Show the formula and working
This induction hob running cost calculator works out what cooking on an induction hob costs per day and per year, and compares it with cooking the same food on a gas hob. Enter the average power the hob uses while you cook, your minutes of cooking a day, the efficiency of each hob and your electricity and gas unit rates. It starts with the UK price cap rates, and every figure can be changed.
Quick answer: An induction hob costs its average power in kW times your cooking hours times your unit rate. At an average of 1.8 kW for 45 minutes a day, it uses 1.35 kWh, about 36p a day at 26.32p, or about £129.69 a year. A gas hob doing the same cooking would cost about £83.45 a year at 7.97p.
How Is Induction Hob Running Cost Calculated?
The cost is the electricity the hob uses, which is its average power in kW times the hours you cook, multiplied by your unit rate.
The power rating on an induction hob, often 7 kW or more for the whole hob, is the maximum it can draw with every zone on full. Day to day cooking uses far less, because you usually use one or two zones, and most of the time at a medium setting. That is why the calculator asks for the average power while cooking, with 1.8 kW as an example. It multiplies that by your minutes of cooking, then by 365 days for the yearly cost.
For the comparison, it works out the heat that actually reaches the pan from the induction efficiency, then the gas a hob would need to burn to put the same heat into the pan, using the gas hob efficiency you enter.
How Do You Use the Induction Hob Calculator?
- Enter the average power the hob uses while cooking.
- Enter the minutes of cooking per day.
- Set the induction efficiency, or keep the example.
- Enter your gas unit rate and gas hob efficiency to compare.
- Choose a price preset or enter your electricity rate.
How Much Does an Induction Hob Cost to Run?
At an average of 1.8 kW and 26.32p per kWh, an induction hob costs about 47p for each hour of cooking.
| Cooking per day | Induction per year | Gas hob per year | Induction dearer by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | £86.46 | £55.64 | £30.83 |
| 45 minutes | £129.69 | £83.45 | £46.24 |
| 60 minutes | £172.92 | £111.27 | £61.65 |
| 90 minutes | £259.38 | £166.91 | £92.48 |
The 26.32p electricity and 7.97p gas rates are the Ofgem price cap averages for October to December 2026. You can check the latest figures on the Ofgem energy price cap page.
Is Induction Cheaper Than Gas?
Per hour of cooking, a gas hob is usually cheaper to run in the UK, even though it wastes more heat, because gas costs far less per kWh than electricity.
Induction heats the pan directly through a magnetic field, so most of the energy goes into the food. A gas flame heats the air around the pan as well as the pan itself. With the example efficiencies, induction puts 85% of its energy into the pan and gas about 40%. But electricity at 26.32p costs more than three times gas at 7.97p, so gas still comes out cheaper at these rates. The gap closes if your electricity is cheaper, for example on a time of use tariff or with solar panels.
Why Choose Induction If It Costs More?
The running cost difference is often small next to the other reasons people choose induction.
In the table above, the difference is about £46 a year at 45 minutes a day. Induction boils water quickly, is easy to clean, and the surface around the pan stays cooler. It also keeps cooking fumes from burning gas out of the kitchen. For many people, these matter more than the running cost. If you also cook with an oven, the oven running cost calculator and air fryer running cost calculator help compare the rest of your cooking.
Worked Example: An Hour of Cooking a Day
Example: a household cooks for an hour a day on an induction hob at an average of 1.8 kW, at the 26.32p price cap rate, and compares it with a 40% efficient gas hob at 7.97p.
- Induction: 1.8 kW x 1 h = 1.8 kWh, which is about 47p a day
- Heat into the pans: 1.8 kWh x 85% = 1.53 kWh
- Gas needed: 1.53 kWh / 40% = 3.83 kWh, which is about 30p a day
- Per year: £172.92 for induction and £111.27 for gas
In this example induction costs about £61.65 a year more. If the same household had solar panels and cooked at lunchtime on sunny days, part of that electricity would be free, and the yearly gap could shrink a lot.
How to Cook More Cheaply on Induction
Most savings come from using less heat for less time.
- Use the right size zone for the pan, so the energy goes where it is needed.
- Put a lid on pans: food comes to the boil faster.
- Boil only the water you need, or boil it in the kettle first.
- Turn down to a simmer as soon as the pan boils.
- Use pans with a flat, magnetic base, as warped pans heat less evenly.
Induction Hob Running Cost FAQs
How much does an induction hob cost per hour?
At an average of 1.8 kW and 26.32p per kWh, about 47p an hour. A single small zone on a low setting costs much less.
Does an induction hob use a lot of electricity?
It can draw a lot at full power, but most cooking uses one or two zones at a medium setting. Average use is usually a fraction of the rating.
Is induction cheaper than a ceramic hob?
Usually yes. Induction heats the pan directly, so less heat is wasted than with a ceramic or solid plate hob, which heats the glass first.
Is it cheaper to boil water on induction or in a kettle?
Both are efficient. A kettle is often quicker for small amounts. Boiling only the water you need matters most.
What efficiency should I use?
The figures are examples. Induction is usually much more efficient than gas at putting heat into the pan. Change them if you have test figures for your hob.
Can I use any pan on an induction hob?
No. Pans need a magnetic base. If a fridge magnet sticks firmly to the bottom of the pan, it should work on induction.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Ofgem energy price cap. Hob efficiencies are examples you can change.