How much does a microwave cost to run?
At the current price cap, a microwave costs about 2.4p per 5-minute use, or around £15.85 a year with typical use.
Microwave
- An hour
- 29p
- A day used
- 4.3p
- A week
- 30.4p
- A month
- £1.32
- Energy a year
- 60.2 kWh
1,100 W for 9 minutes a day, every day, at 26.32p per kWh.
Excludes the daily standing charge, which you pay whatever you use.
How it compares
Yearly cost with typical use, at your unit rate.
Microwave running costs
At 26.32p per kWh, with typical use of 9 minutes a day, every day.
| Period | Energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per 5-minute use | 0.09 kWh | 2.4p |
| Per hour in use | 1.1 kWh | 29p |
| Per week | 1.16 kWh | 30.4p |
| Per month | 5.02 kWh | £1.32 |
| Per year | 60.2 kWh | £15.85 |
How the cost varies
800 W to 1,500 W models, for 5 minutes.
| Energy use | Per 5-minute use | Per year (typical use) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | 1.8p | £11.54 |
| Typical | 2.4p | £15.85 |
| Higher | 3.3p | £21.54 |
Cooking appliances compared
Yearly cost with typical use, at 26.32p per kWh.
| Appliance | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Electric oven | 52.6p | £109.79 |
| Induction hob (one ring) | 39.5p | £61.76 |
| Air fryer | 36.8p | £48.03 |
| Slow cooker | 5.3p | £21.96 |
| Microwave (this page) | 29p | £15.85 |
Ways to spend less
- The power on the front of a microwave is usually its cooking output. It draws a bit more from the wall, which is what you pay for.
- Microwaves are the cheapest way to reheat and cook small portions, because they heat the food rather than the air around it.
- Turn it off at the wall if the clock and standby light are on all day. The standby cost is small but constant.
How we calculate this
We take a typical microwave at 1,100 watts, used 9 minutes a day, every day, and multiply the energy it uses by the Ofgem price cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh.
One 5-minute use uses about 0.09 kWh. Use the calculator above with your own appliance’s power and how you use it for a closer figure.
Questions people ask
How much does a microwave cost to run a year?
With typical use (9 minutes a day, every day), about £15.85 a year at the current price cap, or £1.32 a month.
Is a microwave cheaper than an air fryer?
For reheating and small portions, yes. Five minutes in a microwave uses about 0.09 kWh, while an air fryer often needs 15 to 30 minutes at a similar power.
Does a microwave use electricity on standby?
A little, to run the clock and display. It adds up to a few pounds a year at most.
Does this include the standing charge?
No. The standing charge (54.83p a day under the current cap, about £200.13 a year) is a fixed daily cost for being connected. It does not change with how much you use any appliance.
Related calculators
- Air fryer running costCosts per use and per year.
- Electric oven running costCosts per use and per year.
- Slow cooker running costCosts per use and per year.
- Induction hob ring running costCosts per use and per year.
- Appliance running cost calculatorCompare any appliance, at your own rate.
- Energy bill calculatorYour whole yearly bill at the price cap.