Appliance Running Cost Calculator UK
At the July–September 2026 Ofgem price cap of 26.11p per kWh, running a 1,500W air fryer costs about 39p an hour, an electric oven about 55p, a washing machine roughly 18p a cycle and a fridge-freezer around £39–£117 a year. Pick any appliance below, set the hours and your own tariff, and see the real cost per hour, day, month and year.
Rate updated July 2026 (Ofgem price cap, Great Britain). Last reviewed 24 July 2026.
Check the label or manual for your exact model.
Default 26.11p is the Ofgem price-cap average for July–Sept 2026 (Great Britain, Direct Debit). Enter your own rate from your bill for exact figures.
Estimated running cost
19.6p / day
- Per hour of use
- 39.2p
- Per day (0.5h)
- 19.6p
- Per week
- £1.37
- Per month
- £5.95
- Per year
- £71.48
Based on 1,500W × 0.5h/day at 26.11p per kWh (0.75 kWh/day). Standing charges are billed separately and not included.
Typical UK running costs at a glance
Costs assume the Ofgem cap rate of 26.11p per kWh (July–September 2026, Great Britain, Direct Debit). Use the calculator above with your own tariff for exact figures.
| Appliance | Power | Per hour | Typical use | Cost per use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3,000W | 78.3p | 3-min boil | 3.9p |
| Toaster | 1,000W | 26.1p | 3 min | 1.3p |
| Microwave | 1,000W | 26.1p | 5 min | 2.2p |
| Air fryer | 1,500W | 39.2p | 30-min meal | 19.6p |
| Electric oven † | 2,100W | 54.8p | 1 hour | 54.8p |
| Slow cooker | 200W | 5.2p | 8-hour cook | 41.8p |
| Television (LED) | 70W | 1.8p | 4 hours | 7.3p |
| Games console (PS5 / Xbox) | 180W | 4.7p | 2-hour session | 9.4p |
| Gaming PC (desktop) | 400W | 10.4p | 3 hours | 31.3p |
| Vacuum cleaner | 900W | 23.5p | 20 min | 7.8p |
| Hair dryer | 2,000W | 52.2p | 10 min | 8.7p |
| Electric shower | 8,500W | £2.22 | 8-min shower | 29.6p |
| Tower fan | 45W | 1.2p | 8 hours | 9.4p |
| Portable air conditioner † | 1,200W | 31.3p | 4 hours | £1.25 |
| Fan heater † | 2,000W | 52.2p | 3 hours | £1.57 |
| Dehumidifier † | 300W | 7.8p | 6 hours | 47.0p |
† Thermostatic appliances (ovens, hobs, heaters, dehumidifiers) cycle on and off once up to temperature, so real running cost is typically 50–70% of the full-power figure shown.
Washing machines, dishwashers & tumble dryers (per cycle)
These are rated per cycle, not by the hour — a cycle mixes short heating spikes with idle time, so a simple watts × time sum overstates them. Cost per cycle is at 26.11p/kWh; the annual figures are Which?’s independent estimates (as of 1 July 2026) for typical household use.
| Appliance | Energy per cycle | Cost per cycle | Typical per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washing machine | ~0.7 kWh | 18.3p | ~£65 |
| Dishwasher | ~1.0 kWh | 26.1p | ~£67 |
| Tumble dryer (heat pump) | ~1.9 kWh | 49.6p | ~£54 |
| Tumble dryer (condenser / vented) | ~5.0 kWh | £1.31 | ~£138 |
Fridge-freezers (per year)
A fridge-freezer runs 24/7 but draws little power. It is rated in kWh per year on the energy label, so annual cost is the sensible measure. Figures at 26.11p/kWh; actual use depends on size, energy rating, ambient temperature and how full it is kept.
| Type | Typical energy | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge-freezer — small, A-rated | ~150 kWh/yr | ~£39 |
| Fridge-freezer — standard (250–400L) | ~250 kWh/yr | ~£65 |
| Fridge-freezer — American-style | ~450 kWh/yr | ~£117 |
See our picks for the appliances above
Frequently asked questions
How is appliance running cost calculated?
Running cost = (watts ÷ 1,000) × hours × unit rate. A 1,000W appliance running for 1 hour uses 1 kWh; at the July–September 2026 Ofgem price-cap rate of 26.11p/kWh that is 26.11p. Your daily standing charge is billed separately and does not change with how much you use.
How much does it cost to run an air fryer in the UK?
A typical 1,500W air fryer costs about 39p per hour at the July–September 2026 Ofgem price-cap rate of 26.11p/kWh, so a 30-minute meal is roughly 20p. Because most people use one a few times a week rather than for hours daily, Which? puts the typical annual cost at around £32 — usually cheaper than heating a full-size electric oven for the same food.
Is it cheaper to run an air fryer or an oven?
Usually the air fryer for small portions. A 1,500W air fryer costs about 39p per hour and typically runs 15–30 minutes; a 2,100W electric oven costs about 55p per hour at full power and takes longer to heat up. Both figures are at the July–September 2026 Ofgem price-cap rate of 26.11p/kWh. For a large roast a full oven can work out more efficient per meal, but for chips, a couple of chicken breasts or reheating, the air fryer is cheaper.
How much does it cost to run an electric oven?
An electric oven draws around 2,100W, so about 55p per hour at full power (the July–September 2026 Ofgem price-cap rate of 26.11p/kWh). Ovens have a thermostat that cycles the element on and off once up to temperature, so real consumption is usually 50–70% of that — Which? estimates roughly £62 a year for a typical single oven.
How much does it cost to run a washing machine or dishwasher?
These are rated per cycle, not by the hour. A typical wash uses about 0.7 kWh (around 18p at 26.11p/kWh) and a dishwasher about 1.0 kWh (around 26p). Run five times a week that works out at roughly £65 and £67 a year respectively, per Which?. Washing at 30°C instead of 60°C is the single biggest saving.
How much does it cost to run a fridge-freezer?
A fridge-freezer runs 24/7 but only sips power. A modern A-rated model uses roughly 150–250 kWh a year (about £39–£65 at the 2026 cap rate), while a large American-style model can reach £100+. It is rated in kWh per year on the energy label, not in watts.
Which appliances cost the most to run?
By the hour, the priciest are high-wattage heat appliances: an electric shower is about £2.22 per hour (~30p a shower), a kettle 78p per hour (~4p a boil), and an oven, fan heater or hair dryer around 52–55p per hour — all at the July–September 2026 Ofgem price-cap rate of 26.11p/kWh. But showers, kettles and hair dryers only run for minutes, so over a year the biggest costs come from appliances left on for hours: tumble dryers, portable heaters and air conditioning.
Is 26.11p a fixed electricity price?
No. 26.11p per kWh is the Ofgem price-cap average for Great Britain on a Direct Debit tariff between 1 July and 30 September 2026. Your actual rate varies by region, payment method and tariff — some fixed and off-peak (Economy 7 / EV) rates are very different. Enter the unit rate from your own bill for an accurate figure.
Methodology & sources
Running cost is calculated as (watts ÷ 1,000) × hours × unit rate. The default unit rate is the Ofgem energy price-cap electricity rate of 26.11p per kWh for 1 July–30 September 2026 (Great Britain average, Direct Debit, including VAT). Appliance wattages and per-cycle / per-year energy figures are typical mid-range values drawn from the sources below; individual models vary, so every field in the calculator is editable.
- Electricity unit rate & standing charge: Ofgem — price cap unit rates and standing charges. Check your region: Ofgem regional rate lookup.
- Typical appliance running costs: Which? — how much your appliances cost to run.
- Appliance wattages & per-cycle energy: Selectra UK — appliance running costs and the Energy Saving Trust.
Figures are estimates for guidance only and are not financial advice. Actual costs depend on your electricity tariff, appliance model, thermostat cycling and how you use it. Wattages are typical mid-range values — enter your own unit rate (shown on your energy bill) and your appliance’s wattage for the most accurate result. UKPicks is reader-supported and may earn a commission from qualifying purchases; this never affects the figures above.