2026-27 rates are live. DMO, VDO and solar feed-in tariffs updated for July 2026. See what changed

Kitchen

Electric Kettle Running Costs and the Price of Every Boil

Kettles draw a lot of power but only for minutes. Here is what each boil costs on 2026-27 electricity prices, and the easy way to cut it.

Checked against regulator sources, October 2026

Typical draw
2,200 W
2,200 W kettle
Usage assumed
161 kWh
a year
NSW cost
$53
a year, Ausgrid
Cost an hour
73c
NSW reference rate
watts
hrs
days

Use decimals for short times. 15 minutes is 0.25 hours.

State or territory

Electric kettle: cost a year

$53

72.9c an hour14.6c a day$1.02 a week$4.43 a month
Energy usedper year161 kWh
Electricity priceAusgrid, flat rate33.14c
Share of a typical homeagainst 4,000 kWh a year4%
Cost a year, GST included$53.22

Appliances on a thermostat cycle on and off, so real use is often lower than the full power draw.

Prices are 2026-27 regulated rates including GST. Market offers can be cheaper. Estimates only.

What a kettle costs to run in each state

The table assumes a 2,200 W kettle boiling for a total of 12 minutes a day, which is several cups or a couple of full boils.

Electric kettle: 2,200 w kettle, 12 minutes a day, every day
StateRateA monthA year
TasmaniaAurora Energy24.75c$3.31$40
QueenslandEnergex27.97c$3.74$45
Victoriaaverage of five networks28.2c$3.77$45
Northern TerritoryJacana Energy31.68c$4.24$51
New South WalesAusgrid33.14c$4.43$53
Western AustraliaSynergy33.26c$4.45$53
Australian Capital TerritoryEvoenergy network36.95c$4.95$59
South AustraliaSA Power Networks41.91c$5.61$67
Flat regulated usage rate for each state's main network in 2026-27, including GST. Victoria uses the average of its five networks.

Cost per boil

Energy and cost to boil water from 20°C
WaterEnergyCost
One cup, 250 ml0.023 kWh0.8c
0.5 litres0.047 kWh2c
1 litre0.093 kWh3c
Full kettle, 1.7 litres0.158 kWh5c
At the Ausgrid reference rate of 33.14c/kWh. Heat losses add a little to these figures.

A higher-wattage kettle boils faster but uses about the same energy to heat the same water, so the cost per boil barely changes. What matters is how much water you heat.

Cost by kettle wattage for 12 minutes a day
TypePowerCost an hourA year
1,800 W kettle1,800 W60c$44
2,200 W kettle2,200 W73c$53
2,400 W kettle2,400 W80c$58
Priced at the Ausgrid reference rate of 33.14c/kWh. Use the calculator for your own state and hours.

Boiling for less

  1. Fill only what you need

    Boiling a full kettle for one cup heats nearly seven times the water.

  2. Descale it

    Scale on the element slows heating. Descale regularly in hard water areas.

  3. Use it for the stove too

    Boiling water for pasta in the kettle and then pouring it into the pot is usually quicker than heating from cold on the cooktop.

What about boiling water taps?

Instant boiling water taps keep a small tank hot all day, so they use standby energy even when nobody makes a drink. Check the manufacturer's standby figure before buying one. Our standby power guide explains why always-on appliances add up.

Questions about kettle running costs

Boiling a full 1.7 litre kettle from 20°C uses about 0.16 kWh, roughly 5c on the Ausgrid reference rate. One cup costs about 0.8c.

Not much per boil. It draws more power but finishes sooner, so the energy to heat the same water is about the same.

A kettle is usually more efficient because the element sits in the water. Heat escapes around a pot on a cooktop, especially on gas or a ceramic element.

The SA Government lists kettles at 1,800 W to 2,400 W.

Sources

Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.