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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Slow Cooker in Australia? (2026)
Slow cookers use little power for a long time. An 8 hour cook on low uses about 1 kWh, comparable to running an oven for 40 minutes.
A typical slow cooker (200 W) costs A$0.070 per hour, or about A$16.80 per month at 8 hours a day in Australia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (100 W) | A$0.035 | A$0.28 | A$8.40 | A$102.20 |
| Typical (200 W) | A$0.070 | A$0.56 | A$16.80 | A$204.40 |
| High (300 W) | A$0.10 | A$0.84 | A$25.20 | A$306.60 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 584 kWh per year.
In Australia, with electricity at A$0.35 per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical slow cooker costs A$0.070 per hour and about A$204.40 per year at 8 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 14.3 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a slow cooker
- Use the low setting for long cooks. High draws more and finishes sooner but uses similar total energy.
- Keep the lid on. Every peek adds 15 to 20 minutes of cooking.
- Fill it at least half full for efficient heat transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is a slow cooker cheaper than an oven?
For long braises, yes. It uses roughly 1 kWh over 8 hours versus 2 to 3 kWh for an oven over the same period.
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker for 8 hours?
About 1 to 1.5 kWh. Check the daily figure above.
Does a slow cooker use a lot of electricity on high?
High is typically 250 to 300 watts, still far below any oven or hob.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India