Checked against official sources on 15 October 2026
How much does a slow cooker cost to run?
About $1.72 a month
for a slow cooker used 8 hours once a week in No match. Pick "Another country" to type your own price. , at 18.31 cents per kWh.
Type your electricity price to see the cost.
- Draws while on
- 270 W
- Costs per hour
- $0.05
- Start-up surge
- None
Slow cookers have a reputation for being cheap to run, and they deserve it. They draw only about 170–270 W, so even an eight-hour cook doesn't cost much. This page assumes one long cook a week; change it to match how often you use yours.
Work out your own slow cooker
Draws about 270 W
Look on the label or plug for a number followed by W.
Typical range
Honda's guide gives a range of 170–270 W for slow cookers. Costs below use the price you set above.
| Slow cooker | Power while on | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Low end of the range | $0.03 | |
| High end of the range | $0.05 |
What it costs in other countries
For a slow cooker used 8 hours once a week, at each country's official average electricity price.
| Country | Price per kWh | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18.31 cents | $1.72 | $21 |
| United Kingdom | 26.32 pence | £2.47 | £30 |
| Germany | 36.18 cents | €3.40 | €41 |
| Ireland | 38.71 cents | €3.63 | €44 |
| France | 24.85 cents | €2.33 | €28 |
| Spain | 25.09 cents | €2.35 | €28 |
| Italy | 31.42 cents | €2.95 | €35 |
| Netherlands | 24.40 cents | €2.29 | €27 |
Prices from the U.S. EIA, Ofgem and Eurostat; see Sources below. To see another country, pick it at the top of the page; we cover 51.
How to cut the cost of running your slow cooker
-
Keep the lid on
Every lift lets heat out and adds cooking time.
-
Pick the right size
A cooker bigger than you need heats more than it has to.
What can power it
It has no start-up surge: Honda's generator guide lists no extra power at start-up for a slow cooker. A generator or power station needs to supply its running power, about 270 W for the option above, plus anything else running at the same time.
Common questions
How many watts does a slow cooker use?
Honda's generator guide lists slow cookers at about 170–270 W.
How much does an 8-hour slow cook cost?
At 170–270 W, an 8-hour cook uses about 1.4 to 2.2 kWh, which is roughly 25 to 40 cents at the average US price.
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker per hour?
About $0.05 an hour in the United States, at the average price of 18.31 cents per kWh, or about £0.07 in the UK at 26.32 pence, for a slow cooker drawing 270 W.
Sources
- Honda Power Equipment, generator wattage estimation guide
- Eurostat, Electricity prices for household consumers (nrg_pc_204): consumption band 2,500–4,999 kWh, all taxes and levies included, January–June 2026 (updated 13 October 2026)
- Ofgem energy price cap: average Direct Debit electricity unit rate, England, Scotland and Wales, 1 October to 31 December 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electricity Monthly Update: average residential price, July 2026 (released 24 September 2026)
Last checked 15 October 2026. How we get our numbers.