Kettle Electricity Cost
Work out how much your kettle costs per boil, per day and per year. Kettles are powerful but only run for a few minutes at a time.
Kettle running cost calculator
Example: 3,000 W. UK kettles are often rated around 2.2–3 kW. 0.2 hours ≈ 12 minutes of boiling per day.
e.g. 0.25 = 15 min
0 to 7
Example rate — enter your own tariff.
Estimated cost to run your kettle
£0.15per day used
Uses 0.6 kWh on each day it's used (3,000 W × 0.2 h).
How it works: cost = power (kW) × hours used × price per kWh. Standing charges aren't included because you pay them whether or not the appliance is on.
Estimates only. Real consumption depends on the model, settings and how the appliance is used.
How kettle electricity use is measured
A kettle draws its full rated power while boiling, then switches off. The cost of a boil depends on the wattage, how much water you heat and how long it takes.
How to calculate your kettle running cost
Cost = power (kW) × hours used × price per kWh
Example only: at 3,000 W for 0.2 hours, a kettle would use about 0.6 kWh, costing around £0.15 at 25p per kWh. Used 7 days a week, that's roughly 219 kWh and £54.75 a year. Your own figures may be quite different.
Why actual usage varies
- Amount of water — boiling a full kettle for one cup wastes energy.
- Kettle rating.
- Limescale build-up, which can slow heating.
- Number of boils each day.
Ways to reduce the cost
- Boil only the water you need.
- Descale regularly.
- Avoid reboiling water you've left to cool.
To include all your household use, try the electricity cost calculator, or price any other device with the appliance electricity cost calculator.