How much does it cost to run a slow cooker?
A typical slow cooker draws about 200 watts. Used 8 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.27 per day, $3.40 per month, and $40.80 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Low wattage but long run times make slow cookers cheap to operate.
Slow Cooker running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.27
- Per month
- $3.40
- Per year
- $40.80
- CO₂ / year
- 96 kg
Based on 240 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 slow cooker 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.
Over a full year this slow cooker uses about 240 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 96 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Reducing run time, or switching to a more efficient model, lowers both the cost and the footprint.
If this slow cooker is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $8.16 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a slow cooker per hour?
- At 200 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a slow cooker costs about $0.03 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a slow cooker use per month?
- Running 8 hours a day, a slow cooker uses roughly 20.0 kWh per month, costing about $3.40.
- Is a slow cooker expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $40.80 per year, a slow cooker is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How can I reduce my slow cooker 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 slow cooker, which uses less power for the same job.