Does a Gas Oven Use Electricity?
If you're shopping for a new oven or dealing with a power outage, you might wonder: "Does a gas oven use electricity?" The short answer is yes—but the amount is surprisingly small.
Table of Contents
3 Reasons Why Gas Ovens Need Electricity
While gas ovens primarily use natural gas or propane for heat, they require electricity for several essential functions:
1. Electronic Ignition
Most modern gas ovens use electronic ignition systems instead of pilot lights. When you turn on your gas oven, electricity generates sparks that ignite the gas, making them safer and more efficient than older pilot light systems.
2. Safety Systems
The igniter and oven safety valve are electrically connected in a series. As the oven ignitor heats up its resistance goes down causing the current flow in the circuit to increase, ensuring gas only flows when safe ignition is possible.
3. Digital Controls
Modern gas ovens feature electronic control panels, LCD displays, temperature sensors, timers, and oven lights—all requiring minimal electricity to function.
How Much Electricity Does a Gas Oven Use?
Short answer: Not much.
Most gas ovens only use electricity to power the igniter and control panel. If you're cooking 3–4 times a week, you will see a minimal difference in your utility bill.
Gas vs. Electric Ovens
| Feature | Gas Oven | Electric Oven |
|---|---|---|
| Power during use | 400–550 watts | 2,000–5,000 watts |
| Energy/year (avg. use) | 50–70 kWh | 150–200+ kWh |
| Cooking efficiency (oven) | ~6% | ~12–14% |
| Efficiency (cooktop) | ~44% | ~72% (coil) / ~77% (induction) |
Cost Comparison: Gas vs Electric
Gas Oven
per month electricity usage
A typical electric oven will use about 30-50 kWh of electricity per month, while a gas oven will use 1-2 kWh per month.
Electric Oven
per month electricity usage
At current prices, a gas oven is about half as expensive to run as an electric oven due to gas costing around a third of the price of electricity per unit of energy.
Installation Requirements
Gas ovens need both:
1. Gas connection: Natural gas line or liquid propane supply
2. Electrical connection: Standard 110-120V outlet for ignition and controls
The Bottom Line
Yes, gas ovens do use electricity, but the amount is minimal—primarily for ignition, safety systems, and controls. Gas stoves require a gas line hook-up to operate. They also use a little electricity, primarily for igniters, oven lights, and digital displays.
The electricity usage is small compared to fully electric ovens, making gas ovens generally more economical to operate while providing the precision and control that serious cooks prefer. In most areas, cooking with a gas stove costs roughly 50% less than cooking with an electric stove.
