How much does it cost to run an indoor electric grill?
An indoor electric grill costs about 13¢ per hour, 1.1¢ a day, $0.34 a month and $4 a year at typical use (18 minutes a day, 2 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Contact grills like the George Foreman draw 760-1,500 W; smokeless open grills about 1,500-1,800 W.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact contact grill | 760 | 8.2¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.21 | $3 |
| Family contact grill / panini press | 1,200 | 13¢ | 1.1¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Smokeless open grill | 1,700 | 18¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.48 | $6 |
At 18 minutes a day, 2 days a week and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.21 | 3.7¢ | $1.13 | $14 |
| 2 hours | 0.41 | 7.4¢ | $2.25 | $27 |
| 4 hours | 0.82 | 15¢ | $4.51 | $54 |
| 8 hours | 1.65 | 30¢ | $9.01 | $108 |
| 12 hours | 2.47 | 44¢ | $13.52 | $162 |
| 24 hours | 4.94 | 89¢ | $27.03 | $324 |
Cost to run an indoor electric grill in every state
The same indoor electric grill costs $3 a year in North Dakota and $10 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 8.9¢ | $0.23 | $3 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 9.1¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 9.3¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 9.4¢ | $0.24 | $3 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 9.6¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 9.6¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 9.7¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 9.8¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 9.9¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 10.0¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 10¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 10¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 10¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 10¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 10¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 10¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 11¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 11¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 11¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 11¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 11¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 11¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 11¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 11¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 11¢ | $0.29 | $3 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 11¢ | $0.29 | $4 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 11¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 12¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 12¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 12¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 12¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 12¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 13¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 13¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 13¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 14¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 15¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 15¢ | $0.40 | $5 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 15¢ | $0.40 | $5 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 17¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 17¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 17¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 19¢ | $0.50 | $6 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 19¢ | $0.50 | $6 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 20¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 20¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 21¢ | $0.55 | $7 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 21¢ | $0.55 | $7 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 22¢ | $0.57 | $7 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 24¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 31¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
How to cut the cost
- Contact grills cook both sides at once, cutting time roughly in half versus a pan.
- Preheat only 3-5 minutes.
- Cook all portions in one go.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Two-sided cooking finishes food faster than an open grill or skillet.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor electric grill | 1,200 | 18 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.34 | $4 |
| Electric griddle | 1,500 | 30 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.35 | $4 |
| Electric skillet | 1,500 | 30 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.29 | $4 |
| Air fryer | 1,500 | 24 minutes a day | $1.97 | $24 |
| Microwave | 1,200 | 15 minutes a day | $1.90 | $23 |
| Toaster oven | 1,300 | 18 minutes a day | $1.62 | $19 |
| Nespresso | 1,300 | 10 cups a week | $0.26 | $3 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an indoor electric grill per hour?
An indoor electric grill drawing 1,200 watts uses 0.72 kWh per hour while running (60% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 13¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 8.9¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 31¢.
How much does it cost to run an indoor electric grill per month?
At typical use (18 minutes a day, 2 days a week), an indoor electric grill costs about $0.34 a month and $4 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does an indoor electric grill use?
Most indoor electric grills use 760 to 1,800 watts, depending on the setting (compact contact grill 760 W, family contact grill / panini press 1,200 W, smokeless open grill 1,700 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an indoor electric grill use?
About 0.06 kWh a day and 23 kWh a year at typical use (18 minutes a day, 2 days a week).
Does an indoor electric grill use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 23 kWh a year it's a small share (0.2%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run an indoor electric grill or an electric griddle?
At typical use, an indoor electric grill costs about $4 a year versus $4 for an electric griddle. So the indoor electric grill is cheaper by about $0 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an indoor electric grill?
- Contact grills cook both sides at once, cutting time roughly in half versus a pan.
- Preheat only 3-5 minutes.
- Cook all portions in one go.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.