How much does a slow cooker cost for 8 hours?
A slow cooker trades power for time: an element drawing about as much as two light bulbs runs all day. Even an eight-hour braise totals modest energy compared with oven alternatives.
Content reviewed 2026-09-27 · Rates published 2026-09-24 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-07-ytd
Using the high, half day assumptions below, electricity costs about $0.15 per day of use and $1.53 for 10 days of use at the Texas average rate. Adjust the calculator for your equipment and schedule.
Example costs using the Texas state-average rate
These are generated examples for a consistent location. Enter your own ZIP and usage below for a more relevant state-average estimate.
| Scenario | Assumption | kWh/month | Cost/day of use | Monthly range | Cost at 365 days/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low, all workday | 8 hours on low, ten times a month 180 W × 8 h/day × 0.8 duty × 10 days × 1 unit(s) | 11.52 | $0.19 | $1.23–$2.74 | $67.53 |
| High, half day | 4 hours on high, ten times a month 280 W × 4 h/day × 0.85 duty × 10 days × 1 unit(s) | 9.52 | $0.15 | $1.01–$2.26 | $55.81 |
| Weekend meal prep | 10-hour low sessions, four times a month 180 W × 10 h/day × 0.8 duty × 4 days × 1 unit(s) | 5.76 | $0.23 | $0.61–$1.37 | $84.41 |
Wattage, runtime and duty cycle below are illustrative assumptions, not measurements of a particular model. Annual figures assume use on all 365 days; monthly figures use each scenario's stated number of days.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-07-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.
What does one use cost?
These are assumed cooking schedules, not instructions for cooking food safely. Follow the appliance manual and recipe. Low and high settings are modeled with different watts and cycling fractions.
| Task | Assumptions | kWh/use | Estimated cost/use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low for 4 hours | 180 W × 4 h × 80% duty | 0.5760 | $0.09 Range $0.06–$0.14 |
| Low for 8 hours | 180 W × 8 h × 80% duty | 1.1520 | $0.19 Range $0.12–$0.27 |
| High for 4 hours | 280 W × 4 h × 85% duty | 0.9520 | $0.15 Range $0.10–$0.23 |
Illustrative usage, priced at the same Texas state average as the calculator. Costs are rounded to cents; actual consumption and your utility price can differ.
Calculate your own usage
Your inputs
Cost per meal starts with energy per session
For a cooking session, multiply watts by hours and the fraction of time drawing that power, then divide by 1,000. The eight-hour low example is 180 × 8 × 0.8 / 1,000 = 1.152 kWh. Multiply by your rate, or use the state-priced table above.
Low versus high does not guarantee a cheaper meal
A lower-power setting may run for longer. In these assumptions, four hours on high uses 0.952 kWh, below the eight-hour low example. That result belongs to these schedules; it is not a claim that high is always cheaper or that the two schedules cook every recipe equally.
Compare portions as well as appliances
When comparing a slow cooker with an oven, include preheating, cooking duration and the number of portions prepared. An oven cooking several dishes at once can spread its energy across more food. Use a plug-in meter only where the appliance instructions permit it and follow the meter rating.
Frequently asked questions
Is a slow cooker cheaper than the oven for a roast?
Does the high setting cost double the low setting?
Is leaving it on all day while at work expensive?
Related appliance cost guides
- Pressure Cooker Electricity Cost per Meal
- Electric Oven Cost per Hour of Baking
- Electric Stove Top Cost per Hour of Cooking
Compare all published appliances · Electricity rates in your state · Read the methodology · Review the data sources · How we check these guides