How do I work out what my own electric oven costs?

Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.

Does it cost more in some parts of the country?

Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Running costs

How much does it cost to run an electric oven?

About 39p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 1 hour, 4 times a week, that’s about £81 a year.

NEA’s average cost per hour for a 2,000 W to 2,400 W oven, allowing for the thermostat switching the elements on and off once it’s hot.

Verified: 23 October 2026 from Ofgem price cap rates

Work out yours

Your electricity price

Average power while in use

watts

Hours each time

Times a week

An hour

39p

A week

£1.56

A month

£6.77

A year

£81

309 kWh a year. Unit rate only: the standing charge is paid whether or not anything is switched on.

An oven draws its full rating while it heats up, then its thermostat switches the elements on and off to hold the temperature. That’s why an hour of cooking uses less than the rating suggests.

Filling the oven is the way to make it pay: cooking two or three things at once costs about the same as cooking one.

Ways to spend less

Cook several dishes at once, or batch-cook for the week.
Keep the door shut: every look lets the heat out.
Switch off a few minutes early and let the oven’s heat finish the job.

Compared with

Appliance	Typical cost	A year, used as shown
Electric oven	39p an hour	£81 (1 hour, 4 times a week)
Air fryer	23p an hour	£20 (20 minutes, 5 times a week)
Slow cooker	47p an 8-hour cook	£25 (one 8-hour cook a week)

At the Great Britain average electricity rate of 26.32p a kWh.

Common questions

How much does it cost to run an electric oven?: About 39p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 1 hour, 4 times a week, that’s about £81 a year. NEA’s average cost per hour for a 2,000 W to 2,400 W oven, allowing for the thermostat switching the elements on and off once it’s hot.
How do I work out what my own electric oven costs?: Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.
Does it cost more in some parts of the country?: Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Other appliances

Add up several appliances in the electricity cost calculator, or see what your own home uses with the smart meter analyser.