How Much Does It Cost to Run Your Appliances? (UK 2026)
Typical running costs for 32 common household appliances, worked out at the Ofgem price cap of 26.32p per kWh.
The current price cap: electricity 26.32p per kWh and a 54.83p daily standing charge (average for England, Scotland and Wales, paying by direct debit). Ofgem states these figures do not include VAT from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, because the Government has removed VAT from electricity bills for that period. The cap next changes on 1 January 2027.
Most expensive appliances to run
Costs depend on how long and how often you use each one. This table uses typical weekly use and ranks them by yearly cost.
| Appliance | Cost per use | Typical use | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Car Charging | £15.79 per full charge | 1 full charges/week | £821.18 |
| Electric Heater | £0.53 per hour | 14 hours/week | £383.22 |
| Oil-Filled Radiator | £0.39 per hour | 14 hours/week | £287.41 |
| Immersion Heater | £0.79 per hour | 7 hours/week | £287.41 |
| Electric Shower | £0.34 per 8-minute shower | 14 showers/week | £249.09 |
| Portable Air Conditioner | £0.26 per hour | 14 hours/week | £191.61 |
| Electric Oven | £0.39 per hour of cooking | 7 hours/week | £143.71 |
| Tumble Dryer | £0.92 per cycle | 3 cycles/week | £143.71 |
| Dehumidifier | 7.9p per hour | 28 hours/week | £114.97 |
| Kettle | 5.3p per full boil | 35 boils/week | £95.80 |
| Electric Hob | £0.26 per hour | 7 hours/week | £95.80 |
| Dishwasher | £0.32 per cycle | 5 cycles/week | £82.12 |
| Heat Pump Tumble Dryer | £0.39 per cycle | 3 cycles/week | £61.59 |
| Air Fryer | £0.16 per 20-minute use | 7 uses/week | £57.48 |
| Heated Clothes Airer | 7.9p per hour | 14 hours/week | £57.48 |
| Desktop Computer | 5.3p per hour | 20 hours/week | £54.75 |
| Fridge Freezer | £0.13 per day | 7 days/week | £47.90 |
| Washing Machine | £0.21 per cycle | 4 cycles/week | £43.80 |
| Chest Freezer | £0.11 per day | 7 days/week | £38.32 |
| TV | 2.6p per hour | 28 hours/week | £38.32 |
| Slow Cooker | £0.32 per 8-hour cook | 2 cooks/week | £32.85 |
| Electric Blanket | 2.6p per hour | 21 hours/week | £28.74 |
| Hairdryer | 7.9p per 10-minute use | 7 uses/week | £28.74 |
| WiFi Router | 7.6p per day | 7 days/week | £27.78 |
| Iron | £0.26 per hour | 2 hours/week | £27.37 |
| Games Console | 5.3p per hour | 10 hours/week | £27.37 |
| Microwave | 2.6p per 5-minute use | 14 uses/week | £19.16 |
| Laptop | 1.3p per hour | 20 hours/week | £13.69 |
| Vacuum Cleaner | £0.11 per 20-minute use | 2 uses/week | £10.95 |
| Toaster | 1.3p per use | 14 uses/week | £9.58 |
| LED Light Bulb | 0.21p per hour | 35 hours/week | £3.83 |
| Phone Charger | 0.26p per full charge | 7 charges/week | £0.96 |
By room and type
Kitchen and cooking
- Kettle (5.3p)
- Electric Oven (£0.39)
- Electric Hob (£0.26)
- Microwave (2.6p)
- Air Fryer (£0.16)
- Slow Cooker (£0.32)
- Dishwasher (£0.32)
- Fridge Freezer (£0.13)
- Chest Freezer (£0.11)
- Toaster (1.3p)
Laundry
- Washing Machine (£0.21)
- Tumble Dryer (£0.92)
- Heat Pump Tumble Dryer (£0.39)
- Heated Clothes Airer (7.9p)
- Iron (£0.26)
TV, gaming and computers
- TV (2.6p)
- Games Console (5.3p)
- Desktop Computer (5.3p)
- Laptop (1.3p)
- WiFi Router (7.6p)
- Phone Charger (0.26p)
Heating and hot water
- Electric Heater (£0.53)
- Oil-Filled Radiator (£0.39)
- Electric Blanket (2.6p)
- Dehumidifier (7.9p)
- Immersion Heater (£0.79)
- Electric Shower (£0.34)
- Portable Air Conditioner (£0.26)
Around the home
Electric vehicles
How we calculate running costs
Energy use is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh is the energy used by a 1,000 watt appliance running for an hour. We multiply typical kWh per use by the price per kWh. The figures are estimates for typical modern appliances. Your own appliance, settings and tariff will give different results, so every page lets you change the numbers.
Source for the price cap: Ofgem.