Induction hob electricity cost £0.08 to £0.16 per hour of full-power cooking
How much an induction hob costs to run depends on the power setting and how long you cook. A typical 2,000W induction hob ring running at full power for one hour uses 2.0 kWh of electricity.
Induction hob running costs £0.08–£0.16 per hour per ring at medium heat, or roughly £86–£123 per year for average household use. This is often cheaper than gas per meal due to 30–40% less energy use and faster cooking times.
- Induction hob costs £0.08–£0.16 per hour per ring at medium heat.
- Annual electricity cost is roughly £86–£123 for average household use.
- Induction is 84–90% efficient, cutting energy waste vs gas or ceramic.
- Cooking with induction uses 30–40% less energy than gas per meal.
- Induction boils water in half the time of gas, saving on total cost.
- Induction hob electricity cost £0.08 to £0.16 per hour of full-power cooking
- Induction hob annual electricity cost roughly £40 to £80 for an average household
- Induction vs. gas hob the running-cost comparison for 2026
- Quick numbers induction hob electricity cost at a glance
- What determines your actual induction hob electricity bill
- The simple answer how much electricity does an induction hob use per month?
- Induction hob installation and wiring what it costs and who can do it
- Grants and support for switching to an induction hob in 2026
At the 2026 average UK electricity price of 24.5p per kWh (Ofgem price cap), the cost is £0.49 per hour. However, most cooking uses medium-to-low heat, so a realistic per-ring cost is £0.08–£0.16 per hour.
The exact figure depends on your hob wattage and how high you set the heat. Energy Saving Trust says a typical hob ring draws between 1,200W and 3,000W at maximum power (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
Induction hob annual electricity cost roughly £40 to £80 for an average household
A household that cooks for 1.5 hours per day on a mixed-size hob (three rings) will use roughly 350–500 kWh per year. At 24.5p/kWh, this equals an annual cost of £86 to £123, depending on usage patterns.
Induction hobs are 84–90% energy-efficient (EST), meaning less heat is wasted compared to gas (40–60%) or ceramic (70–75%). This higher efficiency means you use less energy to achieve the same cooking result.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero appliance energy consumption data confirms that induction cooking typically uses 30–40% less energy than gas for the same meal (DESNZ, 2026).
Induction vs. gas hob the running-cost comparison for 2026
Gas hob: a typical burner uses 3.0 kWh of gas per hour at full power, costing £0.09–£0.12 per hour (gas price 3.1p/kWh under Ofgem cap). Induction hob: same cooking task costs £0.08–£0.16 per hour, but induction is faster, so total cooking time is often 30–40% shorter.
Net result: induction can be cheaper per meal, despite higher electricity unit cost, because of efficiency and speed. Energy Saving Trust comparative cooking tests show induction boils water in roughly half the time of gas (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
For a typical family cooking 1.5 hours daily, the annual gas hob cost is roughly £50–£70 for the cooking gas itself. Induction costs £86–£123 for the same cooking time, but the actual induction cooking time is shorter, narrowing the gap.
Quick numbers induction hob electricity cost at a glance
| Cooking scenario | Typical wattage | kWh per hour | Cost per hour @ 24.5p/kWh | Annual cost for 1-hour daily use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-ring simmer | 800W | 0.8 | £0.20 | £73 |
| 2-ring boil | 3,000W | 3.0 | £0.74 | £270 |
| Full hob (4 rings) | 6,000W | 6.0 | £1.47 | £537 |
| Average daily cooking (1.5hrs, 3 rings) | 2,500W average | 3.75 | £0.92 | £336 |
Source: Ofgem price cap (Ofgem, 2026); MCS typical appliance ratings (MCS, 2026).
What determines your actual induction hob electricity bill
Wattage of the hob rings (typically 1,200W to 3,000W per ring) and how many rings you use simultaneously. Cooking time and heat setting: higher settings increase power draw; simmering uses 10–20% of max power.
Efficiency of the pan: flat-bottomed, ferrous pans (cast iron, stainless steel with magnetic base) transfer heat best. Non-ferrous pans (aluminium, copper) do not work on induction hobs at all.
Your electricity tariff: Economy 7 or time-of-use tariffs can lower overnight costs but increase daytime rates. Energy Saving Trust induction hob efficiency guidelines note that using the correct pan size for each ring improves efficiency by up to 10% (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
Ofgem tariff comparison data shows that households on standard variable tariffs pay the 24.5p/kWh cap rate, while those on fixed deals may pay slightly less (Ofgem, 2026).
The simple answer how much electricity does an induction hob use per month?
For a typical UK household cooking 1.5 hours daily, the induction hob uses roughly 40–60 kWh per month. At 24.5p/kWh, this adds £9.80 to £14.70 to your monthly electricity bill.
A heavy user (2+ hours daily, multiple rings) could see 80–100 kWh per month, costing £19.60 to £24.50. DESNZ household energy consumption statistics confirm that cooking accounts for roughly 5–7% of average household electricity use (DESNZ, 2026).
These figures assume you use the hob at medium heat for most of the cooking time. If you frequently boil large pots at full power, your usage will be higher.
how to compare energy tariffs for your home
Induction hob installation and wiring what it costs and who can do it
Most induction hobs require a 32A or 40A dedicated circuit; installation by a qualified electrician costs £150–£350 (NICEIC or NAPIT registered). You may need a new cooker outlet plate if replacing a gas hob; gas disconnection costs £50–£100 (Gas Safe registered engineer).
Hardwired installation is mandatory; plug-in models are rare for full-size hobs. NICEIC/NAPIT typical pricing surveys show that the total cost for a new circuit and hob installation averages £250 (NICEIC, 2026).
Gas Safe Register fee guidelines state that disconnecting a gas hob costs between £50 and £100, depending on your location (Gas Safe Register, 2026).
Grants and support for switching to an induction hob in 2026
No specific national grant covers induction hobs directly, but the ECO4 scheme may fund a hob as part of a whole-home electrification package (if replacing gas cooking in a low-income household). Some local authorities offer “gas-to-electric” switchover grants through the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG), check your council’s eligibility criteria.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover hobs, only heating systems. GOV.UK “ECO4: energy company obligation” guidance states that eligible households must receive certain benefits and have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G (GOV.UK, 2026).
Home Upgrade Grant eligibility rules vary by council, but typically target low-income households off the gas grid (DESNZ, 2026).
guide to ECO4 eligibility and how to apply
Frequently Asked Questions
At full power, a 2,000W ring costs £0.49 per hour based on the 2026 Ofgem price cap of 24.5p/kWh. Realistic medium-heat cooking costs £0.08–£0.16 per hour, according to Energy Saving Trust.
Yes, induction is often cheaper per meal despite higher electricity unit cost. Energy Saving Trust tests show induction uses 30–40% less energy and boils water in half the time of gas, reducing total cooking cost.
For a household cooking 1.5 hours daily on three rings, induction uses roughly 350–500 kWh per year, or 29–42 kWh per month. At 24.5p/kWh, this costs £7–£10 per month under the 2026 Ofgem price cap.
No, induction adds only £7–£10 per month for average use, per Energy Saving Trust data. Its high efficiency (84–90%) means less energy waste, so the bill impact is modest compared to older electric hobs.
Annual running cost is £86–£123 for a typical household using three rings for 1.5 hours daily, based on the 2026 Ofgem price cap. This is lower than gas for equivalent cooking due to induction's speed and efficiency.
