In order to describe magnetogenesis during inflation in the kinetic coupling model, we utilize a gradient expansion which is based on the fact that only long-wavelength (superhorizon) modes undergo amplification. For this purpose, we introduce a set of functions (bilinear combinations of electromagnetic fields with an arbitrary number of spatial curls) satisfying an infinite chain of equations. Apart from the usual mode enhancement due to interaction with the inflaton, these equations also take into account the fact that the number of relevant modes constantly grows during inflation. Truncating this chain, we show that even with a relatively small number of equations, it is possible to describe the electric and magnetic energy densities with a few percent accuracy during the whole inflation stage. We arrive at this conclusion for different types of coupling functions (increasing, decreasing, and nonmonotonic) in the regime with strong backreaction and its absence.