Show the formula and working
This free oven running cost calculator tells households in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and France what an electric oven costs each time they use it, and what that adds up to each week and year. Use the kWh per cycle from the energy label, the oven’s power rating and cooking time, or a figure you measured, and enter your unit rate in pence or cents.
Quick answer: An oven running cost calculator multiplies the kWh per use by your unit rate. An oven with a label figure of 0.79 kWh per cycle costs about 21p per use at the October to December 2026 price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh, or £43.25 a year at four uses a week.
What Is an Oven Running Cost Calculator?
An oven running cost calculator is a tool that converts an electric oven’s energy use into a cost per use and a yearly cost at your electricity price.
The formula in plain words: cost per use equals the kWh per use multiplied by the unit rate. If you only know the power rating, kWh per use equals watts multiplied by hours, divided by 1,000, then multiplied by the share of time the element is actually on. Cost per year equals the cost per use multiplied by the uses per week and by 52.
How Do You Use the Oven Running Cost Calculator?
- Choose the Energy figure to use. The energy label is the easiest and most reliable.
- For the label, enter the Label kWh per cycle. For the wattage method, enter the Oven power rating, Cooking time per use and Thermostat share (element on). For a measured figure, enter the Measured kWh per use.
- Enter the Uses per week.
- Enter the Electricity unit rate from your bill and choose pounds or euros with the currency switch.
- Read the cost per use and per year in the result, then open “Show the formula and working” to see the sums.
How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Oven?
A typical electric oven costs about 20p to 35p per use at 26.32p per kWh, depending on its size, the temperature and the cooking time. The Indesit IFW 6340 IX UK, a 66 litre single oven, has a label figure of 0.79 kWh per cycle in fan mode, which costs 20.79p. The unit rate is the Great Britain direct debit average under the Ofgem price cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026. A long roast at a high temperature uses more than one label cycle.
What Does kWh per Cycle Mean on an Oven Energy Label?
The kWh per cycle is the electricity the oven uses to heat a standard test load, measured the same way for every model so you can compare them. The label was set by Regulation (EU) No 65/2014, and many ovens show figures for both conventional and fan modes. Fan mode usually uses less, because the fan spreads the heat and lets you cook at a lower temperature.
Why Is Watts x Hours Too High for an Oven?
Watts multiplied by hours gives an upper limit, because the thermostat switches the element off once the oven reaches temperature. A 2,500 W oven on for one hour would use 2.5 kWh if the element never switched off, but with the element on half the time it uses 1.25 kWh, which costs 32.9p. The 50% figure is only an example; a plug-in monitor cannot be used on a hard-wired oven, so the label is usually the best guide.
Is an Air Fryer Cheaper Than an Oven?
An air fryer is usually cheaper for small portions, because it heats a much smaller space for a shorter time. For a full tray of food, a fan oven can be similar or better per portion. The air fryer running cost calculator works out the other side of the comparison with the same unit rate.
Oven Running Costs by Energy Use
At 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem cap, October to December 2026) and an example 35 cent per kWh, with four uses a week (208 a year).
| kWh per use | Cost per use (26.32p) | Cost per year (pounds) | Cost per use (35c) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.60 | 15.79p | £32.85 | 21.00c |
| 0.79 | 20.79p | £43.25 | 27.65c |
| 1.00 | 26.32p | £54.75 | 35.00c |
| 1.25 | 32.90p | £68.43 | 43.75c |
| 1.50 | 39.48p | £82.12 | 52.50c |
| 2.00 | 52.64p | £109.49 | 70.00c |
Worked Example: An Electric Fan Oven in Pounds and Euros
Example: a fan oven with a label figure of 0.79 kWh per cycle, used four times a week, at 26.32p per kWh. These are the default inputs.
- Cost per use: 0.79 kWh x 26.32p = 20.79p.
- Uses per year: 4 x 52 = 208.
- Cost per year: 208 x 20.79p = £43.25, using 164 kWh.
In euros, switch the currency and enter an example rate of 35 in Electricity unit rate: one use costs 0.79 x 35c = 27.65c and a year costs €57.51. To cost the hob, kettle and other appliances too, the electricity cost calculator works for any device with a known wattage.
Oven Running Cost Calculator FAQs
How many kWh does an electric oven use per hour?
An electric oven uses at most its power rating for each hour, so a 2,500 W oven uses up to 2.5 kWh, and less once the thermostat starts switching off. The label figure, such as 0.79 kWh per cycle, is a standard test that lets you compare models fairly.
Is fan or conventional mode cheaper?
Fan mode is usually cheaper because the moving air cooks food at a lower temperature, often about 20 °C lower than a conventional setting. Many energy labels show a lower kWh per cycle for fan mode than for conventional mode.
Does preheating the oven cost much?
Preheating is when the element runs flat out, so it is a large share of a short cook. Only preheat when the recipe needs it, put food in as soon as the oven is hot, and cook several dishes together to share the warm-up.
How do I find my oven’s kWh per cycle?
Look at the energy label that came with the oven, the product fiche on the maker’s website, or the manual. Search the model number with the words product fiche. The label also shows the energy class and the cavity size in litres.
Is a gas oven cheaper to run than an electric oven?
Per kWh, gas is cheaper: 7.97p against 26.32p under the October to December 2026 cap. Gas and electric ovens do not use the same number of kWh for a meal, so compare the energy each one uses, not just the price. This calculator covers electric ovens only.
How can I cut my oven running costs?
Use fan mode, keep the door closed, batch cook, and use the smaller top oven or a microwave or air fryer for small portions. Switching off a few minutes early uses the stored heat to finish cooking, as long as the food still reaches a safe temperature.
For the rest of your household energy costs, see the energy bill calculators.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (Ofgem), Regulation (EU) No 65/2014, energy labelling of domestic ovens (legislation.gov.uk), Indesit IFW 6340 IX UK product fiche (0.79 kWh per cycle fan-forced, 66 litres).