🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Slow Cooker Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a slow cooker costs about $2.38 per month at typical usage — 3 uses/week at 1 kWh each.
Per use
$0.18
1 kWh per use
Per day
7.8¢
3 uses/week at 1 kWh each
Per month
$2.38
13 kWh
Per year
$28.63
156 kWh
A slow cooker sips 100–250 watts for six to eight hours, totaling roughly 0.7–1.5 kWh per meal — comparable to one hour of a full-size oven while being far gentler on a summer kitchen.
Calculate it for your home
Per use
$0.18
Per day
7.8¢
Per month
$2.38
Per year
$28.63
Uses 13 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 | $0.13 | $1.65 | $19.87 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.13 | $1.67 | $20.02 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.13 | $1.71 | $20.49 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.13 | $1.75 | $20.96 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.14 | $1.78 | $21.43 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.14 | $1.78 | $21.43 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.14 | $1.80 | $21.59 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.14 | $1.80 | $21.59 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.14 | $1.86 | $22.37 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.14 | $1.88 | $22.53 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.14 | $1.88 | $22.53 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.14 | $1.89 | $22.68 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.15 | $1.92 | $22.99 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.15 | $1.95 | $23.46 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.15 | $1.95 | $23.46 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.15 | $1.98 | $23.78 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.15 | $1.99 | $23.93 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.15 | $2.01 | $24.09 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.15 | $2.01 | $24.09 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.15 | $2.02 | $24.25 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.16 | $2.06 | $24.72 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.16 | $2.07 | $24.87 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.16 | $2.08 | $25.03 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.16 | $2.08 | $25.03 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.16 | $2.10 | $25.18 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.16 | $2.10 | $25.18 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.16 | $2.12 | $25.50 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.16 | $2.14 | $25.65 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.17 | $2.18 | $26.12 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.17 | $2.21 | $26.59 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.17 | $2.28 | $27.37 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.18 | $2.29 | $27.53 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.18 | $2.41 | $28.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.19 | $2.49 | $29.88 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.19 | $2.50 | $30.03 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.20 | $2.54 | $30.50 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.21 | $2.79 | $33.48 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.22 | $2.83 | $33.95 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.23 | $3.01 | $36.13 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.24 | $3.10 | $37.23 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.24 | $3.15 | $37.86 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.25 | $3.28 | $39.42 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.25 | $3.28 | $39.42 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.27 | $3.47 | $41.61 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.28 | $3.69 | $44.27 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.29 | $3.75 | $45.05 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.30 | $3.90 | $46.77 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.30 | $3.97 | $47.71 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.32 | $4.22 | $50.68 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.34 | $4.38 | $52.56 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.48 | $6.25 | $75.09 |
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 slow cooker use?
A typical slow cooker uses about 1 kWh per use. At 3 uses per week, that's roughly 13 kWh per month.
How much does one use of a slow cooker cost?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.18. That ranges from $0.13 in Louisiana to $0.48 in Hawaii.
How much does a slow cooker cost to run per month?
With typical usage (3 uses/week at 1 kWh each), expect about $2.38 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.65 in Louisiana up to $6.25 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a slow 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.