Microwave vs Electric Kettle: Which Costs More to Run? (2026)
For boiling water, the kettle wins. It transfers heat directly into the water with almost no loss, while a microwave converts mains power to microwaves at roughly 65 percent efficiency. Boiling a cup in the kettle uses about a third less energy. The microwave wins for heating food, where a kettle is no use at all.
At the hours shown, Microwave costs about $16.43 per year and Electric Kettle about $19.71 in United States (average).
| Appliance | Typical watts | Hours / day | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microwave | 1,000 W | $0.18 | $1.35 | $16.43 | |
| Electric Kettle | 2,000 W | $0.36 | $1.62 | $19.71 |
Edit the hours to match your own use. Costs use the typical wattage of each appliance.
When the microwave makes sense
- You are heating food, not water
- You need to defrost
- You want to heat a small amount of liquid already in a cup
When the electric kettle makes sense
- You are boiling water for tea, coffee, or cooking
- You boil water several times a day
- You want it fast
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