Slow Cooker Energy Cost Calculator

Q: Is a slow cooker cheaper to run than an oven?

In most cases, yes. A slow cooker drawing 200 W for 8 hours uses 1.6 kWh, costing around $0.26 at average U.S. rates. A conventional oven at 2,400 W for 1.5 hours uses 3.6 kWh, costing about $0.58 — more than double the electricity cost.

Q: Is an Instant Pot more energy-efficient than a slow cooker?

An Instant Pot uses more watts (700–1,000 W) but cooks in much less time (1–2 hours versus 6–10 hours). Total energy consumption ends up similar — a 1,000 W Instant Pot running 1.5 hours uses 1.5 kWh; a 200 W slow cooker running 8 hours uses 1.6 kWh. Both are far more efficient than a conventional oven.

Does Your Slow Cooker Actually Save Money on Electricity?

Slow cookers and Instant Pots are famous for hands-off convenience, but most people never stop to ask: what does it actually cost in electricity to run one all day? The answer might surprise you — and compared to a conventional oven, the difference per meal is often dramatic.

How Slow Cooker Energy Cost Is Calculated

Electricity cost depends on two factors: how much power a device draws (measured in watts) and how long it runs. The formula is straightforward:

Cost = (Watts ÷ 1,000) × Hours × Rate per kWh

A typical slow cooker runs between 150 W on low and 300 W on high. Running a 200 W cooker for 8 hours at the U.S. average rate of around $0.16/kWh costs about $0.26 per meal. A conventional oven drawing 2,400 W for 1.5 hours costs roughly $0.58 for the same result — more than twice as much.

Typical Wattages to Use

Small slow cooker (1.5–2 qt): 120–150 W
Medium slow cooker (3.5–5 qt): 180–240 W
Large slow cooker (6–8 qt): 250–320 W
Instant Pot / multi-cooker: 700–1,000 W (but cook time is 1–2 hours, not 8)
Conventional oven: 2,000–2,400 W
Convection oven: 1,500–1,800 W

Check the label on the bottom of your appliance or the product manual for the exact wattage. Your electricity rate appears on your monthly utility bill — the U.S. national average is approximately $0.16/kWh as of 2025, though costs vary widely by state.

Instant Pot vs. Slow Cooker vs. Oven

An Instant Pot uses more watts than a slow cooker but finishes in a fraction of the time. A pot roast that takes 8 hours on low in a slow cooker might take 60–90 minutes under pressure. Running a 1,000 W Instant Pot for 1.5 hours costs about $0.24 — nearly as cheap as a slow cooker and far cheaper than the oven. The calculator above lets you compare any two appliances side by side.

How Much Could You Save Per Year?

If you swap one oven meal per week for a slow cooker meal and save $0.35 each time, you save roughly $18 per year on electricity alone. Over a decade that is $180 — plus the oven's extra heat load in summer can raise air conditioning costs further. The savings are modest but real, and stacking them with other small habits adds up.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many watts does a slow cooker use?

Most slow cookers draw between 150 and 320 watts depending on size and temperature setting. Small 1.5–2 quart models use around 120–150 W, while large 6–8 quart models can reach 300 W or more. Check the label on the bottom of your unit for the exact wattage — it is almost always printed there.

Is a slow cooker cheaper to run than an oven?

In most cases, yes — significantly so. A slow cooker drawing 200 W for 8 hours uses 1.6 kWh, costing around $0.26 at average U.S. rates. A conventional oven at 2,400 W for 1.5 hours uses 3.6 kWh, costing about $0.58. That is more than double the electricity cost for the oven, though total savings per meal are modest in absolute dollar terms.

How do I find my electricity rate?

Your electricity rate (cost per kilowatt-hour) appears on your monthly utility bill, usually labeled as the energy charge or rate per kWh. The U.S. national average is approximately $0.16/kWh, but it ranges from under $0.10 in states like Louisiana to over $0.30 in Hawaii and parts of California. Using your actual rate gives the most accurate result.

Is an Instant Pot more energy-efficient than a slow cooker?

An Instant Pot uses more watts (700–1,000 W) than a slow cooker but cooks in much less time (1–2 hours versus 6–10 hours). Total energy consumption ends up similar or slightly lower for the Instant Pot. Both are far more efficient than a conventional oven.

Does leaving a slow cooker on all day waste electricity?

Not as much as you might think. Because slow cookers operate at very low wattage, running one for 8 or 10 hours still uses less electricity than baking something in the oven for an hour or two. The low, steady heat is inherently efficient, and the insulated ceramic pot retains heat well, meaning the heating element cycles on and off rather than running continuously at full power.