How much does it cost to run a slow cooker?
EIA data · June 2026About $11.16 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
60.8 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 150–350 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A slow cooker sits mid-table at #22 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether kitchen or something else drives your bill.
Every figure here is priced per kilowatt-hour. What a kilowatt-hour actually is.
How many watts a slow cooker uses
Slow cookers use a low-wattage resistance element, typically 150–250 W on low and 250–350 W on high. They are among the lowest-draw cooking appliances made.
- Low
- 150 W
- Typical
- 250 W
- High
- 350 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 250 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $385 |
| California | 34.74 | $254 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $216 |
| New York | 29.49 | $215 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $140 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $116 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $110 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $97.60 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $96.73 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $95.70 |
Worth knowing
- A slow cooker's tiny draw is spread over a long cook: eight hours on low is roughly 2 kWh, about the same as a couple of hours of a full-size oven. That is cheap for a whole day of unattended cooking, but its low wattage does not make it near-free.
- The element runs continuously rather than cycling, but at a draw comparable to two or three old light bulbs.
- Lifting the lid to check on the food adds roughly twenty minutes of cooking time each time, which is the only real way to waste energy with one.
Other appliances
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.