How much does a kettle cost to run?
This worked example uses 3,000 W, 0.12 hours on each use day and 365 use days per year. Change any of these inputs in the calculator.
131 kWh/year · 0.36 kWh per use day
Electricity-price sensitivity
| Electricity price | Energy/use day | Annual energy | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15p/kWh | 0.36 kWh/day when used | 131 kWh/year | £20/yr |
| 25p/kWh | 0.36 kWh/day when used | 131 kWh/year | £33/yr |
| 35p/kWh | 0.36 kWh/day when used | 131 kWh/year | £46/yr |
Important assumption
The example equates to roughly seven minutes/day of full-power heating. Boiling only the water needed reduces runtime.
What changes kettle electricity use?
Kettles are high-power but short-duration appliances. The main avoidable energy is usually heating more water than needed or re-boiling water that has cooled. The kettle rating affects how quickly it boils, but energy is driven primarily by the mass of water heated and the temperature rise.
Make this estimate more realistic
For budgeting, estimate how many boils you make and how full the kettle normally is. The worked example converts this into an equivalent daily runtime. If you regularly boil only one or two cups, your real annual cost may be lower than a full-kettle assumption.
Electricity prices change, so the 15p, 25p and 35p/kWh rows are sensitivity examples rather than a current-tariff claim. Use the linked calculator with the unit rate shown on your own bill before relying on the annual cost.