Home & lifestyle · Energy costs
At the Ofgem price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026), an hour of use costs: fan heater, 3kW 78.96p, oil-filled radiator, 2kW 52.64p, electric heater, 1.5kW 39.48p, dehumidifier, 500W 13.16p, heated clothes airer, 300W 7.90p and electric blanket, 150W 3.95p.
Compare the running cost of six winter appliances at your own electricity price, then open each one’s calculator for more detail.
Runs in your browser, with no run limit
1.5 kW × 3 h + 3 kW × 2 h + 2 kW × 5 h + 0.15 kW × 8 h + 0.5 kW × 8 h + 0.3 kW × 6 h = 27.5 kWh × 26.32p = £7.24 a day
A month is 365 ÷ 12 = 30.42 days. The standing charge is not included (see below).
Per hour, day and month
Cost per hour = power in kW × price per kWh. The table assumes each appliance draws its full rating for the hours stated; a thermostat or a lower setting brings the real cost down.
| Appliance | Per hour | Hours a day (example) | Electricity a day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fan heater, 3kW | 78.96p | 2 | 6 kWh | £1.58 | £48.03 |
| Oil-filled radiator, 2kW | 52.64p | 5 | 10 kWh | £2.63 | £80.06 |
| Electric heater, 1.5kW | 39.48p | 3 | 4.5 kWh | £1.18 | £36.03 |
| Dehumidifier, 500W | 13.16p | 8 | 4 kWh | £1.05 | £32.02 |
| Heated clothes airer, 300W | 7.90p | 6 | 1.8 kWh | £0.47 | £14.41 |
| Electric blanket, 150W | 3.95p | 8 | 1.2 kWh | £0.32 | £9.61 |
Assumptions
Step by step
A 2kW oil-filled radiator heating for 5 hours: 2 kW × 5 h × 26.32p = £2.63 a day. A 150W electric blanket on for 8 hours: 0.15 kW × 8 h × 26.32p = £0.32 a night. The blanket warms the bed, not the room, so it is not a like-for-like swap.
A 500W dehumidifier for 6 hours: 0.5 kW × 6 h × 26.32p = 78.96p. A 300W heated airer for 6 hours: 0.3 kW × 6 h × 26.32p = 47.38p. Drying time depends on the room and the load, so time your own.
A 3kW fan heater for 2 hours a day: 3 kW × 2 h × 26.32p = £1.58 a day, or £48.03 a month.
1.5 kW × 3 h + 3 kW × 2 h + 2 kW × 5 h + 0.15 kW × 8 h + 0.5 kW × 8 h + 0.3 kW × 6 h = 27.5 kWh × 26.32p = £7.24 a day, or £220.16 a month.
Your bill
Your electricity bill also has a daily standing charge: an Ofgem GB average of 54.83p a day on Direct Debit for October to December 2026. You pay it whatever you switch on, so it is not part of any appliance’s running cost.
Source
26.32p per kWh is Ofgem’s GB average Direct Debit electricity unit rate under the energy price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. There is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The rate varies by region and payment method, and fixed, Economy 7 and prepayment tariffs differ, so use the unit rate on your bill if you know it. The next price cap period starts on 1 January 2027. Source: Ofgem, energy price cap unit rates and standing charges.
Ofgem’s energy price cap unit rates and standing charges page, checked on 23 October 2026, gives for electricity paid by Direct Debit from 1 October to 31 December 2026: “26.32 pence per kWh” and “54.83 pence daily standing charge”.
One appliance at a time
Helpful answers
Of the six in the table, the 3kW fan heater: 78.96p an hour at 26.32p per kWh. A 2kW oil-filled radiator costs 52.64p, a 500W dehumidifier 13.16p, a 300W heated airer 7.90p and a 150W electric blanket 3.95p. Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × the price per kWh.
At 26.32p per kWh a 150W electric blanket on for 8 hours costs £0.32 a night; a 2kW oil-filled radiator heating for 5 hours costs £2.63 a day. The blanket warms the bed and the radiator warms the room.
It depends on the watts and drying time. Over 6 hours a 500W dehumidifier uses 3kWh (78.96p) and a 300W heated airer 1.8kWh (47.38p) at 26.32p per kWh. Use the watts on your own appliances and time a load.
No. The daily standing charge (an Ofgem GB average of 54.83p a day on Direct Debit for October to December 2026) is paid whether or not any appliance is on, so it is not a running cost of an appliance.