Kiln Firing Cost Calculator
Every firing has a cost, and on an electric kiln that cost is almost all electricity. It's easy to guess wrong, because a kiln doesn't run at full power for the whole firing. The elements switch on and off to follow the schedule, so the meter turns slower than the kiln's rating suggests.
Use the calculator below to work out what a bisque or glaze firing costs on your kiln, and what that adds to each piece you fire. Put in the heating time only: a kiln cooling down on its own is switched off and uses no power. If your kiln's controller shows how many kWh the last firing used, switch to "I have a kWh reading" for an exact figure.
Where to find your kiln's power: it's on the plate on the side of the kiln or in the manual, in kW or watts (1,000 watts = 1 kW). A kiln that plugs into a normal 13 amp socket can't draw more than about 3 kW.
A note on accuracy: the estimate assumes a bisque firing uses about half of your kiln's full power and a stoneware glaze firing about two-thirds, which is typical for a well-loaded kiln (figures from Lakeside Pottery). Long holds, slow cooling, a thin-walled or older kiln and worn elements all push it up. The price starts at the UK price cap rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026, which is 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem). Your bill shows your own rate, and the daily standing charge isn't included. If you're on Economy 7, the "Night (E7)" rate shows the cheapest case, as if the whole firing fell in your cheap hours. Most firings run longer than the 7-hour window, so the real cost sits a little above it.
Once you know what a firing costs, our clay stamps, texture rollers and clay cutters are ready whenever you are.
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