How much does it cost to run a microwave?

EIA data · June 2026

vs median appliance

1.8× less

median $35.65/yr

Rank

#54

of 88

Typical draw

1,200W

continuous

About $1.67 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.

Your state

Per day

5.5¢

Per month

$1.67

Per year

$20.08

9.1 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.

Power draw

watts

Typical 700–1,800 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.

Hours used per day

hours

A microwave sits mid-table at #54 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether kitchen or something else drives your bill.

Every figure here is priced per kilowatt-hour. What a kilowatt-hour actually is.

How many watts a microwave uses

Microwaves are advertised by cooking power, not power draw. A '1,000 W’ microwave typically pulls about 1,200–1,500 W from the wall. The range covers compact 700 W models to large 1,200 W-output units.

Low: 700 W
Typical: 1,200 W
High: 1,800 W

What it costs across the country

Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 1,200 W and the default usage above.

Annual cost to run a microwave by state
State	¢/kWh	Per year
Hawaii	52.72	$57.73
California	34.74	$38.04
Massachusetts	29.61	$32.42
New York	29.49	$32.29
Ohio	19.19	$21.01
Texas	15.94	$17.45
Florida	15.10	$16.53
Utah	13.37	$14.64
Nebraska	13.25	$14.51
Nevada	13.11	$14.36

Worth knowing

The number on the front of the box is cooking output, not electricity consumed. The draw from the outlet is roughly 1.2 to 1.5 times higher.
At power levels below 100%, a microwave does not reduce its draw; it pulses the magnetron on and off.
Because run times are measured in minutes, a microwave is one of the cheapest ways to heat food despite its high wattage.

Other appliances

Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.