United States Kitchen
How much does it cost to run a microwave?
A microwave draws 900 to 1,500 watts from the wall to deliver 600 to 1,000 watts of cooking power. It is cheap to run because it heats only the food and runs for minutes, not hours.
A 1.2 kW microwave costs about 22 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 15 minutes a day comes to about 5.4 cents a day, $1.66 a month and $19.90 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.30 kWh a day, 9.1 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 1.2 kW microwave costs about 22 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 15 minutes a day comes to about 5.4 cents a day, $1.66 a month and $19.90 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 1.2 kW microwave running 15 minutes a day. Published typical ratings run from 900 to 1,500 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run a microwave in every state
Same 1.2 kW microwave, 15 minutes a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 15 cents | 3.8 cents | $1.16 | $13.94 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 15 cents | 3.9 cents | $1.18 | $14.10 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 16 cents | 4 cents | $1.22 | $14.58 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 16 cents | 4 cents | $1.22 | $14.58 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 16 cents | 4 cents | $1.22 | $14.65 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 16 cents | 4 cents | $1.23 | $14.70 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 16 cents | 4.1 cents | $1.24 | $14.84 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 17 cents | 4.1 cents | $1.26 | $15.12 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 17 cents | 4.3 cents | $1.31 | $15.75 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 17 cents | 4.3 cents | $1.32 | $15.81 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 17 cents | 4.3 cents | $1.32 | $15.81 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 18 cents | 4.4 cents | $1.34 | $16.03 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 18 cents | 4.4 cents | $1.35 | $16.24 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 18 cents | 4.5 cents | $1.37 | $16.38 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 18 cents | 4.5 cents | $1.37 | $16.43 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 18 cents | 4.5 cents | $1.37 | $16.49 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 18 cents | 4.5 cents | $1.38 | $16.60 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 19 cents | 4.6 cents | $1.41 | $16.95 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 19 cents | 4.7 cents | $1.42 | $17.06 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 19 cents | 4.7 cents | $1.44 | $17.27 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 19 cents | 4.8 cents | $1.45 | $17.42 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 19 cents | 4.8 cents | $1.45 | $17.43 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 19 cents | 4.8 cents | $1.45 | $17.44 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 19 cents | 4.8 cents | $1.46 | $17.55 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 20 cents | 4.9 cents | $1.49 | $17.87 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 20 cents | 4.9 cents | $1.49 | $17.89 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 20 cents | 5 cents | $1.51 | $18.09 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 20 cents | 5.1 cents | $1.55 | $18.65 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 20 cents | 5.1 cents | $1.56 | $18.69 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 21 cents | 5.2 cents | $1.57 | $18.81 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 21 cents | 5.2 cents | $1.57 | $18.85 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 21 cents | 5.3 cents | $1.61 | $19.33 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 22 cents | 5.6 cents | $1.71 | $20.49 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 23 cents | 5.8 cents | $1.76 | $21.17 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 23 cents | 5.8 cents | $1.77 | $21.24 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 23 cents | 5.8 cents | $1.77 | $21.27 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 26 cents | 6.4 cents | $1.95 | $23.45 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 26 cents | 6.5 cents | $1.99 | $23.85 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 28 cents | 6.9 cents | $2.10 | $25.19 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 29 cents | 7.2 cents | $2.18 | $26.12 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 29 cents | 7.4 cents | $2.24 | $26.86 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 30 cents | 7.4 cents | $2.25 | $26.97 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 31 cents | 7.8 cents | $2.37 | $28.47 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 33 cents | 8.3 cents | $2.52 | $30.29 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 34 cents | 8.5 cents | $2.57 | $30.88 |
| New York | 28.65c | 34 cents | 8.6 cents | $2.62 | $31.39 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 35 cents | 8.8 cents | $2.69 | $32.23 |
| California | 29.75c | 36 cents | 8.9 cents | $2.72 | $32.60 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 37 cents | 9.1 cents | $2.78 | $33.40 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 39 cents | 9.6 cents | $2.93 | $35.18 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 57 cents | 14 cents | $4.31 | $51.70 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a microwave uses electricity
The number on the front is the cooking power. The input power, on the label at the back, is about 40% higher.
Fifteen minutes a day at 1,200 watts is 0.3 kWh, about the same as a full size oven for 15 minutes but with no pre-heat.
Standby draw for the clock and display is 1 to 3 watts, up to about 25 kWh a year.
Ways to cut the cost
- Use it to reheat and to cook vegetables. It beats the hob and the oven for both.
- Cover food to trap steam and cut cooking time.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a microwave?
About 0.3 kWh for 15 minutes at 1,200 watts. At 18 cents that is about 5 cents, at 26p about 8p.
Does a microwave use electricity when off?
A little, 1 to 3 watts for the clock. Over a year that is 10 to 25 kWh.
Other kitchen costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.