Side-by-side running cost
Electric Kettle vs Microwave: Which Costs Less to Run?
The short answer
Per hour of use, an electric kettle ($0.27/hr) costs about 45% less to run than a microwave ($0.20/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (6 minutes a day vs 15 minutes a day), that’s $0.84 vs $1.53 a month.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Kettle
- Typical power
- 1,500W
- Per hour
- $0.27
- Per month
- $0.84
- Per year
- $10.02
- Typical use
- 6 minutes a day
Microwave
- Typical power
- 1,100W
- Per hour
- $0.20
- Per month
- $1.53
- Per year
- $18.38
- Typical use
- 15 minutes a day
Electric Kettle vs Microwave in the 10 largest states
Monthly cost at typical use and each state’s average residential rate.
| State | Electric Kettle | Microwave | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $1.53 | $2.81 | $1.28 |
| Texas | $0.72 | $1.33 | $0.60 |
| Florida | $0.69 | $1.26 | $0.57 |
| New York | $1.36 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.99 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| Illinois | $0.88 | $1.61 | $0.73 |
| Ohio | $0.89 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| Georgia | $0.74 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
| North Carolina | $0.69 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
| Michigan | $1.05 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric kettle cheaper to run than a microwave?
Per hour of use, an electric kettle ($0.27/hr) costs about 45% less to run than a microwave ($0.20/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (6 minutes a day vs 15 minutes a day), that’s $0.84 vs $1.53 a month.
How much power does an electric kettle use compared with a microwave?
An electric kettle typically draws 1,500W, while a microwave draws about 1,100W.
More comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).