What is a kWh, and what does one cost?
Published 23 October 2026. Prices are the cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.
A kilowatt-hour, kWh, is the unit your energy is sold in. It’s an amount of energy: what something rated at 1,000 watts uses if you run it for an hour. A 2,000 watt heater uses one in half an hour; an 8 watt LED bulb takes about 5 days.
Under the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, a kWh of electricity costs 26.32p on average and a kWh of gas 7.97p, paying by direct debit. On top of that you pay a standing charge for each day you’re connected, whatever you use.
What uses a kWh
| Appliance | Typical power | Time to use 1 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2,750 W | 22 minutes |
| Electric oven | 2,200 W | 27 minutes |
| Electric hob, one ring | 1,500 W | 40 minutes |
| Microwave | 1,050 W | 57 minutes |
| Slow cooker | 225 W | 4 hours |
| Electric heater (fan or convector) | 2,000 W | 30 minutes |
| Iron | 2,000 W | 30 minutes |
| Vacuum cleaner | 750 W | 80 minutes |
| TV (LCD) | 100 W | 10 hours |
| Games console | 150 W | 7 hours |
The middle of National Energy Action’s ranges for typical models. Appliances that run in cycles use a set amount each time: washing machine, full load about 0.8 kWh a load, tumble dryer, vented or condenser about 5.1 kWh a load.
Each has its own page in appliance running costs, and the electricity cost calculator adds up several at your own rate and your own habits.
kW and kWh
Watts and kilowatts (1 kW is 1,000 W) measure how fast something uses energy. Kilowatt- hours measure how much it has used. Power times time: a 3 kW kettle boiling for 3 minutes uses 3 × 3 ÷ 60 = 0.15 kWh. What runs for hours, a heater or a tumble dryer, usually matters more than the most powerful thing you use for a minute or two.
Reading it on your bill
Your bill shows how many kWh you used in the period, the unit rate in pence per kWh, and the standing charge per day. Multiply the first two, add the standing charge times the days, and you have the bill before any discounts. Gas meters measure cubic metres or cubic feet, and the bill converts them into kWh using the gas’s calorific value; the gas analyser does the same conversion for a smart meter download.
Your yearly kWh is the number that matters most when comparing tariffs or checking your direct debit. It’s usually on your annual statement, or in your supplier’s app. The tariff checker and direct debit checker both start from it.
Common questions
How much does 1 kWh of electricity cost?
Under the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, 26.32p on average, paying by direct debit, plus a daily standing charge of 54.83p however much you use. The rate differs a little by region.
How much does 1 kWh of gas cost?
7.97p on average under the current cap, including VAT, plus a standing charge of 29.68p a day. That is 30% of the price of electricity per kWh, which is why gas heating costs less to run than direct electric heating.
What is the difference between kW and kWh?
A kilowatt (kW) is how fast something uses energy right now; a kilowatt-hour (kWh) is how much it has used. A 2 kW heater running for one hour uses 2 kWh. Your bill charges for kWh; an appliance’s rating, on its label, is in watts or kW.
How many kWh does a house use a day?
Ofgem’s typical home uses 2,500 kWh of electricity a year, about 6.8 kWh a day, and 9,500 kWh of gas, about 26 kWh a day on average and far more in winter.
Rates from Ofgem, checked 23 October 2026; regional rates are on energy prices by region. Appliance figures from National Energy Action.