Juicer vs. food processor: running cost
A food processor is cheaper to run: about $1 a year versus $2 for a juicer at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $1 difference.
| Juicer | Food processor | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 600 W | 600 W |
| Watt range | 150–1,000 W | 250–1,200 W |
| Typical use | 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week | 6 minutes a day, 2 days a week |
| Energy per year | 9 kWh | 6 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 11¢ | 11¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.5¢ | 0.3¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.14 | $0.09 |
| Cost per year | $2 | $1 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $4 | $3 |
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What drives the difference
- Juicer: Centrifugal juicers draw 500-1,000 W for a few minutes; slow masticating juicers draw 150-250 W but run longer.
- Food processor: Full-size food processors draw 500-750 W; mini choppers 250 W. Running a few minutes costs very little.
Ways to cut either cost
Mini food chopper
Uses about a third of the power for small jobs like garlic and herbs.
See options on Amazon Masticating juicer
Uses 150-250 W and extracts more juice per pound of produce.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a juicer or a food processor?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a juicer costs about $2 a year versus $1 for a food processor. That's $1 more, or 1.5× as much.
How many watts do juicer and food processor use?
A juicer typically draws 600 W (range 150–1,000 W). A food processor draws 600 W (range 250–1,200 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.