How much does it cost to run an electric kettle?
Short answer: An electric kettle drawing 1,500 watts for 4 minutes costs about $0.02 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 21 times a week, that is about $1.67 per month and $19.99 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $1.16 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $4.37.
Electric kettle cost calculator
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Minutes per boil. A U.S. kettle takes about 3 to 5 minutes to boil a liter of water.
Uses 9.1 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
An electric kettle is one of the most efficient ways to heat water, because nearly all of its power goes straight into the water. A standard U.S. model draws about 1,500 watts and boils a liter in four minutes or so.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week.
| Type | Power | Per use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small travel kettle | 1,000 W | $0.01 | $1.11 |
| Standard U.S. kettle | 1,500 W | $0.02 | $1.67 |
| High-power kettle | 1,800 W | $0.02 | $2.00 |
Why each boil costs so little
Four minutes at 1,500 watts is one tenth of a kilowatt-hour. Even at the highest electricity prices in the country that is a few cents. The kettle switches itself off the moment the water boils, so there is no waste from forgetting it.
What does add up is boiling more water than you need. Heating a full kettle for a single cup uses three or four times the energy of heating just that cup, every time.
Kettle, stove or microwave?
An electric kettle beats an electric stovetop for boiling water, because a stove element heats the pan and the surrounding air as well as the water. A microwave is reasonable for a single mug but slower and less efficient for larger amounts.
How to lower the cost
- Fill the kettle with only the water you are about to use.
- Descale it occasionally; mineral buildup slows heating.
- Use a variable-temperature kettle for green tea or coffee, which do not need a full boil.
- Do not re-boil water that is already hot.
How an electric kettle compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric kettle | 1,500 W | 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week | 9.1 kWh | $1.67 |
| Coffee maker | 1,000 W | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 5.1 kWh | $0.93 |
| Microwave | 1,500 W | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | 7.6 kWh | $1.39 |
| Electric stove | 2,000 W | 45 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 45.5 kWh | $8.33 |
| Toaster | 900 W | 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 1.4 kWh | $0.25 |
The math behind the numbers
1,500 watts ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 kW. 1.5 kW × 4 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.1 kWh per use. 0.1 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.02 per use. At 21 uses a week, that is 9.1 kWh and $1.67 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run an electric kettle in every state
Based on 1,500 watts for 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.02 | $1.49 | $17.91 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.03 | $2.62 | $31.48 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.02 | $1.40 | $16.79 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.01 | $1.30 | $15.65 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.03 | $3.06 | $36.70 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.02 | $1.55 | $18.56 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.02 | $2.20 | $26.38 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.02 | $1.68 | $20.18 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.03 | $2.29 | $27.53 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.02 | $1.37 | $16.41 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.02 | $1.48 | $17.77 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.05 | $4.37 | $52.42 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.01 | $1.25 | $14.99 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.02 | $1.75 | $20.99 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.02 | $1.52 | $18.27 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.02 | $1.46 | $17.46 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.02 | $1.39 | $16.67 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $1.26 | $15.08 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $1.16 | $13.89 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.03 | $2.95 | $35.39 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.02 | $1.95 | $23.38 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.03 | $2.77 | $33.30 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.02 | $2.10 | $25.17 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.02 | $1.59 | $19.06 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.01 | $1.32 | $15.88 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $1.46 | $17.57 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $1.36 | $16.37 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.01 | $1.25 | $15.05 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.01 | $1.16 | $13.94 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.03 | $2.42 | $29.05 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.03 | $2.29 | $27.51 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $1.46 | $17.57 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.03 | $2.72 | $32.65 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.02 | $1.38 | $16.55 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.01 | $1.22 | $14.64 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.02 | $1.77 | $21.24 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.01 | $1.31 | $15.67 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.02 | $1.45 | $17.44 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.02 | $1.98 | $23.72 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.03 | $2.57 | $30.89 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.02 | $1.41 | $16.89 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.02 | $1.40 | $16.78 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.01 | $1.25 | $14.97 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.02 | $1.45 | $17.34 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $1.19 | $14.33 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.02 | $2.16 | $25.94 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.02 | $1.60 | $19.16 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.01 | $1.34 | $16.06 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.02 | $1.44 | $17.23 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.02 | $1.73 | $20.81 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.01 | $1.31 | $15.68 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to boil a kettle?
About $0.02 per boil at the U.S. average electricity price, for a 1,500-watt kettle running four minutes.
How much does a kettle cost per month?
Around $1.67 a month for three boils a day at the U.S. average price.
Is it cheaper to boil water in a kettle or on the stove?
The kettle is cheaper than an electric stovetop, because more of its energy reaches the water.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Kitchen Appliances
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.