Techniques are presented to reduce the number of antennas used for a transmission for a given antenna configuration and data rate. At a wireless communication device having a plurality of antennas and capable of sending a transmission via one or more of the plurality of antennas, a determination is made of a data rate and antenna configuration to be used for a transmission. A comparison is made between a total transmit power for a minimum number of antennas for the data rate to be used for the transmission and a total transmit power associated with the antenna configuration for the transmission. When the total transmit power for a minimum number of antennas for the data rate is greater than the total transmit power associated with the antenna configuration for the transmission, the transmission is sent with the minimum number of antennas.