2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (2024)

Written by

Sarah Noel

Fact-checked by

Tom Grupa

Microwave cost

A microwave costs $100 to $600 on average, depending on the brand, type, features, and size. Microwave oven prices are $50 to $500 for countertop models and $150 to $600 for over-the-range types. Built-in microwave prices are $400 to $2,000. Microwave installation costs $100 to $400 extra.

2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (1)
Average cost of microwave
National average cost$350
Minimum cost$50
Maximum cost$3,500
Average range $100 to $600

Get free estimates from microwave installers near you.

Search

New microwave cost by type

The following table compares microwave types by their price and features:

2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (2)
Microwave prices
TypeAverage pricePros and cons
Countertop $50 – $500
  • Popular and affordable
  • No installation required
  • Versatile placement
  • Easy replacement
  • Takes up counter space
  • No ventilation system
  • Fewer features available
Over-the-range $150 – $600
  • Saves counterspace
  • Includes venting & lighting
  • Needs professional install
  • Collects grease
  • Requires precise fit
Built-in $180 – $2,000
  • Customize to match other appliances
  • Blends in with the cabinetry
  • More installation choices
  • Frees up counterspace
  • Requires professional install
Drawer $1,000 – $1,400
  • Safe and convenient
  • Easily accessible to everyone
  • Entry models are more expensive
  • No convection cooking or turntable functions
  • Hardest type to install
Combo oven $2,500 – $3,500
  • Combination wall unit with a microwave and traditional oven
  • Built into the wall or cabinetry
Convection $180 – $800
  • Internal fans circulate heat evenly
  • Cooks faster with more cooking options
  • Available in countertop, over-the-range, and built-in models

*Microwave cost only. Installation adds $100 to $400+.

Countertop microwave cost

A countertop microwave costs$50 to $500on average, depending on the cooking capacity, wattage, and features. High-end countertop models cost up to$1,100for top brands and models with convection-cooking features.

2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (3)
Countertop microwave cost
Size (cubic feet)WattsAverage cost
Small (0.5 - 1.0)700 – 1,100 $50 – $150
Medium (1.1 - 1.5)800 – 1,400 $70 – $400
Large (1.6 - 2.2)950 – 1,600 $110 – $500
  • No installation required

  • Easy to replace or move

  • Takes up counter space

  • Typically comes with fewer features

Over-the-range microwave cost

An over-the-range microwave costs$150 to $600on average, and high-end models cost up to$1,800. Over-the-stove microwaves are 18” to 36” wide and require a precise fit and professional installation.

2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (4)
  • Venting options include recirculating the air through a charcoal filter back into the house or connecting the unit to external vents.

  • Models with higher cubic-feet-per-minute fan power produce better airflow.

Built-in microwave cost

A built-in microwave costs$400 to $2,000on average, depending on the type and size. Built-in microwaves are the best types for saving counter space and blending in with the cabinetry. However, they require professional installation by a carpenter.

Built-in microwave cost
TypePrice rangeFeatures
Standard $180 – $3,500
  • Either custom build into cabinets or with a trim kit.
  • Blends in with the cabinetry
  • Customize to match other appliances
Drawer $700 – $1,800
  • Convenient access
  • Install in the lower cabinet, kitchen island, or below a wall oven
  • No convection cooking or turntable function
Combo oven $2,350 – $7,000+
  • Combination wall unit with a microwave and traditional oven
  • Built into the wall or cabinetry
2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (5)

Cost of convection microwave oven

A convection microwave costs$180 to $800on average, or up to$3,500for the largest high-end models. The internal fans and additional heating elements inside circulate hot air evenly for faster cooking like a traditional oven.

  • Available as countertop, over-the-range, and built-in models.

  • Cooking options include roasting, baking, broiling, and crisping.

Microwave prices by brand

Microwaves cost$50 to $3,500depending on the brand, size, and type. Good microwave oven brands like an LG microwave oven costs$130 to $800,and GE microwaves cost$80 to $3,500.

Microwave prices by brand
BrandPrice range
Avanti $60 – $200
Black+Decker $75 – $370
Whirlpool $120 – $900
Panasonic $85 – $650
Kenmore $70 – $500
Magic Chef $50 – $340
Samsung $130 – $600
LG $130 – $800
Bosch $400 – $2,100
Kitchen Aid $500 – $2,300
Frigidaire $125 – $1,400
GE $80 – $3,500
Toshiba $80 – $500
Viking $570 – $2,350
Amana $200 – $2,000

Microwave buying guide

A good microwave costs$100 to $600on average, depending on the type, size, features, and capacity. Consider the following factors when choosing a good microwave:

  • Budget – Countertop microwaves are the cheapest, have the largest selection, and don’t require installation. Over-the-range and built-in models cost more, have better features, and require professional installation.

  • Size and location – A countertop microwave is the easiest to move, while over-the-range and built-in models save counter space.

  • Wattage – Most units have 800 to 1,200 watts of power. High-wattage microwaves cook faster but cost more.

  • Capacity – Microwaves have capacities of 0.5 to 2.2 cubic feet total, while most are 1 to 2 cubic feet.

  • Features – Advanced features like convection-cooking mode, inverter precision cooking, defrosting, and childproof locking increases the price.

  • Warranty – Get free repairs or replacements within 1 to 12 months under most warranties. Some credit card consumer-protection programs also extend warranties.

Microwave sizes guide

Over-the-range microwaves are18” to 36” wideand require an exact fit. Countertop microwaves aresmaller at 12” to 27” wide. The kitchen’s layout and family size determine which size microwave is best.

The following is a microwave size comparison table based on type:

Microwave size chart
TypeWidthHeightDepth
Countertop 12” – 27” 10” – 14” 10” – 21”
Over-the-range 18” – 36” 10” – 18” 15” – 18”
Built-in 18” – 31” 12” – 20” 13” – 25”

Cooking capacity is the microwave’s interior size:

Upgrading to a larger microwave typically requires more power and increased fees in electrical work before installation.

Compare microwave features

Microwave oven features to look for include:

  • Smart sensor cooking – Detects steam and automatically adjusts the cooking time and power accordingly to stop food from burning.

  • Auto defrost – Instantly estimates the thawing time and cooking temperature.

  • Quick keys and presets – Save pre-programmed settings for one-touch cooking tasks and reheating.

  • Smart / Wi-Fi connected – Allows wireless microwave control through a smart device, digital assistant, or voice control.

  • Child-safety lock– Prevent accidental use by locking the microwave with a key code.

  • Charcoal filters (over-the-range microwaves) – Purify grease, smoke, and odors from the stovetop range below.

  • Turntable trays and racks – Easy-to-clean removable trays rotate the food for even heating or stack food for cooking multiple dishes.

Built-in vs. over-the-range microwaves

Both over-the-range and built-in microwaves save counter space, need a precise fit, and require professional installation.

  • Over-the-range microwaves replace the stove’s exhaust hood for kitchen ventilation.

  • Built-in microwaves go inside the wall or cabinetry.

  • Microwave-drawer models replace any drawer.

Built-in vs. over-the-range microwaves
TypeProsCons
Over-the-range
  • Built-in lighting for the range below
  • Vents heat, fumes, and odors from the cooking range
  • Collects grease
  • Built-in fans have lower capacity than range hoods
  • Harder to reach
Built-in
  • Customized look
  • Matches other appliances
  • High-quality models
  • Comes with advanced features
  • Expensive
  • Reduces cabinet space
  • Requires professional installation
  • Needs cabinet customization to install

Where can I buy a microwave?

The best places to buy a microwave are at home improvement stores. A microwave at Walmart costs$50 to $365but has fewer models to choose from than other stores.

Where to buy a microwave
StorePrice range
Best Buy $55 – $2,700
Sears $55 – $3,400
Lowe's $40 – $3,500
Home Depot $55 – $1,400
Walmart $50 – $365
Target $50 –$430
Menards $45 –$1,200
Amazon $60 – $1,200

Microwave installation

Microwave installation costs$100 to $300for an over-the-range microwave or$220 to $580for a built-in microwave, excluding the price of a microwave unit.

2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (6)

Get free estimates from microwave installers near you.

Search

  • Electrician or handyman prices are $50 to $100 per hour for labor.

  • Adding a new electrical outlet costs $150 to $600.

When to repair or replace a microwave oven?

Microwave repairs cost$100 to $300on average, depending on the model and repair type. If the microwave is high-end, less than 5 years old, and needs minor fixes, then repairing the unit is more cost-effective.

Microwave oven repair or replace
Repair when:Replace when:
  • Broken parts: door handle, roller guide, spinning glass plate, microwave feet on countertop models
  • Light not working when the door opens
  • Door-switch issues
  • Cracked or broken door seal
  • Older than 10 years
  • Loud buzzing or rattling noises
  • Sparks, smoke, or burning smells
  • Magnetron fails
  • Heating or cooking takes longer than normal
  • Control panel malfunctions

Microwave cost FAQs

Best low-cost microwave oven

The best affordable countertop microwaves cost$75 to $170with features like cooking presets, basic timers, and cooking power of 900 to 1,100 watts.

How long does a microwave last?

Microwaves last7 to 10 yearson average, depending on usage and maintenance. All microwave types need regular cleaning and degreasing of the grease filters for optimum performance.

Extend the microwave’s lifespan by:

  • Never heating metals inside the microwave

  • Closing the door gently

  • Never running the microwave with nothing inside

  • Letting only a qualified technician do microwave repairs

  • Keeping the microwave plugged into a surge protector

  • Maintaining space for air circulation around the microwave

  • Always turning on an over-the-range microwave’s exhaust fan when cooking on the stovetop below

How much does it cost to use a microwave per minute?

The cost to run a microwave is less than$0.01 per minuteor$0.10 to $0.13 per houron average, depending on local electricity rates.

Get free estimates from microwave installers near you.

Search

Cost to use a microwave
Daily usage (minutes)Electricity cost per year
5 $3 – $5
15 $11 – $14
30 $22 – $28
60 $45 – $55

*Based on a 1,200-watt microwave.

Microwaves also use some power for standby mode and the digital clock, which costs an additional$4 to $6annually.

Hiring a microwave installation service

Electricians, general contractors, and appliance technicians from local home improvement stores install microwaves.

When searching for anappliance installer nearby, look for professionals with:

  • Certified appliance-technician training

  • Years of experience in microwave installations

  • Pricing that’s not the cheapest out of 3 or more different estimates

  • Excellent customer reviews on HomeGuide and Google

  • A contractor’s license and insurance

  • Labor warranties

  • Knowledge of local building codes for microwave installation heights over the range

2024 Microwave Costs — Brand Comparison & Buying Guide (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Last Updated:

Views: 6083

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fr. Dewey Fisher

Birthday: 1993-03-26

Address: 917 Hyun Views, Rogahnmouth, KY 91013-8827

Phone: +5938540192553

Job: Administration Developer

Hobby: Embroidery, Horseback riding, Juggling, Urban exploration, Skiing, Cycling, Handball

Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.