Wondering how much your appliances cost to run? An electricity cost calculator can give you personalised answers in seconds.

In April 2025, 80% of households in Great Britain reported gas or electricity bills as one of the main reasons for their cost-of-living increase in the previous month. With electricity prices affecting household costs and tariffs changing every few months, it’s never been more important to understand where your energy bill is coming from and how to reduce it.

That’s where this updated electricity cost calculator comes in. It can help you check the cost of running your tumble dryer, compare your total usage against the national average, or find out how much you could save by switching tariffs. It’s built for 2025 with real-time price cap updates, optional VAT and standing charge inclusion, and support for multiple appliances in one place.

You can calculate appliance costs using actual usage times, choose from the latest Ofgem price caps, and track your household energy spend all in one go. It’s more than a rough estimate — it’s a proper breakdown, designed to help you cut waste, spot hidden costs, and make informed choices so you can take control of your electricity bills, not just guess them.

Quick Takeaways on Electricity Cost Calculator UK:

• The electricity cost calculator is based on the latest UK electricity price cap (July–Sept 2025) of 25.73p per kWh and 51.37p daily standing charge (both include VAT).
• It calculates the real annual cost of your appliances — not just estimates.
• Multi-appliance tracking lets you see the full picture of your home’s electricity use.
• Presets for common UK appliances like kettles, tumble dryers, and electric showers make setup fast and easy.
• Automatically includes 5% VAT and gives you the option to toggle the standing charge on or off.
• Supports custom tariffs for fixed-rate, variable, and prepayment plans.

Get Accurate Results with Real-Time Prices

Electricity prices in the UK aren’t fixed. Ofgem reviews and updates the energy price cap level every three months, and prices can vary even more if you’re on a fixed-rate or flexible tariff. That’s why our calculator lets you select from a range of real-time tariff options, including the latest Ofgem price cap rates and custom unit prices.

This ensures your electricity cost estimates are based on the same rates you see on your bill.

How the Electricity Cost Calculator Works

The electricity cost calculator is designed to provide a simple and accurate way to estimate your home’s annual electricity cost, based on real-world appliance usage and the latest Ofgem-approved energy prices.

It works in four easy steps:

1. Select Your Tariff

Start by choosing which electricity tariff you’re on. If you’re not sure, select the latest Ofgem price cap, which is the maximum your supplier can charge per unit of electricity if you’re on a standard variable tariff and paying by direct debit.

For the July–September 2025 period, the average UK rate is 25.73p per kWh, with a daily standing charge of 51.37p. If you’re on a different deal or fixed rate, you can enter your custom unit rate and standing charge for more accurate results.

2. Add Your Appliances

Use the table to enter any appliance you want to calculate. You’ll need to fill in:

• The appliance name (e.g., “Kettle”)
• Its power rating in watts (e.g, 3000 W)
• The number of hours you use it per day
• The number of days it’s used per week
• The number of those appliances you have

Not sure of the wattage? Many common items are pre-filled for your convenience. Alternatively, you can refer to the product label or manual for detailed information.

3. Include VAT and Standing Charge

The calculator automatically includes VAT (5%) in all costs. You can choose whether to include the daily standing charge, which is the fixed cost your supplier adds just for being connected to the grid, regardless of how much electricity you use. Most people should leave this option ticked to get a realistic total.

4. View Your Total

Once you’ve added your appliances and selected your tariff, you’ll see a total annual electricity cost at the bottom. This shows you what those appliances cost to run per year based on your real usage, not just averages.

You can add or remove as many appliances as you like, and update your inputs at any time—the total updates automatically as you make changes.

The calculator helps you pinpoint what’s using the most energy in your home, compare costs across different appliances, and understand where you might save money, whether that’s by upgrading to more efficient devices or adjusting how long you run them.

Save Time with Built-In Appliance Presets

Not everyone knows the power rating of their fridge or how many watts their tumble dryer uses per hour — and they shouldn’t have to. That’s why we’ve included a library of common household appliances, already pre-filled with typical power consumption values. It’s designed to help you get accurate results without needing a manual or a spreadsheet.

Our appliance presets cover the UK’s most commonly used electrical devices, ranging from small kitchen appliances to full-size white goods. For example, you’ll find options like:

• Kettle – 3000W, 15 minutes per day
• Fridge-Freezer – 150W, 24 hours per day
• Washing Machine – 2000W, 5 uses per week at 1 hour per cycle
• Tumble Dryer – 2500W, 3 uses per week
• Electric Shower – 8500W, 10 minutes per day
• Laptop – 50W, 5 hours per day

These presets are based on UK averages and industry data. You can edit any value, including hours of use, days per week, and quantity, to better match your habits.

By using presets, you’ll get a fast and fairly accurate snapshot of your home’s electricity use. You can always fine-tune later, but this feature makes it much easier to get started, especially if you’re trying to quickly identify energy-hungry appliances or compare different usage patterns across the home.

Track Multiple Appliances at Once

Most electricity calculators give you a one-off figure — for a single appliance, one use, one time. That’s fine if you’re only curious about how much your energy-efficient kettle costs to boil, but not if you want to understand your whole home’s electricity usage. This tool goes further.

With Energy Guide’s calculator, you can enter as many appliances as you like. Whether it’s your fridge, dishwasher, electric shower, or the fan in your home office, you can add each item to your list and see exactly what it costs to run the appliances across the year. Every entry includes the power consumption (in watts), the frequency of use, and the number of appliances of that type in your home. The calculator calculates the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) and running costs in real-time.

As you add more appliances, the tool automatically calculates their usage and displays a combined annual cost, allowing you to see the full picture. There’s no need to use multiple tools or tally numbers on your own. Everything is tracked and summarised for you in one place.

This is especially useful if you’re trying to budget your energy spend, compare usage across rooms, or identify high-energy culprits in the home. It’s also ideal for landlords, shared homes, or energy-conscious families who want to track where their electricity is being used.

The more accurate you are with usage times and appliance types, the clearer the results will be and the easier it becomes to take control of your bill.

Why VAT and Standing Charges Matter in Electricity Cost Calculations

When most people try to estimate their electricity usage, they focus on the obvious: the number of units (kilowatt-hours) they consume. But that’s only part of the story. Your electricity bill also includes two extra costs that are easy to overlook — the standing charge and VAT. Without them, any calculator will give you an unrealistically low figure.

The standing charge is a flat daily fee your supplier adds simply for keeping you connected to the grid. It applies whether you use electricity or not. As of July–September 2025, the typical standing charge under the UK price cap is 51.37p per day, which adds up to nearly £188 per year. That’s a significant chunk of your total bill — especially for low-usage households.

Then there’s VAT, currently set at 5% for domestic electricity. This is applied to both your usage and standing charges, meaning any calculator that leaves it out is giving you a figure that’s lower than what you’ll pay.

That’s why this calculator gives you the choice to include both. By default, VAT is automatically factored in, and standing charges are included unless you untick the option. This way, you get a far more accurate picture of your real annual costs — not just what your appliances consume, but what you’re charged on your energy bill.

Accurate Regional and Tariff-Based Pricing

Electricity prices aren’t the same everywhere in the UK. The amount you pay per unit of electricity can vary depending on where you live, which supplier you’re with, and whether you’re on a fixed tariff or the standard variable rate covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap. That’s why this calculator doesn’t rely on a one-size-fits-all figure — it adapts to the real numbers that apply to you.

When you use the calculator, you can select the latest Ofgem price cap tariff for the current quarter, or enter your own if you’re on a custom deal. That means the unit rate (measured in pence per kilowatt-hour) and the standing charge (a daily fixed cost) will reflect the actual terms of your contract—no more guesswork or misleading average figures.

The table below shows the price of electricity per kWh based on location:

Region	Daily standing charge July to September 2025 (p/day)	Unit rate July to September 2025 (p/kWh)
North West	48.85	26.65
Northern	57.56	24.96
Yorkshire	56.35	24.84
Northern Scotland	58.69	25.79
Southern	42.30	25.94
Southern Scotland	54.25	24.53
North Wales and Mersey	67.65	27.20
London	43.76	25.13
South East	45.28	26.39
Eastern	45.94	26.01
East Midlands	46.78	25.06
Midlands	50.69	25.14
Southern Western	51.72	26.31
South Wales	49.38	26.32
Great Britain average	51.37	25.73

Source: Ofgem

Prices include VAT and are rounded to two decimal places.

Aligning the price inputs with real-world data instead of estimates gives you an electricity cost total that’s far closer to what appears on your actual bill. This also makes it easier to compare usage periods, check how tariff changes affect your spending, and make informed decisions about switching providers or adjusting your habits.

It results in a more realistic and personalised breakdown of your energy use, built on up-to-date figures rather than outdated assumptions.

Energy-Saving Tips Based on Electricity Cost Calculator Results

Once you’ve used the calculator to map out your annual electricity costs, the next question is: what can you do about it? That’s where this tool becomes more than just a numbers game. It’s a guide — helping you identify which appliances are quietly driving up your bill and where you can cut usage without compromising comfort.

Take a look at your results. Is your electric shower using an excessive amount of energy? Are your old radiators or tumble dryer costing more than expected? In many UK homes, just a few high-powered items that run frequently account for most of the electricity bill. The Energy Saving Trust shows that Washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical energy bill.

This calculator helps you spot those patterns. Once you know where the electricity is going, there are smart steps you can take:

• Use timers or smart plugs to control when appliances run
• Swap old bulbs for LED lighting
• Wash clothes at 30°C and air-dry when possible
• Turn appliances off at the wall, not just on standby
• Upgrade high-use items like heaters or fridges to more efficient models (look for energy labels A++ and above)
• Install a smart meter to get real-time tracking and set usage alerts

If you’re considering solar panels, electric heating alternatives, or switching energy providers, you can use this calculator as a baseline. Run a “before and after” scenario to see what savings look like. That way, every decision you make is backed by data — not guesswork.

Summary on Electricity Cost Calculator UK

Whether you’re trying to lower your monthly bills, compare appliance usage, or understand where your electricity spending is going, this calculator gives you more than just numbers. It gives you clarity. With live tariff options, accurate VAT and standing charge inclusion, and multi-appliance tracking, it’s one of the most detailed — and useful — tools available in the UK today.

No more estimating based on guesswork or hoping your smart meter gives you the full picture. This tool breaks everything down, so you can spot exactly where your energy costs come from — and what to do about them. From reducing high-usage appliances to switching to a more affordable tariff, the path to lower bills begins with understanding your baseline.

Use the presets to get started quickly, add the appliances that matter to your home, and see your full annual electricity cost unfold in real-time.

FAQs on Electricity Cost Calculator UK

How Much Does 1 kWh of Electricity Cost in the UK?

As of the July–September 2025 price cap, the average cost of electricity in the UK is 25.73p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for customers paying by direct debit on a standard variable tariff. This figure includes VAT and reflects what most households pay under the Ofgem-regulated cap. However, the exact cost may vary depending on your region, supplier, and whether you’re on a fixed or prepayment tariff.

How to Calculate Electricity Bill in the UK?

To calculate your electricity bill, multiply the total kWh you’ve used by your unit rate (in pence per kWh), then add the daily standing charge (multiplied by the number of days in your billing period). A VAT rate of 5% is then applied to the total.

Bill = (kWh × unit rate) + (standing charge × days) + 5% VAT

The calculator automates that process for you using real usage data and the most up-to-date rates.

How Much Is 1.5 kW Per Hour in the UK?

Using 1.5 kilowatts for one hour equals 1.5 kWh of energy. At the current unit rate of 25.73p/kWh, that would cost around 38.6p per hour.

For example, running a 1500W electric heater for one hour would cost just under 40p. If you ran it for five hours a day, that’s nearly £2 per day or £60 per month.

How Are UK Electricity Prices Calculated?

Electricity prices in the UK are made up of two main parts:

• The unit rate, which is the price per kWh of electricity you use
• The standing charge, which is a fixed daily fee regardless of usage

These are set either by your supplier (for fixed tariffs) or regulated by Ofgem (for price-capped standard tariffs). The price also includes 5% VAT. Prices can change every three months based on wholesale energy costs and infrastructure expenses.

Is 1000 kWh a Month a Lot in the UK?

Yes, 1000 kWh per month is considered high for a typical UK household. The average household uses approximately 2,700–3,000 kWh per year, which is equivalent to roughly 225–250 kWh per month.

Using 1000 kWh monthly would be more common in large homes, households with electric heating, or properties with multiple high-consumption appliances (like hot tubs, dryers, or electric vehicle chargers).

Why Is UK Electricity So Expensive?

Several factors contribute to the high cost of electricity in the UK:

• Global gas prices, which heavily influence electricity generation costs
• Grid maintenance and infrastructure investment
• Environmental levies and green energy subsidies
• Standing charges, which remain high even with low usage

Since 2021, geopolitical tensions, supply chain shocks, and regulatory transitions have also added pressure. Ofgem’s price cap helps protect consumers, but bills remain high by international standards.

Sources and References

Statista – Main reasons that people have seen their cost of living increase over the previous month in Great Britain as of April 2025

Ofgem – Energy price cap

Ofgem – Get energy price cap standing charges and unit rates by region

Energy Saving Trust – What appliances use the most electricity?