How much does it cost to run a rice cooker?
Short answer: A rice cooker drawing 500 watts for 30 minutes costs about $0.05 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 4 times a week, that is about $0.79 per month and $9.52 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $0.55 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $2.08.
Rice cooker cost calculator
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Minutes of cooking per use. White rice takes 20 to 30 minutes, brown rice 45 to 50. Keep-warm time is extra.
Uses 4.3 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 |
A rice cooker draws around 500 watts for the half hour it takes to cook a pot of rice, which comes to a quarter of a kilowatt-hour. The keep-warm mode that follows uses far less power but can run for hours.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 30 minutes per use, 4 times a week.
| Type | Power | Per use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, 3-cup | 300 W | $0.03 | $0.48 |
| Standard, 5 to 6-cup | 500 W | $0.05 | $0.79 |
| Large, 10-cup | 700 W | $0.06 | $1.11 |
Cooking and keeping warm
The cooker heats at full power until the water has been absorbed, then drops to a keep-warm mode of about 30 to 50 watts. Thirty minutes of cooking uses 0.25 kWh. Four hours on keep-warm uses nearly as much again, so a cooker left on all afternoon doubles the cost of the rice.
Rice cooker or stove
A small electric burner draws about 1,200 watts, so a pot of rice on the stove can use up to twice the electricity. The rice cooker's insulated, enclosed pot and automatic shut-off are what make the difference.
How to lower the cost
- Unplug it or switch it off when the rice is done, unless you need it kept warm.
- Cook a larger batch and refrigerate the rest; reheating in a microwave uses very little.
- Soak brown rice beforehand to shorten the cooking time.
How a rice cooker 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice cooker | 500 W | 30 minutes per use, 4 times a week | 4.3 kWh | $0.79 |
| Electric pressure cooker | 1,000 W | 45 minutes per use, 3 times a week | 9.8 kWh | $1.79 |
| Slow cooker | 200 W | 360 minutes per use, 2 times a week | 10.4 kWh | $1.90 |
| Electric stove | 2,000 W | 45 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 45.5 kWh | $8.33 |
| Microwave | 1,500 W | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | 7.6 kWh | $1.39 |
The math behind the numbers
500 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.5 kW. 0.5 kW × 30 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.25 kWh per use. 0.25 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.05 per use. At 4 uses a week, that is 4.3 kWh and $0.79 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 a rice cooker in every state
Based on 500 watts for 30 minutes per use, 4 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¢ | $0.04 | $0.71 | $8.53 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.07 | $1.25 | $14.99 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.04 | $0.67 | $8.00 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.04 | $0.62 | $7.45 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.08 | $1.46 | $17.48 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.04 | $0.74 | $8.84 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.06 | $1.05 | $12.56 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.05 | $0.80 | $9.61 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.06 | $1.09 | $13.11 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.04 | $0.65 | $7.82 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.04 | $0.71 | $8.46 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.12 | $2.08 | $24.96 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.03 | $0.59 | $7.14 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.05 | $0.83 | $9.99 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.04 | $0.72 | $8.70 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.04 | $0.69 | $8.31 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.04 | $0.66 | $7.94 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.03 | $0.60 | $7.18 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.03 | $0.55 | $6.61 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.08 | $1.40 | $16.85 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.05 | $0.93 | $11.13 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.08 | $1.32 | $15.85 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.06 | $1.00 | $11.99 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.04 | $0.76 | $9.07 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.04 | $0.63 | $7.56 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.04 | $0.70 | $8.37 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.04 | $0.65 | $7.79 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.03 | $0.60 | $7.17 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.03 | $0.55 | $6.64 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.07 | $1.15 | $13.83 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.06 | $1.09 | $13.10 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.04 | $0.70 | $8.37 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.07 | $1.30 | $15.55 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.04 | $0.66 | $7.88 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.03 | $0.58 | $6.97 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.05 | $0.84 | $10.11 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.04 | $0.62 | $7.46 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.04 | $0.69 | $8.30 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.05 | $0.94 | $11.29 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.07 | $1.23 | $14.71 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.04 | $0.67 | $8.04 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.04 | $0.67 | $7.99 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.03 | $0.59 | $7.13 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.04 | $0.69 | $8.26 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.03 | $0.57 | $6.82 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.06 | $1.03 | $12.35 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.04 | $0.76 | $9.13 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.04 | $0.64 | $7.65 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.04 | $0.68 | $8.21 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.05 | $0.83 | $9.91 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.04 | $0.62 | $7.47 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to cook rice in a rice cooker?
About $0.05 per pot at the U.S. average electricity price.
Does a rice cooker use a lot of electricity on keep-warm?
No, about 30 to 50 watts, but over several hours it can equal the energy used for cooking.
Is a rice cooker more efficient than the stove?
Usually. It can use as little as half the electricity of an electric burner for the same pot of rice.
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.