Electricity running cost calculator UK
Calculate appliance electricity costs from watts, hours and pence per kWh. Use a dated Ofgem GB reference or enter your own tariff, including NI rates.
Enter your figures
Estimated electricity cost
Inputs changed. Select Calculate result to update your estimate.
Default 26.32p/kWh is Ofgem’s GB average Direct Debit electricity cap unit rate for October–December 2026. It is a dated reference, not your tariff. Does not cover Northern Ireland or all tariffs; choose your own rate for those. Assumes constant appliance wattage; excludes standing charges. Do not add VAT again to a VAT-inclusive tariff.
How the electricity running cost calculator uk works
Energy (kWh) = watts ÷ 1000 × hours per day × days. Cost = energy × pence per kWh ÷ 100.
UK data and rules
October–December 2026 data · Checked 16 October 2026. Rules are a dated snapshot, not a live feed.
Read about data coverage and updates
Worked example: electricity running cost
This illustration uses the calculator’s example inputs. It is not a quote or a recommended financial decision.
- Appliance power (watts)
- 1,000
- Hours used per day
- 2
- Unit rate (pence per kWh)
- 26.32
- Days
- 30
- Electricity rate reference
- GB average Direct Debit cap — Oct–Dec 2026
Estimated electricity cost: £15.79
Energy (kWh) = watts ÷ 1000 × hours per day × days. Cost = energy × pence per kWh ÷ 100.
Electricity running cost: questions answered
Does the appliance cost include standing charges?
No. It estimates the electricity used by the appliance only. Standing charges apply to the supply and are separate from the extra energy consumed by one appliance.
Using your result
Example inputs are a starting point. Replace them with your figures and select Calculate result. Results are rounded for display; calculations use unrounded values.
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Read the guide ↗Household billsUK appliance running costs: work out your electricity spend
Turn watts and operating time into an electricity cost, and understand why a rated wattage is not always actual daily consumption.
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