Side-by-side running cost
Electric Oven vs Microwave: Which Costs Less to Run?
The short answer
Per hour of use, a microwave ($0.20/hr) costs about 85% less to run than an electric oven ($0.33/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (1 hour a day vs 15 minutes a day), that’s $10.03 vs $1.53 a month.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Electric Oven
- Typical power
- 3,000W
- Per hour
- $0.33
- Per month
- $10.03
- Per year
- $120
- Typical use
- 1 hour 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 Oven vs Microwave in the 10 largest states
Monthly cost at typical use and each state’s average residential rate.
| State | Electric Oven | Microwave | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $18.40 | $2.81 | $15.59 |
| Texas | $8.70 | $1.33 | $7.37 |
| Florida | $8.23 | $1.26 | $6.97 |
| New York | $16.37 | $2.50 | $13.87 |
| Pennsylvania | $11.89 | $1.82 | $10.08 |
| Illinois | $10.52 | $1.61 | $8.92 |
| Ohio | $10.65 | $1.63 | $9.02 |
| Georgia | $8.91 | $1.36 | $7.55 |
| North Carolina | $8.30 | $1.27 | $7.03 |
| Michigan | $12.62 | $1.93 | $10.69 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric oven cheaper to run than a microwave?
Per hour of use, a microwave ($0.20/hr) costs about 85% less to run than an electric oven ($0.33/hr) at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. At typical use (1 hour a day vs 15 minutes a day), that’s $10.03 vs $1.53 a month.
How much power does an electric oven use compared with a microwave?
An electric oven typically draws 3,000W, 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).