Quick answer
Induction wins the physics: per ENERGY STAR, about 85% of its heating energy lands in the cookware versus about a third with gas, water boils in nearly half the time, and there's no indoor combustion — nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves is an EPA-documented indoor pollutant. Gas keeps two real advantages: it's already hooked up, and it works with every pan you own. The practical gatekeeper for induction is electrical — a dedicated 240V circuit, typically 40–50A, and the panel headroom to feed it.
- Verified efficiency gap: with induction, about 85% of heating energy is transferred to what's in the cookware, versus only about a third with gas — ENERGY STAR's published comparison.
- Speed follows: boiling water with induction can take nearly half the time compared to gas, radiant, or coil cooking, per the same guidance.
- Indoor air is the quiet argument — gas stoves burn fuel in your kitchen, and nitrogen dioxide from indoor combustion is an EPA-documented pollutant; induction has no flame and no combustion byproducts.
- The real project is electrical: a dedicated 240V circuit (typically 40–50A per manufacturer installation specs) plus confirmation your panel has the headroom.
- Cookware reality check: induction needs magnetic-base pans — if a magnet sticks to the bottom of what you own, you're already equipped.
At a glance
| Gas range | Induction range | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy into the pan | About a third — the rest heats the kitchen | About 85% — direct magnetic coupling |
| Speed | The baseline | Boils water in nearly half the time (ENERGY STAR) |
| Kitchen air | Indoor combustion — NO₂ is an EPA-documented indoor pollutant; ventilation matters | No flame, no combustion byproducts, cooler kitchen |
| Control | Visual flame, instant adjustment | Faster response than gas, with precise low-end hold |
| Hookup | Existing gas line + standard outlet | Dedicated 240V circuit, typically 40–50A |
| Cookware | Everything works | Magnetic-base pans (magnet test) — most modern cookware qualifies |
Efficiency and boil-time figures per ENERGY STAR's electric cooking products guidance; indoor NO₂ context per the EPA — both verified July 2026 and linked below.
What does each option cost installed in the Seattle area?
The appliance itself is a retail decision that varies too widely by model to publish honestly — the part of this project we can price is the electrical work that makes induction possible, and it's usually the deciding line item.
| Option | Typical installed range | What that covers |
|---|---|---|
| Induction range (appliance) | Retail — varies by model | Entry induction ranges now overlap mid-tier gas pricing; the spread is features, not physics. Buy the appliance anywhere — wire it correctly. |
| Dedicated 240V range circuit | Quoted per run | Panel-to-kitchen distance, finished walls, and breaker space drive it — quoted flat after a look, permitted and inspected like all circuit work. |
| Panel/service work if capacity is short | $8,000–$16,000 | The 100A→200A service upgrade, on our published range — only when the load calculation says the panel genuinely can't carry the new circuit. |
What changes the price
- Panel headroom: an NEC 220 load calculation — not a guess — decides whether the circuit fits your existing panel; our load calculator walks the math.
- Distance and access: a kitchen above the panel wires cheaply; a kitchen across a finished house costs more.
- What leaves: capping the gas range connection is simple; decommissioning gas entirely (with the meter's fixed monthly charge) is a bigger, sometimes worthwhile conversation.
- Rebate note: no program in lib-verified 2026 Washington rebates pays for the range itself — but income-eligible WA HEAR projects can fund wiring (up to $2,500) and panel work (up to $4,000) when tied to qualifying electrification installs.
- Ventilation either way: a real range hood benefits both fuels — it's non-negotiable over gas.
Ranges are representative Seattle / Puget Sound installed prices, not a quote — your home's specifics set the real number. Eco gives you an upfront price before any work begins.
How do they work differently?
How gas cooks
Combustion under the pan: the flame heats the pot, the air around the pot, the grates, and the kitchen — which is why only about a third of the energy ends up in the food, per ENERGY STAR's comparison. The byproducts of burning fuel indoors, including nitrogen dioxide, go wherever your ventilation sends them — the EPA documents NO₂ as an indoor air pollutant, which is why the range hood matters as much as the range.
How induction cooks
A coil under the glass generates a magnetic field that couples directly with the pan's base — the pan itself becomes the burner. That's why about 85% of the energy lands in the cookware, why water boils in nearly half the time, and why the glass around the pan stays comparatively cool. No flame, no combustion, no byproducts — just a pan that needs a magnetic base and a circuit that needs 240 volts.
Pros and cons, honestly
Gas range
Pros
- Already hooked up — zero project cost to keep cooking
- Works with every pan you own, including round-bottom woks
- Visual flame feedback cooks love
- Keeps working through a power outage (with a match)
Cons
- Only about a third of the energy reaches the pan
- Combustion byproducts, including NO₂, released indoors
- Heats the kitchen all summer
- Keeps the home tied to the gas meter if you're otherwise electrifying
Induction range
Pros
- About 85% energy transfer — the efficiency leader in the kitchen
- Boils water in nearly half the time; precise, fast control
- No indoor combustion, cooler kitchen, easy-wipe glass surface
- Completes the all-electric home alongside the heat pump and HPWH
Cons
- Needs a dedicated 240V (typically 40–50A) circuit — the real project cost
- Magnetic-base cookware only (though the magnet test usually passes)
- Glass surface asks for flat-bottom pans and some care
- Out with the power, out with the cooktop — no match trick
Which one should you choose?
Keep the gas range when
It's healthy, the budget has bigger priorities, and your ventilation is real — a ducted range hood you actually run. A working gas range isn't an emergency; it's a sequencing decision. If you're electrifying the house methodically, the range is usually the LAST gas appliance to swap (heat pump and water heater carry far more energy), which also means the kitchen circuit can ride along on a later electrical visit at marginal cost.
Switch to induction when
You're renovating the kitchen, replacing a dying range, or closing in on all-electric — that's when the 240V circuit is cheapest to sequence. It's also the health-forward pick for households with kids, asthma, or a hood that never gets switched on: no indoor combustion is the simplest ventilation strategy there is. Run the magnet over your cookware, have us confirm panel headroom with a load calculation, and the rest is a normal appliance delivery.
Also consider: the whole-kitchen sequencing
The range is one node in the electrification map. If your panel needs work anyway for a heat pump or EV charger, adding the range circuit in the same visit costs far less than a standalone trip — and income-eligible WA HEAR wiring and panel allowances attach to those qualifying projects. Our gas vs electric appliances comparison covers the whole appliance ladder, and the load calculator tells you what your panel can actually host.
The verdict, by situation
Induction range
The physics winner
About 85% of the energy in the pan, boil times cut nearly in half, zero indoor combustion. If the 240V circuit is affordable at your address, this is the modern kitchen.
Gas range
The incumbent with real duties
Free to keep, works with everything, cooks through outages — but only defensible long-term with honest ventilation, and it holds the gas meter hostage.
Sequence it smartly
The electrician's advice
Pull the range circuit whenever the panel is already open for a heat pump or EV project — the marginal cost is small and the kitchen becomes a delivery date, not a project.
Which Washington homes this fits
Kitchen remodel in progress, Seattle
The cheapest 240V circuit you'll ever buy is the one pulled while the walls are open. Wire for induction now even if the appliance comes later.
All-electric conversion household, Everett
Heat pump, HPWH, then the range — swapping the last gas appliance lets the meter (and its fixed monthly charge) go entirely.
Asthma or young-kids household with a rarely-used hood
No indoor combustion is the ventilation plan that can't be forgotten. Induction plus the existing hood beats gas plus good intentions.
1960s home on 100A service, Burien
Run the load calculation first — if the panel is genuinely full, the range joins the list of reasons the $8,000–$16,000 service upgrade finally pencils.
Ready to compare for your home?
Get honest numbers for both options side by side — an upfront range, the considerations, and the rebates you qualify for, before any work begins.
Continue exploring
- BookWiring & rewiring
- BookElectrical panel upgrades
- BookWhole-home electrification
- CompareGas vs Electric Appliances: An Honest Appliance-by-Appliance Guide
- CompareWhole-Home Electrification vs Natural Gas: The Strategic Decision
- Compare200-Amp vs 100-Amp Service: How Much Panel Does Your Home Actually Need?
- GuideElectrical load calculator (NEC 220)
- GuideWashington rebates & incentives
- GuideHome energy savings planner
- CompareAll home energy & electrification comparisons
Common questions
Is induction really faster than gas?
For the workhorse tasks, yes — ENERGY STAR's comparison finds boiling water with induction can take nearly half the time of gas, radiant, or coil cooking, because roughly 85% of the energy couples directly into the pan instead of washing around it. Serious cooks also find the low-end control (holding a bare simmer, melting chocolate) better than flame, which surprises people who came for the speed.
What electrical work does an induction range need?
A dedicated 240V circuit — typically 40–50 amps per manufacturer installation requirements — from your panel to the range location, permitted and inspected like any circuit work. If you're replacing an electric range you likely have the circuit already; coming from gas usually means a new run. Whether your panel has the headroom is an NEC 220 load-calculation question, and our online calculator gives you a preview before anyone quotes.
Do gas stoves actually affect indoor air quality?
Burning fuel indoors produces combustion byproducts, and the EPA documents nitrogen dioxide — produced by gas stoves among other indoor combustion sources — as an indoor air pollutant. That's a reason to use a real, ducted range hood every time you cook with gas, not necessarily a reason to panic. Induction sidesteps the question entirely: no flame, no combustion, nothing to vent but cooking steam.
Will my pots and pans work on induction?
Run a magnet across the bottom of each one — if it sticks, it works. Cast iron, carbon steel, and most modern stainless cookware pass; pure aluminum, copper, and glass don't (unless they carry a bonded magnetic base, which many do — look for the induction symbol). Most households find the honest answer is 'nearly everything already works, and the one pan that doesn't was due for replacement anyway.'
Are there rebates for switching to an induction range in 2026?
Not for the appliance itself in the programs we track and verify for Washington. Where incentive money genuinely connects is the electrical enabling work: on income-eligible WA HEAR projects tied to qualifying electrification installs, wiring upgrades can draw up to $2,500 and panel work up to $4,000. If a heat pump is in your plans, sequencing the kitchen circuit into that project is how the range benefits.
Last updated: 2026-07-17
Sources & references
Equipment ratings, program details, and industry figures on this page come from manufacturers and primary sources, linked below. Verify program status and requirements for your home where applicable.
Efficiency & performance
- With induction, about 85% of heating energy transfers to the cookware vs about a third with gas; boiling can take nearly half the time — ENERGY STAR — Electric Cooking Products
Indoor air & permits
- Nitrogen dioxide from indoor combustion sources, including gas stoves, is a documented indoor air pollutant — US EPA — Nitrogen Dioxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality
- New circuits in Washington are permitted, inspected electrical work — WA L&I — Electrical permits, fees & inspections