Kitchen · Hawaii
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in Hawaii?
The short answer
A typical 1,100W microwave costs about $0.53 per hour to run in Hawaii, or $4.02 a month at 15 minutes a day.
That’s based on Hawaii’s average residential rate of 48.0¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 162% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Microwave cost by daily use in Hawaii
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes/day | 3.3 | $0.05 | $1.61 | $19.27 |
| 15 minutes/day | 8.4 | $0.13 | $4.02 | $48.18 |
| 30 minutes/day | 16.7 | $0.26 | $8.03 | $96.36 |
| 1 hour/day | 33.5 | $0.53 | $16.06 | $193 |
| 2 hours/day | 66.9 | $1.06 | $32.12 | $385 |
| 3 hours/day | 100.4 | $1.58 | $48.19 | $578 |
Hawaii vs other states
Hawaii has the most expensive electricity in the country, so running a microwave here costs $35.41 more a year than in Louisiana at the same usage.
Hawaii has the most expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Hawaii · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Hawaii
48.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +22.0% from a year earlier.
How to lower the cost of running a microwave
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.
- 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 for 24 hours in Hawaii?
Running a 1,100W microwave for 24 hours uses about 26.4 kWh, which costs about $12.67 at Hawaii’s average rate of 48.0¢/kWh.
How many kWh does a microwave use per month?
At 15 minutes a day, a typical microwave uses about 8.37 kWh a month. In Hawaii that costs $4.02.
Is it expensive to run a microwave in Hawaii?
Hawaii has the most expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 48.0¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a microwave here costs about $48.18 a year at typical use, compared with $18.38 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Hawaii right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Hawaii was 48.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 22.0% from a year earlier.
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.
Microwave costs in nearby states
Other appliances in Hawaii
Cheapest and priciest states
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.
- Default usage for microwave: 15 minutes a day. Typical power 1,100W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).