What is the cheapest way to heat your home?
Gas central heating, electric heaters, a heat pump or a heated throw: what each costs at the Ofgem price cap, with a calculator for your own prices.
Your home
Prefilled with the Ofgem price cap. Type the unit rates from your bill.
| Heating | A month | Per kWh of heat |
|---|
One room or the whole house?
Per unit of heat, mains gas is about 3.0 times cheaper than electricity at the price cap (8.86p against 26.32p per kWh of heat). But gas central heating usually heats the whole house. For an evening in one room:
| 3 hours on a winter evening | Cost |
|---|---|
| Heated throw on the sofa | 11.8p |
| Electric heater in one 12 m² room, on a thermostat | 56.9p |
| Gas central heating for a whole 70 m² home | £1.12 |
So the cheapest plan for most homes is gas central heating at a lower temperature for the whole house, plus a heater or a heated throw where you actually sit. If you have a heat pump, or air conditioning that can heat, that beats both.
Frequently asked questions
Is gas or electric heating cheaper in the UK?
Per kWh of heat, gas: about 8.86p with a modern boiler against 26.32p for electricity at the price cap. Electric heating can still be cheaper when you heat only one room.
Is it cheaper to leave the heating on low all day?
Generally no: heating only when you need it uses less energy. A timer and a thermostat set a degree or two lower save more.
Is a heat pump cheaper to run than gas?
Usually yes per unit of heat: a heat pump gives around 3 kWh of heat per kWh of electricity, about 8.77p per kWh of heat at the price cap.
Running costs use the Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026: average unit rate for electricity paid by Direct Debit (26.32p/kWh, standing charge 54.83p/day) and gas (7.97p/kWh). National averages; your region and tariff may differ. Prices on Amazon change: check the live price before you buy.