How Much Does It Cost to Run a Instant Pot?
A typical Instant Pot uses 1000W and runs about 0.5 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $2.51/month.
Calculate Your Cost
What Affects the Cost of Running a Instant Pot
High Wattage, Short Runtime
An Instant Pot draws 1,000W, which sounds like a lot, but it only draws full power during the initial heating phase (10-15 minutes). Once pressure is reached, the element cycles intermittently to maintain temperature, and actual average draw drops to 200-400W. A typical pressure cook cycle uses 0.3-0.6 kWh total, making it comparable to a slow cooker in total energy despite the higher wattage rating.
70% Faster Cooking Means 50% Less Energy Than Oven
A beef stew that takes 3 hours in the oven takes 30-45 minutes in a pressure cooker. Even at higher wattage, the dramatically shorter cook time results in less total electricity consumed. The Instant Pot is especially efficient for foods that traditionally require long cook times: dried beans, tough cuts of meat, soups, and stews.
Instant Pot vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Instant Pot compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot (this page) | $2.51 | At national average rate, 0.5hrs/day |
| Slow cooker (same meal) | ~$3-5 | Similar total energy per meal, but slow cooker takes 8 hours vs. 30-45 minutes. |
| Electric oven (same meal) | ~$6-12 | Uses 3-5x more energy for the same meal. |
| Stovetop pressure cooker | ~$3-6 | Slightly more efficient if using a gas stove. Electric Instant Pot is more convenient. |
| Rice cooker (for rice) | ~$1-3 | More efficient for just rice, but Instant Pot replaces multiple appliances. |
Instant Pot Cost by State
What a Instant Pot costs to run at 1000W for 0.5 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $2.22 | $26.68 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $3.8 | $45.61 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $2.07 | $24.86 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $1.89 | $22.73 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $4.71 | $56.54 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $2.29 | $27.43 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $4.4 | $52.83 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $2.29 | $27.43 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $2.38 | $28.57 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $2.34 | $28.13 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $2.12 | $25.42 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $6.48 | $77.78 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $1.63 | $19.57 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $2.46 | $29.47 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $2.27 | $27.22 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $2.13 | $25.61 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $2.25 | $26.96 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $1.93 | $23.17 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $1.8 | $21.56 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $2.42 | $29.02 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $4.31 | $51.77 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $2.81 | $33.77 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $2.3 | $27.61 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $2.06 | $24.77 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $1.87 | $22.41 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $1.8 | $21.56 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $2.25 | $27.05 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $3.8 | $45.61 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $2.81 | $33.77 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $2.23 | $26.77 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $2.1 | $25.16 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $1.78 | $21.37 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $2.3 | $27.61 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $1.8 | $21.56 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $2.53 | $30.37 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $4.07 | $48.82 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $2.25 | $26.96 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $2.06 | $24.77 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $1.93 | $23.17 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $2.25 | $26.96 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $1.63 | $19.57 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $3.2 | $38.41 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $2.3 | $27.61 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $1.61 | $19.37 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $2.55 | $30.56 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $1.68 | $20.21 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Instant Pot
- Pressure cooking cuts cook time by up to 70%, which means less energy overall
- Use the saute function instead of a separate pan to reduce total appliance use
- Natural pressure release saves a small amount of energy over quick release
- One of the most energy-efficient ways to cook a full meal
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical Instant Pot cook cycle uses 0.3-0.6 kWh, costing $0.05-$0.10 at the national average rate. This makes it one of the cheapest cooking methods per meal, comparable to a slow cooker and far cheaper than an oven. Even used daily, an Instant Pot adds only $1.50-$3.00/month to your electricity bill.
They are roughly equivalent in total energy per meal. A slow cooker uses 100-150W for 8 hours (0.8-1.2 kWh). An Instant Pot uses 1,000W peak but only for 30-45 minutes total (0.3-0.6 kWh). The Instant Pot is actually slightly more efficient in total energy, but the difference is small (a few cents per meal). The real advantage of the Instant Pot is time, not electricity.
The keep-warm function draws about 50-80W, costing roughly 1 cent per hour. Leaving food on keep-warm for 4-6 hours after cooking adds $0.04-$0.06 to the total cost. This is negligible and should not affect your decision about whether to use the keep-warm function.
Related Appliances
Refrigerator
180W typical
Freezer
150W typical
Dishwasher
1800W typical
Electric Oven
2500W typical
Electric Stove Top
1500W typical
Microwave
1200W typical
Coffee Maker
1000W typical
Toaster
1200W typical
Toaster Oven
1400W typical
Air Fryer
1500W typical
Slow Cooker
250W typical
Blender
400W typical
Electric Kettle
1500W typical
Food Processor
500W typical
Stand Mixer
300W typical
Garbage Disposal
500W typical
Ice Maker
150W typical
Electricity cost estimates are based on typical wattage and average residential rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your actual costs may vary based on your appliance's specific wattage, usage patterns, and your utility's rate structure. See our full disclaimer.