How much does a toaster cost to run?
A typical toaster costs about 1.2p per round of toast to run. At 10 rounds of toast a week that is 11.8p a week, or £6.16 a year, based on 900 W for 3 minutes (0.05 kWh) at 26.32p per kWh.
Adjust for your toaster
Worked example
900 W is 0.9 kW. Running for 3 minutes (3 ÷ 60 ≈ 0.05 hours) uses 0.9 × 0.05 ≈ 0.05 kWh. At 26.32p per kWh that costs 1.2p.
Ten rounds a week costs £6.16 a year, so the real saving is not the toaster but choosing it over a full oven or grill, which costs much more per use.
How to cut the cost
A toaster is already one of the cheaper ways to heat food, because it is fast and focused. If you make several rounds, toast them back to back while the element is hot, and use the toaster instead of the grill or oven for small jobs.
Questions
How much does it cost to make toast?
About 1.2p per round at 26.32p per kWh, for a 900 W toaster running 3 minutes.
Is a toaster cheaper than a grill?
Yes, for one or two slices. A toaster heats only the bread, while a grill heats a large space for longer.
Other appliances
Electricity rate: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, Great Britain average, Direct Debit, default tariff: 26.32p per kWh. Your own tariff and region may differ, so change the rate above to match your bill. Appliance figures are typical estimates; your appliance's energy label or manual is more accurate. Last checked 2026-11-03. Next review: January 2027, when Ofgem announces the next quarter's cap.