How much does it cost to run an Instant Pot?
An Instant Pot costs about 7.2¢ per hour, 2.7¢ a day, $0.83 a month and $10 a year at typical use (45 minutes a day, 3 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A 6-quart Instant Pot is rated 1,000 W and runs at full power only while coming to pressure; most meals use 0.2-0.4 kWh.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 qt mini | 700 | 5.0¢ | 2.0¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| 6 qt | 1,000 | 7.2¢ | 2.7¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| 8 qt | 1,200 | 8.6¢ | 3.2¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
At 45 minutes a day, 3 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 | 0.20 | 3.5¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| 2 hours | 0.37 | 6.6¢ | $2.00 | $24 |
| 4 hours | 0.71 | 13¢ | $3.88 | $47 |
| 8 hours | 1.39 | 25¢ | $7.62 | $91 |
| 12 hours | 2.08 | 37¢ | $11.37 | $136 |
| 24 hours | 4.13 | 74¢ | $22.60 | $271 |
Cost to run an Instant Pot in every state
The same Instant Pot costs $7 a year in North Dakota and $24 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¢ | 4.9¢ | $0.57 | $7 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 5.1¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 5.1¢ | $0.60 | $7 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 5.2¢ | $0.60 | $7 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 5.3¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 5.3¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 5.4¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 5.4¢ | $0.63 | $8 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 5.5¢ | $0.63 | $8 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 5.5¢ | $0.64 | $8 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 5.6¢ | $0.65 | $8 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 5.6¢ | $0.65 | $8 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 5.6¢ | $0.65 | $8 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 5.6¢ | $0.65 | $8 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 5.7¢ | $0.65 | $8 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 5.7¢ | $0.66 | $8 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 5.9¢ | $0.68 | $8 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 5.9¢ | $0.68 | $8 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 6.0¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 6.0¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 6.1¢ | $0.71 | $9 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 6.2¢ | $0.71 | $9 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 6.2¢ | $0.71 | $9 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 6.2¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 6.2¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 6.3¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 6.4¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 6.5¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 6.6¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 6.6¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 6.6¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 6.8¢ | $0.79 | $9 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 7.1¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 7.3¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 7.5¢ | $0.87 | $10 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 7.5¢ | $0.87 | $10 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 8.3¢ | $0.96 | $12 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 8.4¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 8.4¢ | $0.98 | $12 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 9.5¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 9.5¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 9.7¢ | $1.12 | $13 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 11¢ | $1.24 | $15 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 11¢ | $1.24 | $15 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 11¢ | $1.30 | $16 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 11¢ | $1.32 | $16 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 12¢ | $1.36 | $16 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 12¢ | $1.36 | $16 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 12¢ | $1.41 | $17 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 13¢ | $1.53 | $18 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 17¢ | $2.02 | $24 |
How to cut the cost
- Use pressure cooking for beans, stocks and tough cuts instead of 3-8 hours on the stove or slow cooker.
- Start with hot tap or kettle water to shorten the time to pressure.
- Turn off Keep Warm if you will serve right away.
- Use natural release to finish cooking on stored heat.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
A good seal reaches pressure faster and avoids long heating times.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot | 1,000 | 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.83 | $10 |
| Ninja Foodi multi-cooker | 1,400 | 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $1.36 | $16 |
| Slow cooker | 200 | 8 hours a day, 2 days a week | $2.00 | $24 |
| Rice cooker | 600 | 45 minutes a day, 4 days a week | $0.97 | $12 |
| Electric stove burner | 1,500 | 1 hour a day | $4.93 | $59 |
| Hot plate | 1,000 | 45 minutes a day | $2.46 | $30 |
| Drip coffee maker | 1,000 | 30 minutes a day | $1.22 | $15 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an Instant Pot per hour?
An Instant Pot drawing 1,000 watts uses 0.40 kWh per hour while running (40% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 7.2¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 4.9¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 17¢.
How much does it cost to run an Instant Pot per month?
At typical use (45 minutes a day, 3 days a week), an Instant Pot costs about $0.83 a month and $10 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 Instant Pot use?
Most Instant Pots use 700 to 1,500 watts, depending on the setting (3 qt mini 700 W, 6 qt 1,000 W, 8 qt 1,200 W). Plugged in but off, it still draws about 1 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an Instant Pot use?
About 0.15 kWh a day and 56 kWh a year at typical use (45 minutes a day, 3 days a week).
Does an Instant Pot use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 56 kWh a year it's a small share (0.5%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run an Instant Pot or a Ninja Foodi multi-cooker?
At typical use, an Instant Pot costs about $10 a year versus $16 for a Ninja Foodi multi-cooker. So the Instant Pot is cheaper by about $6 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an Instant Pot?
- Use pressure cooking for beans, stocks and tough cuts instead of 3-8 hours on the stove or slow cooker.
- Start with hot tap or kettle water to shorten the time to pressure.
- Turn off Keep Warm if you will serve right away.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.