How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in the UK? (2026)
Microwaves draw a lot of power but only for minutes at a time, so they are one of the cheapest ways to heat food. Note the rated cooking power is often lower than the wattage pulled from the wall.
A typical microwave (1,000 W) costs £0.26 per hour, or about £1.97 per month at 0.25 hours a day in the UK. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 700 W | £0.18 | £0.046 | £1.38 | £16.81 |
| Typical 1,000 W | £0.26 | £0.066 | £1.97 | £24.02 |
| High 1,500 W | £0.39 | £0.099 | £2.96 | £36.03 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.25 h/day ≈ 91 kWh per year.
One hour of a microwave (1.0 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 5.6km in an electric car
- 10hours of TV
- 22hours of a laptop
- 111hours of an LED bulb
In the UK, with electricity at 26.3p per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026, 2026-10), a typical microwave costs £0.26 per hour and about £24.02 per year at 0.25 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 3.8 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a microwave
- Cover food so it heats evenly and faster.
- Use the microwave instead of the oven for reheating and small portions.
- Unplug it or use a switched outlet if the clock display bothers you. Standby draw can exceed cooking use over a year.
- Keep the interior clean. Food residue absorbs energy.
In standby it draws about 3 W, which adds roughly 26 kWh (£6.92) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
Does a microwave use a lot of electricity?
Per minute, yes. Per meal, no. Fifteen minutes a day at 1,000 W is only 0.25 kWh.
Does a microwave use electricity when not in use?
Yes, 2 to 4 watts for the clock and control panel. That adds up to 20 to 35 kWh per year.
Why does my 800 W microwave draw 1,200 W?
The rated figure is the cooking output. Converting mains power to microwaves is roughly 65 percent efficient.
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Related appliances
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz