The Average Microwave Wattages

Appliance Wattage

• Nearly every appliance you purchase will be stamped or embossed with a numerical value followed by a "W." This value represents the wattage that the appliance uses in one hour. For those appliances with multiple speeds or power settings (like a microwave), this value represents the wattage the appliance uses on its maximum power setting. If your microwave is not printed with a wattage value, you can purchase an ammeter from an electronics store and use the manufacturer's instructions to measure the appliance's "draw" in amperes. Multiply the draw reading by the voltage of the appliance's power connection, which for nearly every microwave will be 120 volts.

Average Values

• Some average wattage values of microwaves can be useful, either for comparing your microwave's wattage to the average or if you are unable to calculate wattage value using the method described. According to data from the Otter Tail Power Company based in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, and from the U.S. Department of Energy, microwaves tend to use anywhere from 750 to 1100 watts in one hour under normal conditions.

Wattage in Context

• Knowing the wattage of an appliance is only useful if you know how to translate this value into other, more common values. Utility companies tend to measure electricity usage in kilowatts rather than watts, so divide the watt value by 1,000 to see how much electricity your microwave actually uses. You can also estimate the wattage used by a microwave over a given period of time by approximating how many hours you use the microwave in that amount of time. You can translate the wattage used by your microwave in a month into dollar amounts by multiplying the kilowatt value over one month by the price per kilowatt hour -- typically printed on your utility bill -- that your utility company charges you.

Other Considerations

• The maintenance condition of home appliances is an often overlooked factor in measuring electricity usage. If your microwave has any cracks or holes in it, for example, the microwave can require more electricity to maintain a consistent cooking temperature. Any problems with the electrical outlet into which the microwave is plugged can affect electricity usage as well. These factors affecting electricity usage highlight the importance of measuring usage on your own rather than relying on average values.