It says 550 watts max. Breadmaker cycles can be up to 3 hours, some of that time its doing nothing but slightly warming the dough, some of it the motor is kneading, so the 550 watts I guess is when its actually baking. I have tripped the electrics at campsites with a little travel hairdryer, so the downside would be the electric might trip with your bread part way done. Mind you, I have just looked at said travel hairdryer and thats 750 watts, I would never have thought it that powerful. So, this thread has been very useful for me.... even if I did go way off topic with it! (you don't have an emoticon for an embarrassed face!).