How Many Watts Does a Toaster Use? Do They Consume Lots of Power?
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Visnja Radosavljevic
- Last updated:
Most modern kitchens are equipped with all kinds of appliances, including toasters, that make cooking and meal preparation more manageable. While kitchen appliances often come in handy, they also use a lot of power when combined together, which typically takes a toll on your utility bill. The larger the watt usage in your home, the larger the bill.
That’s why it’s helpful to know how many watts each one of your appliances uses; which also counts for your toaster. Typically, toasters use between 800 to 1500 watts, although that varies due to several factors.
Keep reading to find out exactly how many watts toasters use and if they consume a lot of power.
How Many Watts Does a Toaster Use?
Many people use toasters to toast their bread and make delicious breakfast meals. These helpful appliances are a much better option for toasting your bread than an oven or a stove because they are faster and consume less power.
Toasters can toast slices of bread quite quickly, so they won’t affect your energy bill too much. Also, if you get a power outage or plan to travel/live off-grid, you’ll easily be able to power the toaster with a power generator, which makes it convenient to use.
- 2-slice toasters
- 4-slice toasters
As you can probably guess, 4-slice toasters use more power as they are larger. A 2-slice toaster uses between 800 and 1,500 watts, although the average is 1,200 watts. Since 4-slice toasters are larger, they commonly consume around 1,400 watts.
However, none of these calculations is 100% correct as the actual wattage of your toaster will depend on an array of factors, including:
- Size
- Brand
- Model
Every toaster should have a label declaring the exact amount of watts the appliance uses. It’s typically located on the side or bottom of the toaster, so you should find it to determine the precise watt usage.
Power Differences Between 2-Slice, and 4-Slice Toasters
As you can see above, 4-slice toasters spend more power than 2-slice toasters. However, the power difference between them is not significant, and if you have a larger household, getting a 4-slice toaster is a better investment.
The Average Power Consumption of Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances are necessary for every functioning kitchen. As most people use them on a daily basis, it’s good to know their average power consumption. While some kitchen appliances only use 400 watts, others can use over 2,000 watts!
Here’s a simple chart showcasing the power usage of some of the most commonly used kitchen appliances.
| Appliance | Power Consumption |
| Coffee Maker | 1,000 watts |
| Dishwasher | 1,500 watts |
| Air Fryer | 1,500 watts |
| Electric oven | 2,150 watts |
| Microwave | 1,000 watts |
| Fridge | 400 watts |
Toaster VS Other Kitchen Appliances – Power Consumption
To help you see the difference in watt usage between a toaster and other kitchen appliances, we also created the chart below.
| Appliance | Power Consumption |
| 2-Slice Toaster | between 800 and 1,500 watts |
| 4-Slice Toaster | 1,400 watts |
| Coffee Maker | 1,000 watts |
| Dishwasher | 1,500 watts |
| Air Fryer | 1,500 watts |
| Electric oven | 2,150 watts |
| Microwave | 1,000 watts |
| Fridge | 400 watts |
| Food Blender | 300 watts |
Do Toasters Consume Lots of Power?
Toasters don’t consume a lot of power. In fact, their usage won’t have a significant impact on your bills as long as you use the toaster moderately. Other kitchen appliances, such as a microwave or a dishwasher, use much more power than toasters.
There’s no need to reduce your toaster usage as it won’t impact your overall energy consumption.
How To Save Energy While Using a Toaster?
There’s no direct way to save on energy when using a toaster, and there’s no need to, as they spend little power. However, if you’re purchasing a new toaster, there are a few things you can do to save energy:
- Avoid toasters with additional features: Toasters that have additional features, such as a whistle or LED indicator, use more power than regular toasters. You should avoid toasters with add-ons if you want to save power.
- Avoid toasters with large, wide slots: Toasters with wide, large slots commonly have more heating elements which spend more energy than smaller toasters.
- Consider getting a 4-slice toaster with dual controls: A 4-slice toaster with dual controls will allow you to either make multiple meals at once or make one meal without using the other two slots, which saves energy.
- Choose a toaster with a cool surface and a covered top: Toasters with a cool surface and a covered top reduce energy usage as they won’t allow heat to escape from the appliance. That will help you save money and energy in the long run.
- Get a reliable toaster and avoid brands with a bad reputation: Instead of spending your money on cheap toasters or brands, choose a reliable brand that will be durable and last for a long time.
Final Words
If you like to eat crunchy, toasted bread, you can use your toaster daily without worrying that you’ll use a lot of power. These appliances don’t have a high wattage use, typically between 800 and 1,500 watts. If you’re purchasing a new toaster, you can follow our tips to save energy in the long run.
Featured Image Credit: StockSnap, Pixabay
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