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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Slow Cooker in California? (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 $0.070 per hour, or about $16.80 per month at 8 hours a day in California. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (100 W) | $0.035 | $0.28 | $8.40 | $102.20 |
| Typical (200 W) | $0.070 | $0.56 | $16.80 | $204.40 |
| High (300 W) | $0.10 | $0.84 | $25.20 | $306.60 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 584 kWh per year.
In California, with electricity at $0.35 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical slow cooker costs $0.070 per hour and about $204.40 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 94% more than the US national average of $8.64 per month, because electricity in California costs $0.35 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $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