Kitchen · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave?
The short answer
A typical 1,100W microwave costs about $0.20 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $1.53 a month at 15 minutes a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $1.06/month in Louisiana to $4.02/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Microwave running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes/day | 3.3 | $0.02 | $0.61 | $7.35 |
| 15 minutes/day | 8.4 | $0.05 | $1.53 | $18.38 |
| 30 minutes/day | 16.7 | $0.10 | $3.06 | $36.76 |
| 1 hour/day | 33.5 | $0.20 | $6.13 | $73.51 |
| 2 hours/day | 66.9 | $0.40 | $12.25 | $147 |
| 3 hours/day | 100.4 | $0.60 | $18.38 | $221 |
Cost to run a microwave in every state
At 15 minutes a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.18 | $1.37 | $16.46 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.32 | $2.41 | $28.94 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.17 | $1.29 | $15.44 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.16 | $1.20 | $14.38 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.37 | $2.81 | $33.74 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.19 | $1.42 | $17.06 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.27 | $2.02 | $24.25 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.20 | $1.55 | $18.55 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.28 | $2.11 | $25.30 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.17 | $1.26 | $15.09 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.18 | $1.36 | $16.33 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.53 | $4.02 | $48.18 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.15 | $1.15 | $13.78 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.21 | $1.61 | $19.29 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.18 | $1.40 | $16.79 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.18 | $1.34 | $16.05 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.17 | $1.28 | $15.33 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.15 | $1.16 | $13.86 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.14 | $1.06 | $12.77 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.36 | $2.71 | $32.53 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.24 | $1.79 | $21.49 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.34 | $2.55 | $30.60 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.25 | $1.93 | $23.14 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.19 | $1.46 | $17.52 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.16 | $1.22 | $14.59 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.18 | $1.35 | $16.15 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.16 | $1.25 | $15.05 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.15 | $1.15 | $13.83 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.14 | $1.07 | $12.82 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.29 | $2.23 | $26.70 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.28 | $2.11 | $25.28 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.18 | $1.35 | $16.15 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.33 | $2.50 | $30.01 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.17 | $1.27 | $15.22 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.15 | $1.12 | $13.46 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.21 | $1.63 | $19.52 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.16 | $1.20 | $14.40 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.18 | $1.34 | $16.03 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.24 | $1.82 | $21.80 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.31 | $2.37 | $28.40 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.17 | $1.29 | $15.53 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.17 | $1.29 | $15.43 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.15 | $1.15 | $13.76 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.17 | $1.33 | $15.94 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.14 | $1.10 | $13.17 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.26 | $1.99 | $23.84 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.19 | $1.47 | $17.62 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.16 | $1.23 | $14.77 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.17 | $1.32 | $15.84 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.21 | $1.59 | $19.13 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.16 | $1.20 | $14.41 |
How much electricity does a microwave use?
A typical microwave draws about 1,100W from the wall, but most are used only 10–20 minutes a day.
The power rating on the front of a microwave (e.g. 900W or 1,000W) is its cooking output; the draw from the wall is higher, usually 1,000–1,500W. Because it heats food directly and runs for minutes at a time, a microwave is one of the cheapest ways to cook or reheat. Our default assumes 15 minutes a day — adjust the hours to match how you cook.
Ways to cut the cost
- Reheat in the microwave instead of the oven — it can use up to 80% less energy for small portions.
- Unplug models with clocks you don't use to avoid a few watts of standby power.
- Cover food so it heats faster and more evenly.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a microwave per month?
At 15 minutes a day, a typical microwave costs about $1.53 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $1.06 and $4.02.
How many watts does a microwave use?
Microwaves typically draw 600W–1,500W, with 1,100W a common figure. A typical microwave draws about 1,100W from the wall, but most are used only 10–20 minutes a day.
Which state is cheapest to run a microwave in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $12.77 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $48.18 a year.
Does a microwave use a lot of electricity?
Its wattage is high, but it runs for so little time that a typical microwave adds only a dollar or two to a monthly bill.
Related appliances
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).