How many watts does an electric kettle use? (1,500 W)
An electric kettle uses about 1,500 W
Typical range 1,200–3,000 watts.
Typical range 1,200–3,000 watts.
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An electric kettle draws a lot of power, but only for the minute or two it takes to boil, so each use is cheap.
Electric kettle power specs
| Typical running power | 1,500 W |
| Typical range | 1,200–3,000 W |
| Energy use | 0.30 kWh/day · 9.0 kWh/mo |
What affects an electric kettle's wattage
An electric kettle is rated around 1,500 W, but the real figure shifts with a few things:
- Model and rating: An electric kettle ranges from about 1,200 W on efficient units to 3,000 W on larger or older ones — a spread of ~1,800 W.
- Usage: the real draw depends on the heat setting and how full it is.
- Run time: because an electric kettle only runs in short bursts (a few minutes at a time), hours of use matter as much as raw wattage on your bill.
Running cost at $0.17/kWh
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.03 | $0.90 | $10.95 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.05 | $1.35 | $16.43 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.06 | $1.80 | $21.90 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.08 | $2.25 | $27.38 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.09 | $2.70 | $32.85 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.12 | $3.60 | $43.80 |
See the full breakdown of what it costs to run an electric kettle, or what size power station runs an electric kettle.
FAQ
How many watts does an electric kettle use?
Typically 1200-3000 watts; higher wattage simply means it boils faster.
Does boiling less water save money?
Yes - only filling the kettle to what you need cuts both energy and boil time.