Enter your microwave's wattage and daily use time to see real running cost — plus how it compares to an oven for reheating.
Microwaves are one of the cheapest common appliances to run per use — their high wattage is offset by very short run times compared to an oven or stovetop.
A microwave's wattage looks high on paper, but its typical use is measured in minutes rather than hours, which keeps total energy use — and cost — low. Reheating leftovers in a microwave is almost always cheaper and faster than using a full-size electric oven for the same task.
Short run times are the whole reason microwaves stay cheap despite a wattage rating that looks high next to a lamp or a phone charger — the energy calculation always comes down to watts times hours, and a microwave's "hours" are usually measured in single minutes per use.
The standby clock display typically draws only 1-3W continuously, adding a few dollars a year at most — see the phantom load calculator for the fuller picture across multiple always-on devices.
For quick reheating, generally yes, since microwave cook times are much shorter — a toaster oven can be more efficient than a full oven for small items but usually still takes longer than a microwave.
Not necessarily by wattage alone — a compact microwave can still be rated similarly to a larger one, so check the actual wattage on the appliance rather than assuming size and power output track together.