How Much Electricity Does a Slow Cooker Use?
A slow cooker draws far less power than most kitchen appliances — typically just 70 to 320 watts depending on size — but makes up for it by running for hours instead of minutes, so the real cost comes from duration, not wattage. Use the calculator below with your own rate and cook time to see what a full day of slow cooking actually costs.
Calculate your cost to run a slow cooker
Enter your rate to see your estimate.
What affects how much electricity a slow cooker uses
Size is the biggest factor: a small 1.5-quart cooker draws as little as 70 watts, while a large 8-quart model can pull over 300 watts. The Low vs. High setting matters less than you'd expect — High draws roughly 20-30% more power at any given moment, but Low takes longer to reach the same result, so total energy used over a full cook often ends up close to the same either way. How long you run it matters more than either of those: a roast left on Low for 8 hours uses meaningfully more electricity than the same roast finished on High in 4, even though High draws more watts per hour.
How to reduce your slow cooker's electricity use
- Match the size of the cooker to the size of the meal, since a larger unit run mostly empty still draws more than a smaller one run full
- Use the High setting when you're short on time rather than defaulting to Low out of habit, since total energy used often comes out similar
- Avoid lifting the lid during cooking — each peek lets heat escape and adds cooking time to make up for it
- Use the "keep warm" setting instead of leaving it on Low or High once the food is done, since keep-warm draws noticeably less power
Typical wattage figure: roughly 70-320 W depending on size, commonly 175-180 W for a standard 6-quart cooker. Source: Jackery — How Many Watts Does a Crockpot Use?. (This is a commonly cited estimate, not a government-published figure.) This is a commonly cited commercial estimate, not a government-published figure. The Low setting draws roughly 20-30% less average power than High, but often runs for longer, so total energy used over a full cook ends up similar either way. We review this figure periodically and update it if the source changes; last checked September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a slow cooker use?
A slow cooker typically draws 70 to 320 watts depending on size, with a standard 6-quart model commonly running around 175 to 180 watts, according to Jackery's appliance wattage research. That's far below an oven's 2,000-plus watts, since a slow cooker is designed to cook gently over a long period rather than heat up quickly.
Is it cheaper to use a slow cooker than an oven?
Usually, yes. Even run for 6-8 hours, a 175-watt slow cooker uses roughly 1.05-1.4 kWh total, which costs about $0.17-$0.23 at the U.S. average rate of 16.5 cents/kWh — typically less than running a 2,000-4,000-watt oven for an hour or more to cook the same meal, since the oven's much higher wattage usually outweighs the slow cooker's longer runtime. Use the calculator above with your own numbers to compare a specific recipe.
Does the Low or High setting use less electricity?
High draws roughly 20-30% more power at any given moment, but Low takes longer to finish the same dish, so total energy consumed over a full cook often ends up close either way. If you're trying to minimize cost, matching the setting to how much time you actually have works better than always choosing Low.
How can I reduce how much electricity my slow cooker uses?
Use a cooker sized to the meal rather than a large one run mostly empty, avoid lifting the lid (each peek adds cooking time), and switch to the "keep warm" setting once food is done instead of leaving it on Low or High, since keep-warm draws less power.
This page provides estimates based on typical wattage figures and the numbers you enter. Actual electricity cost depends on your specific slow cooker's size, setting, and cook time.