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How Many Watts Does a Microwave Use? Cooking Power vs What It Really Draws
A full-size microwave pulls about 1,450 to 1,500 watts from the outlet, even though the box says 1,200 or 1,250 watts. The number on the box is cooking power, the microwave energy that reaches your food. The power consumption, what the microwave actually draws from the wall, is higher. That is the number that matters for your breaker, a generator, or a battery.
Cooking power vs power consumption (real specs)
Here is what Panasonic lists in its owner's manuals for two popular countertop microwaves:
| Model | Cooking power (box number) | Power consumption (from the wall) | Amps at 120V |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic NN-SN686S (1.2 cu. ft.) | 1,200 W | 1,480 W | 12.4 A |
| Panasonic NN-SE785S / NN-SE985S | 1,250 W | 1,460 W | 12.3 A |
Source: Panasonic owner's manuals, Specifications section. On these models, only about 81% to 86% of the power drawn from the wall becomes cooking power. The rest is lost as heat inside the microwave.
Find your own number: look for "Power Consumption" or "Input" on the label inside the door or on the back, or in the manual's specifications page. Do not use the cooking power for sizing.
How many amps does a microwave use?
A full-size microwave draws about 12 to 12.5 amps at 120 volts. That is why Panasonic's manual says the oven should be on a separate circuit, plugged into at least a 20 amp, 120 volt grounded outlet. If a microwave shares a 15 amp circuit with a toaster or coffee maker, expect the breaker to trip.
How much electricity does a microwave use per day?
Very little, because it only runs for minutes. At 1,480 watts for 10 minutes a day:
1,480 W x 10 / 60 = about 250 Wh (0.25 kWh) per day, or about 4 cents a day at 17 cents per kWh.
Can a portable power station run a microwave?
Yes, if its continuous output is comfortably above the microwave's power consumption. For a 1,480 W microwave, look for at least 2,000 W of output. Because microwaves only run in short bursts, a power station can handle days of normal use on one charge.
| Power station | Capacity / output | Minutes of microwaving (1,480 W) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,042 Wh / 2,200 W | About 74 minutes (about a week at 10 minutes a day) | From $899 |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | 3,072 Wh / 3,600 W | About 110 minutes | From $1,349 |
Minutes = capacity x 0.9 / 1,480 W x 60. Capacity and output are from each product page. A 1,500 W power station like the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is right at the limit for a full-size microwave; it is a better match for a smaller one. Browse all portable power stations.
What size inverter do you need to run a microwave?
For an RV, van, or off-grid setup running from a battery bank, use a pure sine wave inverter of at least 2,000 watts for a full-size microwave.
- Rich Solar NOVA PURE 2K: 2,000 W continuous, 4,000 W peak surge, 12V pure sine wave. $319.99
- Rich Solar NOVA 2K12: 2,000 W, 4,000 W peak (5 seconds), built-in automatic transfer switch for RVs. $469.99
Battery current adds up fast: a 1,480 W microwave on a 12V system pulls roughly 130 to 140 amps from the battery (1,480 / 12.8V / 0.88 inverter efficiency). Use the cable size and fusing in the inverter manual, and a battery rated for that discharge.
Can a generator run a microwave?
Yes. Any generator with at least 2,000 running watts runs a full-size microwave. During an outage, a mid-size generator like the DuroMax XP5500HX (4,500 running watts, $629) runs the microwave, fridge, and lights together. More in portable generators.
Sizing everything else? See What Size Portable Power Station Do I Need? and What Size Generator Do You Need to Run a House?
Need help sizing? Call 1-888-855-7286. Send us the power consumption from your microwave's label and we will match you to a power station, inverter, or generator.
Microwave wattage FAQ
How many watts does a microwave use? A full-size microwave rated 1,200 to 1,250 W of cooking power draws about 1,460 to 1,480 W from the wall, based on Panasonic's published specs.
How many amps does a microwave use? About 12 to 12.5 amps at 120V for a full-size model. Manufacturers like Panasonic call for a dedicated 20 amp circuit.
Will a 1,000 watt inverter run a microwave? Not a full-size one. A microwave sold as 1,000 W of cooking power still draws more than 1,000 W from the outlet. Plan on 2,000 W.
Will a 2,000 watt generator run a microwave? Yes, a 2,000 watt generator runs a full-size microwave, but not much else at the same time.
Does a microwave use a lot of electricity? Not per day. It draws a lot of power while running, but at 10 minutes a day it uses about 0.25 kWh.