Cost to Run a Microwave Oven
A standard countertop microwave
Wattage
1,200W
Daily Usage
0.5h
Monthly Cost*
$3.10
Annual Cost*
$37.71
* At national average rate of 17.22¢/kWh
Cost to Run Microwave Oven by State
From cheapest (Idaho: $2.01/mo) to most expensive (Hawaii: $7.77/mo).
| # | State | Rate | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 11.15¢ | $2.01 | $24.42 |
| 2 | Washington | 11.26¢ | $2.03 | $24.66 |
| 3 | Utah | 11.41¢ | $2.05 | $24.99 |
| 4 | Wyoming | 11.72¢ | $2.11 | $25.67 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 12.43¢ | $2.24 | $27.22 |
| 6 | Louisiana | 12.52¢ | $2.25 | $27.42 |
| 7 | Oregon | 12.55¢ | $2.26 | $27.48 |
| 8 | Montana | 12.81¢ | $2.31 | $28.05 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 12.82¢ | $2.31 | $28.08 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 12.91¢ | $2.32 | $28.27 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 13.04¢ | $2.35 | $28.56 |
| 12 | Nebraska | 13.08¢ | $2.35 | $28.65 |
| 13 | Kentucky | 13.19¢ | $2.37 | $28.89 |
| 14 | West Virginia | 13.44¢ | $2.42 | $29.43 |
| 15 | Mississippi | 13.54¢ | $2.44 | $29.65 |
| 16 | South Dakota | 13.74¢ | $2.47 | $30.09 |
| 17 | Missouri | 13.78¢ | $2.48 | $30.18 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 14.09¢ | $2.54 | $30.86 |
| 19 | Georgia | 14.27¢ | $2.57 | $31.25 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 14.43¢ | $2.60 | $31.60 |
| 21 | Virginia | 14.64¢ | $2.64 | $32.06 |
| 22 | Arizona | 14.78¢ | $2.66 | $32.37 |
| 23 | Alabama | 14.87¢ | $2.68 | $32.57 |
| 24 | Nevada | 14.92¢ | $2.69 | $32.67 |
| 25 | Delaware | 14.94¢ | $2.69 | $32.72 |
| 26 | Texas | 15.06¢ | $2.71 | $32.98 |
| 27 | Iowa | 15.14¢ | $2.73 | $33.16 |
| 28 | Ohio | 15.21¢ | $2.74 | $33.31 |
| 29 | Kansas | 15.28¢ | $2.75 | $33.46 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 15.34¢ | $2.76 | $33.59 |
| 31 | Indiana | 15.42¢ | $2.78 | $33.77 |
| 32 | Colorado | 15.56¢ | $2.80 | $34.08 |
| 33 | Minnesota | 15.63¢ | $2.81 | $34.23 |
| 34 | Florida | 16.22¢ | $2.92 | $35.52 |
| 35 | Illinois | 16.27¢ | $2.93 | $35.63 |
| 36 | Maryland | 16.57¢ | $2.98 | $36.29 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | 17.38¢ | $3.13 | $38.06 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | 18.36¢ | $3.30 | $40.21 |
| 39 | New Jersey | 18.48¢ | $3.33 | $40.47 |
| 40 | Michigan | 19.34¢ | $3.48 | $42.35 |
| 41 | Vermont | 21.43¢ | $3.86 | $46.93 |
| 42 | Alaska | 24.21¢ | $4.36 | $53.02 |
| 43 | New York | 24.33¢ | $4.38 | $53.28 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 25.78¢ | $4.64 | $56.46 |
| 45 | Maine | 26.37¢ | $4.75 | $57.75 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | 28.08¢ | $5.05 | $61.50 |
| 47 | Massachusetts | 28.58¢ | $5.14 | $62.59 |
| 48 | Connecticut | 29.98¢ | $5.40 | $65.66 |
| 49 | California | 31.22¢ | $5.62 | $68.37 |
| 50 | Hawaii | 43.18¢ | $7.77 | $94.56 |
Energy Saving Tips for Microwave Oven
- Use the microwave or toaster oven for small meals instead of the full oven.
- Run your dishwasher only with full loads and use the air-dry setting.
- Keep your refrigerator at 35-38F and freezer at 0F for optimal efficiency.
- Avoid opening the oven door while cooking as it drops the temperature by 25F each time.
- Use lids on pots to boil water faster and save energy.
- Consider Energy Star rated appliances when replacing old models.
Related Kitchen Appliances
Frequently Asked Questions
How much electricity does a Microwave Oven use?
A typical Microwave Oven uses 1200 watts and runs about 0.5 hours per day, consuming 0.60 kWh daily.
How much does it cost to run a Microwave Oven per month?
At the national average electricity rate of 17.22¢/kWh, running a Microwave Oven costs approximately $3.10 per month.
Where is it cheapest to run a Microwave Oven?
Idaho has the lowest cost at $2.01/month, while Hawaii is the most expensive at $7.77/month.
Was this data helpful?
Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)