Oven Running Cost Calculator UK
Estimate the electricity cost of running an electric oven per cooking session, week, month and year.
The calculator defaults to 26.11p per kWh, the Ofgem average electricity unit rate for a standard variable tariff paid by Direct Debit from 1 July to 30 September 2026. Your own tariff may be different.
View Ofgem electricity rates →Calculate Your Oven Running Cost
Your Estimated Running Costs
Usage Summary
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How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Oven for 1 Hour?
The cost depends on your oven's power use and electricity tariff. Set minutes per use to 60 in the calculator to estimate an hour's running cost using your own electricity rate and oven power.
Enter your electricity price in p/kWh. The calculator converts the estimated cost into pounds for the displayed results.
Example estimate: using the site's reference electricity rate of 26.11p per kWh, a 2,500W (2.5kW) electric oven drawing full rated power for one hour would use 2.5kWh and cost 2.5 × 26.11p = 65.275p, or about £0.65. This is an estimate under that assumption, not a universal oven cost.
Ovens normally cycle their heating elements on and off to maintain the set temperature. Rated or maximum wattage therefore does not mean the oven draws that power continuously for the entire hour; actual electricity use can be lower than this example.
Costs vary with oven wattage, temperature, preheating time, total cooking time, oven size and model, and your electricity tariff. Include preheating in your usage time and use the unit rate from your own bill for a more relevant estimate.
How is the cost calculated?
Rated power in watts is converted to kilowatts, then multiplied by the time used in hours. That gives an estimated kWh figure for one use.
These formulas apply the same method to any cooking session length. The calculator then uses your sessions per week to estimate weekly, monthly and annual costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an oven cost to run for 1 hour?
In the example above, a 2,500W oven at 26.11p/kWh costs about 65p for an hour at full power. Your cost depends on actual power use and your tariff; enter your own figures and 60 minutes in the calculator.
How much electricity does an oven use per hour?
A 2,500W oven drawing full power for one hour uses 2.5kWh. Actual use varies as the heating elements cycle, so rated wattage alone does not tell you exactly how much electricity a cooking session uses.
Does an oven use its full rated wattage all the time?
No. The thermostat switches the heating elements on and off as needed. Average power over a cooking session can therefore be below the oven's rated maximum.
Does preheating matter?
Yes. Preheating adds energy use. Include it in the minutes if you want it reflected in the estimate.
Can fan ovens use less energy?
They can sometimes cook at lower temperatures or for shorter times, but actual savings depend on the appliance and recipe.
Other Electricity Cost Calculators
Compare other household appliances using the same electricity rate. See how to compare running costs fairly.