Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a toaster?
A typical toaster uses about 1,100 watts, so it costs about 21¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 5 minutes a day, that is about 52¢ a month, or $6.27 a year.
Key figures
- 800–1,400 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 21¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- 52¢per month, used 5 minutes a day
- 2.8 kWhper month at that use
Toasters draw over a kilowatt, but only for a couple of minutes per batch.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (5 minutes a day) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 21¢ | 52¢ | $6.27 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 29¢ | 73¢ | $8.78 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 21¢ | 53¢ | $6.37 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 18¢ | 45¢ | $5.35 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 22¢ | 55¢ | $6.63 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 18¢ | 45¢ |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 32¢ | 81¢ |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 17¢ | 41¢ |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 16¢ | 40¢ |
| California | 29.8¢ | 33¢ | 82¢ |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 19¢ | 47¢ |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 27¢ | 67¢ |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 21¢ | 51¢ |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 29¢ | 71¢ |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 16¢ | 41¢ |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 17¢ | 44¢ |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 52¢ | $1.30 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 15¢ | 37¢ |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 21¢ | 53¢ |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 19¢ | 47¢ |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 19¢ | 47¢ |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 17¢ | 43¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 15¢ | 38¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 14¢ | 35¢ |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 35¢ | 88¢ |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 24¢ | 59¢ |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 34¢ | 84¢ |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 25¢ | 63¢ |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 19¢ | 47¢ |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 16¢ | 40¢ |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 18¢ | 44¢ |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 17¢ | 43¢ |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 15¢ | 37¢ |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 14¢ | 35¢ |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 30¢ | 76¢ |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 27¢ | 68¢ |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 18¢ | 45¢ |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 32¢ | 79¢ |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 16¢ | 41¢ |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 15¢ | 37¢ |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 21¢ | 53¢ |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 16¢ | 41¢ |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 18¢ | 44¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 24¢ | 60¢ |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 31¢ | 77¢ |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 17¢ | 43¢ |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 17¢ | 42¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 15¢ | 37¢ |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 18¢ | 44¢ |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 15¢ | 37¢ |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 26¢ | 66¢ |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 19¢ | 49¢ |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 16¢ | 40¢ |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 18¢ | 45¢ |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 21¢ | 53¢ |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 16¢ | 40¢ |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| Toasters | 21¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
More about toasters
- Toasters & Toaster Ovens: models and list prices
- Safety: 5 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention toasters or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.