Induction cooktops and ranges: what ENERGY STAR's list shows about speed, wiring and running costs

Induction cooktops heat the pan rather than the glass. ENERGY STAR, the federal efficiency program, explains that they use electromagnetic energy to heat ferromagnetic cookware directly, and says about 85% of the heating energy reaches what is in the pan, compared with about a third for gas. It also says boiling water on induction can take nearly half the time it takes on gas, radiant or coil burners. Since September 25, 2023, ENERGY STAR has certified electric cooktops and ranges, including induction models. Standalone ovens are not covered.

ENERGY STAR publishes every certified model with its test figures. We downloaded the list on October 29, 2026; the most recent certification on it is dated September 23, 2026. It shows 235 models for the US market, and the figures below come from that list.

What the certified list shows

The heat-up figure, which ENERGY STAR calls average cooking zone time, is the average time for all of a cooktop's zones to reach 90°C. On that measure the typical certified induction model is nearly twice as fast as the typical radiant one. Induction models on the list come from 21 brands, against 12 for radiant and 4 for coil.

Running costs are close

To be certified, a cooktop must use 195 kWh a year or less, based on the Department of Energy's test assumption of 418 cooking events a year averaging 31 minutes each, or about eight a week. Ranges also face a limit of 7 kWh a year on the oven's low-power mode, the energy it uses when not cooking.

Because every model sits under the same cap, the differences in running cost are small. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) puts the average residential electricity price at 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026, a preliminary figure, up from 17.57 cents a year earlier. At that price, 195 kWh costs $35.41 a year and the lowest-rated induction model on the list, at 175 kWh, $31.78, a gap of under $4. Where you live matters more: at Louisiana's 12.87 cents, 195 kWh costs $25.10 a year, and at Massachusetts' 30.48 cents, $59.44. So weigh speed, temperature control and safety features more heavily than the bill. To work out other appliances, see our guide to running costs.

Wiring and size

Almost every certified model, 233 of 235, is listed at 240 volts. The two exceptions are 120-volt radiant cooktops. The amperage makers list varies by model; for induction models the most common figure is 40 amps. If you are replacing a gas range, check with an electrician whether your kitchen has a 240-volt circuit and whether your panel can carry what the maker specifies.

ENERGY STAR says most cooking tops are 30 to 36 inches wide with four to six burners, and most range ovens hold 5 to 6 cubic feet. Some cooktops have bridge elements that join two zones for a griddle, or concentric zones for different pan sizes. Of the 116 certified induction models, 47 list smart capabilities, such as connecting to a phone app.

Cookware

Induction works only with pans a magnet sticks to. ENERGY STAR suggests the refrigerator-magnet test: if the magnet holds on the base, the pan will work. Many pans you already own may be compatible, such as cast iron, stainless steel and enameled cast iron, and many induction-compatible pans carry an induction logo on the box.

If you buy a freestanding range

A range can tip over, and CPSC warns against putting heavy items on an open oven door or using it as a step. CPSC counted 9 tip-over deaths involving a stove or oven from January 2013 to July 2023. It says voluntary safety standards require manufacturers to supply anti-tip brackets with new gas and electric ranges, and urges owners to install the bracket and check that the range is held securely in it. Of the 53 certified induction ranges, 35 are freestanding and 18 built-in or slide-in.

What the list does not tell you

The list gives no prices, and it says nothing about how well an oven bakes or how long a cooktop lasts. Rated energy use assumes the test's cooking pattern, so your own use will differ. Check the maker's warranty and specifications, and compare prices, before you buy.