🥪 Toaster

How much electricity does a toaster use? Cost per breakfast vs grill and oven

Toaster and sandwich press electricity use per use and per year, with the running cost.

Per use

50 Wh

Cost per use

$0.009 · £0.013

Per year · 18 kWh

$3 · £5

With 7 times a week, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

A toaster draws 700–1,600 W, but only for a few minutes: two slices use about 40 Wh, around a cent. Toast every morning for a year costs a couple of euros or pounds.

For a few slices it’s far more efficient than the oven, which uses ten times as much just to heat up.

Consumption compared

TypeUsagekWh/yearCost/year
2-slice toaster (800 W, 3 minutes)40 Wh / use15$3 · £4
4-slice toaster (1,600 W, 3 minutes)80 Wh / use29$5 · £8
Sandwich press (5 minutes)0.1 kWh / use36$7 · £9
Electric oven for two toasts, for comparison0.4 kWh / use146$26 · £38

Yearly cost with 7 times a week.

Work out your cost

Per use
$0.009
Per month
$0.27
Per year
$3
Energy per year
18.2 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

  • Fill every slot: toasting two slices in a 4-slice toaster wastes half the heat.
  • Empty the crumb tray: besides the smoke risk, burnt crumbs slow toasting.
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FAQ

How much electricity does a toaster use?
About 50 Wh per use, from 20 Wh to 0.5 kWh depending on model and programme.
How much does it cost per year?
With 7 times a week it uses about 18 kWh a year: about $3 · £5 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?
Fill every slot: toasting two slices in a 4-slice toaster wastes half the heat. Empty the crumb tray: besides the smoke risk, burnt crumbs slow toasting.

And what does your whole home use?

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