What Does It Cost to Run a Microwave in Delaware?

Running a microwave in Delaware costs about $1.69 a month — $20.58 a year — at the state's average rate of 18.79 ¢/kWh. The estimate assumes a typical 1,200-watt microwave running 0.25 hours/day, at the all-in average rate (before separately billed taxes and fixed fees).

Average wattage assumption
1,200 W
Typical usage assumption
0.25 hours/day
Estimated monthly electricity use
9.00 kWh
Estimated monthly cost
$1.69
Estimated yearly cost
$20.58

Key metrics

MetricValue
Average wattage assumption1,200 W
Typical usage assumption0.25 hours/day
Estimated monthly electricity use9.00 kWh
Estimated monthly cost$1.69
Estimated yearly cost$20.58

Microwave cost vs U.S. average

Delaware average rate
18.79 ¢/kWh
Delaware monthly cost
$1.69
U.S. monthly cost
$1.74
Monthly difference
-$0.05

At the state average rate, a microwave in Delaware costs $0.05 less a month than it would at the U.S. average rate.

How much electricity does a microwave use?

A microwave draws roughly 600-1,500 W; we use 1,200 watts running 0.25 hours/day. That comes to 0.30 kWh a day — 9.00 kWh a month, or 109.5 kWh over a year — using kWh = watts × hours ÷ 1000.

Microwaves draw meaningful power when running, but short cooking times keep total monthly cost relatively low. Delaware prices that energy at 18.79 ¢/kWh, against a 19.32 ¢/kWh national average.

Microwave operating cost estimate in Delaware

Time periodEnergy useCost
Per hour1.20 kWh$0.23
Per day0.30 kWh$0.06
Per month9.00 kWh$1.69
Per year109.5 kWh$20.58

These figures use the all-in average rate. Your actual bill can run higher when separately billed taxes, seasonal pricing, and fixed monthly fees apply.

What changes the cost the most?

Two things move this number: your state's rate, which you can't change, and how hard the appliance works, which you often can. For a microwave, that mostly comes down to daily use frequency, power setting, meal prep habits.

Using yours more lightly or heavily than our assumption? The state calculator and usage-cost pages below model your exact scenario at the same rate.

For calculator-style comparisons, use the Microwave calculator in Delaware to compare light, typical, and heavy usage profiles.

Comparison entry points

Browse related comparisons from the energy comparison hub:

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Source & Method

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: April 2026. Estimates use the EIA average all-in residential rate (delivery included); they don't add separately billed taxes, fixed charges, or other utility fees, which vary by utility. For how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.

Disclaimers

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