Electric kettles and microwaves are two of the most commonly used kitchen appliances in South African homes. Both are used to heat water or food quickly, but many people wonder which appliance uses less electricity.
With rising electricity prices and frequent loadshedding, understanding appliance energy usage has become increasingly important.
In this guide we compare the electricity usage of kettles and microwaves to see which appliance is cheaper to run.
How Much Electricity Does a Kettle Use?
Most electric kettles use between 1800 W and 2200 W of power.
Because kettles heat water very quickly, they usually run for only 2 to 4 minutes.
Example:
| Appliance | Power | Average Time |
|---|---|---|
| Electric kettle | 2000W | 3 minutes |
Energy used:
2000W × 3 minutes ≈ 0.1 kWh
If electricity costs about R3.00 per kWh, the cost per boil is roughly:
≈ R0.30
This means boiling a kettle once typically costs around 30 cents.
You can read more in our guide on how much electricity a kettle uses in South Africa.
How Much Electricity Does a Microwave Use?
Microwaves generally use 800 W to 1200 W depending on the model.
However, microwaves often run longer when heating water or food.
Example:
| Appliance | Power | Average Time |
|---|---|---|
| Microwave | 1000W | 4 minutes |
Energy used:
1000W × 4 minutes ≈ 0.07 kWh
Cost per use:
≈ R0.20
So microwaves usually cost around 20 cents per use.
Electricity Cost Comparison
| Appliance | Power | Typical Cost per Use |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1800–2200W | ~R0.30 |
| Microwave | 800–1200W | ~R0.20 |
While kettles use more power, they also boil water very quickly.
In most cases, the difference in cost between the two appliances is very small.
Which Appliance Is More Efficient?
For boiling water specifically, kettles are usually more efficient because they are designed for that purpose.
Microwaves can heat water, but they often take longer and may heat unevenly.
For reheating food, however, microwaves are usually the better option.
Kettle vs Microwave: Which Should You Use?
Use a kettle when you want to:
- boil water for tea or coffee
- cook instant meals
- heat water quickly
Use a microwave when you want to:
- reheat food
- defrost meals
- cook quick microwave dishes
Both appliances are relatively inexpensive to run compared to larger kitchen appliances.
Final Verdict
Both kettles and microwaves use relatively small amounts of electricity in everyday use.
Kettles typically cost around 30 cents per boil, while microwaves cost around 20 cents per use depending on cooking time and wattage.
Because both appliances operate for short periods, the difference in electricity cost is usually minimal.
Choosing the right appliance mainly depends on what you want to heat rather than electricity cost.
Explore More Appliance Electricity Guides
If you’re interested in understanding how other appliances affect your electricity bill, you may also find these guides helpful:
- How Much Electricity Does a Kettle Use in South Africa
- How Much Electricity Does an Air Fryer Use in South Africa
- Air Fryer vs Oven Electricity Cost
These guides explain the energy usage of common kitchen appliances and how they compare.