How Much Does It Cost to Run a Slow Cooker in the UK?

If you’re trying to cut electricity costs, the kitchen is an obvious place to start.

Ovens, tumble dryers and kettles can all rack up usage quickly. But what about a slow cooker?

How much does it cost to run a slow cooker in the UK — and is it actually cheaper than using the oven?

Quick Answer

Running a typical 200W slow cooker for 8 hours costs around 40p at an average UK electricity rate of 25p per kWh.

Most models cost between 30p and 65p for a full 8-hour cook.

So no — slow cookers are not expensive to run. In fact, they’re one of the cheapest cooking appliances in most homes.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Slow Cooker for 8 Hours in the UK?

Using an average electricity price of 25p per kWh, here’s what the maths looks like:

Even a larger 340W model costs under 70p for 8 hours of cooking.

That’s less than many ovens cost to run for one hour.

How Much Electricity Does a Slow Cooker Use?

Most slow cookers use between 160W and 340W.

To put that into context:

A 200W slow cooker uses 0.2 kW per hour.

Over 8 hours:

0.2 kW × 8 = 1.6 kWh
1.6 kWh × 25p = 40p

But here’s something many people don’t realise.

Slow cookers don’t run at full power continuously. Once the ceramic pot reaches temperature, the heating element cycles on and off.

In real-world use, many “200W” slow cookers actually consume closer to 1.2–1.5 kWh over 8 hours, not the full 1.6 kWh theoretical maximum.

That can reduce the true cost closer to 30–37p.

That insulation is what makes them so efficient.

That insulation is what makes them so efficient.

It’s the same principle I covered when looking at electric blanket running costs — low wattage plus retained heat equals tiny running costs.

Are Slow Cookers Energy Efficient?

Yes.

Compared to high-draw appliances, slow cookers barely register.

For context:

• Electric ovens typically use around 2 kWh per hour
• Tumble dryers can use 2–4 kWh per cycle
• Kettles draw 2–3 kW while boiling

That’s why in my comparison of a dehumidifier vs tumble dryer, the dryer is always the energy-hungry one.

A slow cooker sits firmly in the “low usage” category.

Even if you used yours three times per week at 40p per cook:

£1.20 per week
Around £62 per year

That’s very reasonable for proper home-cooked meals.

Slow Cooker vs Oven: Which Is Cheaper?

A typical electric oven uses around 2 kWh per hour.

At 25p per kWh:

1 hour in the oven = around 50p
2 hours in the oven = around £1

Compare that to:

200W slow cooker for 8 hours = around 40p

For long cooking times, the slow cooker usually wins comfortably.

An oven has to heat a large cavity of air and constantly top it up. A slow cooker heats a dense ceramic pot and barely works once it’s hot.

That’s the difference.

Slow Cooker vs Air Fryer

Air fryers use more power — often between 900W and 1,500W — but cook much faster.

For example:

1,000W air fryer for 40 minutes = roughly 17p
200W slow cooker for 8 hours = roughly 40p

Quick meals → air fryer
Low-and-slow meals → slow cooker
Both → cheaper than a traditional oven

One Small Tip

Keep the lid on.

Every time you lift it “just to check,” you drop the internal temperature and can add 15–20 minutes to the cooking time.

That means more electricity used.

Let it do its thing.

My Honest Take

We used to joke ours was the “slow death pot” because my dad somehow drained flavour from everything.

But used properly, it’s one of the cheapest ways to cook proper meals at home.

It costs pennies.
It reduces oven time.
And it helps avoid midweek takeaway temptation.

That’s a genuine money-saving appliance.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking to reduce electricity usage in the kitchen, the slow cooker isn’t the problem.

It’s one of the cheapest appliances you can run.

And unlike some “energy saving tips,” this one actually makes sense.

If you’re really keen on saving money, take a look at my post on cheaper electricity at night.

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