How much does it cost to run a microwave in the UK?
Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)
A typical microwave (950 W) used 12 minutes a day, every day costs about £1.51 a month (£18.11 a year) at 26.11p/kWh.
A microwave's headline 'output' figure (e.g. 800W) is not the same as the power it draws from the wall, which is usually 1,100–1,400W. Even so, because microwaves heat food directly and quickly, they are one of the cheapest ways to reheat and cook small amounts — far cheaper than firing up an oven. The catch is standby: an always-on digital clock draws a small trickle around the clock, which over a year adds a little to the total.
Work out your own cost
About £1.51 a month · £18.11 a year
Uses about 69.4 kWh a year. Prefilled with the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh — edit any box for your own figures.
Cost by model power
The same microwave can vary a lot between models, so here is the range from a low-power to a high-power example.
| Model | Power | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-power model | 600 W | 16p | 3.1p | 95p | £11.44 |
| Typical model | 950 W | 25p | 5.0p | £1.51 | £18.11 |
| High-power model | 1,400 W | 37p | 7.3p | £2.22 | £26.68 |
What changes the cost
- Input power (higher than the output rating on the door)
- How long you run it
- Standby draw from the clock display
- Reheating vs full cooking
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