Bread maker vs. stand mixer: running cost
A stand mixer is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $4 for a bread maker at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $3 difference.
| Bread maker | Stand mixer | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 600 W | 325 W |
| Watt range | 450–850 W | 250–1,000 W |
| Typical use | 1 loaf a week | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week |
| Energy per year | 21 kWh | 4 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 7.2¢ | 5.8¢ |
| Cost per day | 1.0¢ | 0.2¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.31 | $0.06 |
| Cost per year | $4 | $1 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $9 | $2 |
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What drives the difference
- Bread maker: Bread makers draw 450-850 W when baking but only 20-100 W while kneading and rising; a full 3-hour cycle uses about 0.3-0.5 kWh, less than preheating and baking in a full oven.
- Stand mixer: A KitchenAid tilt-head stand mixer is rated 325 W and draws less on light loads; even heavy bread dough costs pennies.
Ways to cut either cost
Hand mixer
A 200-250 W hand mixer is enough for batters and whipped cream.
See options on Amazon Programmable bread machine
Lets you skip keep-warm and adjust cycles to the recipe.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a bread maker or a stand mixer?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a bread maker costs about $4 a year versus $1 for a stand mixer. That's $3 more, or 4.9× as much.
How many watts do bread maker and stand mixer use?
A bread maker typically draws 600 W (range 450–850 W). A stand mixer draws 325 W (range 250–1,000 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.