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Page last updated on 20th June 2025

Energy saving in the kitchen: how to calculate appliance running costs

Air fryer vs oven, air fryer vs microwave: we face an endless number of choices when it comes to our kitchen appliances.

As we continue to prioritise energy and cost savings at home, the true price of running these appliances becomes more important. But just how much does it cost to run your oven? And what actions can you take to save energy in the kitchen?

What's on this page?

Why are appliance running costs important?
What impacts kitchen appliance running costs?
How to calculate your appliance running costs
Typical running costs for common kitchen appliances
How to save energy when cooking with kitchen appliances

Why are appliance running costs important?

Knowing how much each of your kitchen appliances costs to run can help you to better manage your household finances. Comparing how much electricity an air fryer uses to a slow cooker or oven helps you identify which appliances use more energy so you can make smarter choices about how you use them.

What impacts kitchen appliance running costs?

The price you pay to run your kitchen appliances, or any household devices, depends on:

The amount of power that they consume. This is typically measured in kWH (kilowatt hour) and will vary for each individual appliance. Most appliances are now sold with an energy rating on a scale from A-G to let you know how efficient it is.* Energy ratings are relative to the type of appliance, so an A-rated oven will not have the same kWh consumption as an A-rated fridge, and not all appliances are included in this rating system.

The price you pay for your energy. This is charged per unit of electricity. Ofgem, the energy regulator, sets a price cap every 3 months which decides the maximum which energy suppliers can charge customers for their energy per unit. How much you actually pay for your energy will depend on your energy tariff (and whether it offers a rate below the price cap) and your energy usage. Your energy bill should include information about how much you’re being charged for your energy, but you should speak to your supplier if you are unsure.

How long you use the appliance for. If you run an appliance for longer, then it will consume more energy and cost you more money. However, it is important to remember that some appliances are designed for more regular use than others. A fridge, for example, is intended for continuous use and should not be switched off unless being left empty for a prolonged period. On the other hand, appliances like an electric kettle are designed to be used in short bursts.

A great way to better understand your energy consumption is with a smart meter. The in-home display lets you get a glimpse of your energy usage in near real-time so you can see exactly how much you’re spending, and even spot when you're using more or less energy.

Learn more about how smart meters can help you track your budgets or enter your energy supplier below to request a smart meter today.

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How to calculate your appliance running costs

When calculating appliance running costs, you can use this formula:

Power rating of the appliance (kWh) X unit cost for your electricity (£) X how long you use the appliance for (hours) = appliance running costs

Note: while many appliances provide their power rating in kilowatt hours (kWh), some may provide it in watts (W). To calculate your appliance running costs for these appliances, you’d need to convert their power rating from watts to kWh.

As an example, let’s say your oven has a power rating of 3 kWh, and you pay £0.27 per unit of electricity.

If you use your oven for one hour, much does it cost to run your oven? The total running cost to you would be around £0.81.** This is calculated as:

3 kWh power rating X 1 hour use X £0.2703 kWh energy price cap = £0.81

For more information, please see National Energy Action’s guide to calculating home appliance running costs.

You can also use our energy cost calculator to see how much different electric appliances might cost to use. It uses the latest energy price cap for electricity and average appliance power ratings to calculate the estimated impact on your monthly bills. Simply select your typical appliance usage and learn what this means for your electricity bills.

Typical running costs for common kitchen appliances

To offer a glimpse of how much your kitchen gadgets could be adding to your monthly bill, we’ve calculated typical running costs for a few common appliances using an electricity cost of £0.27 per unit. **

How much energy does an air fryer use compared to a slow cooker or microwave? Let’s find out.

How much electricity does an air fryer use?
How much does it cost to run an oven?
How much does it cost to run a microwave?
How much does a slow cooker cost to run?
How much electricity does a fridge use?

How much electricity does an air fryer use?

An average air fryer may use between 1.4 and 1.7kWh of electricity.

Running this appliance for 1 hour per day would therefore cost between £0.37 (1.4 kWh power rating x 1 hour use x £0.2703 kWh energy price cap) and £0.45 (1.7 kWh power rating x 1 hour use x £0.2703 kWh energy price cap).

How much does it cost to run an air fryer regularly? In a 31-day month, this would add up to between £11.72 (£0.37 average running cost x 31 days) and £14.23 (£0.45 average running cost x 31 days).

How much does it cost to run an oven?

An average oven uses between 2.0 and 5.0 kWh of electricity.

Running this appliance for 1 hour per day would cost between £0.54 (2.0 kWh power rating x 1 hour use x £0.2703 kWh energy price cap) and £1.35 (5.0 kWh power rating x 1 hour use x £0.2703 kWh energy price cap).

So, how much does an oven cost to run regularly? In a 31-day month, this would add up to between £16.74 (£0.54 average running cost x 31 days) and £41.85 (£1.35 average running cost x 31 days).

This may make air fryers look like a more affordable option, but according to the Energy Saving Trust, who are an impartial and trusted organisation for energy efficiency, they typically have a smaller cooking capacity than traditional ovens. This means that larger meals may need to be cooked in batches in air fryer, leading you to use the appliance for longer.

How much does it cost to run a microwave?

The cost of running a microwave will depend on how powerful it is. Average microwaves have a power rating of 700 to 1,400 watts (0.7 to 1.4kW).

Running a 1,000-watt (1.0 kWh) microwave for 30 minutes would cost around £0.14 ((1.0 kWh power rating x 0.5 hours use x £0.2703 kWh energy price cap).

Over the course of a 31-day month, this would add up to £4.19 (£0.14 average running cost x 31 days).

How much does a slow cooker cost to run?

The average slow cooker uses 1.3kWh of electricity per meal.

This would cost approximately £0.35 per meal (1.3kWh power rating x £0.2703 kWH energy price cap).

Over the course of a 31-day month, this totals £10.88 (£0.35 average running cost per meal x 31 days).

How much electricity does a fridge use?

As an appliance that is left on 24/7, you may expect fridge running costs to be high. However, since they are designed to be on all the time, fridges are typically energy efficient. Fridges don’t work at full power all the time either, they just use enough energy to stay at the set temperature. According to National Energy Action, the average fridge-freezer has an energy rating of 100-300W (0.1-0.3 KW).

While you cannot turn your fridge off to save energy (unless it will be empty for a prolonged period), you can achieve energy saving in the kitchen by choosing a more efficient A-rated fridge freezer and adjusting the temperature setting of your fridge. The Foods Standards Agency recommend 0-5°C for the fridge and –18° C for the freezer.

How to save energy when cooking with kitchen appliances

Energy saving in the kitchen starts with understanding how much electricity, and money, is currently being used to power your appliances. Now that you understand how much it costs to keep your kitchen running, you can try some of these tips to save energy when cooking and cleaning:

Ovens: Batch cook meals to reduce overall cooking times and energy usage. Consider using air fryers, which may be slightly cheaper to run, for small meals with a short cooking time.
Fridges: Set your fridge and freezer to the recommended temperatures, 0-5°C for the fridge and –18° C for the freezer. Keep your fridge three-quarters full to allow for the best air flow and energy efficiency.
Kettles: Only boil as much water as you need – overfilling your kettle uses unnecessary electricity. For more information see our guide to descaling your kettle.
Washing machines: Choose a detergent that still works well in cooler water so you can reduce the washing temperature and save electricity. Always wash full loads, where you can, and choose eco programmes. These may take longer to run but use less energy than shorter programmes that work harder to do the same job in less time.
Tumble dryers: Is air-drying your clothes more energy-efficient than using a tumble dryer? It might seem obvious, but drying your clothes naturally can lower your household electricity usage. If rainy British weather prevents you from putting your clothes on the line, you can also consider using a heated airer or running a dehumidifier at the same time as drying your clothes. Just remember to check the energy rating and average running costs of each appliance to decide which is the best option.

Learn even more about your household energy consumption and request a smart meter today. With its handy in-home display (IHD), a smart meter can help you see how much energy you’re using in near real-time, in pounds and pence.