How much does it cost to run an electric kettle?
We've pre-filled an typical electric kettle below. Set your electricity rate and adjust the hours to match how you use yours — the cost updates instantly.
An electric kettle looks like it should cost a lot to run — 1,500 watts is space-heater territory — but the number that actually matters is time, not wattage. A kettle only pulls that power for the couple of minutes it takes to bring water to a boil, then it clicks off. You're paying for roughly 1,500 watts times a few minutes, not 1,500 watts times an hour, which is why even daily use adds up to just a few dollars a month.
Where the cost creeps up is overfilling. Kettles heat whatever water is in them, so boiling a full 1.7-liter kettle for one cup of tea burns 4-5x the electricity you actually need — you're paying to reheat water you'll pour out. Boil only what you'll drink and an electric kettle stays one of the cheapest things you plug in, even next to appliances that draw far less power but run far longer.
What drives the cost of running an electric kettle
- How much water you fill it with — boiling a full kettle for one cup wastes most of the energy you paid for
- How many times a day you boil — a kettle used for one coffee vs. one used all day for a whole household adds up fast even at seconds per boil
- Kettle wattage — most run 1,200-1,800W, but the wattage barely matters next to how long it's actually on
How to cut it
- Don't switch to a stovetop kettle to "save power" — electric kettles are more efficient at heating water than a stovetop burner, so switching usually costs more, not less
- Descale it every few months — mineral buildup on the heating element makes it work harder and boil slower, quietly raising the cost per use
- Skip the "keep warm" feature if yours has one — holding water at temperature for an hour can cost more than the boil itself
Common questions
How much does it cost to run an electric kettle per month?
At a typical 1,500W and about 0.2 hours a day, an electric kettle costs roughly $1.53 a month at $0.17/kWh. Set your own rate and hours above for an exact figure.
How can I cut the cost of running an electric kettle?
Don't switch to a stovetop kettle to "save power" — electric kettles are more efficient at heating water than a stovetop burner, so switching usually costs more, not less
Is an electric kettle cheaper to run than boiling water on the stove?
Yes, almost always. An electric kettle's heating element sits directly in the water, so very little heat escapes into the surrounding air — stovetop boiling, especially on an electric coil or radiant burner, loses much more heat to the pot and the air around it. Boiling water in an electric kettle is typically faster and cheaper than a stovetop for the same amount of water.
Does a kettle use more electricity if I boil less water?
No — less water means less cost, not more. The kettle only heats what's in it, so boiling just enough for one mug uses a fraction of the energy (and cost) of boiling a full kettle. The one exception is if your kettle has a minimum fill line below which the heating element isn't fully covered; check your manual rather than guessing.
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