The drying characteristics of plaster of paris (POP) under microwave conditions at different microwave power input, initial moisture content, sample thickness and drying time were studied. Further the experimental data on moisture ratio of POP for different operating conditions were obtained and calculations were made using nine basic drying model equations. The appropriate model with modified constants and coefficients to represent the drying kinetics of POP was found through the analysis of the statistical analysis. The effective moisture diffusivity of the drying process was also computed for different experimental conditions and a relationship between the drying rate constant and the effective moisture diffusivity was obtained. The energy consumption for microwave drying of plaster of paris at different experimental conditions were also computed. © 2010 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.