The numbers

Per day0.1–0.3 kWh
While running1,000–1,500 W while heating
Starting surge (plan for)up to about 1,500 W

Big draw, short time. It needs an inverter or station that can supply its full wattage.

Answer a few taps in a guide and every page like this shows the numbers for your own setup. Start

Running it on solar

At typical use (about 0.2 kWh a day), it takes about 1 400-watt panel to keep up through a dark winter, plus batteries for the nights.

Sized for a dark winter. Set your location · Size a whole system

How long a battery runs it

On its own, at typical use:

  • 1 kWh power station 3.5 days
  • 2 kWh power station 7.1 days
  • 3.6 kWh power station 13 days
  • One 5 kWh rack battery 18 days

Add your other appliances

On a power station you have

Questions people ask

How long will a power station run a microwave?

A 2 kWh power station runs it for about 7.1 days on its own, at typical use. Bigger batteries scale up from there.

How much solar does a microwave need?

About 100 W of panels covers it in a typical US winter month, on its own.

Power it for good

Want it running through outages, or off-grid for good? The guides size everything around what you run.

Typical ranges for planning, from US Department of Energy appliance estimates, nameplate ratings and owner measurements. Your model's label or a plug-in meter gives your exact number. More: How much power do you use?