How many watts does an induction hob use?

By Tom Calder · Figures checked 4 November 2026 · Costs at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026)

In short

A single induction zone draws about 1.4kW to 2.2kW, or up to 3kW on boost; a whole 60cm hob such as Bosch’s PUE611BF1B is rated at 3.7kW. An hour on one zone at full power costs up to 37p to 79p at 26.32p per kWh, but real cooking uses much less.

A kettle coming to the boil beside a microwave and slow cooker in a warmly lit kitchen on a rainy evening

The numbers

Running watts: 1,400W to 3,700W; Bosch PUE611BF1B: zones 1.4kW to 2.2kW, up to 3kW with boost; connected load 3.7kW.
Amps at 230V (most): 16.1A
Energy an hour on one zone at full power: 1.4 to 3 kWh; An upper bound: a single zone’s rating for an hour. At lower settings power is cycled, and real cooking is usually shorter.
Cost an hour on one zone at full power: 37p to 79p
On a 1kWh power station: Too much for the units around 1kWh we list (1,500W to 2,000W output)
On a 2kWh power station: Too much for the units around 2kWh we list (2,200W to 3,000W output)

Costs use 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem price cap's average Direct Debit electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Your own rate is on your bill; on a fixed or time-of-use tariff it will differ.

How it’s used, and what that costs

Bosch’s PUE611BF1B has four zones from 1.4kW to 2.2kW, each boosting to 2.2kW or 3kW, and a 3.7kW connected load in total. Bosch fits it with a UK 3-pin plug and caps it at 3.7kW; its power-management setting can limit it further for a 16A, 13A or 10A supply. Bigger hobs, such as Bosch’s 7.4kW PVQ731F15E, have no plug and are wired in by a qualified electrician.

No maker publishes kWh per meal for a hob, because it depends entirely on what you cook. Boiling a pan on boost takes a few minutes, and simmering uses a fraction of a zone’s full power.

The honest bit

Even 3.7kW is beyond almost any portable power station; a single 1.4kW zone on its own is within a 1,500W unit’s output, but the hob as a whole is not.

In a power cut: how long a power station would run it

A 1kWh power station: too much for the units around 1kWh we list (1,500W to 2,000W output). A 2kWh power station: too much for the units around 2kWh we list (2,200W to 3,000W output). These use the same planning method as our power station pages: capacity × 90% usable depth × 85% inverter efficiency, divided by the load plus about 10W the unit uses itself (BLUETTI’s UK formula).

Output matters as much as capacity. The 7 units around 1kWh we list supply 1,500W to 2,000W continuously, and the 6 around 2kWh supply 2,200W to 3,000W, so check a unit’s rated output covers 3,700W before you rely on it.

To size one for everything you’d want to keep running, use the sizer on our power stations comparison.

Common questions

How many amps does an induction hob draw?

At the UK’s 230 volts, amps are watts divided by 230. At 1,400W to 3,700W, that is 6.1 to 16.1 amps while it runs at full power. Bosch says the plug limits the PUE611BF1B to 3.7kW, and its power-management setting can cap it lower for a 16A, 13A or 10A supply.

Cooking without power →Power stations compared, with a sizer →Home backup power sizer →Running a fridge-freezer on a power station →How to lower your electricity bill →Electric heater safety and running costs →Every appliance’s running cost →

Compare: Kettle · Electric oven · Air fryer

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