How much does a toaster oven cost to run in California?
$6.47 a month
- A day of use
- $0.21
- An hour of running
- $0.43
- A year
- $77.67
1,225 W, 30 minutes a day, at California’s average rate of 34.7¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes a day typical | $0.21 | $6.47 | $77.67 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.43 | $12.94 | $155.33 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.85 | $25.89 | $310.66 |
| 4 hours a day | $1.70 | $51.78 | $621.32 |
| 8 hours a day | $3.40 | $103.55 | $1,242.65 |
| 24 hours a day | $10.21 | $310.66 | $3,727.95 |
A typical model draws about 1,225 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension).
California compared with other states
California’s residential rate is the 2nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 16.4¢ above the US average of 18.3¢ (+89%). California’s rate is up 1.2¢ from June 2025 (33.6¢, +3.4%).
Ways to spend less
- Use it instead of the full oven for small dishes.
- Keep the door closed while it cooks.
- Switch it off a few minutes early; it keeps cooking with the heat inside.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a toaster oven per hour?
About $0.43 an hour in California. A toaster oven at 1,225 W uses 1.23 kWh per hour, and at California’s average of 34.7¢ per kWh that comes to $0.43.
How much does a toaster oven add to your electric bill?
Used 30 minutes a day, about $6.47 a month in California, or $77.67 a year.
How much does it cost to run a toaster oven 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a toaster oven would use 29.4 kWh a day and cost $10.21 a day, or $310.66 over an average month in California.
How many watts does a toaster oven use?
A typical model draws about 1,225 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a toaster oven cost more or less to run in California than elsewhere?
California’s residential rate is the 2nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 16.4¢ above the US average of 18.3¢ (+89%). California’s rate is up 1.2¢ from June 2025 (33.6¢, +3.4%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.