How Much Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in the UK?
If you’ve ever stood in front of your microwave watching the timer tick down and thought, “This can’t be cheap…”, you’re not alone.
It’s 900 watts. Sometimes 1,000W. It sounds powerful. It feels powerful.
When you’re trying to cut your electricity bill, it’s an obvious suspect.
But here’s the twist:
Microwaves are actually one of the cheaper appliances in your kitchen to run.
Let’s get straight to the answer.
Quick Answer: How Much Does a Microwave Cost to Run?
At current UK electricity prices (around 25p per kWh):
• A typical microwave costs around 0.5p–0.7p per minute
• 5 minutes costs roughly 3p
• 10 minutes costs roughly 6p
• Average yearly cost for normal use: £15–£20
So no — your microwave is not wrecking your electricity bill.
Now let’s break down where those numbers actually come from.
Microwave Wattage: The Bit Most People Get Wrong
If your microwave says “900W”, that’s the cooking output power.
But your electricity meter measures the input power, which is higher.
To produce 900W of cooking energy, a microwave typically pulls around 1,400W–1,500W from the wall because it isn’t 100% efficient.
So for proper accuracy, the calculations below use realistic input draw at 25p per kWh.
Real Microwave Running Costs (Using Actual Electrical Draw)
Label Rating | Approx. Actual Draw | 1 Minute | 5 Minutes | 10 Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
700W | ~1,100W | 0.45p | 2.3p | 4.6p |
900W | ~1,450W | 0.6p | 3.0p | 6.0p |
1,200W | ~1,800W | 0.75p | 3.8p | 7.5p |
Even when you calculate it properly:
It’s still under 1p per minute.
That’s the key takeaway.
How Much Does a Microwave Cost Per Year?
Let’s assume:
• 900W microwave
• Pulling around 1.45kW from the wall
• Used for 8 minutes per day
1.45 kW × (8 ÷ 60 hours) = 0.19 kWh per day
0.19 × £0.25 = 4.75p per day
Over a year:
4.75p × 365 = £17–£18 per year
In our house, that’s probably about right. It runs most days reheating leftovers or defrosting something.
It’s tiny compared to heating costs.
Are Microwaves Expensive to Run?
No.
They’re high wattage, but short duration.
Compare them to:
• Electric oven: 2,000–3,000W for 30–60 minutes
• Tumble dryer: 2,000–2,500W for 1–2 hours
• Electric shower: 8,000W+
The microwave behaves more like a kettle — short burst, done.
If you’ve read my post on whether turning off WiFi saves electricity, you’ll know that the big costs are heating and long-running appliances.
The microwave isn’t one of them.
Microwave vs Oven: The Jacket Potato Test
This is where it becomes obvious.
Cooking one jacket potato:
Oven
2.5kW for 60 minutes
= 2.5 kWh
= around 62p
Microwave
1.5kW input for 8 minutes
= 0.2 kWh
= around 5p
That’s a saving of roughly 55p per potato.
Over a winter, that adds up quickly.
For small meals and reheating, the microwave is usually the cheaper option.
Should You Unplug a Microwave?
Most microwaves use between 1W and 3W on standby to power the clock.
At 3W:
≈ £6–£7 per year
At 1W:
≈ £2 per year
If the plug is easy to reach, turning it off is an easy win. But again, this isn’t where most of your electricity bill goes.
Final Verdict
Even using realistic electrical draw:
• Less than 1p per minute
• Around £15–£20 per year for typical use
• Often cheaper than using the oven
• Can actually save money for small meals
If you’re trying to cut your energy bill properly, focus on heating, tumble drying and hot water first.
The microwave isn’t the villain.
Further Reading
If you’re reviewing appliance costs, you might also want to check:
If you want to cut your electricity bill properly, focus on the big hitters first.
The microwave isn’t one of them.
Why not take a look at my list of the best money-saving devices?
FAQ
How much does it cost to run a microwave for 1 minute?
At 900W and 25p per kWh, around 0.4p per minute.
How many watts does a microwave use?
Most UK models use 700W to 1,200W, with 800–900W being typical.
Are microwaves expensive to run?
No. They’re one of the cheaper kitchen appliances because they run for short periods.
How much electricity does a microwave use per day?
If used for 10 minutes daily at 900W, around 0.15 kWh per day, costing roughly 3–4p.
Is it cheaper to use a microwave instead of an oven?
For reheating or small meals, yes — often significantly cheaper.
