How Much Electricity is Consumed by Appliances in the UK?

If you're wondering how much it will cost to run your appliances in 2023 post-energy price cap and guarantee, we've got the answer for you. Currently, the Energy Price Guarantee annually caps household energy prices at £2,500. But it's necessary to note that this limit pertains to the price per unit of kWh rather than the overall sum paid. This means that if your usage is typical, you'll encounter rates of 34.0p/kWh for electricity and 10.3p/kWh for gas, comptent with VAT, from October 1, 2022, until July 1, 2023 (following an extension of three months from the original date of April 1, 2023). Our complete guide on the cost of electricity per kWh and whether or not you should fix your energy bills is worth a gander.

Wondering how much energy and money typical appliances use and cost to run in the UK? Taking into account the average power ratings of some of the most commonly used appliances, we've tabled the estimated costs you can expect to pay per hour and per ten minutes of use. We've included costs for appliances such as electric showers, immersion heaters, kettles, tumble dryers, electric heaters, ovens, washing machines, and oil-filled radiators. Additionally, you'll find costs for appliances such as hairdryers, hobs, grills, irons, toasters, microwaves, electric mowers, vacuum cleaners, dehumidifiers, towel rails, plasma TVs, fridge-freezers, freezers, fridges, heating blankets, desktops, game consoles, LCD TVs, laptops, TV boxes, DVD players, extractor fans, and broadband routers. Please note that expenses will not be 24 times the listed figures, as some appliances, such as fridges and freezers, cycle on and off.

Electricity Consumption of Household Appliances in the UK

Have you ever wondered how much electricity your household appliances consume? The figures below give an indication of the average electricity consumption and cost of running some of the most common household appliances in the UK.

Washing Machines

On average, a washing machine in the UK uses 2,100 watts (2.1 kWh), costing £1.09 per hour or 17p for 10 minutes.

Televisions

The electricity consumption of televisions depends on the type of TV you have. A standard LCD TV is estimated to use 120 watts (0.12 kWh) and costs around 6p per hour to power. A plasma TV, on the other hand, uses around 350 watts (0.35 kWh) and costs about 8p per hour to power.

Light Bulbs

Electricity consumption of light bulbs varies depending on wattage. An average non-energy efficient 100 watt light bulb uses 0.1 kWh and costs 5.2p per hour to power. An LED bulb, at only 4 watts, uses just 0.004 kWh and costs a mere 2.1p per hour to power.

Fridge Freezers

The running costs of a fridge freezer depend on its efficiency ratings, size in litres, usage, and other energy-consuming features. Efficiency rating can provide an estimation, but it’s important to make practical comparisons. For example, two similar sized A-rated fridge freezers cost around 10p per day to run, whereas a D-rated model costs around 21p per day, and an F-rated model costs around 39p per day. Comparing different-sized fridge freezers with the same energy efficiency rating, the larger model usually costs more to run. Therefore, opting for a smaller fridge freezer may save energy and money.

A quick trick to comparing energy consumption is to check the annual energy consumption in kWh/annum under the energy label rating.

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To get an accurate measure of your household’s power usage, modern technology can help. Energy monitors, such as those provided by some smart meters, tell you how much energy you use each hour and compare your usage over time.

Curious about the energy usage of your boiler? Check out our full breakdown!

Appliance Running Costs Calculator UK

The above table serves as a reference point for the average electricity consumption and cost of running common appliances in the UK.

It is essential to keep in mind that the modification of the energy price cap happens twice yearly, exerting an impact on your energy tariff and resulting in fluctuations. Thus, we highly suggest that you consult your energy bills and smart meter as they would provide a precise depiction of your energy consumption.