United States 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 2.4 kW electric oven costs about 22 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 1 hour a day cycling 50% of the time comes to about 22 cents a day, $6.63 a month and $79.60 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 1.2 kWh a day, 37 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US 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 2.4 kW electric oven costs about 22 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 1 hour a day cycling 50% of the time comes to about 22 cents a day, $6.63 a month and $79.60 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 2.4 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 3,600 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 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 to run an electric oven in every state
Same 2.4 kW electric oven, 1 hour a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 15 cents | 15 cents | $4.65 | $55.75 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 15 cents | 15 cents | $4.70 | $56.41 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.86 | $58.34 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.86 | $58.34 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.88 | $58.60 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.90 | $58.82 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 16 cents | 16 cents | $4.95 | $59.35 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.04 | $60.49 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.25 | $62.98 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.27 | $63.25 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 17 cents | 17 cents | $5.27 | $63.25 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.34 | $64.12 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.41 | $64.96 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.46 | $65.53 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.48 | $65.70 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.50 | $65.96 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 18 cents | 18 cents | $5.53 | $66.40 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.65 | $67.81 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.69 | $68.24 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.76 | $69.08 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.81 | $69.69 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.81 | $69.73 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.81 | $69.78 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 19 cents | 19 cents | $5.85 | $70.22 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $5.96 | $71.49 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $5.96 | $71.57 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.03 | $72.36 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.22 | $74.60 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 20 cents | 20 cents | $6.23 | $74.77 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.27 | $75.26 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.28 | $75.39 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 21 cents | 21 cents | $6.44 | $77.32 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 22 cents | 22 cents | $6.83 | $81.96 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 23 cents | 23 cents | $7.06 | $84.68 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 23 cents | 23 cents | $7.08 | $84.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 23 cents | 23 cents | $7.09 | $85.07 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 26 cents | 26 cents | $7.82 | $93.80 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 26 cents | 26 cents | $7.95 | $95.42 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 28 cents | 28 cents | $8.40 | $100.77 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 29 cents | 29 cents | $8.71 | $104.49 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 29 cents | 29 cents | $8.95 | $107.43 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 30 cents | 30 cents | $8.99 | $107.87 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 31 cents | 31 cents | $9.49 | $113.87 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 33 cents | 33 cents | $10.10 | $121.15 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 34 cents | 34 cents | $10.29 | $123.51 |
| New York | 28.65c | 34 cents | 34 cents | $10.46 | $125.57 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 35 cents | 35 cents | $10.74 | $128.90 |
| California | 29.75c | 36 cents | 36 cents | $10.87 | $130.39 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 37 cents | 37 cents | $11.13 | $133.59 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 39 cents | 39 cents | $11.73 | $140.74 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 57 cents | 57 cents | $17.23 | $206.79 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
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 US
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.