How much does it cost to run a kettle? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use — 0.15 h/day, 365 days a year at 2,400 W — runs $36–$55 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Standard 1.7 L household kettles rate 2,200–2,400 W; travel kettles 1,000–1,500 W; high-performance up to 3,000 W.
| State | Tariff c/kWh | Per hour | Typical year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 33.1c | $0.80 | $44 |
| Victoria | 27.5c | $0.66 | $36 |
| Queensland | 28.0c | $0.67 | $37 |
| South Australia | 41.9c | $1.01 | $55 |
| Western Australia | 33.3c | $0.80 | $44 |
| Tasmania | 28.0c | $0.67 | $37 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $0.89 | $49 |
| Northern Territory | 31.7c | $0.76 | $42 |
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWKettle: 1,000–3,000 W typical range.
A 2,400 W kettle boils 1.7 L in ~5.5 minutes; a few boils a day ≈ 9 minutes of element time.
- Per day (0.15 h)
- $0.12
- Per month
- $3.63
- Per year (365 days)
- $43.54
Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: EcoFlow AU — kettle wattage (cross-checked Canstar Blue). Full kettle costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
Only boil what you'll actually pour. A kettle filled to the brim wastes most of its heat warming water you'll tip away, so fill it from the cup you're about to use. Descale it now and then, since scale on the element slows the boil. And an electric kettle heats water more efficiently than a pot on the cooktop.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × your electricity rate = cost per hour. A kettle drawing 2,400 W on a 33.1c/kWh tariff costs $0.80 an hour — the calculator above lets you change every input.
- Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
- Yes — the star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales this page's figures directly. The low–high band in the table (1,000–3,000 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
- Why does the state matter?
- The appliance draws the same power everywhere — but each state's reference usage rate differs, so the same hour of running costs $0.66 in the cheapest state and $1.01 in the dearest. Pick your state above for exact figures.
Related
- Ducted aircon
- Split-system aircon
- Portable aircon
- Ceiling fan
- Reverse-cycle heating
- Electric heater
- All appliances
- Appliance calculator
- EcoFlow AU — kettle wattage (cross-checked Canstar Blue)
- State reference tariffs (per-zone determinations)verified
Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. A 2,400 W kettle boils 1.7 L in ~5.5 minutes; a few boils a day ≈ 9 minutes of element time.