How much does it cost to run a toaster?
EIA data · June 2026About 30.7¢ 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.
1.7 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 800–1,800 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A toaster sits mid-table at #80 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 toaster uses
A two-slice toaster draws 800–1,200 W and a four-slice model 1,400–1,800 W. Like every plug-in heating appliance on a 120-volt circuit it is built below the 1,800 W ceiling.
- Low
- 800 W
- Typical
- 1,100 W
- High
- 1,800 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 1,100 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $10.58 |
| California | 34.74 | $6.97 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $5.94 |
| New York | 29.49 | $5.92 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $3.85 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $3.20 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $3.03 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $2.68 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $2.66 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $2.63 |
Worth knowing
- High wattage, three-minute runtime. Toasting every morning for a year costs only a few dollars, because the elements run for minutes rather than hours.
- The elements draw full power the whole cycle — there is no thermostat, only a timer, which is why the browning dial changes duration rather than power.
- A toaster is far cheaper than a toaster oven for the same bread, because it heats the elements directly against the slice rather than warming a cavity around it.
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.