Most homeowners have microwaves these days. That's because when it comes to cooking and heating up your food, microwaves, and microwave ovens are among the most energy-efficient devices that you have. In fact, when it comes to microwaves, toasters, and ovens, microwaves are the more energy-efficient option, requiring much less energy consumption to heat your food. Did you know that you can even boil water in a microwave?
When it comes to saving money on your cooking costs, you'll want to consider using your microwave to your advantage. Of course, there are also costs associated with running your microwave. We're in the business of saving you money on your electricity costs, so we’ve created a calculator to help you estimate the power consumption of your microwave and the cost of usage. Whether you have a small microwave or a newer, modern microwave, we'll help you get a sense of how much you're spending on your microwave usage, so you can lock in some serious savings.
Energy language can be confusing. Below, we break down what you need to know to use our calculator.
Watts measures the rate at which electricity moves through an appliance. More watts mean more electricity, and larger, more expensive microwaves typically require higher wattage.
Microwaves typically have a wattage range of 600-1200 watts with smaller and compact microwaves on the lower end of the spectrum and large microwaves near the higher end. The average wattage of a microwave is roughly 900 Watts. Most modern microwaves fall somewhere in the middle as they are getting more and more efficient every day. To get the most accurate wattage for your microwave, check the manual or the back of your microwave. You can also multiply the amps of your microwave by the volts of your outlet to calculate wattage. Once you have the wattage, divide by 1000 to get kilowatts.
Kilowatts = (Amps x Volts) / 1000
According to US Energy Information Administration, the average cost of electricity in the U.S. is 13 cents/kWh. However, this number can vary depending on your electricity supplier. Today, people in some states have the power to shop for their electricity and find cheaper rates.
The size and type of your microwave are the two likely factors to impact the cost and power consumption of your microwave. Of course, usage will also impact this as well. The table below will give you a sense of the cost and energy consumption of different-sized microwaves.
Volume in Cu Ft | Type | Watts | Cost / hr* | Avg cost / month* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| less than 0.8 | Compact units | 600 W | 7.8¢ | $2.34 |
| 0.8 to 1.1 | Intermediates | 700 W | 9.1¢ | $2.73 |
| larger than 1.2 | Large microwaves | 825 W | 10.73¢ | $3.2 |
1.
Thaw your food in the microwave
2.
Make your own spices
3.
Cook your veggies in the microwave
4.
Reheat your leftovers
5.
Choose Perch Energy