Toaster: how much electricity it uses, cost in Chilean pesos and which to choose

A toaster draws a lot of power while running, between 700 and 1,600 W, but only for a very short time. Toasting a batch of bread for three minutes uses between 0.035 and 0.08 kWh, or between CLP 9 and 20, with power at CLP 255.27 per kWh (CGE's BT1 residential rate in Chile since October 2026). A home that toasts two batches a day spends less than CLP 1,000 a month. Chilean retailers sell toasters from CLP 9,990.

This guide gathers the power and price of models sold in Chile, calculates what each one costs in pesos and compares the toaster with other ways of toasting bread: the oven, the air fryer and the classic wire toaster on a gas hob.

A toaster is a box with wire heating elements (usually nichrome) that glow red and toast the bread by radiation. Power depends mainly on the number of slots: two-slice models range from 650 to 900 W and four-slice ones from 1,250 to 1,600 W. These are models listed on Paris.cl on 29 October 2026:

Power from the spec sheets and descriptions published in Paris.cl's search, checked on 29 October 2026. Prices change with promotions. On the Nex listing, the power field says 870 W and the description 700 W; we use the spec field.

More power does not mean a higher cost per slice. A 1,600 W toaster heats four slices at once; used for two, it wastes half the energy, although some models let you switch on just one pair of slots. What does change the cost is time: the darkest setting can stretch the cycle by one or two minutes.

The calculation is power times minutes of use times the price per kWh. A toasting cycle lasts between two and four minutes, depending on the bread and the setting. We take three minutes as the reference:

Energía Futura calculations with 30-day months and power at CLP 255.27 per kWh, rounded. A measurement published by EcoCostSavings recorded 0.05 kWh to toast two slices on the medium setting and 0.07 kWh on the highest, equivalent to CLP 13 and 18 in Chile, within the range of the table.

For perspective: even the 1,600 W model used twice a day adds up to about 4.8 kWh a month, less than 3% of the 180 kWh a month that Chile's National Energy Commission uses as a reference for a typical household. The toaster is one of the kitchen appliances that weighs least on the bill, far below the fridge, the electric oven or the kettle, which is used several times a day and whose cost we calculate in how much it costs to boil water with an electric kettle.

Does it use power when plugged in and off?

Mechanical toasters, with a lever and a dial, use nothing when off: the circuit opens completely when the bread pops up. Digital models, with a display or touch panel, may have a small standby draw of around 1 W or less. Unplugging it after breakfast eliminates that cost and the risk of it switching on by accident.

The toaster is the most efficient way to toast bread with electricity, because the elements sit a few millimetres from the slice and there is no large cavity to heat. Here is how it compares with the other options, for two slices:

Energía Futura estimates with typical power ratings. Electricity at CLP 255.27 per kWh. Bottled LPG at about CLP 127 per kWh (15 kg cylinder at CLP 24,000-26,000 with the subsidy coupon in force since 15 October 2026 and 13.1 kWh per kilo). The burner power is an assumption: it varies with the hob and the flame.

The oven is the worst option for a few slices: most of the energy goes into heating the cavity, as we detail in how much electricity an electric oven uses. The air fryer sits in the middle and makes sense if something else is heated too, such as a cheese sandwich. The wire toaster on a gas hob, so common in Chilean kitchens, costs about the same as an electric toaster, but toasts one side at a time and comes with the risk of an open flame.

With the air fryer, the advantage appears when it is used for several things at once. In our guide to how much an air fryer uses we compare its cost with the oven's for full dishes.

All toasters turn electricity into heat almost completely, so efficiency barely changes between a cheap one and an expensive one. What does change is convenience, evenness of toasting and durability. These are the criteria that matter most:

• Number of slots: for one or two people, a two-slice model (650 to 900 W) is enough. A four-slice one only makes sense for large families, because used half-full it costs twice as much per slice.
• Wide slots: they fit open marraqueta rolls, hallulla, homemade bread or thick sandwich bread. Many listings call them extra-wide or wide slot.
• Browning control: seven settings or more let you set the right time, which avoids burning the bread and wasting energy.
• Useful functions: defrost, reheat without further browning and cancel. A top rack for warming whole rolls or croissants is handy.
• Removable crumb tray: it makes cleaning easier and reduces the risk of crumbs burning.
• SEC Seal: like every electrical appliance, it must carry the safety certification and the SEC Seal with a QR code, required by Chile's Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels.

On price, the Chilean market has three tiers. Below CLP 15,000 are basic two-slice models, such as those from Sindelen and Nex. Between CLP 18,000 and 30,000 come models with wide slots, more settings and metal bodies, from brands such as Thomas, Mademsa, Moulinex or Philips. Above CLP 30,000 are four-slice and digital touch-screen models.

• Empty the crumb tray every week: built-up crumbs can burn and cause smoke or even fire.
• Never use a knife or fork to remove stuck bread while the toaster is plugged in: the elements are live. Unplug it first.
• Do not leave it running unattended, or under cabinets, curtains or shelves with paper.
• Toast several batches in a row: the second batch takes less time because the toaster is already hot.
• Choose the right setting: each extra minute on an 850 W toaster costs about CLP 4. It is not much, but burnt bread is pure waste.

In short, the toaster is cheap to buy and cheap to run. Its annual cost on the bill ranges from about CLP 6,000 to 15,000 depending on the model and use, less than the price of the toaster itself. So the choice should be made on size and convenience, not consumption.

How much electricity does a toaster use?

Two-slice models draw between 650 and 900 W and four-slice ones between 1,250 and 1,600 W. A three-minute cycle uses between 0.035 and 0.08 kWh.

How much does a toaster add to the electricity bill?

Between CLP 9 and 20 per three-minute cycle, with power at CLP 255.27 per kWh. Used twice a day, between CLP 540 and 1,230 a month.

Which uses less, a toaster or an oven?

The toaster. Two slices cost about CLP 11 in an 850 W toaster and around CLP 96 in an electric oven, including preheating.

How much does a toaster cost in Chile?

From CLP 9,990 for basic two-slice models to about CLP 65,000 for digital four-slice ones, according to prices listed on Paris.cl on 29 October 2026.

Does a toaster use power if left plugged in?

Mechanical ones do not. Digital ones may draw around 1 W on standby. Unplugging it is safer and avoids that cost.