Electric heater running cost calculator
At 26.32p per kWh, a 2 kW electric heater costs 52.6p an hour on full power. The same heat from a gas boiler costs about 18.8p.
- An hour
- 39.5p
- A day
- £1.58
- A week
- £11.05
- A month
- £47.90
- Same heat from gas, an hour
- 14.1p
1,500 W heater on for 4 hours a day, 7 days a week, heating 100% of the time, at 26.32p per kWh.
Winter means October to March. Excludes the daily standing charge.
Electric heater costs per hour
At 26.32p per kWh, on full power, compared with the same heat from a gas boiler.
| Heater | Typical power | Per hour | Same heat from gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil-filled radiator | 1,500 W | 39.5p | 14.1p |
| Convector heater | 2,000 W | 52.6p | 18.8p |
| Fan heater | 2,000 W | 52.6p | 18.8p |
| Panel heater | 1,000 W | 26.3p | 9.4p |
| Halogen heater | 1,200 W | 31.6p | 11.3p |
| Storage heater | 2,500 W | 65.8p | 23.4p |
How we calculate this
Every electric heater turns electricity into heat at almost 100% efficiency, so the cost depends only on its power, how long it runs and your rate. Types differ in how they spread heat, not in how cheaply they make it.
For comparison, a gas boiler at 85% efficiency makes heat for about 9.4p per kWh at the current cap, against 26.32p for electric.
Questions people ask
Which electric heater is cheapest to run?
They all cost the same per kWh, because they all turn electricity into heat almost perfectly. The cheapest is the one that heats only the space you need, for the shortest time. A thermostat and a timer help most.
Is it cheaper to use an electric heater or the central heating?
Per unit of heat, gas central heating is cheaper: about 9.4p per kWh against 26.32p. But heating one room with a small heater can cost less than heating the whole house, if you only use that room.
How much does an oil-filled radiator cost per hour?
A 1,500 W oil-filled radiator costs up to 39.5p an hour at the price cap. With its thermostat cutting in and out, the real cost is often lower.
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