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How much does it cost to run a kettle?

A kettle typically draws about 3,000 W. At the current Ofgem price-cap electricity rate of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026), a typical 0.05-hour use costs about 3.9p, and one hour costs roughly 78.3p.

Kettle running cost: ~3.00 kWh per hour β‰ˆ 78.3p/hour. A typical 0.05-hour use β‰ˆ 3.9p at 26.11p/kWh.

Kettle running-cost calculator

A kettle draws about 3,000 W. Set how long you run it and we apply the current Ofgem electricity unit rate of 26.11p/kWh.

Cost to run for 0.05 hours

3.9p

Uses 0.15 kWh at 26.11p/kWh.

Per day
3.9p
Per week
27.4p
Per year
Β£14.30

Per-day/week/year figures assume one 0.05-hour run each day. Wattage is typical/indicative β€” your model may differ.

How the cost is worked out

  1. Wattage: a kettle draws about 3,000 W.
  2. Convert to kW: 3,000 Γ· 1,000 = 3.00 kW.
  3. Multiply by hours: 3.00 kW Γ— 0.05 h = 0.15 kWh.
  4. Multiply by the unit rate: 0.15 kWh Γ— 26.11p β‰ˆ 3.9p.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a kettle?

A kettle draws about 3,000 W. At the Ofgem cap rate of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026), a typical 0.05-hour use costs roughly 3.9p, and one hour costs about 78.3p.

How much electricity does a kettle use per hour?

At 3,000 W, a kettle uses about 3.00 kWh per hour, which is roughly 78.3p at the current cap rate.

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Wattage (3,000 W) is typical/indicative β€” your model may differ. Source: Heatable β€” How much energy do appliances use (typical ratings; draws on Energy Saving Trust / Centre for Sustainable Energy). Electricity unit rate from Ofgem β€” Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (cap period 1 July to 30 September 2026, fetched 2026-06-18). Ofgem figures Β© Ofgem, Open Government Licence v3.0. Appliance wattages are typical/indicative, not measured. Ofgem.