How much does a microwave cost to run in Tennessee?
$0.99 a month
- A day of use
- $0.03
- An hour of running
- $0.13
- A year
- $11.88
925 W, 15 minutes a day, at Tennessee’s average rate of 14.1¢ 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 | $0.99 | $11.88 |
| 1 hour a day | $0.13 | $3.96 | $47.50 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.26 | $7.92 | $95.01 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.52 | $15.83 | $190.02 |
| 8 hours a day | $1.04 | $31.67 | $380.03 |
| 24 hours a day | $3.12 | $95.01 | $1,140.09 |
Models range from 750 W to 1,100 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). We use 925 W, the middle of that range.
Tennessee compared with other states
Tennessee’s residential rate is the 5th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 4.3¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−23%). Tennessee’s rate is up 0.3¢ from June 2025 (13.8¢, +1.8%).
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 $0.13 an hour in Tennessee. A microwave at 925 W uses 0.925 kWh per hour, and at Tennessee’s average of 14.1¢ per kWh that comes to $0.13.
How much does a microwave add to your electric bill?
Used 15 minutes a day, about $0.99 a month in Tennessee, or $11.88 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 $3.12 a day, or $95.01 over an average month in Tennessee.
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 Tennessee than elsewhere?
Tennessee’s residential rate is the 5th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 4.3¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−23%). Tennessee’s rate is up 0.3¢ from June 2025 (13.8¢, +1.8%). 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.