Top 6 compared
The best waffle makers
Crisp, golden waffles made at home in a few minutes, for a lazy weekend breakfast or a quick one before school.
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The top 6 at a glance
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#1Best overall
Cuisinart Round Belgian
$50–$759.2/10
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#2Best for pancakes too
Cuisinart with Pancake Plates
$100–$1509.1/10
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#3Best premium
Breville Smart Waffle Pro
$200–$3009.1/10
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#4Best mini
Dash Mini
$20–$309.0/10
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#5Best upright
Ninja BW1000C
$100–$1508.9/10
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#6Best budget
Oster CKSTWF2000
$30–$508.7/10
A waffle maker bakes batter between two hot, gridded plates, and a waffle is ready soon after. Most lie flat on the counter and bake one thick Belgian waffle, round or square, and a few bake several at once; an upright maker takes the batter in through the top and bakes it standing on end. A mini makes one small waffle about 10 cm (4 in) across.
Nonstick plates last longer with wooden or silicone tools than with a fork. Fixed plates are wiped with a damp cloth once the maker has cooled and never go in water; plates that lift out can go to the sink. Waffles freeze well and crisp up again in a toaster, so a big batch lasts into the week.
What matters
- Browning settings, for pale and soft or dark and crisp.
- A beep when it’s done, so nobody lifts the lid too soon.
- Four separate waffles at once if the whole family eats together.
#1Cuisinart 4-Slice Round Belgian Waffle Maker (WAF-200C)
$50–$75
One thick round Belgian waffle, scored into four sections that cut apart for sharing. A dial gives six browning settings, and a tone sounds once the plates are hot and again when the waffle is ready.
What owners say: By owners’ accounts it turns out crisp waffles every time, gluten-free batters included, and the nonstick plates wipe off easily; the timing controls get praise too, and nothing draws repeated criticism.
Heads up: Cuisinart now lists this model as discontinued; the same round maker is sold in Canada as the WAF-200NASC, and this WAF-200C is still sold new.
A closer look: Wait for the first tone before the batter goes in, then keep the lid shut until the second. Cuisinart suggests 4 or 5 on the dial for golden brown, lower for lighter. The grids are fixed, and the maker stands on end to store, which saves cupboard room.
- Splits into four sections
- Stands on end to store
Best for: Thick waffles for the brunch table
- Makes
- 1 round Belgian
- Style
- Lies flat
- Power
- 800W
- Browning control
- 6 settings
- Done alert
- Beeps
#2Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Maker with Pancake Plates (WAF-350C)
$100–$150
Two sets of plates: deep Belgian grids that bake one square waffle in four sections, and flat plates for pancakes, each released with a push button. Six browning settings and a beep cover both. Unlike the fixed grids on the Cuisinart above, these plates come out for the dishwasher.
What owners say: Owners like how evenly the waffles cook and how simple it is to use, and say the plates that come out make cleanup quick; opinions are divided on how long it lasts.
Heads up: Still sold new, though Cuisinart’s Canadian site marks the WAF-350C as discontinued.
A closer look: Let it cool before lifting out the waffle grids and fitting the pancake plates. Red and green lights show when it’s ready to bake and when the food is ready to eat, backing up the beep, and the recipe book in the box has waffle and pancake recipes.
- Plates go in the dishwasher
- Push-button plate release
- Recipe book included
Best for: Waffles one morning, pancakes the next
- Makes
- 1 square Belgian, or pancakes
- Style
- Lies flat
- Power
- 1,200W
- Browning control
- 6 settings
- Done alert
- Beeps
#3Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4-Slice (BWM640BSS)
$200–$300
Four deep square waffles at once, with four batter settings (Belgian, classic, chocolate and buttermilk) and 12 shades, and the timer works out how long each batch needs. A moat around the plates catches batter that spills over, and an A Bit More button adds time without starting again.
What owners say: Owners report that its waffles come out crisp, well browned and consistent, and that it’s easy to clean up afterwards.
A closer look: Choose the batter setting first, then the shade: the LCD counts down from the moment the lid closes. The plates don’t come out, so a nylon brush lifts any stubborn batter, and Breville says to skip nonstick cooking sprays.
- Moat catches spilled batter
- Works out the cooking time
- One-touch extra browning
Best for: Big batches, any batter
- Makes
- 4 square Belgian
- Style
- Lies flat
- Power
- 1,800W
- Browning control
- 12 settings, 4 batter types
- Done alert
- Beeps, LCD timer
#4Dash Mini Waffle Maker (DMW100RP)
$20–$30
Small enough to fit in a kitchen drawer, it makes one waffle at a time for one person’s breakfast, a student room or a first apartment. Any batter works, and hash browns, cookies and keto chaffles come out waffled too.
What owners say: Owners find it quick, simple and small, and like how cute it looks on the counter; its heating and nonstick coating both get mixed reports.
A closer look: Use 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter, since more spills over the edges; Dash puts most waffles at under three minutes. There’s no on/off switch: it starts heating as soon as it’s plugged in and the indicator light goes on once it’s hot, so unplug it when you’re done.
- Fits in a kitchen drawer
- Hash browns and cookies too
Best for: Single servings in small kitchens
- Makes
- 1 mini
- Style
- Lies flat
- Power
- 350W
- Browning control
- None
- Done alert
- No
#5Ninja Belgian Waffle Maker NeverStick (BW1000C)
$100–$150
It bakes upright, so the batter poured from the measuring cup in the box fills a thick Belgian waffle without running down the sides. It has five shades, a specialty setting for sugary mixes like brownie batter, and a beep when it’s done.
What owners say: Owners call it very easy to use and say it turns out waffles cooked evenly without fail, with little left to clean.
A closer look: Fill the PrecisionPour cup to the same line for every waffle. A light comes on with the beep when it’s done, so it can be seen across the kitchen, and nothing on it goes in the dishwasher.
- Measuring cup in the box
Best for: Pour-in waffles without drips
- Makes
- 1 Belgian
- Style
- Upright
- Power
- 1,000W
- Browning control
- 5 settings + specialty
- Done alert
- Beeps
#6Oster Belgian Waffle Maker, Stainless Steel (CKSTWF2000)
$30–$50
A plain stainless steel maker that bakes one round Belgian waffle with deep pockets for syrup and fruit. A temperature control sets it lighter or darker, a ready light shows when to pour, and the cool-touch handle stays safe to grip.
What owners say: Owners say it’s simple to use and quick to heat, makes a good-sized waffle and cleans easily, and many rate the value; some find it browns unevenly across the plate.
A closer look: There’s no timer or done signal, so lift the lid to check. Oster recommends a light coat of nonstick spray on the plates before each waffle, and says batters with egg yolk or oil in them release most easily.
- Deep pockets for toppings
- Cool-touch handle
- Stainless steel housing
Best for: Weekend waffles, kept simple
- Makes
- 1 round Belgian
- Style
- Lies flat
- Power
- 1,080W
- Browning control
- Adjustable
- Done alert
- No
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 6.
| Feature | #1Cuisinart Round Belgian | #2Cuisinart with Pancake Plates | #3Breville Smart Waffle Pro | #4Dash Mini | #5Ninja BW1000C | #6Oster CKSTWF2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for pancakes too | Best premium | Best mini | Best upright | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Price | $50–$75 | $100–$150 | $200–$300 | $20–$30 | $100–$150 | $30–$50 |
| Makes | 1 round Belgian | 1 square Belgian, or pancakes | 4 square Belgian | 1 mini | 1 Belgian | 1 round Belgian |
| Style | Lies flat | Lies flat | Lies flat | Lies flat | Upright | Lies flat |
| Power | 800W | 1,200W | 1,800W | 350W | 1,000W | 1,080W |
| Browning control | 6 settings | 6 settings | 12 settings, 4 batter types | None | 5 settings + specialty | Adjustable |
| Done alert | Beeps | Beeps | Beeps, LCD timer | No | Beeps | No |
| Best for | Thick waffles for the brunch table | Waffles one morning, pancakes the next | Big batches, any batter | Single servings in small kitchens | Pour-in waffles without drips | Weekend waffles, kept simple |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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