How much does it cost to run a microwave?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

Microwave costs about $1.52 a month ($18.26 a year) at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh, using 1,100 W for 0.25 hours a day.

Where the number comes from: DOE typical-wattage table: 750–1,100 W (label input watts can be higher). This is a typical figure — check your own label.
Per hour of use: 1.1 kWh, $0.20. Per day: $0.05.
That is 1% of the 878 kWh an average U.S. home used each month in 2025.
In North Dakota (12.46¢) it costs $1.04 a month; in Hawaii (46.41¢) $3.88.
Reheating in the microwave uses far less energy than heating the oven for a small portion.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you running?

Appliance

Typical — check your label. DOE typical-wattage table: 750–1,100 W (label input watts can be higher).

Rated by

Power

On the label or plate, often near the cord. 1 kW = 1,000 W.

How you use it

Hours a day

Days a month

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

Microwave costs

$1.52a month

8.4 kWh a month · $18.26 a year · $0.20 per hour of use

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per hour of use: $0.201.1 kWh
Per day: $0.050.28 kWh
Per year: $18.26100 kWh
Share of a typical U.S. home: 1%of 878 kWh a month (EIA 2025)

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour of use	1.1	$0.20
Per day	0.28	$0.05
Per month	8.4	$1.52
Per year	100	$18.26

Same use, other rates

Cost at other electricity prices
Where	¢/kWh	Month	Year
U.S.	18.19	$1.52	$18.26
North Dakota (cheapest)	12.46	$1.04	$12.51
Hawaii (most expensive)	46.41	$3.88	$46.59

Typical value, not your appliance

DOE typical-wattage table: 750–1,100 W (label input watts can be higher). Read the label (watts, or amps × volts) or measure it for a few days with a plug-in meter for a real figure.

How to cut it

Reheating in the microwave uses far less energy than heating the oven for a small portion.
Nameplate watts are a maximum. For anything with a thermostat or compressor, a plug-in meter (Kill A Watt type, up to 15 A) shows the real kWh over a few days.
Always-on loads run 8,760 hours a year: every 10 W of standby is about 88 kWh.

Energy budget

8.4 kWh Microwave — electricity per monthat 18.19¢/kWh$1.52

Estimated total$1.52

Did this answer your question?

Compare

Microwave: monthly and yearly cost in the cheapest and priciest states

State	¢/kWh	Per month	Per year
Hawaii	46.41	$3.88	$46.59
California	32.58	$2.73	$32.71
Maine	30.23	$2.53	$30.35
Massachusetts	30.19	$2.53	$30.31
U.S. average	18.19	$1.52	$18.26
Utah	13.19	$1.10	$13.24
Idaho	13.02	$1.09	$13.07
Nebraska	12.92	$1.08	$12.97
North Dakota	12.46	$1.04	$12.51

How this was worked out

1,100 W ÷ 1,000 = 1.1 kW. × 0.25 h = 0.275 kWh a day; × 30.42 days = 8.37 kWh a month; × 18.19¢ = $1.52.

Prices are EIA's average residential price for Jan–Aug 2026. Pick your state in the calculator for your local figure.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main electricity cost calculator page.

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Sources

Data behind this answer

EIA Electric Power Monthly, Tables 5.6.A & 5.6.B — residential price by state (August 2026) — latest month and Jan–Aug 2026 year-to-date average for every state; preliminary, refreshed monthly · checked October 2026
EIA Electric Power Monthly technical notes — average price = revenue ÷ sales, including fixed customer charges, fuel adjustments and surcharges · checked October 2026
EIA-861M sales and revenue by state — 2025 average household use and bill per state (U.S. 878 kWh, $151.88 a month) · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified TVs, displays, computers, ceiling fans, dishwashers, water heaters, EV chargers — on-mode watts by screen size, typical annual energy, idle watts (SoQL averages) · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators and freezers (datasets) — average kWh/yr by configuration; freezers from dataset 8t9c-g3tn · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners (dataset) — average CEER by size for window units; 750 hours/yr label basis · checked October 2026
ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryers (dataset) — vented electric 607 kWh/yr (CEF 3.94); ventless 378 kWh/yr; 283 cycles/yr DOE basis · checked October 2026
Lasko CC13700 ceramic console space heater — 1,500 W high / 900 W low, 7.5–12.5 A, $49.99 · checked October 2026
Sony Interactive Entertainment — PS5 ecodesign power data — 197–218 W during gameplay; PS5 Pro 215 W · checked October 2026
Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301 (DOE typical wattage table) — nameplate ranges for small appliances (legacy table; used only where no newer data exist) · checked October 2026
Federal Register 2022-22036 — EnergyGuide label cost figures — labels since Jan 10, 2023 assume 14¢/kWh · checked October 2026
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400 — plug-in meter up to 15 A / 1,875 VA for measuring real kWh · checked October 2026

Short answer

Microwave costs about $1.52 a month ($18.26 a year) at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh, using 1,100 W for 0.25 hours a day.

Where the number comes from: DOE typical-wattage table: 750–1,100 W (label input watts can be higher). This is a typical figure — check your own label.

Per hour of use: 1.1 kWh, $0.20. Per day: $0.05.

That is 1% of the 878 kWh an average U.S. home used each month in 2025.

In North Dakota (12.46¢) it costs $1.04 a month; in Hawaii (46.41¢) $3.88.

Reheating in the microwave uses far less energy than heating the oven for a small portion.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you running?

Appliance

Typical — check your label. DOE typical-wattage table: 750–1,100 W (label input watts can be higher).

Rated by

Power

On the label or plate, often near the cord. 1 kW = 1,000 W.

How you use it

Hours a day

Days a month

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

Microwave costs

$1.52a month

8.4 kWh a month · $18.26 a year · $0.20 per hour of use

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per hour of use: $0.201.1 kWh
Per day: $0.050.28 kWh
Per year: $18.26100 kWh
Share of a typical U.S. home: 1%of 878 kWh a month (EIA 2025)

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour of use	1.1	$0.20
Per day	0.28	$0.05
Per month	8.4	$1.52
Per year	100	$18.26

Same use, other rates

Cost at other electricity prices
Where	¢/kWh	Month	Year
U.S.	18.19	$1.52	$18.26
North Dakota (cheapest)	12.46	$1.04	$12.51
Hawaii (most expensive)	46.41	$3.88	$46.59

Typical value, not your appliance

DOE typical-wattage table: 750–1,100 W (label input watts can be higher). Read the label (watts, or amps × volts) or measure it for a few days with a plug-in meter for a real figure.

How to cut it

Reheating in the microwave uses far less energy than heating the oven for a small portion.
Nameplate watts are a maximum. For anything with a thermostat or compressor, a plug-in meter (Kill A Watt type, up to 15 A) shows the real kWh over a few days.
Always-on loads run 8,760 hours a year: every 10 W of standby is about 88 kWh.

Energy budget

8.4 kWh Microwave — electricity per monthat 18.19¢/kWh$1.52

Estimated total$1.52

State

¢/kWh

Per month

Per year

Hawaii

46.41

$3.88

$46.59

California

32.58

$2.73

$32.71

Maine

30.23

$2.53

$30.35

Massachusetts

30.19

$2.53

$30.31

U.S. average

18.19

$1.52

$18.26

Utah

13.19

$1.10

$13.24

Idaho

13.02

$1.09

$13.07

Nebraska

12.92

$1.08

$12.97

North Dakota

12.46

$1.04

$12.51

How this was worked out

1,100 W ÷ 1,000 = 1.1 kW. × 0.25 h = 0.275 kWh a day; × 30.42 days = 8.37 kWh a month; × 18.19¢ = $1.52.

Prices are EIA's average residential price for Jan–Aug 2026. Pick your state in the calculator for your local figure.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main electricity cost calculator page.