Energy Cost Calculator
Estimate your UK energy bill using Ofgem Q1 2026 price cap rates. Calculate electricity and gas costs, see which appliances cost the most to run, and find out how much you could save with simple changes.
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How to Use This Calculator
My Energy Bill tab
Enter your annual electricity usage (in kWh) and gas usage (in kWh). If you don't know your usage, the Ofgem typical values (2,700 kWh electricity, 11,500 kWh gas) are pre-filled. Select your payment method — direct debit is the cheapest. Expand "More options" to override the unit rates and standing charges if your tariff differs from the Ofgem cap.
Cost by Appliance tab
Select a common appliance from the dropdown or enter a custom wattage, hours per day, and days per year. The calculator shows the annual running cost and ranks all common UK household appliances by cost. Use this to identify your most expensive appliances and target savings.
Save Money tab
Enter your current electricity and gas usage and tariff type. The calculator estimates annual savings for each energy-saving measure — from free behavioural changes (turning down the thermostat, washing at 30°C) to investments like loft insulation and smart thermostats — including payback periods.
Share your result
Every input is encoded in the URL. Click Share to send your exact scenario to someone, or save it for later.
The Formula
Your energy bill is calculated as follows:
Annual gas cost = (Gas kWh × Unit rate p/kWh) / 100 + (Standing charge p/day × 365) / 100
Total annual cost = Electricity cost + Gas cost
Appliance annual cost = (Watts × Hours/day × Days/year) / 1000 × Unit rate p/kWh / 100
The standing charge is a fixed daily amount charged regardless of how much energy you use. It covers the cost of maintaining the energy network, metering, and government obligations. Even if you use zero energy in a month, you still pay the standing charge.
All prices include VAT at 5% (the reduced rate for domestic energy). The Ofgem price cap sets the maximum unit rate and standing charge that suppliers can charge on their default (standard variable) tariffs.
Example
Sarah — Teacher, 34, Leeds
Sarah lives in a 3-bedroom semi-detached house with gas central heating. She pays by monthly direct debit and uses slightly above-average amounts of both electricity and gas.
My Energy Bill tab
Sarah's annual bill is £227 above the Ofgem typical household figure of £1,758. She could save money by improving her loft insulation (saving roughly £59/year on gas) and switching to LED bulbs throughout (saving roughly £69/year on electricity).
Cost by Appliance tab
Sarah's tumble dryer (2,500W, used 30 min/day, 200 days/year) costs roughly £69/year to run. Her fridge-freezer (150W, running 24/7) costs about £364/year — the most expensive appliance in her home because it never switches off.