How much does an electric kettle cost to run?

An electric kettle typically draws around 3000 W while running. Ratings vary widely between models, so check the label and change the figure below. Boiling only what you need is the single easiest saving in a kitchen.

Power

Hours per day

Days per year in use

Electricity price

per kWh

Standby power

Grid carbon intensity

g CO2 per kWh

Cost per year

63.75

= Exact Running cost of an electric kettle

Cost per month: 5.31
Cost per day: 0.17
Cost per hour of use: 0.84
Energy per year: 227.7 kWh
Energy per day: 0.6238 kWh
Carbon dioxide per year: 56.9
Annual cost of standby alone: 2.43

Show the working

Power = 3000
Hours per day = 0.2
Days per year in use = 365
Electricity price = 0.28
Standby power = 1
Grid carbon intensity = 250
kw = 3000 / 1000 = 3
daily_kwh = 3 * 0.2 = 0.6
standby_kwh = 1 / 1000 * (24 - 0.2) = 0.0238
Energy per day = 0.6 + 0.0238 = 0.6238
Energy per year = 0.6238 * 365 = 227.687
Cost per day = 0.6238 * 0.28 = 0.174 664
Cost per year = 227.687 * 0.28 = 63.7524
Cost per month = 63.7524 / 12 = 5.3127
Cost per hour of use = 3 * 0.28 = 0.84
Carbon dioxide per year = 227.687 * 250 / 1000 = 56.9218
Annual cost of standby alone = 0.0238 * 365 * 0.28 = 2.432 36

Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.

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The formula

daily energy = power in kW x hours
annual cost = daily energy x days x price per kWh

Nameplate wattage is the maximum draw, not the average. A cycling appliance like a fridge or a freezer averages far less.

Standby draw is small per device and adds up across a house: ten devices at 2 W each is 175 kWh a year.

Boiling only what you need is the single easiest saving in a kitchen.

Running cost of an electric kettle at different tariffs

Price per kWh	Per hour	Per year at 0.2 h/day
0.10	0.3000	21.90
0.15	0.4500	32.85
0.20	0.6000	43.80
0.25	0.7500	54.75
0.30	0.9000	65.70
0.40	1.2000	87.60

Frequently asked

How many watts does an electric kettle use?

Typically around 3000 W while running, though models vary. Check the rating plate.

How much electricity does it use per day?

About 0.60 kWh at 0.2 hours of use.