How much does it cost to run a toaster?
Short answer: A toaster drawing 900 watts for 3 minutes costs about $0.01 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 7 times a week, that is about $0.25 per month and $3.00 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $0.17 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $0.66.
Toaster cost calculator
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Minutes per use. A typical toasting cycle takes 2 to 4 minutes.
Uses 1.4 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 toaster is one of the cheapest appliances in the kitchen to use. It draws around 900 watts, but only for the two or three minutes it takes to brown the bread, which works out to about a cent.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week.
| Type | Power | Per use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-slice | 900 W | $0.01 | $0.25 |
| 4-slice, two slots in use | 900 W | $0.01 | $0.25 |
| 4-slice, all slots in use | 1,500 W | $0.01 | $0.42 |
Why it costs so little
A toaster wastes very little. The elements sit an inch from the bread and switch off the moment the cycle ends. Three minutes at 900 watts is 0.045 kWh, less electricity than a television uses in half an hour.
A toaster oven can do the same job, but it has more space to heat and takes longer, so for plain toast the pop-up toaster uses about half as much.
What changes the cost
Only the browning setting and how many slots are heating. A four-slice toaster with all slots on draws about 1,500 watts. Frozen bread and bagels need a longer cycle.
How to lower the cost
- There is very little to save here. Toast only as many slices as you need.
- On a four-slice model, use the two-slice side when you are toasting two.
- Unplugging it saves nothing unless it has a display; a basic toaster draws no standby power.
How a toaster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toaster | 900 W | 3 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 1.4 kWh | $0.25 |
| Toaster oven | 1,200 W | 20 minutes per use, 4 times a week | 6.9 kWh | $1.27 |
| 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 |
The math behind the numbers
900 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.9 kW. 0.9 kW × 3 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.045 kWh per use. 0.045 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.01 per use. At 7 uses a week, that is 1.4 kWh and $0.25 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 toaster in every state
Based on 900 watts for 3 minutes per use, 7 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¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.69 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.01 | $0.39 | $4.72 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.01 | $0.21 | $2.52 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.01 | $0.20 | $2.35 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.02 | $0.46 | $5.51 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.01 | $0.23 | $2.78 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.01 | $0.33 | $3.96 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.01 | $0.25 | $3.03 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.01 | $0.34 | $4.13 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.01 | $0.21 | $2.46 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.67 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.02 | $0.66 | $7.86 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.01 | $0.19 | $2.25 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.01 | $0.26 | $3.15 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.01 | $0.23 | $2.74 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.62 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.01 | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $0.19 | $2.26 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 | $2.08 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.01 | $0.44 | $5.31 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.01 | $0.29 | $3.51 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.01 | $0.42 | $4.99 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.01 | $0.31 | $3.78 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.01 | $0.24 | $2.86 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.01 | $0.20 | $2.38 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.64 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $0.20 | $2.46 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.01 | $0.19 | $2.26 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.01 | $0.17 | $2.09 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.01 | $0.36 | $4.36 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.01 | $0.34 | $4.13 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.64 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.01 | $0.41 | $4.90 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.01 | $0.21 | $2.48 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.01 | $0.18 | $2.20 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.01 | $0.27 | $3.19 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.01 | $0.20 | $2.35 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.01 | $0.30 | $3.56 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.01 | $0.39 | $4.63 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.01 | $0.21 | $2.53 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.01 | $0.21 | $2.52 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.01 | $0.19 | $2.25 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.60 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $0.18 | $2.15 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.01 | $0.32 | $3.89 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.01 | $0.24 | $2.87 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.01 | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.58 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.01 | $0.26 | $3.12 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.01 | $0.20 | $2.35 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make toast?
About $0.01 per use at the U.S. average electricity price: around one cent.
Does a toaster use a lot of electricity?
It uses a lot of power for a very short time. Used every day, it adds about $0.25 a month.
Is a toaster cheaper than a toaster oven for toast?
Yes. It is faster and heats a much smaller space, so it uses roughly half the energy for the same slices.
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.