How much does it cost to run a microwave?
Short answer: A microwave drawing 1,500 watts for 5 minutes costs about $0.02 per use at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 14 times a week, that is about $1.39 per month and $16.66 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $0.96 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $3.64.
Microwave cost calculator
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Minutes of cooking per use. The wattage is what the microwave draws from the wall, which is higher than the cooking power printed on the box.
Uses 7.6 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
A microwave's advertised wattage is its cooking power, not what it takes from the outlet. A 1,000-watt microwave typically draws around 1,500 watts while running, but only for a few minutes at a time.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week.
| Type | Power | Per use | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact, 700 W cooking power | 1,050 W | $0.02 | $0.97 |
| Mid-size, 1,000 W cooking power | 1,500 W | $0.02 | $1.39 |
| Large, 1,200 W cooking power | 1,800 W | $0.03 | $1.67 |
Why it is cheap to use
A microwave heats the food directly rather than the air or the dish around it, and it runs for minutes. Reheating a plate for three minutes uses well under a tenth of a kilowatt-hour. Doing the same in a full-size electric oven means heating the whole cavity for a quarter of an hour or more first.
The calculator's default of 1,500 watts for five minutes, twice a day, represents an average household: a mix of short reheats and the occasional longer cook.
Standby power
A microwave's clock and control panel draw power around the clock, typically 2 to 4 watts. Over a year that is 20 to 35 kWh. In a home where the microwave is rarely used, the standby energy can exceed the cooking energy. It is still only a few dollars a year.
How to lower the cost
- Cover food so it heats faster and more evenly.
- Use the microwave instead of the oven for reheating and small portions.
- Defrost in the refrigerator overnight rather than in the microwave.
- Stir or turn food halfway instead of adding extra minutes.
How a microwave compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microwave | 1,500 W | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | 7.6 kWh | $1.39 |
| Electric oven | 2,300 W | 60 minutes per use, 4 times a week | 39.9 kWh | $7.30 |
| Air fryer | 1,500 W | 20 minutes per use, 5 times a week | 10.8 kWh | $1.98 |
| Electric kettle | 1,500 W | 4 minutes per use, 21 times a week | 9.1 kWh | $1.67 |
| Refrigerator | 150 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 36.0 kWh | $6.59 |
The math behind the numbers
1,500 watts ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 kW. 1.5 kW × 5 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.125 kWh per use. 0.125 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.02 per use. At 14 uses a week, that is 7.6 kWh and $1.39 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a microwave in every state
Based on 1,500 watts for 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.02 | $1.24 | $14.92 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.04 | $2.19 | $26.24 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.02 | $1.17 | $14.00 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.02 | $1.09 | $13.04 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.04 | $2.55 | $30.59 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.02 | $1.29 | $15.47 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.03 | $1.83 | $21.99 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.02 | $1.40 | $16.82 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.03 | $1.91 | $22.94 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.02 | $1.14 | $13.68 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.02 | $1.23 | $14.81 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.06 | $3.64 | $43.68 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.02 | $1.04 | $12.49 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.02 | $1.46 | $17.49 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.02 | $1.27 | $15.22 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.02 | $1.21 | $14.55 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.02 | $1.16 | $13.90 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.02 | $1.05 | $12.57 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.02 | $0.96 | $11.58 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.04 | $2.46 | $29.49 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.03 | $1.62 | $19.48 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.04 | $2.31 | $27.75 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.03 | $1.75 | $20.98 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.02 | $1.32 | $15.88 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.02 | $1.10 | $13.23 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $1.22 | $14.64 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.02 | $1.14 | $13.64 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.02 | $1.04 | $12.54 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.02 | $0.97 | $11.62 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.03 | $2.02 | $24.21 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.03 | $1.91 | $22.92 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $1.22 | $14.64 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.04 | $2.27 | $27.21 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.02 | $1.15 | $13.80 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.02 | $1.02 | $12.20 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.02 | $1.47 | $17.70 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.02 | $1.09 | $13.06 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.02 | $1.21 | $14.53 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.03 | $1.65 | $19.77 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.04 | $2.15 | $25.74 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.02 | $1.17 | $14.08 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.02 | $1.17 | $13.99 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.02 | $1.04 | $12.48 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.02 | $1.20 | $14.45 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.02 | $0.99 | $11.94 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.03 | $1.80 | $21.61 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.02 | $1.33 | $15.97 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.02 | $1.12 | $13.39 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.02 | $1.20 | $14.36 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.02 | $1.45 | $17.34 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.02 | $1.09 | $13.07 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a microwave for 5 minutes?
About $0.02 at the U.S. average electricity price, for a mid-size microwave drawing 1,500 watts from the wall.
Does a microwave use less electricity than an oven?
Yes. It draws less power and runs for a small fraction of the time.
How much electricity does a microwave use on standby?
About 2 to 4 watts, or 20 to 35 kWh a year, to run the clock and controls.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Kitchen Appliances
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.