Heating Cost Calculator UK
Work out exactly how much it costs to heat your home with our free UK heating cost calculator. Compare gas central heating, electric heaters, storage heaters and air-source heat pumps side by side. The calculator uses current Ofgem cap rates of 6.76p per kWh for gas and 24.5p per kWh for electricity, and factors in boiler efficiency or heat pump COP to give you a realistic cost estimate.
Heating is the single biggest energy expense for most UK households, accounting for around 55% of the average annual energy bill. Whether you are deciding between replacing an old gas boiler or investing in a heat pump, or simply wondering how much your electric radiator costs to run each evening, this tool gives you the numbers you need. Enter your heater output, daily running hours and the number of months you heat your home to see costs broken down hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and annually.
Comparing Heating Systems in the UK
The cost of heating your home depends heavily on the type of system you use. Gas central heating remains the most common and generally the cheapest option per kWh, with the current cap rate at 6.76p. However, boiler efficiency matters: a modern condensing boiler runs at around 90% efficiency, while an older non-condensing model may only achieve 70-80%, meaning you burn more gas for the same amount of heat.
Electric heating is simpler to install but costs around 3.6 times more per kWh. Heat pumps bridge this gap by delivering 3 to 4 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity consumed, bringing the effective cost per unit of heat close to or even below gas. The UK Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers grants of up to £7,500 towards the cost of an air-source heat pump. For full details, visit Ofgem's Boiler Upgrade Scheme page.
Reducing Your Heating Costs
Before upgrading your heating system, consider improving your home's insulation. Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and draught-proofing can reduce heat loss by up to 40%, meaning your existing system works less hard. A programmable thermostat that matches your schedule avoids heating an empty house, and turning the thermostat down by just one degree saves roughly 10% on your heating bill.
If you are weighing up a full system change, use our gas usage calculator alongside this tool to model your current gas costs, then compare with the heat pump figures here. For homes considering solar thermal or PV panels to offset hot water heating, our solar panel savings calculator can help you estimate the payback period.
Gas heating is substantially cheaper. The gas unit rate is 6.76p/kWh compared to 24.5p/kWh for electricity — roughly 3.6 times cheaper per unit. Even after boiler efficiency losses, gas central heating costs around a third of equivalent electric heating.
A heat pump with a COP of 3.0 brings the effective cost to around 8.2p per kWh of heat — comparable to gas. In a well-insulated home achieving a COP of 4.0, a heat pump can be cheaper than gas. Compared to direct electric heating, savings are 60–70%.
Between 19°C and 21°C. The WHO recommends a minimum of 18°C for healthy adults. Reducing by 1°C saves roughly 10% on your heating bill.
Insulate your loft and cavity walls, draught-proof doors and windows, use a programmable thermostat, bleed radiators, turn the thermostat down by 1°C, and service your boiler annually. Close curtains at dusk to retain warmth.
Storage heaters charge overnight using cheaper Economy 7 rates (typically 10–12p/kWh). This makes them cheaper than standard electric radiators but still generally more expensive than gas central heating.
This calculator provides estimates for guidance only. Results are based on the figures you enter and current Ofgem cap energy rates. This is not financial, legal or professional advice. For information on energy tariffs, visit Ofgem.