Hot plate vs. electric stove burner: running cost
A hot plate is cheaper to run: about $30 a year versus $59 for an electric stove burner at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $30 difference.
| Hot plate | Electric stove burner | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,000 W | 1,500 W |
| Watt range | 750–1,800 W | 1,000–3,000 W |
| Typical use | 45 minutes a day | 1 hour a day |
| Energy per year | 164 kWh | 329 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 11¢ | 16¢ |
| Cost per day | 8.1¢ | 16¢ |
| Cost per month | $2.46 | $4.93 |
| Cost per year | $30 | $59 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $72 | $143 |
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What drives the difference
- Hot plate: Single-burner hot plates use 750-1,500 W; cast iron plates are slow to heat and lose heat around the edges.
- Electric stove burner: Electric coil and radiant smooth-top burners are rated 1.2-3 kW and cycle at medium settings. A typical household uses burners about an hour a day across meals.
Ways to cut either cost
Heats the pan directly and wastes far less heat than cast iron or coil hot plates.
See options on AmazonInduction transfers about 85% of its energy into the pan versus about 70% for radiant and coil burners.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a hot plate or an electric stove burner?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric stove burner costs about $59 a year versus $30 for a hot plate. That's $30 more, or 2.0× as much.
How many watts do hot plate and electric stove burner use?
A hot plate typically draws 1,000 W (range 750–1,800 W). An electric stove burner draws 1,500 W (range 1,000–3,000 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.