United Kingdom Kitchen
How much does it cost to run an electric oven?
An electric oven element is rated 2,000 to 3,600 watts, but once the oven reaches temperature the element only switches on to replace the heat that escapes, roughly half the time. An hour of baking at 180 degrees Celsius uses about 1 to 1.5 kWh.
A 2.2 kW electric oven costs about 29p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 1 hour a day cycling 50% of the time comes to about 29p a day, £8.81 a month and £105.75 a year.
- Price: Ofgem cap, Oct to Dec 2026
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 1.1 kWh a day, 33 kWh a month, at 26.32 pence per kWh (Great Britain (price cap average)).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 2.2 kW electric oven costs about 29p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 1 hour a day cycling 50% of the time comes to about 29p a day, £8.81 a month and £105.75 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 2.2 kW electric oven running 1 hour a day, drawing full power 50% of the time it is switched on (the rest of the time a thermostat or sensor has it idle). Published typical ratings run from 2,000 to 3,000 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the Ofgem price cap unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026, average for England, Scotland and Wales, paying by Direct Debit. The cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027 is announced in late November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost by wattage and hours at the price cap rate
At 26.32p per kWh, running flat out. Multiply by the share of the time your thermostat keeps the element on.
| Power | 1 hour | 8 hours | 24 hours | A week at 1 hour a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 53p | £4.21 | £12.63 | £3.68 |
| 2.2 kW | 58p | £4.63 | £13.90 | £4.05 |
| 3 kW | 79p | £6.32 | £18.95 | £5.53 |
How an electric oven uses electricity
Pre-heating is when the element runs flat out. A 10 to 15 minute pre-heat is about 0.5 kWh, so a 20 minute bake can cost as much as a 40 minute one.
Fan (convection) ovens hold temperature with a lower duty and cook faster. Opening the door drops the temperature and restarts the element.
Ways to cut the cost
- Cook several things in one session.
- Use the fan setting and skip the pre-heat for things that do not need it.
- An air fryer or microwave is far cheaper for small portions.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run an oven for an hour?
About 1.2 kWh at 2,400 watts and 50% duty. At 18 cents that is about 22 cents, at 26p about 31p.
Is an air fryer cheaper than an oven?
For small amounts, yes. An air fryer is 1,500 watts, heats in two minutes and cooks faster, so a 20 minute cook uses about 0.4 kWh against roughly 0.8 kWh for the oven including pre-heat.
Other kitchen costs
More in the UK
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.