Induction vs Gas Energy Cost

When you want a new hob in your kitchen, you might wonder about the energy cost of induction vs gas. Many home cooks look at energy efficiency, performance, safety, and how easy each one is to use. Gas hobs and induction hobs both have their fans. The energy efficiency, running costs, and what they do to the environment are different for each one. This guide gives you the real facts you need. With these, you can pick the better option for your cooking habits, your budget, and your kitchen setup.

Comparing typical energy costs in a UK home kitchen

A gas cooktop in the UK uses about 7 to 8 kW when it is on the highest setting. An induction cooktop uses around 1.4 to 2.8 kW for each cooking zone if you turn up the heat all the way. But, what matters just as much as the wattage is how much time you spend cooking on it.

• Gas hobs: These use about 40% of the energy well for cooking. A lot of the heat goes out from the sides of the pan, so you have more energy usage each time you make food.
• Induction cooking: This works with 85–90% efficiency. It uses an electromagnetic field to send power right to the bottom of the pan, so less energy leaves as residual heat.

If you boil water every day, the cost to boil one litre of water on gas can be about 0.4p. To boil one litre of water on induction, it may be around 0.6p. This comes from UK energy rates in 2025, when electricity is at 29p/kWh and gas is at 7p/kWh. Gas is less for each unit. But induction uses less energy to boil water. So, the cost difference isn’t that big.

Annual running cost comparison

Based on consumer reports and the way most people cook in the UK, they use the hob for about one hour a day.

Gas is still better for your energy bills if you just look at the price of gas and electricity when you cook in the kitchen. But if you see how well things cook, induction hobs use less energy and are a lot more efficient.

If you switch from a gas hob to an induction hob, your utility bills can change. The cost depends on the price of gas and electricity in your area. In UK average prices for 2025, gas costs about 7 pence for each kWh. Electricity costs about 29 pence for each kWh. A household using the hob one hour a day would pay about £74 each year with gas. With an induction hob, you could pay around £190 a year. So, if your cooking habits stay the same, your bills may go up by about £116 each year.

However, induction hobs use energy more efficiently. They heat up faster and come with features like residual heat and simmer control. These can help you save power. If you cut your cooking time by 20–30% using these features, you may lower the extra cost a lot. Sometimes, you might pay only £50 more each year.

Factors affecting long-term cost-effectiveness

A few things can affect the cost difference between gas and induction hobs when you look at how much you have to pay over the life of your cooking hob.

• Unit rates: The cost for electricity or gas changes. If electricity gets cheaper or gas bills get higher, the way you use power in the home might be different.
• Cooking habits: There are people who like to cook food for several hours. If you do, you may pick gas for good simmer control. If you want faster cooking or high heat, induction hobs help as they heat up and cool down very fast.
• Size of the cooking zone: It is best to use the right size pan for the cooking zone. When the pan is too big or the pot is too small for the burner, both gas and induction hobs will not work as well.
• Hob power rating kW explained: Induction hobs can have flexible cooking zones. This means the zone changes so the heat matches the pan size. With these flexible cooking zones, heat does not get lost as much.

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Energy efficiency differences and environmental impact

Induction cooking does not make carbon monoxide. It helps indoor air quality more than gas stoves do. Gas stoves need a range hood to keep the air clean. When you use gas stoves, they put out things that can change the air quality in your home.

From an energy efficiency perspective:

• Gas stoves: These gas stoves do not use less energy. A lot of heat from them is left in the air as residual heat. The energy usage for gas stoves stays high each year.
• Electric induction: Electric induction stoves are very good for saving energy. They use less energy and give off less residual heat. The kitchen stays cooler with electric induction, more so than with gas stoves. This is nice in the summer.

For people who want to pay less on their bills and help lower emissions, induction can be the better option. At first, it may cost more to buy. But over time, you get good value from it.

Hidden costs to consider

When you look at the gas vs induction running cost UK, there are several things you should keep in mind:

• Installation: A gas hob has to be hooked up by a gas-safe engineer. An induction hob needs the right electrical setup to work.
• Cookware base for induction: You must use compatible cookware, like magnetic stainless steel or cast iron, for an induction hob. If your old pans do not work on it, you will need new ones.
• Maintenance: Gas hobs have more heating elements and parts that you need to clean. Induction hobs come with a sealed glass surface. This means you just wipe it, so it is easier to keep clean.
• Safety features: A gas hob should have a flame failure safety device. An induction hob has built-in safety, with features like a child lock safety induction hob and residual heat indicators to let you know when it’s hot and to help keep your home safe.

Cooking speed and performance

An induction hob can boil water very fast. If you use the highest setting, it takes less than two minutes to boil each litre of water. A gas hob takes about four minutes to do that. You cook food quicker on an induction hob and also use less energy. This can help you feel better about the higher price for electricity.

Gas gives you quick feedback. You can see the flame and change its size at once. It is easy to control the heat for simmering, and many chefs like to cook in this way. But induction hobs work well, too. These have touch controls, so you can change the settings fast. You can also set time and temperature. This helps you make tricky food the right way.

Best choice for small households vs larger families

For small households that only need to make food once or twice in a day, induction can be a better option. It works fast and is easy for people to use. There is not much residual heat left after you finish cooking with it.

For bigger families that cook for a long time each day, gas may help them spend less on energy bills every year. This is true when electricity prices stay high.

Average annual energy costs broken down

If you cook daily for an hour:

These numbers come from UK average tariffs set for 2025. They are based on how most people use energy.

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Kitchen energy saving tips

• Match the size of the cooking zone to your pan. This can help you use less energy. It also makes your cooking better.
• Use lids when you boil water. Water will boil faster. This way, you cut down on energy usage.
• If you cook with gas, keep burners clean. A clean burner will give you a strong flame.
• For induction stoves, use compatible cookware with a flat bottom. This lets the magnetic field work the right way. Your energy efficiency gets better too.
• Clean up spills fast. This helps keep the ceramic surface or glass surface looking good.
• Think about getting a new hob. A newer one can give you plenty of safety features and better energy efficiency.

FAQs About Induction vs Gas Energy Cost