Kitchen fit
Plan waffle maker storage and operating space
Storage fit and operating space are two different checks. Measure where a cooled waffle maker will live, then separately check room for a hot appliance, its open lid and the handling procedure.
Closed dimensions are only one starting point
A published height usually describes a closed appliance. It does not tell you how much room the lid needs above it or how close a bowl and another appliance may safely sit. The cited Breville US Smart Waffle manuals require at least four inches of space on all sides and nothing on top.
Do not use that one manufacturer's instruction as a universal clearance for every maker. Read the exact model's manual. Counter materials, a wall cabinet and the path of a rotating handle also deserve attention when you plan the working position.
Upright storage needs explicit support
The Cuisinart WMR-CANAS, WAF-200NAS and WAF-300NAS have specific upright-storage instructions. Those orientations are used after cooling. They are not alternate cooking positions.
The All-Clad WD822D51 manual adds an important step: remove the overflow tray before vertical storage. The catches secure the appliance for storage, while the same instructions say not to lock them during cooking. A latch visible in a photo alone is not a sufficient basis for a recommendation.
Account for the parts that do not stay attached
Removable plates can simplify washing but need somewhere to dry and, where more than one set is supplied, somewhere to store the spare set. The WAF-300NAS's pancake plates are a good example. A tidy closed-appliance photograph does not show the complete storage arrangement.
Similarly, a removable overflow tray may need a separate place while the appliance is standing on end. Think through the complete routine rather than choosing solely on the smallest advertised body measurement.
How the finder handles a measurement
The optional closed-height limit compares documented body heights only. A product with no confirmed height does not pass simply because it appears small in a photograph. The result is a storage/body comparison, not a certification that the appliance is safe under a particular shelf.
Start with the explicit upright-storage route if that solves your cupboard problem. Then use the exact model dimensions and instructions to check your own space before buying.