How much does it cost to run a slow cooker?
A slow cooker drawing 200 watts, used 6 hours a day, uses about 1.20 kWh per day and costs about $0.23 per day, $7.09 per month, and $85.02 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
A slow cooker draws only about 200 watts — roughly a tenth of an oven — and although it runs for hours, its total energy per meal is low. It's one of the cheapest ways to cook a full meal.
Cost at different daily usage
Same slow cooker at 200 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 h/day | 0.60 kWh | $0.12 | $3.55 | $42.51 |
| 6 h/day | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 | $85.02 |
| 9 h/day | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.64 | $127.52 |
| 12 h/day | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 | $170.03 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 6 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 150 W | 0.90 kWh | $0.17 | $5.32 |
| Typical | 200 W | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 |
| High-draw model | 300 W | 1.80 kWh | $0.35 | $10.64 |
Cost by state
A slow cooker at 200 W for 6 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.20 | $6.13 | $73.45 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.34 | $10.31 | $123.65 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.18 | $5.56 | $66.71 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.17 | $5.25 | $62.90 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.40 | $12.15 | $145.64 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.90 | $70.78 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.33 | $10.00 | $119.88 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.23 | $7.08 | $84.88 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.30 | $9.28 | $111.25 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.18 | $5.54 | $66.44 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.19 | $5.79 | $69.38 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.62 | $18.99 | $227.76 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.15 | $4.51 | $54.09 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.29 | $8.71 | $104.46 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.22 | $6.63 | $79.50 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.17 | $5.17 | $61.93 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.18 | $5.53 | $66.27 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.18 | $5.47 | $65.61 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.17 | $5.17 | $61.98 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.34 | $10.46 | $125.40 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.26 | $7.95 | $95.35 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.35 | $10.53 | $126.23 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.26 | $8.04 | $96.40 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.20 | $6.19 | $74.24 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.90 | $70.78 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.16 | $5.00 | $59.92 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.18 | $5.36 | $64.25 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.96 | $59.52 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.97 | $59.57 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.33 | $9.98 | $119.71 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.28 | $8.50 | $101.92 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.17 | $5.16 | $61.85 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.36 | $10.93 | $131.09 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.18 | $5.51 | $66.09 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.97 | $59.61 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.23 | $7.13 | $85.50 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.16 | $4.89 | $58.60 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.20 | $5.94 | $71.26 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.26 | $7.87 | $94.39 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.35 | $10.76 | $129.03 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.91 | $70.87 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.19 | $5.75 | $68.90 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.17 | $5.29 | $63.38 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.20 | $6.01 | $72.01 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.16 | $4.73 | $56.76 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.30 | $9.09 | $109.02 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.21 | $6.43 | $77.13 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.18 | $5.46 | $65.48 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.20 | $6.14 | $73.58 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.24 | $7.21 | $86.46 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.18 | $5.41 | $64.82 |
How to cut the cost
- Resist lifting the lid; each peek releases heat and extends cooking time.
- Use the low setting when time allows.
- Cook larger batches and refrigerate portions — reheating in a microwave is very cheap.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Is a slow cooker cheap to run?
Yes. Despite running for hours, its low wattage means a full meal typically uses about a kilowatt-hour or less.
How do you calculate what a slow 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 a slow cooker: 200 W × 6 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.20 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.23 per day.
How many watts does a slow cooker use?
Typically 200 watts, with most models falling between 150 and 300 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.