How much does it cost to run a bread maker? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a bread maker rated at 600W costs 16p an hour to run and around £54.75 a year assuming 2 loaves a week, about 3h20 per programme.
Per hour
16p
Per typical use
53p
Per day
15p
Per week
£1.05
Per year
£54.75
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 600W for a bread maker; published figures for this appliance range from 500W to 900W. A bread maker draws most power during kneading and baking and less during proving; manufacturers typically rate the whole unit at 500–900W, with a basic loaf programme running for around 3 hours. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 2 loaves a week, about 3h20 per programme, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 17p | £57.95 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 16p | £55.91 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 16p | £55.35 |
| London | 26.60 | 16p | £55.33 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 16p | £55.29 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 16p | £55.22 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 16p | £55.10 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 16p | £55.06 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 16p | £54.81 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 16p | £54.31 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 15p | £53.25 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 15p | £53.25 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 15p | £52.96 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 15p | £52.75 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 16p | £54.75 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £52.75 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £57.95 a year — a gap of £5.20 for identical use.
How a bread maker compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in kitchen, GB average:
- bread maker — £54.75 a year (this page)
- slow cooker — £49.27 a year
- dishwasher — £64.05 a year
- chest freezer — £64.56 a year
- air fryer — £68.05 a year
- kettle — £72.05 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Use the rapid/express programme for everyday loaves rather than the full multi-hour setting
- Don't open the lid to check progress — it lets heat escape during proving and baking
- Bake in batches rather than running two shorter programmes for smaller loaves
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a bread maker for an hour?
- 16p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 600W). One typical use — 2 loaves a week, about 3h20 per programme — costs closer to 53p.
- How much does a bread maker cost to run per year?
- Around £54.75 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 2 loaves a week, about 3h20 per programme — about £1.05 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a bread maker in?
- East Midlands, at £52.75 a year, against £57.95 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £5.20 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my bread maker change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 500W–900W, so the top of that range costs about 1.8x the bottom. This page uses 600W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Bread Maker Black Friday — how much electricity does a bread maker use — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
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