Updated August 24, 2026
Kettle Electricity Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it costs to boil an electric kettle per use, day, month, and year.
Live calculator
Calculate your actual running cost
Running this electric kettle for 0.08 hours a day, 7 days a week uses about 7.3 kWh each month.
Quick answer
How much does an electric kettle cost to run?
A 3,000 W electric kettle used for 0.08 hours a day, 7 days a week, consumes about 7.3 kWh per month. At £0.2611 per kWh (Ofgem GB illustration for Jul–Sep 2026), that is approximately £1.90 per month. Replace these example figures with the wattage and electricity rate from your appliance and bill.
What changes the real running cost?
Kettles have high wattage but run briefly. Cost depends mainly on how much water is heated and how often the kettle is boiled.
Five minutes equals 0.083 hours. Enter the combined boiling time for a typical day rather than the number of hours the kettle sits plugged in.
Assumptions used in this example
This page starts with 3,000 watts, 0.08 hours of use per day, and 7 days per week. Those defaults are only a practical starting point. Replace them with the number on your product label, energy label, smart plug, or electricity bill.
Example electric kettle costs
These examples use 3,000 W for 0.08 hours a day and 7 days per week.
| Electricity rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0.20 / kWh | £0.60 | £1.46 | £17.47 |
| £0.26 / kWh | £0.78 | £1.90 | £22.81 |
| £0.35 / kWh | £1.05 | £2.55 | £30.58 |
Ways to reduce the cost
Start with changes that reduce active runtime without compromising safety or the job the appliance needs to do.
- Boil only the water you need.
- Descale the kettle regularly in hard-water areas.
- Avoid reboiling water unnecessarily.
Estimate only. Actual consumption varies by model, setting, condition, temperature, duty cycle, and tariff. Use a plug-in meter or energy-label figure when accuracy matters.
FAQ
Electric kettle running cost questions
How do I calculate electric kettle running cost?
Divide the watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by the hours used, then multiply by your electricity price per kWh. This page pre-fills 3,000 W, 0.08 hours per day, and 7 days per week as a starting example.
How much does an electric kettle cost per hour?
At 3,000 W and £0.2611 per kWh (an Ofgem GB cap illustration), the example cost is about £0.78 per hour while it is actively using that power. Change the rate field to match your own bill.
Why might my real electric kettle cost be different?
Five minutes equals 0.083 hours. Enter the combined boiling time for a typical day rather than the number of hours the kettle sits plugged in.
Should I use rated watts or measured watts?
Rated watts are useful for a quick estimate, but measured wall power or an energy-label kWh figure is usually more accurate because many appliances cycle on and off or change power during use.
Does the calculator include standing charges, taxes, or demand charges?
No. The calculator estimates usage cost from kWh only. If your bill includes standing charges, taxes, delivery fees, or demand charges, add those separately.
Can I share my result?
Yes. Use the share or copy button after entering your wattage, hours, days, rate, and currency. The page stores those inputs in the URL so you can revisit the same estimate.