KEY POINTS
- Gas ovens are beneficial for instant heat, lower running costs and temperature control.
- Electric ovens are useful for even heating and cheaper installation costs.
- Choosing the right oven will come down to personal preference, but consider energy rates vs gas costs and cooking habits.
On this page:
How much does it cost to use an electric oven?
The specifics of how much your electric oven costs to run depend on how efficient the model is, how much heat you use, the oven’s power rating (or wattage) and how often you cook.
Electric ovens are known as ‘heavy-draw’ appliances, which means they use quite a lot of power. But given that many meals take less than an hour to cook, you might find your electricity costs are better than expected.
Other contributors to the cost of cooking with an electric oven include:
- How much your provider charges for electricity (e.g. usage and supply charges).
- What electricity tariff you are on, which refers to how your energy use is priced.
- Any on or off-peak charges that may increase the electricity bill.
To give you an estimate of what you could be paying for using your electric oven, Canstar Blue has calculated the average costs per hour, based on an oven that uses 2.1 kilowatts per hour (kWh).
If you’d like to check your current electricity plan’s usage rates, enter your details in the Canstar Blue tool below. You can also compare your plan’s usage rates with those of the cheapest plans in the market.
Average cost of using an electric oven per hour
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| Usage time (hour) | 1 hour | 2 hours | 4 hours | 6 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power per cook (kWh) | 2.1kWh | 4.2kWh | 8.4kWh | 12.6kWh |
| Cost per cook ($) | $0.69 | $1.38 | $2.762 | $4.13 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 06/08/2025. Calculations assume a single-rate usage rate of 32.8c/kWh and are a general guide only.
Using an electric oven, you can estimate to add between $0.69 and $4.13 extra to your energy bill per day, depending on the amount of time it has been used for.
Compare cheap electricity deals
If you would like to compare your current electricity plan with some of the cheapest on the market, you can check out the Canstar Blue comparison table below.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
How much does it cost to use a gas oven?
Similar to an electric oven, the cost of using a gas oven will vary significantly based on:
- How much your supplier charges for gas.
- The actual energy usage of your oven.
- How often you use your oven and for how long.
The amount of energy that a gas oven will consume is based on varying factors. It can be a little tricky to determine, so Canstar Blue has calculated an estimate for the average cost of using a gas oven in Australia. These figures were based on an oven that used 10.5 megajoules (MJ) per hour.
Average cost of using a gas oven per hour
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| Usage time (hour) | 1 hour | 2 hours | 4 hours | 6 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power per cook (MJ) | 10.5MJ | 21MJ | 42MJ | 63MJ |
| Cost per cook ($) | $0.43 | $0.86 | $1.72 | $2.58 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 06/08/2025. The average gas usage rate used was 3.6c/MJ and is a general guide only.
Using these figures, you can expect a gas oven to contribute up to $2.27 a day to your natural gas bill, depending on the amount of time it’s been used for.
Compare cheap natural gas deals
If you are using or looking to use gas to power your oven, you can get an idea of some of the cheapest gas prices on the market using the Canstar Blue table below.
Gas Plans Compared in VIC
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Gas Plans Compared in NSW
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,542MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Gas Plans Compared in WA
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for WA. These estimated annual costs are based on the ATCO Network in Perth and yearly gas usage of 7,672 (units), but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Gas Plans Compared in SA
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for SA. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Adelaide and yearly gas usage of 11,875MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Gas Plans Compared in QLD
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for QLD. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Brisbane and yearly gas usage of 6,842MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Pros and cons of electric and gas ovens
A breakdown of the electric vs gas oven comparison:
Electric oven pros:
- Easier to use: Electric oven features tend to be automatic and simpler to operate.
- Quick heating: Fan-forced electric ovens speed up the heating process, helping to avoid pre-heat time.
- Cheaper installation costs: Gas ovens usually require flue installation, which comes at an extra cost compared to electric ovens.
Electric oven cons:
- Energy usage rates can fluctuate: If your energy plan is variable, which most are, then the use of your electric oven will fluctuate depending on your energy usage rate at the time of use.
- Higher energy consumption: Electric ovens tend to use more wattage than gas ovens use MJs.
Gas oven pros:
- Easy maintenance: Gas ovens are easier to maintain because they have fewer parts.
- Instant heat: Gas ovens reach desired temperatures quickly.
- Lower usage costs: If gas is cheaper than electricity in your area, that will make gas ovens cheaper to run.
- Efficient operation: Gas ovens tend to be the cheaper option.
Gas oven cons:
- Risk of gas leaks: Gas ovens have flues that allow any toxicity to flow outside, but with any appliance that is powered by gas, there’s a risk that the gas will leak.
- More expensive installation: Due to the flue installation, the gas oven is more expensive to install.
Gas vs electric oven: what’s the cost difference?
Canstar Blue has calculated the cost differences, showing you what you could be paying on average each year per type of oven.
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| Annual average consumption (37.5 hrs/quarter) | Electric oven | Gas oven |
|---|---|---|
| Power per cook | 315kWh | 1,575MJ |
| Cost per cook ($) | $103.32 | $56.70 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 06/08/2025. Electricity calculations assume a single-rate usage rate of 32.8c/kWh, and the average gas usage rate used was 3.6c/MJ, this is a general guide only.
In terms of ongoing costs, it appears gas ovens work out to be about $46 cheaper to run a year than an electric oven.
But, is this slightly cheaper cost enough to justify ditching electric? If you’re unsure what might be best for you, there are a few things you could consider:
- How often you cook
- How much your provider charges for gas vs electricity
- If there are gas lines available near your house
- The cost to replace an electric oven with a gas one
- What you prefer cooking with.
Chances are, you aren’t cooking consistently for an hour a day for five days a week, and there isn’t much difference in the amount of energy each oven uses, but rather the price of fuel in the market at the time.
Should I buy an electric or gas oven?
Choosing the right oven comes down to your personal preferences.
The costs of running gas ovens versus electric ovens aren’t shockingly different and gas ovens pose no serious benefit over electric models.
While there is a slight cost difference, it is likely not large enough to warrant spending more to install a gas oven, particularly if your home does not already have a mains gas connection.
While there is more potential for electric ovens to lead to higher energy bills, electric ovens are pretty similar to their gas counterparts.
If you are in the market for a new oven and need guidance choosing a brand, then you can check out Canstar Blue’s latest oven ratings below.
Our best-rated ovens page will show you the brands that everyday Australians rate best for performance and reliability, ease of use, value for money and overall satisfaction.
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