or fruit, both KBS models and the Neretva drop them in automatically. If not, you can skip that feature and save money.
- Look at the pan and paddle. Ceramic and Teflon-style coatings both wear. Owner reviews describe paddles that lock up, come loose or are hard to pull from the bread pan, so buy a model whose maker sells spare pans and paddles. Check how each model handles the paddle before you buy.
- Check the settings you will use. Sourdough, whole wheat, gluten-free and dough settings are common across the range of bread machines, but a custom program is what lets you adapt your own recipes. More settings are not always better results.
- Check the price band before you buy. All four sit in the $100s tier right now and each has sold for less at some point in the past year. A price alert costs nothing.
Test inside the return window
Some owners describe problems that surfaced only a few days after the return window closed. Whichever machine you buy, bake several loaves in the first week, including a whole wheat or dough cycle, so any defect shows up while you can still send it back.
What are the best breads to make in a bread machine?
Start with the settings built into every machine: basic white, whole wheat and French bread give the most predictable results, and sweet bread and gluten-free loaves come next. Dough settings turn the machine into a kneader for pizza dough, rolls and sourdough. The KBS models and the Cuisinart also list cake and jam programs.
Load liquids first, dry ingredients second and yeast last, the order the Cuisinart listing describes; mixing and kneading then run on their own, and a good white bread comes out with a bakery-style crust. Gluten-free loaves need a dedicated setting, which the KBS models and the Neretva list, plus a recipe written for it.
Is it cheaper to make your own bread with a bread maker?
It depends on how often you bake. A bread machine is a one-time purchase in the $100s, and a homemade loaf costs only the flour, yeast, salt and any extras you add. If you eat fresh loaves every week and buy bakery bread, the machine can pay for itself over time; if you bake twice a year, it will not. Owners also value control over ingredients.
Owners of every model here describe units that failed within months or a couple of years, while others report years of weekly use. Keep the receipt.
What is one drawback of using a bread machine?
The most common drawback in the owner reports is durability: motors, paddles and control panels are the parts that fail. Other complaints are dense or undercooked loaves, loud kneading and a manual with weak instructions.
Which bread maker is the most durable?
None of the four is immune. In the reports we analyzed, the Cuisinart has the longest track record of regular use, with owners describing a year or more of trouble-free baking alongside units that quit after a few loaves. The KBS Pro has the strongest support story, with owners describing quick fixes and a free replacement. The Neretva 3.3LB has the most reports of paddle and pan wear. Whichever you buy, a stated warranty and an easy return are worth more than a longer program list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best machine for making bread at home?
For most people the KBS Pro is the best bread machine: 17 programs, an automatic mix-in dispenser and loaves up to 2.2 lb. If you want the simplest first bread maker, the Cuisinart CBK-110P1ES has a viewing window and sells in the highest volume. For a very large loaf, look at the Neretva 3.3LB.
Why are breadmakers no longer popular?
The owner reports we analyzed point to three things: some machines wear out within a couple of years, results can be inconsistent (dense, sunken or undercooked loaves), and a machine takes counter space. Several owners say they now use the machine only for dough, then shape and bake the loaf in the oven.
What is the most popular bread maker?
By recent sales volume, the Cuisinart CBK-110P1ES leads the four machines here by a wide margin; its listing shows several times the monthly sales of the others. Popular does not mean trouble-free, though: owners of every model here report some early failures.
What is the best bread machine for beginners?
The Cuisinart is our starting suggestion: 12 programs, three loaf sizes, and owners call it easy to use. Whichever you buy, weigh flour on a kitchen scale and follow a recipe written in grams for steadier loaves.