Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a microwave?
A typical microwave uses about 925 watts, so it costs about 18¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 15 minutes a day, that is about $1.32 a month, or $15.82 a year.
Key figures
- 750–1,100 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 18¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- $1.32per month, used 15 minutes a day
- 6.9 kWhper month at that use
A microwave’s advertised wattage is usually its cooking power; it draws somewhat more from the outlet while running. For small portions a microwave usually uses less energy than heating a full-size oven.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (15 minutes a day) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 18¢ | $1.32 | $15.82 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 25¢ | $1.85 | $22.14 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 18¢ | $1.34 | $16.07 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 15¢ | $1.12 | $13.49 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 19¢ | $1.39 | $16.73 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 15¢ | $1.13 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 27¢ | $2.04 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 14¢ | $1.04 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 13¢ | $1.00 |
| California | 29.8¢ | 28¢ | $2.06 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 16¢ | $1.19 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 23¢ | $1.70 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 17¢ | $1.30 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 24¢ | $1.80 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 14¢ | $1.04 |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 15¢ | $1.10 |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 44¢ | $3.27 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 12¢ | 93¢ |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 18¢ | $1.34 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 16¢ | $1.18 |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 16¢ | $1.18 |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 14¢ | $1.07 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 13¢ | 96¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 12¢ | 89¢ |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 30¢ | $2.23 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 20¢ | $1.48 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 28¢ | $2.11 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 21¢ | $1.59 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 16¢ | $1.19 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 13¢ | $1.00 |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 15¢ | $1.11 |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 14¢ | $1.08 |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 13¢ | 94¢ |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 12¢ | 88¢ |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 26¢ | $1.92 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 23¢ | $1.71 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 15¢ | $1.15 |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 27¢ | $1.99 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 14¢ | $1.04 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 12¢ | 92¢ |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 18¢ | $1.34 |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 14¢ | $1.03 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 15¢ | $1.10 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 20¢ | $1.51 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 26¢ | $1.95 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 15¢ | $1.09 |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 14¢ | $1.05 |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 12¢ | 93¢ |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 15¢ | $1.10 |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 12¢ | 92¢ |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 22¢ | $1.65 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 16¢ | $1.22 |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 14¢ | $1.01 |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 15¢ | $1.13 |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 18¢ | $1.35 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 13¢ | $1.00 |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| Microwaves | 18¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
More about microwaves
- Microwaves: models and list prices
- Safety: 7 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention microwaves or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.