Checked against official sources on 15 October 2026
How much does a toaster cost to run?
About $0.46 a month
for a 1,000 W toaster used 5 minutes a day in No match. Pick "Another country" to type your own price. , at 18.31 cents per kWh.
Type your electricity price to see the cost.
- Draws while on
- 1,000 W
- Costs per hour
- $0.18
- Start-up surge
- None
A toaster draws a lot of power, about 1,000 W according to DuroMax's generator sizing guide, but only for the few minutes it takes to brown the bread. That makes it one of the cheapest appliances to run day to day, and one of the trickier ones to run from a small power station, because of that high draw while it's on.
Check the label under your toaster: four-slice models often list a higher wattage. Choose "I know its watts" in the calculator and type it in.
Work out your own toaster
Draws about 1,000 W
Look on the label or plug for a number followed by W.
What it costs in other countries
For a 1,000 W toaster used 5 minutes a day, at each country's official average electricity price.
| Country | Price per kWh | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18.31 cents | $0.46 | $5.57 |
| United Kingdom | 26.32 pence | £0.67 | £8.01 |
| Germany | 36.18 cents | €0.92 | €11 |
| Ireland | 38.71 cents | €0.98 | €12 |
| France | 24.85 cents | €0.63 | €7.56 |
| Spain | 25.09 cents | €0.64 | €7.63 |
| Italy | 31.42 cents | €0.80 | €9.56 |
| Netherlands | 24.40 cents | €0.62 | €7.42 |
Prices from the U.S. EIA, Ofgem and Eurostat; see Sources below. To see another country, pick it at the top of the page; we cover 51.
How to cut the cost of running your toaster
-
Toast in one batch
Four slices at once uses less than two rounds of two.
-
Don't go darker than you like
A darker setting keeps it on for longer.
What can power it
It has no start-up surge: DuroMax's generator sizing guide lists no extra power at start-up for a toaster. A generator or power station needs to supply its running power, about 1,000 W for the option above, plus anything else running at the same time.
Common questions
How many watts does a toaster use?
DuroMax's generator sizing guide lists a toaster at about 1,000 W running, with no extra surge at start-up. Check your toaster's label, since models vary.
Can a power station run a toaster?
Only one with enough continuous output: a toaster needs about 1,000 W the whole time it's on. Check the power station's continuous rating, not just its battery size.
How much does it cost to run a toaster per hour?
About $0.18 an hour in the United States, at the average price of 18.31 cents per kWh, or about £0.26 in the UK at 26.32 pence, for a 1,000 W toaster drawing 1,000 W.
Sources
- DuroMax Power Equipment, What size generator for a camper? (wattage table: toaster)
- Eurostat, Electricity prices for household consumers (nrg_pc_204): consumption band 2,500–4,999 kWh, all taxes and levies included, January–June 2026 (updated 13 October 2026)
- Ofgem energy price cap: average Direct Debit electricity unit rate, England, Scotland and Wales, 1 October to 31 December 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electricity Monthly Update: average residential price, July 2026 (released 24 September 2026)
Last checked 15 October 2026. How we get our numbers.