Gas vs. Electric vs. Induction Stove
Compare the real cost of a gas, electric, or induction stove — purchase, installation (gas line vs 240V circuit), and years of energy. See which is cheapest for your kitchen, why the running-cost difference is small, and how the $840 induction rebate factors in.
Compare the full cost of a gas, electric, or induction stove — purchase, installation, and years of energy. The surprise for most people: the running-cost difference is small, so the real decider is usually your existing hookup and the appliance price.
What's at the stove spot now?
The single biggest cost driver. If the connection you need is already there, install is cheap; if not, running a new gas line or 240V circuit adds a lot. 'Both' means you have a gas line AND a 240V outlet at the stove location.
How much do you cook?
Light = a few meals a week, average = daily cooking, heavy = big/frequent cooking. Affects the (modest) annual energy cost.
Appliance prices
Gas range price
Purchase price of the gas range you'd buy. Typical $629–$1,599.
Electric (coil/radiant) range price
Purchase price of a standard smooth-top or coil electric range. Typical $628–$1,549.
Induction range price
Purchase price of an induction range. Typical $898–$4,149 — the priciest to buy, but the most efficient.
Years you'll keep it
How long before you expect to replace the stove. Ranges commonly last 12–15 years.
Using US-average gas ($1.60/therm) & electricity ($0.18/kWh) rates and no induction rebate. These only affect the operating cost — the small part — so adjust them only if you want a more exact figure.
Lowest Total Cost · 12 yr
Gas
$2,170–$2,370 all-in
The running cost barely moves the needle
Cooking uses little energy, so the per-year difference between gas, electric, and induction is modest — gas is usually the cheapest to run (cheap fuel), and induction beats old coil electric. What actually decides the cost is your hookup (running a new gas line or 240V circuit is the big expense) and the appliance price.
Induction rebate & the health angle
Induction is the most efficient and heats fastest, and it may qualify for up to $840 back through the federal HEAR program — but that's state-run and income-based, so enter only what you'll actually get. Worth knowing beyond cost: gas stoves emit combustion pollutants (NO₂) indoors, an air- quality concern induction avoids. Neither is captured in the dollar figures above.
Each total = appliance price + installation (based on your current hookup) + energy over 12 years. Operating cost uses pan efficiencies of ~40% (gas), ~72% (electric), ~87% (induction). Excludes a panel upgrade if your electrical service is maxed out (add $1,000–$3,400) and any permits. 2026 ranges — get local quotes for the electrical/gas work.
💡About this calculator▼
Choosing between a gas, electric, or induction stove during a kitchen remodel usually gets framed as an energy-cost question — but that's the part that matters least. Cooking uses relatively little energy, so the difference in what you'll pay to *run* a gas, electric, or induction range is modest, often just $10–$50 a year. What actually decides the cost is two things this calculator centers on: your existing hookup and the appliance price.
If the connection you need is already at the stove — a gas line for a gas range, or a 240V circuit for electric or induction — installation is cheap. If it's not, running a new gas line or adding a new 240V circuit (and occasionally an electrical panel upgrade) is where hundreds or thousands of dollars enter the picture. That single factor often decides which option is cheapest for *your* kitchen, regardless of the energy math.
This tool compares all three — gas, standard electric (coil/radiant), and induction — as a full total-cost picture: purchase + installation + energy over the years you'll own it. It also handles the things that tip the decision: induction is the most efficient and may qualify for up to $840 back through a federal rebate (state-run and income-based, so we let you enter what you'll actually receive), while gas is usually the cheapest to run but carries an indoor-air-quality trade-off. The dollars are only part of the story — but they're the part we can pin down.
Each option's total is purchase + installation + energy over your ownership period.
Installation depends on your current hookup — the biggest swing. For each type, if the needed connection is already there, install is minor; if not, it's a real cost:
• Gas range needs a gas line: a swap with the line already there is about $150–$300, but running a new gas line to the kitchen is $400–$2,000.
• Electric or induction needs a 240V circuit: if there's already a 240V outlet, it's near-zero; if not, a new 50-amp circuit runs $300–$800 (and a full panel upgrade, if your service is maxed out, adds $1,000–$3,400).
Operating cost is derived from efficiency. The same meals need the same "useful" cooking energy, but each stove wastes a different share getting it into the pan: gas transfers only about 40% (a lot of heat goes into the room), electric coil/radiant about 72%, and induction about 87%. The calculator divides your cooking energy by that efficiency and multiplies by your gas or electricity rate. Because natural gas is cheap per unit, gas is usually the cheapest to run even though it's the least efficient; among electrics, induction beats coil because it wastes less.
Purchase price is what you enter for each — gas and electric ranges are similar (roughly $600–$1,600), while induction costs more up front ($900–$4,000+). An induction rebate you enter is subtracted from the induction option.
The result ranks all three by total cost and shows each one's annual energy cost, so you can see how small the operating gap really is next to the install and purchase differences.
📐How it's calculated▼
Each stove's total = purchase + installation + (annual energy × years).
Annual energy cost: • Gas: (useful kWh ÷ 40% ÷ 29.3 kWh/therm) × $/therm • Electric coil: (useful kWh ÷ 72%) × $/kWh • Induction: (useful kWh ÷ 87%) × $/kWh (useful cooking energy ≈ 450 / 650 / 900 kWh/yr for light / average / heavy)
Installation (by current hookup): • Gas: line present $150–$300 · new line $400–$2,000 • Electric/induction: 240V present $0–$150 · new 50A circuit $300–$800
Total (each) = appliance price (− rebate for induction) + installation + annual energy × years
Example: A gas kitchen (gas line present), average cooking, 12 years, at $1.60/therm and $0.18/kWh, with typical appliance prices →
→ Gas ≈ $2,170–$2,370 (cheap fuel + no new circuit)
→ Electric ≈ $3,160–$3,660 · Induction ≈ $3,510–$4,010 (both need a new 240V circuit here)
Switch the hookup to "240V only" and add the $840 induction rebate, and induction becomes the cheapest — because now it's gas that needs an expensive new line.
📎Sources:ENERGY STAR — Residential Induction Cooking Tops (efficiency: induction ~85%, gas ~32%, electric ~75–80%),Rewiring America — Home Electrification & Appliance Rebates (HEAR: up to $840 for an induction/electric stove)
🔍Finding your inputs▼
What's at the stove spot now? The most important input. Look at your current stove location: is there a gas line, a 240V outlet (a large three- or four-prong receptacle), both, or neither? Gas ranges need the gas line; electric and induction need the 240V circuit. Whichever you don't already have becomes a real installation cost, which is often what decides the cheapest option.
How much do you cook? Light (a few meals a week), average (daily), or heavy (big or frequent cooking). This scales the annual energy cost, though the differences between fuel types stay modest at any usage level.
Appliance prices: Enter what you'd actually pay for each type. Gas and standard electric ranges are similar (roughly $600–$1,600); induction runs higher ($900–$4,000+) but is the most efficient and fastest to heat. Use real prices for the models you're considering — this is one of the two biggest cost factors.
Induction rebate you qualify for: The federal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program offers up to $840 toward an electric or induction stove — but it's administered by each state and income-qualified (households under 80% of area median income can get 100% of project cost covered up to program limits; 80–150% get 50%), and it isn't live everywhere yet. Enter only the amount you'll genuinely receive; leave it at 0 if you don't qualify or your state hasn't launched the program. It applies to the induction option only.
Natural gas rate / Electricity rate: From your utility bills — gas per therm (US average about $1.50–$1.70) and electricity per kWh (about $0.16–$0.18). These set the operating costs; a high electric rate or cheap gas widens gas's running-cost edge.
Years you'll keep it: How long until you'd replace the stove — ranges typically last 12–15 years. A longer horizon gives more weight to the (small) operating differences; a shorter one makes purchase and installation dominate even more.
⚠️Special situations▼
Which stove is actually cheapest to run?
In most of the U.S., gas is the cheapest to operate, then induction, then coil electric — but the differences are small, usually $10–$50 a year. It's counterintuitive because gas is the least efficient (only about 40% of the heat reaches the pan versus roughly 72% for coil electric and 87% for induction), but natural gas is so cheap per unit of energy that it still comes out ahead on running cost where gas is inexpensive and electricity is pricey. Among electric options, induction beats coil because it wastes less energy. The ranking can flip with your local rates: in areas with cheap electricity and expensive gas, induction or electric can match or beat gas. Since the gap is small either way, running cost rarely should be the deciding factor — installation and purchase price matter far more.
Is it expensive to switch from gas to electric (or electric to gas)?
It can be, and it's usually the biggest cost in the whole decision. Switching fuel types means adding the connection you don't have. Going from gas to electric/induction requires a 240V circuit — about $300–$800 for an electrician to run a new 50-amp line if there's capacity, but $1,000–$3,400 if your electrical panel is full and needs upgrading. Going from electric to gas requires running a gas line to the kitchen, commonly $400–$2,000 depending on distance and access, plus capping the old and adding a shutoff. That's why this calculator asks what's at your stove spot now: if you're switching fuels, budget for that hookup, because it often outweighs any difference in appliance price or lifetime energy. If you're staying with the same fuel type you already have, installation is minor and the decision comes down to the appliance.
Is the $840 induction rebate something I can count on?
Only if you qualify and your state's program is running — so don't assume it. The rebate comes from the federal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program, which offers up to $840 for an electric or induction stove, cooktop, range, or oven. But it's administered state by state, and it's income-qualified: households below 80% of area median income can have up to 100% of the project cost covered (within program limits), those between 80% and 150% of AMI up to 50%, and higher earners generally don't qualify for this particular rebate. As of late 2025 the programs were live in only some states, with a few already fully subscribed. Check your state energy office for current availability and your eligibility, and enter into the calculator only the amount you're confident you'll receive. That's why the tool leaves it at 0 by default rather than baking it in.
Are gas stoves bad for indoor air quality?
Gas stoves do emit combustion pollutants indoors, and it's a legitimate consideration the cost figures don't capture. Burning natural gas releases nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and fine particulate matter into the kitchen, and studies have linked gas-stove use to higher indoor NO₂ levels and to respiratory effects, particularly aggravating asthma in children. It's why some jurisdictions have moved to limit gas hookups in new construction and why induction is favored in electrification efforts. This doesn't mean a gas stove is unusable — the biggest mitigations are always venting to the outside with a range hood when you cook, and ensuring good general ventilation — but a recirculating hood that doesn't vent outdoors does little for these gases. Electric and induction avoid combustion emissions entirely. If anyone in the home has asthma or respiratory sensitivity, weigh this alongside the cost comparison.
Is induction worth the higher price?
For many people yes, but it depends on your priorities and hookup. Induction's advantages: it's the most energy-efficient, heats water and pans dramatically faster than gas or coil, offers precise instant control, keeps the kitchen cooler, is the easiest to clean (a flat glass surface), and has no combustion emissions. The downsides: the highest purchase price, it requires induction-compatible (magnetic) cookware — a magnet should stick to the pan bottom — so you may need new pots and pans, and it needs a solid 240V circuit. The math improves a lot if you already have 240V at the stove and if you qualify for the $840 rebate. If you're remodeling anyway, running the electrical is a smaller marginal cost, and the cooking experience plus health and efficiency benefits win a lot of people over. If budget is tight, you already have gas, and you don't qualify for the rebate, a gas or coil range may make more financial sense — this calculator lets you see the gap in dollars for your situation.
❓Common questions▼
Is gas or electric cheaper to run for a stove?
Gas is usually cheaper to run, but only by a little — typically $10–$50 a year versus electric. Even though a gas stove is far less efficient (about 40% of its heat reaches the pan versus roughly 72% for coil electric and 87% for induction), natural gas costs so much less per unit of energy that it comes out ahead on operating cost in most of the country. Among electric options, induction is cheaper to run than old coil elements because it wastes less energy. But the running-cost difference is small enough that it rarely should decide the choice — the installation (do you have the right hookup?) and the appliance price matter much more. Enter your rates above to see the operating cost for each in your area.
How much does it cost to convert from a gas to an electric or induction stove?
Beyond the appliance, the main cost is adding a 240V circuit, since gas kitchens rarely have one at the stove. A new 50-amp circuit runs about $300–$800 if your electrical panel has spare capacity, but $1,000–$3,400 if the panel is full and needs upgrading for the added load. You'll also want the old gas line safely capped, usually $50–$150. Induction ranges cost more to buy than gas ($900–$4,000+ vs $600–$1,600), though the federal HEAR rebate can offset up to $840 if you qualify and your state's program is active. So a gas-to-induction switch is often several hundred to a few thousand dollars once you include the electrical work — which is exactly why it's worth running the numbers for your specific kitchen.
How much does it cost to add a gas line for a gas stove?
Running a new gas line to a kitchen typically costs about $400–$2,000, depending on how far the line has to run from the existing gas supply, how accessible the path is, and local labor and permit costs — a short, easy run is at the low end, while a long run through finished walls or across the house is at the high end. If a gas line is already at the stove location, you're only paying to swap the appliance, usually $150–$300 for a plumber or gas fitter to connect it. Because a new gas line is a significant one-time expense, it often makes an electric or induction stove the cheaper overall choice for a home without existing gas — which is what this calculator is designed to show.
Do induction stoves use less electricity than regular electric stoves?
Yes. Induction transfers about 85–90% of its energy to the pan versus roughly 70–75% for a standard electric coil or radiant element, so induction uses meaningfully less electricity to cook the same meal — on the order of 10–20% less. It also heats faster and puts less waste heat into your kitchen. In dollar terms the savings are modest because cooking uses relatively little energy overall (often $30–$60 a year difference), but induction is the more efficient electric option and, combined with faster cooking and easier cleaning, is why it's the preferred choice in most new kitchens where the budget and 240V wiring allow. Induction does require magnetic (induction-compatible) cookware.
Does a gas stove need to be vented?
It should be. Gas stoves produce combustion byproducts — nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particles — that you don't want building up indoors, so venting to the outside with a range hood while you cook is strongly recommended (and required by code in many new installations). The key detail is that the hood must vent outdoors: a recirculating hood that just filters and returns the air does little for these gases. Good general ventilation helps too. Electric and induction stoves don't have combustion emissions, so venting is less of a health issue for them (though a hood still helps with smoke, steam, and odors). If you're keeping or choosing gas, budget for proper outdoor-venting ventilation as part of the project — it's the main way to manage the indoor-air-quality trade-off.
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