Cooktop Running Cost Calculator
This calculator tells you roughly what you spend on cooktop energy over a full year. It works the same way your utility bill does: multiply how often you cook by how much energy each session draws, then by your electricity rate. The result is an annual dollar estimate, not a manufacturer claim.
There are three inputs. First, enter how many stovetop sessions you run per week, a session is any time you turn a burner on and off. Second, set the energy per session in kilowatt-hours. Electric and induction cooktops typically land between 0.5 and 2 kWh per session; gas cooktops convert BTUs to kWh differently and generally run lower. Third, enter your electricity rate in dollars per kWh, check your most recent utility bill for the exact number, or use the state average pre-filled by default.
The formula is straightforward: sessions per week times 52 weeks times kWh per session times your rate. Adjust any input and the estimate updates immediately. Use it to compare what you pay now against what a different cooktop type might cost, for instance, switching from a standard electric coil cooktop to an induction model that uses less energy per session.
How the math works
Yearly cost = sessions per week x 52 weeks x kWh per session x your $/kWh rate
Every spec in this tool comes from the product data behind our best induction cooktops 30 inch; see how we choose.
U.S. residential electricity rates by state
The calculator's state dropdown uses these numbers. Download the full table as CSV.
Show all 51 states & rates
| Alabama | 17.15 |
| Alaska | 27.17 |
| Arizona | 15.59 |
| Arkansas | 13.63 |
| California | 33.35 |
| Colorado | 16.74 |
| Connecticut | 30.47 |
| Delaware | 17.64 |
| District of Columbia | 25.0 |
| Florida | 14.86 |
| Georgia | 15.01 |
| Hawaii | 42.23 |
| Idaho | 13.01 |
| Illinois | 18.86 |
| Indiana | 17.85 |
| Iowa | 13.42 |
| Kansas | 15.34 |
| Kentucky | 14.88 |
| Louisiana | 14.16 |
| Maine | 28.32 |
| Maryland | 22.2 |
| Massachusetts | 30.21 |
| Michigan | 21.2 |
| Minnesota | 15.08 |
| Mississippi | 16.3 |
| Missouri | 13.44 |
| Montana | 13.48 |
| Nebraska | 13.1 |
| Nevada | 14.17 |
| New Hampshire | 26.92 |
| New Jersey | 23.49 |
| New Mexico | 14.81 |
| New York | 28.55 |
| North Carolina | 16.0 |
| North Dakota | 11.95 |
| Ohio | 18.78 |
| Oklahoma | 13.56 |
| Oregon | 14.89 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.92 |
| Rhode Island | 29.91 |
| South Carolina | 16.45 |
| South Dakota | 14.29 |
| Tennessee | 15.08 |
| Texas | 16.39 |
| Utah | 13.17 |
| Vermont | 24.11 |
| Virginia | 17.05 |
| Washington | 14.4 |
| West Virginia | 16.37 |
| Wisconsin | 18.8 |
| Wyoming | 13.59 |
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, March 2026. Retrieved 2026-06-10. U.S. average: 18.56 cents/kWh.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my electricity rate?
Look at the last page of your electricity bill, it's usually listed as cents per kWh or dollars per kWh. Rates in the U.S. range from around $0.10 in low-cost states to over $0.30 in places like Hawaii or California. The calculator pre-fills a national average, but plugging in your real rate gives a much more accurate number.
How do I estimate kWh per cooktop session?
A typical electric coil session (one or two burners, 30 minutes) uses roughly 1 kWh. Induction tends to run 20-30% lower because less heat is lost to the air. Gas energy use is measured in BTUs, but you can convert: 1 kWh equals about 3,412 BTUs. A moderate gas burner at 9,000 BTU for 30 minutes is approximately 1.3 kWh equivalent. Start with the defaults and adjust up or down based on how hard you cook.
Does this include standby power draw?
No. The estimate covers active cooking sessions only. Most cooktops draw negligible standby power, so this omission rarely changes the result by more than a dollar or two per year. If your cooktop has a digital clock or display that stays on, add a small amount for that separately.
Why is my cooktop cost higher than my oven cost?
Cooktops are often used more frequently than ovens, daily cooking versus baking a few times a week. The calculator reflects whatever session count you enter, so if you cook on the stovetop twice a day versus baking three times a week, the math will show a higher cooktop total. It is not a reflection of per-session efficiency.
Can I use this to compare gas versus induction?
Yes, with a caveat: gas is billed in therms or CCF on a separate gas bill, not on your electricity bill. To make a fair comparison, convert your gas rate to a cost-per-kWh-equivalent and enter that as the rate. Then run the calculator twice, once with your gas cooktop's estimated kWh-equivalent per session, once with an induction model's lower kWh figure, and compare the two annual totals.