How much does it cost to run an electric radiant cooktop (per element)? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use (0.5 h/day, 365 days a year at 1,800 W) runs $90–$138 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Per-element ratings 1,200–3,000 W when active; ceramic elements commonly 1.2–2.2 kW.
| State | Model | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.40 | $0.20 | $6.04 | $73 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.60 | $0.30 | $9.07 | $109 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $0.99 | $0.50 | $15.11 | $181 | |
| Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.33 | $0.16 | $5.01 | $60 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.49 | $0.25 | $7.52 | $90 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $0.82 | $0.41 | $12.53 | $150 | |
| Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.34 | $0.17 | $5.10 | $61 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.50 | $0.25 | $7.65 | $92 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $0.84 | $0.42 | $12.76 | $153 | |
| South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.50 | $0.25 | $7.64 | $92 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.75 | $0.38 | $11.47 | $138 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $1.26 | $0.63 | $19.11 | $229 | |
| Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS) | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.40 | $0.20 | $6.07 | $73 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.60 | $0.30 | $9.10 | $109 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $1.00 | $0.50 | $15.17 | $182 | |
| Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.34 | $0.17 | $5.10 | $61 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.50 | $0.25 | $7.65 | $92 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $0.84 | $0.42 | $12.75 | $153 | |
| Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.44 | $0.22 | $6.74 | $81 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.67 | $0.33 | $10.11 | $121 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $1.11 | $0.55 | $16.85 | $202 | |
| Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water | Efficient (1,200 W) | $0.38 | $0.19 | $5.78 | $69 |
| Typical (1,800 W) | $0.57 | $0.29 | $8.67 | $104 | |
| High (3,000 W) | $0.95 | $0.48 | $14.45 | $173 |
Where a ceramic cooktop costs more
- South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.75 an hour at 1,800 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.49 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $47 (52.6% more).
- By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 18th of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $109 a year at the NSW rate.
- An efficient 1,200 W model costs $46 a year less than a typical 1,800 W one in SA at 0.5 hours a day for 365 days ($30 less in VIC); a high-draw 3,000 W model uses 2.5 times the power of the efficient one.
- At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $7 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $3 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).
| Rank | State | Usage rate | Typical year | Above the cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 27.5c | $90 | — |
| 2 | Tasmania | 28.0c | $92 | +$2 |
| 3 | Queensland | 28.0c | $92 | +$2 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 31.7c | $104 | +$14 |
| 5 | New South Wales | 33.1c | $109 | +$19 |
| 6 | Western Australia | 33.3c | $109 | +$19 |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $121 | +$31 |
| 8 | South Australia | 41.9c | $138 | +$47 |
Rates by state (each state's capital-city network): NSW: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); VIC: ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27; QLD: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); SA: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); WA: WA Government Standard Electricity Prices 2026–27 (Synergy Home Plan A1); TAS: OTTER-approved Aurora Energy Standing Offer 2026–27 (approved 25 June 2026) — Tariff 31; ACT: ICRC retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27 (ActewAGL standing offer); NT: NT Electricity Pricing Order 2026–27 (Jacana Energy standard residential). All effective 1 July 2026.
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWCeramic cooktop: 1,200–3,000 W typical range.
15–45 min per session; radiant elements cycle on/off, so average draw sits below rated watts.
- Per day (0.5 h)
- $0.30
- Per month
- $9.07
- Per year (365 days)
- $108.86
Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: GloBird Energy — appliance electricity use. Full ceramic cooktop costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
Radiant and coil hobs hold their heat, so switch them off a touch before the food's done and let the warmth finish the job. Always use a lid, and match the pot base to the element so heat isn't spilling past the sides. Flat, well-fitting cookware transfers heat best. Boiling water in the kettle first and pouring it in beats heating a pot from cold.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A ceramic cooktop drawing 1,800 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.60 an hour; the calculator below 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 these figures directly. The low–high band in the table (1,200–3,000 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
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Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. 15–45 min per session; radiant elements cycle on/off, so average draw sits below rated watts.