🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Slow Cooker Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a slow cooker costs about $2.45 per month at typical usage — 3 uses/week at 1 kWh each.
Per use
$0.19
1 kWh per use
Per day
8.1¢
3 uses/week at 1 kWh each
Per month
$2.45
13 kWh
Per year
$29.41
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
$0.19
Per day
8.1¢
Per month
$2.45
Per year
$29.41
Uses 13 kWh/month at 18.8¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | $0.12 | $1.62 | $19.40 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.13 | $1.65 | $19.87 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.13 | $1.73 | $20.80 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.13 | $1.73 | $20.80 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.13 | $1.73 | $20.80 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.14 | $1.81 | $21.74 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.14 | $1.81 | $21.74 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.14 | $1.82 | $21.90 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.14 | $1.85 | $22.21 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.14 | $1.86 | $22.37 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.14 | $1.88 | $22.53 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.14 | $1.88 | $22.53 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.14 | $1.89 | $22.68 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.15 | $1.92 | $22.99 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.15 | $1.94 | $23.31 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.15 | $1.95 | $23.46 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.15 | $1.98 | $23.78 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.15 | $2.01 | $24.09 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.15 | $2.01 | $24.09 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.15 | $2.02 | $24.25 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.16 | $2.06 | $24.72 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.16 | $2.06 | $24.72 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.16 | $2.10 | $25.18 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.16 | $2.12 | $25.50 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.16 | $2.14 | $25.65 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.17 | $2.15 | $25.81 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.17 | $2.19 | $26.28 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.17 | $2.21 | $26.59 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.17 | $2.23 | $26.75 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.17 | $2.27 | $27.22 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.17 | $2.27 | $27.22 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.18 | $2.33 | $28.00 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.19 | $2.45 | $29.41 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.19 | $2.50 | $30.03 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.20 | $2.54 | $30.50 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.20 | $2.67 | $32.07 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.21 | $2.79 | $33.48 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.21 | $2.80 | $33.63 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.22 | $2.88 | $34.57 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.23 | $3.06 | $36.76 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.25 | $3.21 | $38.48 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.25 | $3.31 | $39.73 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.27 | $3.54 | $42.55 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.27 | $3.57 | $42.86 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.28 | $3.69 | $44.27 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.28 | $3.70 | $44.43 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.29 | $3.84 | $46.15 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.29 | $3.84 | $46.15 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.32 | $4.20 | $50.37 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.35 | $4.60 | $55.22 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.47 | $6.07 | $72.90 |
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 18.8¢/kWh, each use costs about $0.19. That ranges from $0.12 in North Dakota to $0.47 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 $2.45 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.62 in North Dakota up to $6.07 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 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.