How much does a microwave cost to run in Iowa?
$1.12 a month
- A day of use
- $0.04
- An hour of running
- $0.15
- A year
- $13.45
925 W, 15 minutes a day, at Iowa’s average rate of 15.9¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes a day typical | $0.04 | $1.12 | $13.45 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.15 | $4.48 | $53.78 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.29 | $8.96 | $107.57 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.59 | $17.93 | $215.13 |
| 8 hours a day | $1.18 | $35.86 | $430.27 |
| 24 hours a day | $3.54 | $107.57 | $1,290.81 |
Models range from 750 W to 1,100 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 925 W, the middle of that range.
Iowa compared with other states
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%).
Ways to spend less
- Reheat in the microwave instead of the oven; it heats the food, not a box of air.
- Cover dishes so they heat faster.
- Unplug it if you never use the clock; the display draws a little power all day.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a microwave per hour?
About $0.15 an hour in Iowa. A microwave at 925 W uses 0.925 kWh per hour, and at Iowa’s average of 15.9¢ per kWh that comes to $0.15.
How much does a microwave add to your electric bill?
Used 15 minutes a day, about $1.12 a month in Iowa, or $13.45 a year.
How much does it cost to run a microwave 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a microwave would use 22.2 kWh a day and cost $3.54 a day, or $107.57 over an average month in Iowa.
How many watts does a microwave use?
Models range from 750 W to 1,100 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 925 W, the middle of that range. Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a microwave cost more or less to run in Iowa than elsewhere?
Iowa’s residential rate is the 23rd cheapest of 51 states and DC, 2.4¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−13%). Iowa’s rate is up 0.6¢ from June 2025 (15.3¢, +3.9%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.