Cost to run a microwave in every state
For 1,200 W for 0.25 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.15 | $1.14 | $13.74 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.15 | $1.16 | $13.90 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.16 | $1.20 | $14.37 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.16 | $1.20 | $14.37 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.16 | $1.20 | $14.44 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.16 | $1.21 | $14.49 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.16 | $1.22 | $14.62 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.17 | $1.24 | $14.90 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.17 | $1.29 | $15.52 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.17 | $1.30 | $15.58 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.17 | $1.30 | $15.58 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.18 | $1.32 | $15.80 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.18 | $1.33 | $16.01 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.18 | $1.35 | $16.15 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.18 | $1.35 | $16.19 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.18 | $1.35 | $16.25 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.18 | $1.36 | $16.36 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.19 | $1.39 | $16.71 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.19 | $1.40 | $16.82 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.19 | $1.42 | $17.02 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.19 | $1.43 | $17.17 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.19 | $1.43 | $17.18 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.19 | $1.43 | $17.19 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.19 | $1.44 | $17.30 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.20 | $1.47 | $17.61 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.20 | $1.47 | $17.64 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.20 | $1.49 | $17.83 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.20 | $1.53 | $18.38 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.20 | $1.54 | $18.42 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.21 | $1.55 | $18.54 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.21 | $1.55 | $18.58 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.21 | $1.59 | $19.05 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.22 | $1.68 | $20.20 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.23 | $1.74 | $20.87 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $0.23 | $1.74 | $20.93 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.23 | $1.75 | $20.96 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $0.26 | $1.93 | $23.11 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $0.26 | $1.96 | $23.51 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $0.28 | $2.07 | $24.83 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $0.29 | $2.15 | $25.75 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $0.29 | $2.21 | $26.47 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $0.30 | $2.21 | $26.58 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $0.31 | $2.34 | $28.06 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $0.33 | $2.49 | $29.85 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $0.34 | $2.54 | $30.43 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $0.34 | $2.58 | $30.94 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $0.35 | $2.65 | $31.76 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $0.36 | $2.68 | $32.13 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $0.37 | $2.74 | $32.92 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $0.39 | $2.89 | $34.68 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $0.57 | $4.25 | $50.95 |
How much homes actually use, by region
Average annual electricity used by a microwave in homes that have one, from the EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), and what that use costs at today's U.S. average rate.
| Region | kWh per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 107 | $19.43 |
| New England | 104 | $18.89 |
| Middle Atlantic | 97 | $17.62 |
| East North Central | 107 | $19.43 |
| West North Central | 109 | $19.79 |
| South Atlantic | 106 | $19.25 |
| East South Central | 107 | $19.43 |
| West South Central | 110 | $19.98 |
| Mountain North | 113 | $20.52 |
| Mountain South | 114 | $20.70 |
| Pacific | 110 | $19.98 |
How the cost is calculated
The Department of Energy's formula: watts × hours per day ÷ 1,000 = kWh per day. Multiply by the days you use it and by your rate in dollars per kWh. A 1,500 W device running 1 hour uses 1.5 kWh; at 18¢ that is 27¢.
How to lower the cost
- Reheating in the microwave usually uses less energy than heating the oven.
- Unplug models whose clock you never use to avoid standby power.
