How Much Electricity Does a Microwave Use?
How much electricity does a microwave use? Usually 750 to 1,100 watts. Enter your wattage and rate below for the exact cost.
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Microwave electricity cost calculator
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How the math works: 900 W × 0.25 hours ÷ 1,000 = 0.225 kWh. × $0.165 per kWh (the 2024 U.S. average) = $0.04 per 15-minute use.
A microwave typically draws 750 to 1,100 watts, and because most uses only last a few minutes, it's one of the cheapest ways to heat food in the kitchen.
What affects how much electricity a microwave uses
- Wattage rating: printed on the unit and varies by model. Larger, more powerful microwaves generally have higher ratings.
- Cook time: a microwave draws close to its full rated wattage the whole time it runs, with no low-power idle state like an oven's cycling element, so electricity used scales almost exactly with minutes of use.
How to reduce your microwave's electricity use
- Use it instead of the oven or stovetop for reheating and small portions, since it heats food directly rather than heating the surrounding air
- Cover food to retain moisture and heat more evenly, which can shorten cook time
- Cut food into smaller, more even pieces so it heats faster and more evenly
- Avoid running it longer than needed; check food partway through instead of setting a long default time
Typical wattage figure: 750-1,100 W. Source: DOE-developed appliance energy table, reproduced by Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech), publication BSE-301. Varies with the wattage rating printed on the unit itself. We review this figure periodically and update it if the source changes; last checked September 2026. Cedrick Reese built this microwave cost calculator and rechecks the wattage figure against the source above.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a microwave use?
A microwave typically draws 750 to 1,100 watts, according to a DOE-developed appliance energy table reproduced by Virginia Cooperative Extension, varying with the wattage rating printed on the unit itself.
How much does it cost to run a microwave?
A 900-watt microwave run for 15 minutes at the U.S. average rate of about 16.5 cents/kWh costs roughly $0.04 per use. Use the calculator above with your own microwave's wattage and typical cook time for an exact figure.
Is a microwave cheaper to run than an oven?
Yes, generally by a wide margin for reheating or cooking small portions. A microwave heats food directly rather than heating an entire oven cavity first, and cook times are usually measured in minutes rather than the tens of minutes an oven needs, so total electricity used per meal is typically much lower.
How can I reduce how much electricity my microwave uses?
Use it instead of the oven for small portions and reheating, cover food to help it heat more evenly and possibly shorten cook time, and avoid running it longer than actually needed by checking food partway through instead of defaulting to a long preset time.
This page provides estimates based on typical wattage figures and the numbers you enter. Actual electricity cost depends on your specific microwave's wattage rating and cook time.