How much does it cost to run an electric pressure cooker?
An electric pressure cooker drawing 1,000 watts, used about 45 minutes a day, uses about 0.75 kWh per day and costs about $0.15 per day, $4.43 per month, and $53.13 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
An electric pressure cooker draws around 1,000 watts to come up to pressure, then drops to a small maintenance draw for the rest of the cook. Because the sealed pot cooks faster than an oven or stovetop and loses almost no heat, total energy per meal is low — usually well under an oven doing the same job.
Cost at different daily usage
Same electric pressure cooker at 1,000 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 min/day | 0.38 kWh | $0.07 | $2.25 | $26.92 |
| 45 min/day | 0.75 kWh | $0.15 | $4.43 | $53.13 |
| 1.5 h/day | 1.50 kWh | $0.29 | $8.86 | $106.27 |
| 3 h/day | 3.00 kWh | $0.58 | $17.73 | $212.54 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 45 min/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 700 W | 0.53 kWh | $0.10 | $3.10 |
| Typical | 1,000 W | 0.75 kWh | $0.15 | $4.43 |
| High-draw model | 1,400 W | 1.05 kWh | $0.20 | $6.20 |
Cost by state
An electric pressure cooker at 1,000 W for 45 min/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.13 | $3.83 | $45.91 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.21 | $6.44 | $77.28 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.11 | $3.48 | $41.69 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.11 | $3.28 | $39.31 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.25 | $7.59 | $91.02 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.69 | $44.24 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.21 | $6.25 | $74.93 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.15 | $4.42 | $53.05 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.19 | $5.80 | $69.53 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.11 | $3.46 | $41.53 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.12 | $3.62 | $43.36 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.39 | $11.87 | $142.35 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.09 | $2.82 | $33.81 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.18 | $5.44 | $65.29 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.14 | $4.14 | $49.69 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.23 | $38.71 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.45 | $41.42 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.11 | $3.42 | $41.01 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.11 | $3.23 | $38.74 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.21 | $6.54 | $78.37 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.16 | $4.97 | $59.60 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.22 | $6.58 | $78.89 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.17 | $5.02 | $60.25 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.13 | $3.87 | $46.40 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.69 | $44.24 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.10 | $3.12 | $37.45 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.11 | $3.35 | $40.16 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.10 | $3.10 | $37.20 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.10 | $3.10 | $37.23 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.20 | $6.24 | $74.82 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.17 | $5.31 | $63.70 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.22 | $38.65 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.22 | $6.83 | $81.93 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.45 | $41.31 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.10 | $3.11 | $37.26 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.15 | $4.46 | $53.44 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.10 | $3.05 | $36.63 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.12 | $3.71 | $44.54 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.92 | $58.99 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.22 | $6.73 | $80.65 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.69 | $44.29 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.12 | $3.59 | $43.06 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.11 | $3.30 | $39.61 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.12 | $3.75 | $45.00 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.10 | $2.96 | $35.48 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.19 | $5.68 | $68.14 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.13 | $4.02 | $48.21 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.11 | $3.41 | $40.93 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.13 | $3.84 | $45.99 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.15 | $4.51 | $54.04 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.11 | $3.38 | $40.52 |
How to cut the cost
- Use it in place of the oven for braises and stews; the energy difference per meal is substantial.
- Use natural release when the recipe allows — no extra energy, and it finishes cooking for free.
- Cook larger batches and reheat portions in the microwave, which is very cheap.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Does an Instant Pot use a lot of electricity?
No. It draws about 1,000 watts only while coming to pressure, then far less. A full meal typically uses a fraction of what an oven would.
How do you calculate what an electric pressure cooker costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For an electric pressure cooker: 1,000 W × 0.75 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.75 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.15 per day.
How many watts does an electric pressure cooker use?
Typically 1,000 watts, with most models falling between 700 and 1,400 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.