How much does a slow cooker cost to run?
At the current price cap, a slow cooker costs about 42.1p per 8-hour cook, or around £21.96 a year with typical use.
Slow cooker
- An hour
- 5.3p
- A day used
- 42.1p
- A week
- 42.1p
- A month
- £1.83
- Energy a year
- 83.4 kWh
200 W for 8 hours a day, once a week, at 26.32p per kWh.
Excludes the daily standing charge, which you pay whatever you use.
How it compares
Yearly cost with typical use, at your unit rate.
Slow cooker running costs
At 26.32p per kWh, with typical use of 8 hours a day, 1 days a week.
| Period | Energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per 8-hour cook | 1.6 kWh | 42.1p |
| Per week | 1.6 kWh | 42.1p |
| Per month | 6.95 kWh | £1.83 |
| Per year | 83.4 kWh | £21.96 |
How the cost varies
Small 150 W models to large 300 W pots, for 8 hours.
| Energy use | Per 8-hour cook | Per year (typical use) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | 31.6p | £16.47 |
| Typical | 42.1p | £21.96 |
| Higher | 63.2p | £32.94 |
Cooking appliances compared
Yearly cost with typical use, at 26.32p per kWh.
| Appliance | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Electric oven | 52.6p | £109.79 |
| Induction hob (one ring) | 39.5p | £61.76 |
| Air fryer | 36.8p | £48.03 |
| Slow cooker (this page) | 5.3p | £21.96 |
| Microwave | 29p | £15.85 |
Ways to spend less
- The low setting uses less power over a longer time; the total is often similar to high for a shorter time.
- Keep the lid on. Lifting it lets out heat and can add 20 to 30 minutes to the cooking time.
- Fill it at least halfway, as slow cookers work best and most efficiently when well filled.
How we calculate this
We take a typical slow cooker at 200 watts, used 8 hours a day, 1 days a week, and multiply the energy it uses by the Ofgem price cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh.
One 8-hour cook uses about 1.6 kWh. Use the calculator above with your own appliance’s power and how you use it for a closer figure.
Questions people ask
How much does a slow cooker cost to run a year?
With typical use (8 hours a day, 1 days a week), about £21.96 a year at the current price cap, or £1.83 a month.
Is a slow cooker cheap to run?
Yes. Even over 8 hours, a typical slow cooker uses about 1.6 kWh, less than an hour in an electric oven, because it runs at such low power.
Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on all day?
They are designed to be left unattended. Follow the maker’s instructions and keep it on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
Does this include the standing charge?
No. The standing charge (54.83p a day under the current cap, about £200.13 a year) is a fixed daily cost for being connected. It does not change with how much you use any appliance.
Related calculators
- Air fryer running costCosts per use and per year.
- Electric oven running costCosts per use and per year.
- Microwave running costCosts per use and per year.
- Induction hob ring running costCosts per use and per year.
- Appliance running cost calculatorCompare any appliance, at your own rate.
- Energy bill calculatorYour whole yearly bill at the price cap.