How many units (kWh) does a microwave oven use per month?

Running 0.3 hours a day at 1,200 W, a microwave oven consumes about 11 units per month — that's 0.4 units per day.

How much does it cost per month on the 200-unit slab?

On the Unprotected 101–200 unit slab (Rs. 22.95/unit) the energy charge alone is about Rs. 248. Add ~Rs. 32 for FPA + QTA and 18% GST on top.

Is a microwave oven cheaper to run on protected tariff?

Yes — at Rs. 11.69/unit (protected slab 1–100 units) the same 11 units cost only Rs. 126, roughly half. But qualifying requires staying under 200 units total for 6 months, which is hard when this appliance alone uses 11 units.

Does running it during off-peak hours save money?

Only if you have a Time-of-Use (TOU) meter — typically 3-phase domestic, commercial A-2 or industrial B-2. On a flat single-phase domestic meter the tariff is the same 24 hours. See your DISCO's peak-hours page for exact windows.

Will solar make this appliance free to run?

Solar cuts the daytime portion of this load to nearly zero. Under the 2026 net-billing regime, exported units are worth Rs. 11–13 vs Rs. 27–42 for units you self-consume — so timing the appliance to run in daylight matters far more than it did on old net-metering.

1,200 W · 0.3 h/day typical

Microwave oven electricity cost in Pakistan (2026)

A 1,200 W microwave used 20 minutes a day pulls about 6 kWh a month — adding Rs. 100–260 to your bill. One of the most efficient ways to reheat or cook small portions compared to a gas or electric hob.

How much energy does a microwave oven use?

Timeframe	Energy used	Notes
Per hour	1.20 kWh	Steady-state draw
Per day	0.36 kWh	0.3 hours of runtime
Per month	11 kWh	Full month at daily duty cycle
Per year	130 kWh	Year-round load

Cost per slab — NEPRA Unprotected Residential (FY 2025–26)

Slab	Rs./unit	Per hour	Per day	Per month
1–100 units	16.48	Rs. 19.78	Rs. 6	Rs. 178
101–200 units	22.95	Rs. 27.54	Rs. 8	Rs. 248
201–300 units	27.14	Rs. 32.57	Rs. 10	Rs. 293
301–400 units	32.03	Rs. 38.44	Rs. 12	Rs. 346
401–500 units	35.24	Rs. 42.29	Rs. 13	Rs. 381
501–600 units	36.66	Rs. 43.99	Rs. 13	Rs. 396
601–700 units	37.80	Rs. 45.36	Rs. 14	Rs. 408
Above 700 units	42.72	Rs. 51.26	Rs. 15	Rs. 461

Energy charge only. Add ~Rs. 32/month for FPA + QTA at typical rates, then 18% GST on the total. Electricity duty and PTV fee are also stacked — see the full electricity bill calculator for the complete tax pass-through.

Protected consumers (≤200 units, 6-month rule)

Slab	Rs./unit	Per month cost
1–100 units	11.69	Rs. 126
101–200 units	14.16	Rs. 153

Check your Protected consumer eligibility — the ≤200 unit rule is strict and one bad month resets the 6-month counter.

Cut the running cost

Reheating in a microwave is 3–4× more efficient than an electric hob for a single serving.
Cover food with a lid — reduces the runtime by 20–30%.
Standby draw (clock display) is ~2 W = 1.5 kWh/month; unplug if unused for weeks.

Fine print

Rated at output power (1,200 W of cooking energy); actual input is ~1,500 W. This calculator uses 1,200 W as a reasonable average.

Frequently asked questions

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