How Many Watts of Electricity does a Microwave Oven use?

Real power-use measurements from a microwave oven.

By Rob Cockerham |

How Much Power does a Microwave Oven use

Microwave Oven: 1438 Watts

Description

  • According to Wikipedia, a microwave oven works by passing non-ionizing microwave radiation through the food. It uses a metal fan to reflect the energy around the inside of the box and has a computer controller and a light.
  • Usually runs at maximum power for less than 6 minutes at a time.

Power Use

  • Watts: 1438
  • Kilowatts: 1.438 Kw.

Operation Cost

  • cost per minute: 29 hundredths of one cent (0.29 ¢)
  • cost per hour: 17.3¢
  • cost per day: $1.38
  • cost per month: $26.24

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Power use of these items was actually tested. Individual items will vary, but these are the actual measurements.