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UK Energy & Home Efficiency

UK Home Energy Costs & Efficiency Guide (2026)

Calculators and plain-English guides to cut your energy bills — what appliances cost to run, how the price cap works, and what heat pumps, insulation and solar really cost.

Current Ofgem price cap

1 October 2026 – 31 December 2026 · Direct Debit, GB average · last checked 5 October 2026

Electricity
26.32p/kWh
Elec. standing
54.83p/day
Gas
7.97p/kWh
Gas standing
29.68p/day
Typical bill
£1,723/yr
Energy price cap explained and bill estimator

Winter heating costs

A 2kW electric heater costs £0.53 an hour; an electric blanket about £0.03. Here's where to start this winter.

Calculators and key guides

Appliance running cost calculatorWork out what any appliance costs to run per hour, day, month and year at the 26.32p/kWh Ofgem price cap. Free, instant UK calculator.Energy price cap explainedThe Ofgem price cap from 1 October 2026: 26.32p/kWh electricity, 7.97p/kWh gas, £1,723 typical bill. Estimate your own bill.Heating on low vs on and offIs it cheaper to leave the heating on low all day or use a timer? Compare daily costs for your home with our free UK heating calculator.Gas vs electric heating costGas heat costs about 9.1p per kWh, direct electric 26.32p and a heat pump 8.8p. Compare annual heating costs for your home.EV charger installation costA home EV charger costs £800–£1,200 installed in the UK. See price factors, running costs per mile and the cheapest ways to charge.Smart thermostat savingsSmart thermostats cost £150–£300 and can save around £75–£110 a year on UK heating bills. See payback and which homes benefit most.

Appliance Running Costs

All appliance running costs
Cost to run a electric heaterA 2,000W electric heater costs about £0.53 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a oil-filled radiatorA 1,500W oil-filled radiator costs about £0.28 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a fan heaterA 2,000W fan heater costs about £0.53 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a electric blanketA 100W electric blanket costs about £0.03 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a heated airerA 300W heated airer costs about £0.08 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a tumble dryerA 2,500W tumble dryer costs about £0.66 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a dehumidifierA 200W dehumidifier costs about £0.05 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a air fryerA 1,500W air fryer costs about £0.39 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a slow cookerA 200W slow cooker costs about £0.05 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a electric ovenA 2,400W electric oven costs about £0.38 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a kettleA 3,000W kettle costs about £0.79 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a washing machineA 2,000W washing machine costs about £0.26 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a dishwasherA 1,800W dishwasher costs about £0.24 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a immersion heaterA 3,000W immersion heater costs about £0.79 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a electric showerA 9,500W electric shower costs about £2.50 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.Cost to run a fridge freezerA 150W fridge freezer costs about £0.01 an hour at the 26.32p/kWh price cap. See daily and yearly costs and cheaper alternatives.

Heat Pumps

All heat pumps
Heat pump cost UKAir source heat pumps cost £8,000–£14,000 and ground source £18,000–£35,000 before the £7,500 grant. Prices by property size for 2026.Air source heat pump costAir source heat pumps cost £8,000–£14,000 installed, or from about £500 after the £7,500 grant. Running costs, sizes and savings explained.Ground source heat pump costGround source heat pumps cost £18,000–£35,000 in the UK, with a £7,500 grant. Compare horizontal loops, boreholes and running costs.Heat pump vs gas boiler calculatorCompare the annual running cost of a heat pump and a gas boiler for your home using today's UK price cap rates and your heat pump's SCOP.Boiler Upgrade Scheme checkerCheck if you qualify for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for a heat pump in England and Wales. Free step-by-step checker.

Insulation & Glazing

All insulation & glazing
Loft insulation costLoft insulation costs £400–£1,000 in the UK and saves up to £300 a year. Prices by property type and payback in 1–3 years.Cavity wall insulation costCavity wall insulation costs £1,000–£2,500 in the UK and saves up to £450 a year. Prices by house type, payback and suitability.External wall insulation costExternal wall insulation costs £100–£180 per m², or £8,000–£22,000 per house in the UK. See savings and payback by property type.Internal wall insulation costInternal wall insulation costs £50–£110 per m² in the UK, about £6,000–£14,000 per house. Savings, payback and room-by-room options.Double glazing costDouble glazing costs £400–£1,000 per window in the UK, or £4,000–£12,000 for a house. See energy savings and payback by property type.Draught-proofing costDIY draught-proofing costs £100–£250 and a professional job £200–£600. It saves around £50–£125 a year — payback in one to three years.

Solar & Batteries

All solar & batteries
Solar panel cost UKA typical 4kWp solar panel system costs £5,500–£7,500 installed in the UK. Prices by size, savings and payback using today's rates.Solar payback calculatorWork out how long solar panels take to pay for themselves using your region, roof direction, self-use and the current UK electricity price cap.Solar battery costHome solar batteries cost £3,000–£6,000 installed in the UK for 5–10kWh. See savings, payback and when a battery is worth it.How many solar panels do I need?Most UK homes need 8–12 solar panels (3.5–5kWp). Work out the right number for your electricity use and roof with our free calculator.

EPC Ratings

All epc ratings
EPC ratings explainedWhat EPC ratings A to G mean, how the score is worked out, typical running costs by band and how to check or improve your home's rating.Cost to improve EPC ratingImproving an EPC from D to C typically costs £2,000–£6,500, and E to C £3,500–£11,500. Estimate your upgrade cost and the best measures.Landlord EPC requirementsLandlords in England and Wales must have a valid EPC rated E or above to let a home, with a £3,500 spending cap and exemptions. Rules for 2026.

Grants & Support

All grants & support
Warm Home Discount eligibilityCheck if you can get the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter. Who qualifies, how it's paid and what to do if you miss out.Energy grants UKGovernment energy grants in the UK for 2026: Boiler Upgrade Scheme, ECO4, Great British Insulation Scheme, Warm Home Discount and more.

Price cap updates

All updates

All energy pages A–Z

Frequently asked questions

What is the current UK energy price cap?

26.32p/kWh electricity and 7.97p/kWh gas (Direct Debit, GB average) from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.

What is the cheapest way to heat a UK home?

For most homes, a gas boiler or a well-designed heat pump on a timer, plus loft and wall insulation. Direct electric heaters are the most expensive.

How much does it cost to run a 2kW heater?

About £0.53 per hour at the current price cap.