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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Toaster in the UK? (2026)
Toasters draw a lot of power for only a couple of minutes, so a slice of toast costs a tiny fraction of a cent. Four-slot models use more but toast more at once.
A typical toaster (1,000 W) costs £0.26 per hour, or about £0.78 per month at 0.1 hours a day in United Kingdom. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (800 W) | £0.21 | £0.021 | £0.62 | £7.59 |
| Typical (1,000 W) | £0.26 | £0.026 | £0.78 | £9.49 |
| High (1,500 W) | £0.39 | £0.039 | £1.17 | £14.24 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.1 h/day ≈ 36 kWh per year.
In the UK, with electricity at £0.26 per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026, 2026-07), a typical toaster costs £0.26 per hour and about £9.49 per year at 0.1 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 3.8 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a toaster
- Toast both slots at once rather than one at a time.
- Clean out crumbs. A dirty toaster heats unevenly and needs longer.
- Skip the extra-dark setting unless you want it. Each notch adds time.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a toaster use per slice?
About 0.03 kWh for two slices, well under a cent almost everywhere.
Is a toaster cheaper than a toaster oven?
Yes for toast. A toaster oven takes longer and heats more air.
Does a toaster use power when not in use?
No, unless it has a digital display.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India