Energy Bills and Switching Suppliers UK 2026 — Complete Guide

Energy Bill Calculator UK — Estimate Your Gas & Electric Costs

Calculate your energy bills based on usage. Average costs, unit rates, standing charges, and tips to estimate your annual gas and electricity spend.

· · 4 min read

Understanding how your energy bill is calculated helps you budget and find savings. Here’s how to estimate your costs.

Read more: See our Energy Grants guide for a complete overview of this topic.

Energy Price Cap Rates

Current Cap (April 2025)

ComponentElectricityGas
Unit rate~24.5p/kWh~6.24p/kWh
Standing charge~60p/day~32p/day

*Rates shown are typical; actual rates vary by region and payment method.

Typical Annual Bills (Price Cap)

Household SizeAnnual Bill
Small (1-2 bed flat)£1,200-1,400
Medium (3-bed semi)£1,600-1,900
Large (4-5 bed)£2,200-2,800

How Bills Are Calculated

The Formula

Total Bill = Standing Charges + Usage Charges

Standing Charges = Daily rate × Number of days
Usage Charges = Unit rate × kWh consumed

Example Calculation (Monthly)

ComponentCalculationCost
Electricity
Standing charge£0.60 × 30 days£18.00
Usage242 kWh × £0.245£59.29
Electricity total£77.29
Gas
Standing charge£0.32 × 30 days£9.60
Usage833 kWh × £0.0624£51.98
Gas total£61.58
Monthly total£138.87
Annual total~£1,666

Average Usage by Property

Electricity Usage (Annual kWh)

Property TypeLowMediumHigh
1-bed flat1,5002,0002,500
2-bed flat1,8002,4003,000
2-bed house2,1002,7003,400
3-bed house2,4002,9003,900
4-bed house2,8003,8005,100
5+ bed house3,4004,6006,100

Gas Usage (Annual kWh)

Property TypeLowMediumHigh
1-bed flat6,0008,00010,000
2-bed flat7,00010,00013,000
2-bed house8,00011,00015,000
3-bed house9,00012,00017,000
4-bed house11,00015,00021,000
5+ bed house14,00019,00026,000

Estimate Your Annual Bill

Step-by-Step Calculator

StepYour Input
1. Annual electricity (kWh)_______
2. × unit rate (£0.245)= £_______
3. + standing charge (365 × £0.60)+ £219
Electricity total= £_______
4. Annual gas (kWh)_______
5. × unit rate (£0.0624)= £_______
6. + standing charge (365 × £0.32)+ £117
Gas total= £_______
Annual total= £_______

Quick Estimate Table

Annual UsageElectric (kWh)Gas (kWh)Annual Bill
Low1,8007,500£1,150
Medium-low2,40010,000£1,400
Medium2,90012,000£1,650
Medium-high3,50015,000£2,000
High4,30018,000£2,400
Very high5,50023,000£3,050

Appliance Running Costs

Common Appliances

AppliancePower (Watts)Hours/DaykWh/DayWeekly Cost
LED TV50W40.2£0.34
Laptop50W80.4£0.69
Desktop PC200W81.6£2.74
Games console150W30.45£0.77
Fridge-freezer40W240.96£1.65
Washing machine500W1 (6×/wk)N/A£0.74
Tumble dryer3000W1 (3×/wk)N/A£2.21
Dishwasher1800W11.8£3.09
Kettle3000W0.250.75£1.29
Electric oven2000W12.0£3.43
Microwave1000W0.30.3£0.51
Electric shower9000W0.171.5£2.57
Hair dryer2000W0.170.34£0.58

Heating Costs (Electric)

Heater TypePowerCost Per Hour
Oil-filled radiator1.5kW£0.37
Fan heater2kW£0.49
Halogen heater1.2kW£0.29
Panel heater1kW£0.25
Storage heater (charging)2kW£0.49
Electric blanket0.1kW£0.02

Seasonal Variation

Typical Monthly Usage Pattern

MonthElectric (kWh)Gas (kWh)Combined Cost
January2801,800£185
February2601,600£170
March2401,300£150
April220900£115
May210500£90
June200300£75
July200300£75
August200300£75
September220500£90
October2401,000£130
November2601,400£160
December2801,800£185
Annual2,81011,700~£1,500

Compare Tariffs

Tariff Types

Tariff TypeFeatures
Standard variableDefault, price cap protected
Fixed rateLocked price for 1-2 years
Green/renewableFrom renewable sources
Economy 7/10Cheaper night rates
PrepaymentPay as you go

When to Fix

SituationRecommendation
Prices expected to riseFix now
Prices expected to fallStay on variable
Want certaintyFix
Low usageMay not matter much

Ways to Reduce Bills

Quick Wins

ActionTypical Saving
Switch supplier/tariff£100-300/year
Turn down thermostat 1°C£80-100/year
Switch off standby£55/year
LED bulbs£40/year
Efficient shower head£70/year (water & energy)
Draught proofing£30-50/year

Bigger Investments

ActionCostAnnual SavingPayback
Loft insulation£300-500£200+2-3 years
Cavity wall insulation£500-1,500£150-3003-5 years
Smart thermostat£150-250£75-1502-3 years
Solar panels£5,000-8,000£300-50010-15 years
Heat pump£10,000-15,000£200-50020-30+ years

Behavioural Changes

ChangeImpact
Shorter showersSignificant
Full washing machine loadsModerate
Air dry clothes£50+/year
Cook efficientlyModerate
Layer up instead of heatingSignificant

Standing Charges

Why We Pay Them

PurposeDetails
Network maintenancePipes, wires, infrastructure
Meter costsReading, maintenance
Policy costsSome green levies
Fixed regardless of usageCan’t avoid

Current Standing Charges

FuelDaily ChargeAnnual Total
Electricity~60p~£219
Gas~32p~£117
Total~92p~£336

Impact on Low Users

SituationImpact
Holiday homeHigh proportion in standing charges
Very efficient homeStill pay full standing charge
Electric-only (no gas)Save £117/year gas standing charge

Summary

HouseholdTypical Annual Bill
1-2 bed flat£1,200-1,400
3-bed house£1,600-1,900
Large house£2,200-2,800
Cost ComponentTypical Rate
Electricity unit24-25p/kWh
Gas unit6-7p/kWh
Electricity standing60p/day
Gas standing32p/day

You Might Also Find Useful

Sources

  1. GOV.UK — Winter Fuel Payment
  2. GOV.UK — Cold Weather Payment