How much does a microwave cost to run in Nevada?
$0.92 a month
- A day of use
- $0.03
- An hour of running
- $0.12
- A year
- $11.07
925 W, 15 minutes a day, at Nevada’s average rate of 13.1¢ 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 | $0.03 | $0.92 | $11.07 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.12 | $3.69 | $44.26 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.24 | $7.38 | $88.53 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.49 | $14.75 | $177.05 |
| 8 hours a day | $0.97 | $29.51 | $354.10 |
| 24 hours a day | $2.91 | $88.53 | $1,062.30 |
Models range from 750 W to 1,100 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 925 W, the middle of that range.
Nevada compared with other states
Nevada’s residential rate is the 1st cheapest of 51 states and DC, 5.2¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−29%). Nevada’s rate is up 0.9¢ from June 2025 (12.3¢, +6.9%).
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 $0.12 an hour in Nevada. A microwave at 925 W uses 0.925 kWh per hour, and at Nevada’s average of 13.1¢ per kWh that comes to $0.12.
How much does a microwave add to your electric bill?
Used 15 minutes a day, about $0.92 a month in Nevada, or $11.07 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 $2.91 a day, or $88.53 over an average month in Nevada.
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 Nevada than elsewhere?
Nevada’s residential rate is the 1st cheapest of 51 states and DC, 5.2¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−29%). Nevada’s rate is up 0.9¢ from June 2025 (12.3¢, +6.9%). 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.