How much does it cost to run a slow cooker?
A slow cooker costs about 2.9¢ per hour, 6.6¢ a day, $2.00 a month and $24 a year at typical use (8 hours a day, 2 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A 6-quart slow cooker draws about 150-250 W on Low and 230-300 W on High; an 8-hour Low cook uses roughly 1.2-1.6 kWh.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm | 70 | 1.0¢ | 2.3¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Low | 200 | 2.9¢ | 6.6¢ | $2.00 | $24 |
| High | 280 | 4.0¢ | 9.2¢ | $2.80 | $34 |
At 8 hours 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 | 0.05 | 0.8¢ | $0.25 | $3 |
| 2 hours | 0.09 | 1.6¢ | $0.50 | $6 |
| 4 hours | 0.18 | 3.3¢ | $1.00 | $12 |
| 8 hours | 0.37 | 6.6¢ | $2.00 | $24 |
| 12 hours | 0.55 | 9.9¢ | $3.00 | $36 |
| 24 hours | 1.10 | 20¢ | $6.01 | $72 |
Cost to run a slow cooker in every state
The same slow cooker costs $16 a year in North Dakota and $58 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¢ | 2.0¢ | $1.37 | $16 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 2.0¢ | $1.41 | $17 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 2.1¢ | $1.43 | $17 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 2.1¢ | $1.45 | $17 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 2.1¢ | $1.48 | $18 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 2.1¢ | $1.49 | $18 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 2.1¢ | $1.49 | $18 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 2.2¢ | $1.51 | $18 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 2.2¢ | $1.53 | $18 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 2.2¢ | $1.54 | $18 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 2.2¢ | $1.55 | $19 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 2.2¢ | $1.55 | $19 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 2.2¢ | $1.56 | $19 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 2.3¢ | $1.57 | $19 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 2.3¢ | $1.57 | $19 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 2.3¢ | $1.58 | $19 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 2.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 2.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 2.4¢ | $1.68 | $20 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 2.4¢ | $1.68 | $20 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 2.5¢ | $1.71 | $20 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 2.5¢ | $1.71 | $21 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 2.5¢ | $1.71 | $21 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 2.5¢ | $1.72 | $21 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 2.5¢ | $1.73 | $21 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 2.5¢ | $1.74 | $21 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 2.6¢ | $1.78 | $21 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 2.6¢ | $1.81 | $22 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 2.6¢ | $1.83 | $22 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 2.6¢ | $1.83 | $22 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 2.7¢ | $1.85 | $22 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 2.7¢ | $1.89 | $23 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 2.8¢ | $1.98 | $24 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 2.9¢ | $2.03 | $24 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 3.0¢ | $2.09 | $25 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 3.0¢ | $2.09 | $25 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 3.3¢ | $2.30 | $28 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 3.4¢ | $2.34 | $28 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 3.4¢ | $2.34 | $28 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 3.8¢ | $2.65 | $32 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 3.8¢ | $2.65 | $32 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 3.9¢ | $2.69 | $32 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 4.3¢ | $2.97 | $36 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 4.3¢ | $2.99 | $36 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 4.5¢ | $3.12 | $37 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 4.5¢ | $3.16 | $38 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 4.7¢ | $3.26 | $39 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 4.7¢ | $3.26 | $39 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 4.9¢ | $3.39 | $41 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 5.3¢ | $3.67 | $44 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 7.0¢ | $4.84 | $58 |
How to cut the cost
- Keep the lid on; each lift adds 15-20 minutes of cooking.
- Fill it at least half full; small portions in a big crock waste heat.
- Use a programmable model that switches to Warm when cooking is done.
- For a 4-hour High cook vs 8-hour Low, energy is similar; pick based on schedule.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Automatically drops to Warm (about 70 W) when the cook time ends instead of staying on Low.
See options on AmazonCooks the same stew in about an hour using roughly half the energy.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow cooker | 200 | 8 hours a day, 2 days a week | $2.00 | $24 |
| 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 |
| Rice cooker | 600 | 45 minutes a day, 4 days a week | $0.97 | $12 |
| Electric oven | 3,000 | 3 hour of bakings a week | $3.75 | $45 |
| Stand mixer | 325 | 15 minutes a day, 1 days a week | $0.06 | $1 |
| Range hood | 120 | 1 hour a day | $0.66 | $8 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker per hour?
A slow cooker drawing 200 watts uses 0.16 kWh per hour while running (80% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 2.9¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 2.0¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 7.0¢.
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker per month?
At typical use (8 hours a day, 2 days a week), a slow cooker costs about $2.00 a month and $24 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a slow cooker use?
Most slow cookers use 70 to 300 watts, depending on the setting (warm 70 W, low 200 W, high 280 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a slow cooker use?
About 0.37 kWh a day and 134 kWh a year at typical use (8 hours a day, 2 days a week).
Does a slow cooker use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 134 kWh a year it's a small share (1.3%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a slow cooker or an Instant Pot?
At typical use, a slow cooker costs about $24 a year versus $10 for an Instant Pot. So the Instant Pot is cheaper by about $14 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a slow cooker?
- Keep the lid on; each lift adds 15-20 minutes of cooking.
- Fill it at least half full; small portions in a big crock waste heat.
- Use a programmable model that switches to Warm when cooking is done.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.