🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Rice Cooker Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a rice cooker costs about $0.96 per month at typical usage — 4 uses/week at 0.3 kWh each.
Per use
5.5¢
0.3 kWh per use
Per day
3.2¢
4 uses/week at 0.3 kWh each
Per month
$0.96
5.2 kWh
Per year
$11.51
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
3.2¢
Per month
$0.96
Per year
$11.51
Uses 5.2 kWh/month at 18.4¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 3.7¢ | $0.65 | $7.76 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 3.9¢ | $0.68 | $8.13 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 4.0¢ | $0.70 | $8.38 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 4.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.51 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 4.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.51 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 4.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.51 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 4.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.57 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 4.2¢ | $0.73 | $8.82 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 4.2¢ | $0.73 | $8.82 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 4.3¢ | $0.74 | $8.89 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $0.75 | $9.01 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 4.3¢ | $0.76 | $9.07 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 4.4¢ | $0.77 | $9.20 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 4.4¢ | $0.77 | $9.26 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.39 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.39 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 4.5¢ | $0.79 | $9.45 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 4.5¢ | $0.79 | $9.45 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 4.6¢ | $0.79 | $9.51 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 4.6¢ | $0.79 | $9.51 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 4.7¢ | $0.82 | $9.82 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 4.7¢ | $0.82 | $9.89 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 4.9¢ | $0.84 | $10.14 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 4.9¢ | $0.84 | $10.14 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 4.9¢ | $0.84 | $10.14 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 4.9¢ | $0.85 | $10.20 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 4.9¢ | $0.85 | $10.26 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 5.0¢ | $0.88 | $10.51 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 5.0¢ | $0.88 | $10.51 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 5.1¢ | $0.89 | $10.64 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 5.3¢ | $0.92 | $11.01 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 5.5¢ | $0.95 | $11.39 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 5.8¢ | $1.01 | $12.14 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 5.8¢ | $1.02 | $12.20 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 5.9¢ | $1.03 | $12.33 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 6.5¢ | $1.13 | $13.52 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 6.5¢ | $1.14 | $13.64 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 6.6¢ | $1.15 | $13.77 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 7.0¢ | $1.21 | $14.58 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 7.2¢ | $1.25 | $14.95 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 7.5¢ | $1.30 | $15.58 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 7.6¢ | $1.32 | $15.89 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 8.2¢ | $1.42 | $17.08 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 8.2¢ | $1.43 | $17.14 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 8.5¢ | $1.47 | $17.65 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 8.6¢ | $1.49 | $17.90 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 8.6¢ | $1.50 | $18.02 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 8.8¢ | $1.54 | $18.46 |
| New York | 29.9 | 9.0¢ | $1.56 | $18.71 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.10 | $1.74 | $20.84 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.16 | $2.71 | $32.54 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, each use costs about 5.5¢. That ranges from 3.7¢ in Idaho to $0.16 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 $0.96 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $0.65 in Idaho up to $2.71 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.