🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Rice Cooker Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a rice cooker costs about $0.95 per month at typical usage — 4 uses/week at 0.3 kWh each.
Per use
5.5¢
0.3 kWh per use
Per day
3.1¢
4 uses/week at 0.3 kWh each
Per month
$0.95
5.2 kWh
Per year
$11.45
63 kWh
A standard rice cooker uses roughly 0.2–0.4 kWh per batch, then drops to a low keep-warm trickle. Left on keep-warm all day, though, that trickle can exceed the cooking energy itself.
Calculate it for your home
Per use
5.5¢
Per day
3.1¢
Per month
$0.95
Per year
$11.45
Uses 5.2 kWh/month at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 3.8¢ | $0.66 | $7.95 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 3.8¢ | $0.67 | $8.01 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 3.9¢ | $0.68 | $8.20 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 4.0¢ | $0.70 | $8.38 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 4.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.57 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 4.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.57 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 4.1¢ | $0.72 | $8.63 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 4.1¢ | $0.72 | $8.63 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 4.3¢ | $0.75 | $8.95 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $0.75 | $9.01 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $0.75 | $9.01 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 4.3¢ | $0.76 | $9.07 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 4.4¢ | $0.77 | $9.20 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.39 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.39 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 4.6¢ | $0.79 | $9.51 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 4.6¢ | $0.80 | $9.57 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 4.6¢ | $0.80 | $9.64 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 4.6¢ | $0.80 | $9.64 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 4.7¢ | $0.81 | $9.70 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 4.7¢ | $0.82 | $9.89 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 4.8¢ | $0.83 | $9.95 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 4.8¢ | $0.83 | $10.01 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 4.8¢ | $0.83 | $10.01 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 4.8¢ | $0.84 | $10.07 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 4.8¢ | $0.84 | $10.07 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 4.9¢ | $0.85 | $10.20 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 4.9¢ | $0.85 | $10.26 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 5.0¢ | $0.87 | $10.45 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 5.1¢ | $0.89 | $10.64 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 5.3¢ | $0.91 | $10.95 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 5.3¢ | $0.92 | $11.01 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 5.5¢ | $0.96 | $11.58 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 5.7¢ | $1.00 | $11.95 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 5.8¢ | $1.00 | $12.01 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 5.8¢ | $1.02 | $12.20 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 6.4¢ | $1.12 | $13.39 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 6.5¢ | $1.13 | $13.58 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 6.9¢ | $1.20 | $14.45 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 7.1¢ | $1.24 | $14.89 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 7.3¢ | $1.26 | $15.14 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 7.6¢ | $1.31 | $15.77 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 7.6¢ | $1.31 | $15.77 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 8.0¢ | $1.39 | $16.64 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 8.5¢ | $1.47 | $17.71 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 8.6¢ | $1.50 | $18.02 |
| New York | 29.9 | 9.0¢ | $1.56 | $18.71 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 9.2¢ | $1.59 | $19.08 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.10 | $1.69 | $20.27 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.10 | $1.75 | $21.02 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.14 | $2.50 | $30.03 |
How to lower the cost
- Match the appliance to the portion: microwave and air fryer beat the big oven for anything small.
- Keep refrigerator coils clean and gaskets tight — it runs 24/7, so small inefficiencies compound.
- Run the dishwasher full and skip heated dry.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a rice cooker use?
A typical rice cooker uses about 0.3 kWh per use. At 4 uses per week, that's roughly 5.2 kWh per month.
How much does one use of a rice cooker cost?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh, each use costs about 5.5¢. That ranges from 3.8¢ in Louisiana to $0.14 in Hawaii.
How much does a rice cooker cost to run per month?
With typical usage (4 uses/week at 0.3 kWh each), expect about $0.95 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $0.66 in Louisiana up to $2.50 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a rice cooker use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 1% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.