How much does it cost to run a toaster oven?

By Juan Molina · Updated October 3, 2026 · How we calculate

Short answer: A toaster oven drawing 1,200 watts for 20 minutes costs about $0.07 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 4 times a week, that is about $1.27 per month and $15.23 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $0.88 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $3.33.

A toaster oven does the work of a full-size oven in a fraction of the space. It draws 1,200 to 1,800 watts, but because it heats a small chamber quickly, a typical use takes around a third of a kilowatt-hour.

Cost by size and setting

Costs below use the U.S. average price and 20 minutes per use, 4 times a week.

Toaster oven or full-size oven

For small meals, the toaster oven wins clearly. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that a toaster or convection oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-size oven. There is less air and metal to heat, and preheating takes two or three minutes instead of ten or fifteen.

The advantage disappears with quantity. If the food needs two or three batches, the full-size oven does it in one, and the totals end up similar.

What changes the cost

Temperature and time. The element cycles on and off to hold the set temperature, so a long, moderate bake uses less than the wattage suggests, while broiling keeps the element on almost continuously. Convection models circulate hot air and usually finish sooner.

How to lower the cost

• Use it instead of the big oven for anything that fits.
• Skip the preheat for toast, reheating and frozen snacks.
• Use the convection setting when you have one, and reduce the time.
• Keep the door closed; each look lets the heat out.

How a toaster oven 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.

The math behind the numbers

1,200 watts ÷ 1,000 = 1.2 kW. 1.2 kW × 20 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.4 kWh per use. 0.4 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.07 per use. At 4 uses a week, that is 6.9 kWh and $1.27 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 oven in every state

Based on 1,200 watts for 20 minutes per use, 4 times a week, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.

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.