Brands

Hamilton Beach and Oster account for more than 40 percent of countertop-blender sales. Other brands include Black & Decker, Braun, Cuisinart, GE, KitchenAid, Krups, Proctor-Silex, Sharp, Sunbeam, Vita-Mix, and Waring, a product pioneer. Braun controls the handheld segment of the market. Use these profiles to compare blenders by brand.

Black & Decker

Another major brand that offers a wide range of low-to-mid-prices; most products are of the push-button type. Black & Decker is available through online retailers, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and other retailers.

Blendtec

Like Vita-Mix, this brand also offers a high-priced multifunction machine that acts as a blender and also produces dough, soups, and ice cream. It is sold online on Amazon.com and by specialty retailers.

Cuisinart

This mid-range-to-premium brand offers dual-purpose models that come with interchangeable parts, making the machine double as blender and food processor. Individual models include push-button and touchpad controls and LED displays. Cuisinart is widely available in department, specialty, and appliance stores, and through online retailers.

Hamilton Beach

The other market-leading brand has long been known for its Wave Action System technology. Its upscale Eclectric line is available in six colors. In 2008, the company introduced the Dual Wave Action Blender with two blades featuring a double jar or two single jars. This offers the flexibility of blending or mixing different items at the same time. These products are widely available through department stores, appliances stores, and big-box retailers.

KitchenAid

This premium-category brand’s products include die-cast metal bases, easy-to-clean touchpads, electronic speed sensors, and ultrahard polycarbonate jars. Some models are available in as many as eight colors. Products are sold through department stores, specialty stores, appliance stores, online retailers, and big-box retailers.

Oster

The market-share leader offers a basic line and the upscale Fusion, Counterforms, and Classic Beehive lines with all-metal drive systems. The flagship Fusion line includes touchpad controls, preprogrammed settings, a six-point-star blade, and reversible action. Oster's products are sold through department stores, online retailers, Walmart, Target, appliance retailer, and many more outlets.

Sunbeam

This lower-priced sister brand of Oster offers very basic models. They are sold through online retailers, hardware stores, and retailers such as Walmart.

Vita-Mix

Vita-Mix touts its high-priced machine as a multifunction product that includes some functions of a food processor. It makes ice cream, soups, salsa, mixes dough, and does other chores. The machines are sold online and by specialty retailers.

Waring

This pioneer in blenders offers high-mid-range to premium-category products. Most of Waring's blenders incorporate die-cast-metal bases, two-speed operation, and the Waring toggle switch; its trademark metal jar is also available as an option. Products are available at department stores and specialty stores.

See also:

Mixers

Toasters

Coffeemakers

Wine chillers