Running an oven on a per-cook basis may be more expensive than yesteryear, and those still using their consistently oven may be wondering how on earth their latest bill got so high. In this report, Canstar Blue breaks down the energy costs of both electric and gas ovens to see which one comes out on top.
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How much electricity does an oven use?
Electric ovens are known as ‘heavy-draw’ appliances, which means they use quite a lot of power. Of course, how much your oven costs to run depends on how efficient the model is, how much heat you use, the oven wattage and how often you cook. Given that a lot of meals take less than an hour to cook, you might find your electricity costs to be not so bad after all. Apart from this, there are other pricing aspects you’ll need to consider to more accurately determine how much you’ll be paying to cook:
- How much your provider charges for electricity (e.g. usage and supply charges)
- What electricity tariff you are on
- Any on or off-peak charges that may rack up the electricity bill
To give you an estimate on 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 kilowatt hours (kWh) per hour.
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 | $1.36 | $2.77 | $4.16 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 16/10/2023. Average electricity usage rates based on single rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,347kWh. Electricity usage cost estimates based on the average electricity usage rate of 33c/kWh. Average usage of an electric oven was sourced from Ausgrid Appliance Energy Usage Guide.
Using an electric oven then, can tack between $0.69 and $4.16 extra to your power bill per day, depending on the amount of time it has been used for.
Compare cheap electricity deals
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 energy does a gas oven use?
Similar to an electric oven, the amount of energy that a gas oven will churn through is based on several factors. The cost of using a gas oven then will vary significantly depending on:
- How much your supplier charges for gas
- The actual power usage of your oven
- How often you use your oven, and for how long
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 ($) | $0.39 | $0.78 | $1.55 | $2.33 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 16/10/2023. Average gas usage rate based on summer rates of single rate plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 33,625MJ. Average MJ/hour usage of a gas oven was sourced from Energy Networks Australia.
You can expect a gas oven then to add up to $2.33 a day to your natural gas bill, depending on the amount of time it’s been used for.
Compare cheap natural gas deals
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.
Gas vs electric oven: What’s the cost difference?
So what’s the cost difference between both types of oven? Canstar Blue has calculated below to see what you could be paying on average each year per oven type.
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| Annual Average Consumption (37.5 hrs/Quarter) | Electric Oven | Gas Oven |
|---|---|---|
| Power per cook | 315kWh | 1,575MJ |
| Cost per cook ($) | $103.95 | $58.28 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 16/10/2023. Average electricity usage rates based on single rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,347kWh. Electricity usage cost estimates based on the average electricity usage rate of 33c/kWh. Average gas usage rate based on summer rates of single rate plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 33,625MJ. Average usage of an electric oven was sourced from Ausgrid Appliance Energy Usage Guide. Average MJ/hour usage of a gas oven was sourced from Energy Networks Australia. Average quarterly hours oven in use sourced from Ausgrid Appliance Energy Usage Guide.
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 does your provider charge 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 really isn’t much difference in the amount energy each oven uses, but rather the price of that fuel in market at the time.
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Should I buy an electric or gas oven?
Overall, 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 does appear to be more potential for electric ovens to boast high power figures – leading to higher power bills – on average, electric ovens are pretty on par with their gas counterparts. At the end of the day, gas vs electric ovens fall largely on personal preferences, of which only you can determine.
If you are in the market for a new oven however, and need a little assistance choosing a brand that’s worth your buck, then check our latest ovens ratings below. Here you’ll see the brands everyday Aussies rated top-notch on factors such as performance and reliability, ease of use, value for money and overall satisfaction.
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