Electric heating cost UK — 8 heater types at 26.11p/kWh
A 2 kW electric panel heater costs 52.2p/hour and £2.09 for a typical 4-hour evening at the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026).
Wattage: Energy Saving Trust — Heating your home guide (typical appliance ratings). Unit rate: Ofgem cap 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026). Published 2026-06-20.
Electric heating at 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026): 1 kWh = 26.11p. A 2 kW heater = 52.2p/hour. 4 hours evening = £2.09/day. 8 hours all day = £4.18/day. A 1 kW heater × 4 h = £1.04 — half the cost of a 2 kW heater. Source: Energy Saving Trust (typical wattages); Ofgem (OGL v3.0).
Daily cost by heater type and usage profile
| Heater | Watts | 2 h morning burst | 4 h evening warm-up | 6 h daytime (home-worker) | 8 h all-day winter | 12 h cold snap | 1 h occasional use | 3 h weekend daytime | 5 h shoulder season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 W Panel Heater | 500 W | 26.1p | 52.2p | 78.3p | £1.04 | £1.57 | 13.1p | 39.2p | 65.3p |
| 1 kW Panel Heater | 1,000 W | 52.2p | £1.04 | £1.57 | £2.09 | £3.13 | 26.1p | 78.3p | £1.31 |
| 2 kW Panel Heater | 2,000 W | £1.04 | £2.09 | £3.13 | £4.18 | £6.27 | 52.2p | £1.57 | £2.61 |
| 2 kW Oil-Filled Radiator | 2,000 W | £1.04 | £2.09 | £3.13 | £4.18 | £6.27 | 52.2p | £1.57 | £2.61 |
| 3 kW Convector Heater | 3,000 W | £1.57 | £3.13 | £4.70 | £6.27 | £9.40 | 78.3p | £2.35 | £3.92 |
| 2 kW Storage Heater (charge rate) | 2,000 W | £1.04 | £2.09 | £3.13 | £4.18 | £6.27 | 52.2p | £1.57 | £2.61 |
| 1 kW Infrared Panel Heater | 1,000 W | 52.2p | £1.04 | £1.57 | £2.09 | £3.13 | 26.1p | 78.3p | £1.31 |
| 2 kW Portable Fan Heater | 2,000 W | £1.04 | £2.09 | £3.13 | £4.18 | £6.27 | 52.2p | £1.57 | £2.61 |
Daily cost = (watts ÷ 1000) × hours × 26.11p/kWh. Wattage: Energy Saving Trust — Heating your home guide (typical appliance ratings). Unit rate: Ofgem cap (1 July to 30 September 2026, OGL v3.0).
Electric heating FAQs
How much does a 2 kW electric heater cost to run per hour in the UK?
A 2 kW electric heater (panel heater or fan heater) uses 2 kWh of electricity per hour and costs 52.2p per hour at the current Ofgem price-cap rate of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026). Running it for 4 hours costs £2.09. Source: Energy Saving Trust (typical wattage); Ofgem (OGL v3.0) for unit rate.
How much does electric heating cost per day in the UK?
A 2 kW electric panel heater running 4 hours in the evening costs £2.09/day. Running 8 hours all day costs £4.18. A 1 kW heater for 4 hours costs £1.04. All at the Ofgem cap rate of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026).
Is it cheaper to use an electric heater or central heating in the UK?
At current Ofgem rates, electricity costs 26.11p/kWh versus gas at 7.33p/kWh. A gas boiler at ~87% efficiency delivers heat at 8.4p/useful kWh. An electric heater converts electricity to heat at ~100% efficiency, costing 26.11p/useful kWh. Gas central heating is therefore cheaper per unit of heat in most UK homes at current rates. Electric heating may still be worth it for supplemental heat in one room or if you have a heat pump (COP > 1).
Track heating costs
Updated each time the Ofgem cap changes. No spam.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. A Gera Services product.
Sources
Wattages: Energy Saving Trust — Heating your home guide (typical appliance ratings). Unit rate: Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (1 July to 30 September 2026), OGL v3.0. Energy Saving Trust · Ofgem.