How much does it cost to run a toaster oven?
A typical toaster oven draws about 1200 watts. Used 0.5 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.10 per day, $2.38 per month, and $28.56 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Toaster ovens use 1200W during operation but consume less energy than full-size ovens for small portions.
Toaster Oven running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.10
- Per month
- $2.38
- Per year
- $28.56
- CO₂ / year
- 67.2 kg
Based on 168 kWh per year. Adjust the price per kWh to match your latest electricity bill for an exact figure.
The number that matters most is your own electricity rate. Rates range from under 11¢ per kWh in some regions to over 30¢ in others, so the same toaster oven can cost two or three times as much depending on where you live. Enter your exact rate in the calculator above to get a figure tailored to your bill.
In the kitchen the toaster oven is typically used in short, frequent bursts rather than left on all day, so total run time matters more than peak wattage. Small changes — batching tasks, matching the appliance to the job — add up over a year of daily cooking.
At 1200 watts, the toaster oven is a moderate load: not the largest item on your bill, but enough that long daily use is noticeable over a year. It is a good candidate for an efficiency upgrade if your current unit is old.
Over a full year this toaster oven uses about 168 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 67.2 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Since it is used only part of the year, your real footprint scales with the season — the annual figure assumes a typical usage pattern.
To put the draw in everyday terms, one hour of running this toaster oven uses about as much electricity as charging a smartphone 100 times. It is a rough comparison, but it makes an abstract wattage figure easier to picture.
If this toaster oven is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $5.71 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a toaster oven per hour?
- At 1200 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a toaster oven costs about $0.20 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a toaster oven use per month?
- Running 0.5 hours a day, a toaster oven uses roughly 14.0 kWh per month, costing about $2.38.
- How many kWh does a toaster oven use per year?
- Used 0.5 hours a day for 280 days a year, a toaster oven consumes about 168 kWh annually — that is the figure your electricity rate is multiplied by to get the $28.56 yearly cost.
- Is a toaster oven expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $28.56 per year, a toaster oven is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How much CO₂ does a toaster oven produce?
- On an average grid, a toaster oven used this much is responsible for roughly 67.2 kg of CO₂ per year. The exact figure depends on how clean your local electricity supply is.
- How can I reduce my toaster oven running costs?
- Use it during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing, reduce daily run time, and consider an ENERGY STAR rated toaster oven, which uses less power for the same job.