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How Much Electricity Does an Oven Use?
5 minute read • Last update January 2025
Whether you’re whipping up a quick weeknight dinner, preparing a weekend feast, or tackling a recipe for a special occasion, your oven may play a key role in bringing meals to life. With regular use, you might wonder how much energy your oven uses—and how it impacts your electric bill.
So, exactly how much electricity does an oven use? While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, we can give you a solid idea. In this handy guide, we’ll explore electric oven wattage, power consumption, and energy efficiency, along with practical tips to help you reduce energy usage and save money on your electricity plan.
How many watts does an oven use?
Oven wattage and energy consumption vary significantly depending on the type and size of your cooker. As a general rule, the higher the wattage of the oven, the more electricity you will use:
- Microwave ovens: 600-1700 watts
- Toaster ovens: 1,000 to 1,500 watts
- Convection ovens: Up to 5,000 watts
However, the exact wattage drawn will also depend on what you’re using your electric range for. For example, baking or broiling at high temperatures or making dishes with a long cooking time use more energy than simply reheating leftovers. Here are a few electricity consumption FAQs to better understand how much power your oven may use.
- How much electricity does an oven use per hour? On average, wattage ranges between 2,000 and 5,000, with a standard oven drawing around 3,000 watts.
- How does oven size impact power use? Bigger ovens typically use more electricity due to their larger heating elements and longer cook times.
- Does the oven use a lot of electricity to roast a turkey, chicken, or ham? Larger cuts of meat require extended electric oven use of 2 to 3 hours at a high heat, so roasting usually consumes between 3 to 7 kWh (kilowatt hours).
- How much power does an oven use to bake a cake? Baking a cake in a conventional oven typically takes 25 to 30 minutes at 350°F and uses about 1.5 to 2 kWh of electricity.
- Why is a convection oven’s wattage lower than a standard oven? Convection ovens cook food faster by constantly circulating warm air. The reduced cooking time equates to less energy usage overall.
- Does an oven use more or less power than a propane or natural gas range? Energy efficiency depends on utility costs in your area. You can read more about the pros and cons of using an electric vs gas oven in our previous blog.
Now that we have a baseline for electric oven power consumption, let’s consider the impact on your electricity costs. Let’s say you use a standard oven or range with a maximum power consumption of 4000 watts and an average wattage of 3000. If you run your oven for one hour at the average electricity rate of 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, the cost would be $0.45 (3 kW × $0.15).
Average oven power consumption per year
While $0.45 per hour may not seem like much, monthly and yearly costs can quickly add up—especially when you consider the practicalities of cooking more food, especially during the holiday season.
So, how much energy does an oven use over an entire year? To calculate the annual energy consumption of your oven, you’ll need a rough idea of total usage as well as the wattage. The average home cook uses a toaster or microwave oven for smaller kitchen tasks, meaning full oven use is typically around 150-300 hours annually.
The table below focuses on average oven wattage usage and annual kWh. For stovetops, energy use varies by burner size and cooking time, as we’ll explain further in the next section.
| Electric Oven Watts | Hours Per Year | Annual kWh |
| 1500 | 150 | 225 |
| 200 | 300 | |
| 250 | 375 | |
| 300 | 450 | |
| 2,000 | 150 | 300 |
| 200 | 400 | |
| 250 | 500 | |
| 300 | 600 | |
| 2500 | 150 | 375 |
| 200 | 500 | |
| 250 | 625 | |
| 300 | 750 | |
| 3,000 | 150 | 450 |
| 200 | 600 | |
| 250 | 750 | |
| 300 | 900 | |
| 3500 | 150 | 525 |
| 200 | 700 | |
| 250 | 875 | |
| 300 | 1050 | |
| 4,000 | 150 | 600 |
| 200 | 800 | |
| 250 | 1000 | |
| 300 | 1200 | |
| 4500 | 150 | 675 |
| 200 | 900 | |
| 250 | 1125 | |
| 300 | 1350 | |
| 5,000 | 150 | 750 |
| 200 | 1000 | |
| 250 | 1250 | |
| 300 | 1500 |
To calculate total yearly costs, simply multiply the applicable number of kWh by your electricity rate, which should be clearly stated on your electric bill.
Electric oven vs stove wattage
While ovens consume significant power for baking and roasting, electric stoves (cooktops) use less energy for tasks like boiling, frying, and simmering. Here’s a quick overview of electric stove wattage:
- Small electric burners: 1,200 watts
- Medium burners: 1,500–2,000 watts
- Large burners: 2,500–3,000 watts
The actual energy consumption depends on the burner size and cooking time. For example, boiling water for 10 minutes on a large burner will use approximately 0.5 kWh (2,500 watts × 0.2 hours).
By choosing the stovetop for tasks like boiling or frying, you can reduce energy use compared to firing up the oven for small jobs. While stovetops generally consume less energy per session, frequent use throughout the day can still add up on your electric bill.
What to look for in an energy-efficient electric oven
If you want to save energy and reduce your utility bill by using less electricity, it’s essential to choose an energy-efficient oven. Here are some factors to consider when shopping.
- ENERGY STAR ratings: Energy Star-rated appliances meet stringent energy efficiency standards. ENERGY STAR ovens are about 18% more efficient than regular models as they use less heating power without sacrificing performance.
- Convection ovens: Cooking faster and at a lower temperature results in lower energy consumption compared to traditional ovens.
- Induction cooktops: An induction cooktop uses an electromagnetic field to heat pots and pans directly rather than relying on electricity to power the heating element on the surface of your stove.
- Self-cleaning options: While they may use high heat for cleaning, self-cleaning ovens also have extra insulation to prevent heat loss, making them more efficient overall.
- Oven door insulation: Insulation plays a crucial role in how much energy your oven will draw to maintain the desired temperature.
- Smart ovens: Advanced temperature controls and the ability to monitor energy usage help you optimize energy efficiency for various cooking methods.
Older ovens are generally less energy efficient than newer models and are more susceptible to malfunctions that could cause them to consume even more energy. So, timely replacement is key to making maximum long-term savings.
Tips for reducing your oven’s electricity usage
Even if your oven is efficient on electricity, you can make a few minor adjustments to reduce your energy consumption even further. Here are some easy ways to ensure your household is saving the most energy:
- Maximize your oven’s capacity by cooking more than one dish at a time.
- Keep the oven door closed. Each time you open the door, you lose heat, meaning your oven has to work harder to maintain the required temperature.
- Preheat your oven only when necessary, and consider lowering the temperature by 25°F, as many recipes cook well at slightly lower heat.
- Use a microwave or toaster oven rather than the full range for smaller tasks and simple jobs like reheating.
- Plan to use the most power during off-peak periods to reduce the impact of cooking on your energy bills.
- Open doors and windows to improve ventilation and reduce the workload on your range hood.
- Use the stovetop instead of the oven for tasks like boiling, frying, or simmering—it consumes less energy for shorter cook times.
By making these simple adjustments, it becomes much easier to save energy and keep your household’s electricity costs in check.
Save on electricity plans with BKVE
While learning how to save energy is always advantageous, choosing a trustworthy and reliable utility provider is essential for homeowners looking to maximize savings.
At BKV Energy, we pride ourselves on helping Texans save money by making monthly energy bills more manageable. We specialize in delivering straightforward energy plans with simple fixed rates—no gimmicks, no minimum usage requirements, and no monthly base charges guaranteed!
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