How much does it cost to run a induction hob? (2026 price cap)

Typical rating and how we worked this out

This page uses a typical rating of 2kW for a induction hob; published figures for this appliance range from 1.4kW to 3kW. An induction hob heats the pan directly through a magnetic field, so a ring's rated wattage is a close match to the energy actually delivered to your food — one reason induction is the most efficient common hob type. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 30 minutes of hob use a day, 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:

East Midlands is cheapest at £92.56 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £102 a year — a gap of £9.13 for identical use.

How a induction hob compares with similar appliances

Ranked by typical annual cost in kitchen, GB average:

• induction hob — £96.07 a year (this page)
• wine cooler — £92.23 a year
• gas hob — £27.64 a year
• electric (ceramic) hob — £106 a year
• fridge freezer — £106 a year
• kettle — £72.05 a year

Three practical ways to cut the cost

1. Match the pan to the ring size — an undersized pan wastes the field around its edges
2. Use the boost function only to bring water to the boil, then drop to a lower setting
3. Keep the hob's glass surface clean — grease film insulates the pan from the field

FAQs

How much does it cost to run a induction hob for an hour?

53p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 2kW). One typical use — 30 minutes of hob use a day — costs closer to 26p.

How much does a induction hob cost to run per year?

Around £96.07 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 30 minutes of hob use a day — about £1.85 a week.

Which UK region is cheapest to run a induction hob in?

East Midlands, at £92.56 a year, against £102 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £9.13 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.

Does the exact wattage of my induction hob change the cost much?

Yes — ratings range 1.4kW–3kW, so the top of that range costs about 2.1x the bottom. This page uses 2kW; check your own rating plate.

Is it cheaper to run on gas instead?

The gas hob costs around £27.64 a year for comparable use, against £96.07 here. Gas is priced well below electricity per kWh, so it's often cheaper despite a higher kW rating — see the gas hob page.

Sources

• Heatable — how much energy do household appliances 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.