Appliance Cost Comparison Calculator
Compare the running cost of an oven, air fryer, microwave and slow cooker, cost per use and per year, side by side, so you can see which is genuinely cheapest for how you cook.
Estimate only. These are estimates, appliance ratings and tariffs vary, so your actual running costs may differ. Check your appliance's energy label and your own electricity tariff for the figures that apply to you.
| Appliance | Cost per use | Per year |
|---|---|---|
Electric ovenDearest | 49.35p | £180 |
Air fryer | 13.16p | £48 |
MicrowaveCheapest | 3.95p | £14 |
Slow cooker | 25.27p | £92 |
At this usage, Microwave costs less to run than Electric oven, swapping saves you this much across a year.
Getting the most from your appliances
- It's a per-portion comparison, not a per-appliance one, an oven cooking a full batch in one session is usually cheaper per portion than several small air fryer or microwave runs, even though the oven draws more power.
- Short, high-power bursts (like a microwave reheating a single plate) are often the cheapest way to heat a small portion, because total energy used depends on time as well as power.
- An air fryer is a good middle ground for small-to-medium portions that would otherwise need a full oven preheat and cycle.
- A slow cooker draws very little power, but runs for hours, check the total kWh, not just the kW rating, before assuming it's the cheapest option.
How appliance running costs are calculated
Each appliance's running cost is worked out from its power draw in kilowatts (kW) and how long it typically runs for one use: energy used (kWh) = kW × hours, and cost = energy × your electricity unit rate. Multiplying by how many times a week you use it, then by 52 weeks, gives the annual cost. Because appliances differ hugely in both power and typical run time, the appliance with the highest kW rating (usually the oven) isn't always the most expensive per use, and it can be the cheapest option per portion when cooking a full batch in one go.
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