How much does it cost to run a slow cooker? (2026 price cap)

Typical rating and how we worked this out

This page uses a typical rating of 150W for a slow cooker; published figures for this appliance range from 100W to 200W. A slow cooker draws far less power than a hob or oven but runs for much longer — the low wattage over many hours still usually costs less than an equivalent hob simmer because so little heat escapes the sealed pot. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 4 cooks a week, about 6 hours on low, 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 £47.47 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £52.15 a year — a gap of £4.68 for identical use.

How a slow cooker compares with similar appliances

Ranked by typical annual cost in kitchen, GB average:

• slow cooker — £49.27 a year (this page)
• bread maker — £54.75 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

1. Use the low setting and the full time rather than high for a shorter one — usually cheaper overall
2. Don't lift the lid during cooking — every peek loses heat that has to be regenerated
3. Fill the pot at least half full — a near-empty pot loses heat faster relative to its contents

FAQs

How much does it cost to run a slow cooker for an hour?

3.9p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 150W). One typical use — 4 cooks a week, about 6 hours on low — costs closer to 24p.

How much does a slow cooker cost to run per year?

Around £49.27 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 4 cooks a week, about 6 hours on low — about 95p a week.

Which UK region is cheapest to run a slow cooker in?

East Midlands, at £47.47 a year, against £52.15 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £4.68 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.

Does the exact wattage of my slow cooker change the cost much?

Yes — ratings range 100W–200W, so the top of that range costs about 2.0x the bottom. This page uses 150W; 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

• Smart Energy GB — energy saving in the kitchen — 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.