Waffle maker: how much electricity it uses, what it costs in Chilean pesos and which one to buy

A home waffle maker draws between 600 and 1,400 watts while its plates heat up, and in Chile it sells from CLP 9,990, according to prices listed on Solotodo on 9 November 2026. With electricity at CLP 255.27 per kilowatt-hour, the BT1 residential tariff of CGE for October 2026, a full waffle session with a 1,000 W machine adds at most CLP 89 to the power bill.

That is very little, but the figure depends on the wattage, how long the machine stays plugged in and whether you make one batch or ten. This guide works out how much electricity a waffle maker uses per hour, per session and per month, compares the prices of 18 models sold in Chile and explains which one to choose depending on the waffle you want: mini, American, Belgian or for a business.

A waffle maker is a resistive appliance: two metal plates with an electric heating element underneath that turns almost all the electricity into heat. The wattage printed on the box, for example 1,000 W, is what it draws while the element is on. One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts, so a 1,000 W waffle maker running for a full hour uses 1 kWh.

In practice it does not draw that power all the time. Almost every model has a thermostat that cuts the element when the plates reach cooking temperature and switches it back on when they cool down, for example when you open the lid or pour in cold batter. That is the light that turns on and off. During preheating, which usually takes 3 to 5 minutes, it does run at full power. That is why the figures in this article are a ceiling: real consumption is usually somewhat lower.

The models on sale in Chile range from 600 W, in the simplest waffle makers, to 1,400 W in those with thick or interchangeable plates. Commercial units for cafés and food trucks reach 2,400 W. The table shows what an hour of continuous use would cost at each power level.

Source: Energía Futura calculations with electricity at CLP 255.27 per kWh (CGE, BT1 tariff, October 2026). As of 9 November 2026, the November tariff sheet had not been published. Each distributor charges a different price: check yours in our guide to the price of a kWh by municipality and distributor.

Nobody uses a waffle maker for an hour straight, so it makes sense to calculate per session. A typical breakfast includes 5 minutes of preheating and about four 4-minute batches: 21 minutes in total with the appliance plugged in. With a machine that makes two waffles per batch, that is 8 waffles.

Source: Energía Futura calculations with electricity at CLP 255.27 per kWh, assuming the element runs for the full 21 minutes. Real cost is usually lower because of the thermostat cycling.

To put it in perspective: even if you make waffles every weekend, the waffle maker adds between CLP 215 and CLP 500 a month, less than a single waffle at a café. What makes a home waffle expensive is the flour, eggs, butter and toppings, not the electricity.

The math changes for a business. A 2,400 W commercial waffle maker such as the Bozzo I-WAF-001, switched on 4 hours a day, uses 9.6 kWh, about CLP 2,451 per day at the residential tariff. Over 26 working days that would be close to CLP 63,700 a month. Businesses usually have different commercial tariffs, so the exact amount depends on their contract with the distributor.

On Solotodo, which compares prices at the country's main retailers, there were at least 18 models classified as waffle makers on 9 November 2026. The cheapest cost CLP 9,990; the most expensive home models, CLP 32,990, and the commercial ones, between CLP 88,900 and CLP 106,990.

Source: Solotodo, lowest price listed among the stores it tracks, checked on 9 November 2026. Wattages as stated in each product sheet. Prices change daily and with promotions.

The scatter chart shows something useful when buying: wattage does not explain price. There are 1,200 W waffle makers at CLP 14,990 and 750 W ones at CLP 25,990. What makes a model more expensive is the type of plate (thicker and deeper in Belgian ones), a rotating mechanism, interchangeable plates or commercial use, not the watts.

The key question is which waffle you want to eat and for how many people. Each type of waffle maker has a typical wattage and a different price range.

• Mini waffle maker (600 to 750 W, from CLP 9,990): makes one or two small, thin waffles per batch. Fine for one or two people, takes little space and uses the least energy per session.
• American waffle maker (700 to 1,000 W, CLP 10,000 to 25,000): shallow plates with a fine grid. Makes thinner, crispier waffles in 3 or 4 minutes.
• Belgian waffle maker (1,000 W or more, CLP 25,000 to 33,000): deep plates for thick, fluffy waffles. Some rotate to spread the batter. They need more power and more minutes per batch.
• Multi-function with interchangeable plates (1,200 to 1,400 W): work as a sandwich press, grill and waffle maker. Worth it if you do not want three separate appliances.
• Commercial (1,400 to 2,400 W, from CLP 88,900): metal body, cast-iron plates and adjustable thermostat to produce for hours. Only makes sense for a business.

If you make waffles now and then, a 700 to 1,000 W machine covers almost everything and costs less than CLP 90 per session. Higher wattage does not save energy, but it does recover temperature faster between batches, which shows when you make many waffles in a row.

• Make the batter before plugging in: preheating is the moment of highest consumption. If the batter is not ready, the machine burns energy while waiting.
• Make all the batches in a row: switching off and preheating again doubles the start-up cost.
• Do not open the lid too early: each opening cools the plates and the thermostat switches the element back on.
• Unplug it when you finish: many have no switch and keep heating while plugged in.
• Look after the non-stick coating: plates in good shape clean with a cloth and need no extra cooking time.

The waffle maker is very similar to the sandwich press: both are heated plates with comparable wattages. Our guide to the sandwich press and what it costs in pesos shows that a toasted sandwich also costs just a few pesos. That is why models with interchangeable plates can be a good buy if you use both.

For a quick breakfast, the toaster uses less per serving because it runs for two or three minutes. The waffle maker makes more sense for a long weekend breakfast, when several batches are made in a row.

If you want waffles without a waffle maker, some recipes use the air fryer with silicone molds. As we explain in the guide to the air fryer and its consumption, those appliances draw around 1,500 W, so they do not save electricity compared with a waffle maker and the result is not the same.

How many watts does a waffle maker use?

Between 600 and 1,400 W for the home models sold in Chile; commercial ones reach 2,400 W.

How much does a waffle maker cost to run for an hour?

A 1,000 W model costs at most CLP 255 per hour with electricity at CLP 255.27 per kWh. A 750 W one, about CLP 191.

How much does it cost to make waffles?

A 21-minute session making 8 waffles costs at most CLP 89 with a 1,000 W machine, about CLP 11 per waffle.

How much is a waffle maker in Chile?

From CLP 9,990 for mini and basic models; Belgian and multi-function ones, between CLP 25,000 and 33,000, and commercial units from CLP 88,900, according to Solotodo on 9 November 2026.

Is a mini waffle maker worth it?

Yes, for one or two people: it costs from CLP 9,990, takes little space and uses less per session. For a family, a two-waffle model saves time.