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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Toaster Oven in California? (2026)
A toaster oven draws similar power to an air fryer and about half that of a full oven, while heating far less space. For small meals it is one of the cheapest ways to bake or roast.
A typical toaster oven (1,400 W) costs $0.49 per hour, or about $7.35 per month at 0.5 hours a day in California. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (1,200 W) | $0.42 | $0.21 | $6.30 | $76.65 |
| Typical (1,400 W) | $0.49 | $0.24 | $7.35 | $89.42 |
| High (1,800 W) | $0.63 | $0.32 | $9.45 | $114.97 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.5 h/day ≈ 255 kWh per year.
In California, with electricity at $0.35 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical toaster oven costs $0.49 per hour and about $89.42 per year at 0.5 hours a day. That is about 94% more than the US national average of $3.78 per month, because electricity in California costs $0.35 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 2.0 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a toaster oven
- Use it for anything that fits instead of the main oven.
- Skip preheating for reheating and toasting.
- Keep the glass door clean so you can check food without opening it.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh ($3.07) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
Is a toaster oven cheaper than a regular oven?
Yes, typically half to a third of the energy for the same small dish.
How much does it cost to run a toaster oven for 30 minutes?
About 0.5 to 0.7 kWh once it cycles. See the hourly figure above and halve it.
Toaster oven or air fryer: which uses less power?
About the same. Air fryers cook faster because of stronger airflow, so they often use slightly less per meal.
Compare with
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India