How do I work out what my own electric blanket costs?

Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.

Does it cost more in some parts of the country?

Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Running costs

How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?

About 4p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 1 hour a day, that’s about £15 a year.

Which? measured 2p to 6p an hour in its tests (September 2026); we turn that back into kWh at the cap rate then.

Verified: 23 October 2026 from Ofgem price cap rates

Work out yours

Your electricity price

Average power while in use

watts

Hours each time

Times a week

An hour

4.0p

A week

28p

A month

£1.22

A year

£15

56 kWh a year. Unit rate only: the standing charge is paid whether or not anything is switched on.

An electric blanket heats you rather than the room, which is why it uses so little: a fraction of a kWh an hour, against 2 kW or more for a room heater. Most people use one to warm the bed for half an hour to an hour before getting in.

Warming the bed instead of the bedroom is one of the cheapest ways to stay warm at night. It isn’t a substitute for keeping the home warm enough during the day, which matters for health and for keeping damp away.

Ways to spend less

Switch it on half an hour before bed and off when you get in, unless it’s designed for all-night use.
Check it for wear each winter, and replace it if it is more than about ten years old, as fire services advise.

Compared with

Appliance	Typical cost	A year, used as shown
Electric blanket	4p an hour	£15 (1 hour a day)
Electric heater	53p an hour	£576 (3 hours a day)
Oil-filled radiator	53p an hour	£769 (4 hours a day)

At the Great Britain average electricity rate of 26.32p a kWh.

Common questions

How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?: About 4p an hour, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Used 1 hour a day, that’s about £15 a year. Which? measured 2p to 6p an hour in its tests (September 2026); we turn that back into kWh at the cap rate then.
How do I work out what my own electric blanket costs?: Multiply its power in kilowatts by the hours you use it and by your unit rate. A 1 kW appliance running for an hour uses 1 kWh, which costs 26p at the Great Britain average. Appliances with a thermostat use less than their rating over an hour.
Does it cost more in some parts of the country?: Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Other appliances

Add up several appliances in the electricity cost calculator, or see what your own home uses with the smart meter analyser.