Cost to run

How much does a microwave cost to run?

Microwaves draw serious power but only for minutes at a time, so monthly cost stays low for most households. Input watts on the nameplate exceed the advertised cooking watts.

Reviewed 2026-07-15 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-04-ytd

Example costs using the Texas state-average rate

These are generated examples for a consistent location. Enter your own ZIP and usage below for a more relevant state-average estimate.

Scenario	Assumption	kWh/month	Monthly range	Most likely/year
Quick reheats	6 minutes of heating a day	4.20	$0.45–$1.00	$8.22
Regular cooking	15 minutes of heating a day	10.50	$1.12–$2.50	$20.54
Heavy household use	30 minutes a day across several meals	22.50	$2.40–$5.35	$44.02

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-04-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.

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Rated watts (from the appliance label)Duty cycle (0–1; share of time drawing full power)Days per month

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Cooking watts versus input watts

A microwave sold as 1,000 watts delivers that power to the food; the magnetron and electronics typically pull 1,300 to 1,500 watts from the outlet to do it. Use the electrical rating on the door-frame label for cost estimates, not the marketing number.

Short bursts keep totals small

High draw for a few minutes amounts to little energy: fifteen minutes at full power is well under half a kilowatt-hour. That is why reheating in a microwave usually undercuts firing up an oven for the same plate of food.

Standby and features not modeled

The clock and control board draw a watt or two continuously, which this per-use model omits. Inverter microwaves modulate power on lower settings, while conventional models cycle full power on and off, averaging out to similar totals for equal cook results.

Frequently asked questions

Is a microwave cheaper than the oven for reheating?

Almost always. It applies energy directly to the food for minutes instead of heating a large insulated cavity for half an hour or more.

Does 50% power halve the electricity used?

Roughly, over the same time: conventional models cycle the magnetron on and off, while inverter models genuinely reduce output. Cooking usually takes longer at lower power, offsetting some savings.

How much does the microwave clock cost per year?

Standby draw of one to three watts adds up to a small but nonzero annual amount; it is excluded from the per-use scenarios on this page.

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