Energy Bill Calculator UK | Ofgem Price Cap Rates

How to use the energy bill calculator

Type Electricity used per year in kWh. You'll find it on your bill, your annual statement or your supplier's app. A typical home uses about 2,500 kWh.
If you have mains gas, leave I have a gas supply ticked and type Gas used per year. A typical home uses about 9,500 kWh. Untick it if your home is all-electric or uses oil or LPG.
Read the Yearly bill, Monthly bill and Daily cost, and the Electricity and Gas split.
Look at Usage charges and Standing charges to see how much you pay even if you use nothing, and compare with the Ofgem typical household bill.
Check the dates of the price cap in the notes under the result, then tap Share link to send the result.

Why use this calculator

It uses the Ofgem price cap figures, and it shows the unit rates and standing charges it uses. You can see the sums, so you can check them against your own bill.

It splits usage from standing charges. The standing charge is a daily fee you pay whatever you use, and it's a bigger part of the bill than many people expect.

It shows the dates. The cap changes every three months, and the page tells you which period the rates are for, so you know if they are still current.

It is simple. Two numbers in, one bill out. There is no tariff comparison trying to sell you a switch.

How we worked it out

Your numbers, step by step. This updates as you change the calculator.

Electricity usage: 2,500 kWh × 26.32p per kWh = £658.00
Electricity standing charge: 54.83p a day × 365 days = £200.13
Gas usage: 9,500 kWh × 7.97p per kWh = £757.15
Gas standing charge: 29.68p a day × 365 days = £108.33
Yearly bill = £658.00 + £200.13 + £757.15 + £108.33 = £1,723.61
Monthly bill = £1,723.61 ÷ 12 = £143.63
Daily cost = £1,723.61 ÷ 365 days = £4.72

The formula

For each fuel, the bill is the energy you use plus a daily fee for being connected.

Usage cost = kWh used × unit rate (pence per kWh) ÷ 100.
Standing charge = daily standing charge (pence) × 365 days ÷ 100.
Fuel bill = usage cost + standing charge.
Yearly bill = electricity bill + gas bill (if you have gas).
Monthly bill = yearly bill ÷ 12, and daily cost = yearly bill ÷ 365.

For example, a home using 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas pays £858.13 for electricity (£658.00 usage and £200.13 standing charge) and £865.48 for gas (£757.15 and £108.33). That is £1,723.61 a year, and about £308 of it is standing charges.

The price cap, and why we show dates

Ofgem sets a price cap on the unit rates and standing charges that suppliers can charge on standard variable tariffs in Great Britain. The cap changes every three months, in January, April, July and October. That’s why the results show the dates the rates are for, and why the figures below need checking again after the period ends.

What we assume

These are the rates for 1 October to 31 December 2026, from Ofgem, as a Great Britain average for Direct Debit.

	Unit rate	Standing charge
Electricity	26.32p per kWh	54.83p a day
Gas	7.97p per kWh	29.68p a day

Last quarter (1 July to 30 September 2026): electricity was 26.11p per kWh and 57.19p a day, and gas 7.33p per kWh and 29.04p a day.
VAT: there’s no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The gas rates include 5% VAT.
Typical use: 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year, the usual Ofgem household for the cap.
Regions and payment method: rates vary by region, and prepayment and other payment methods cost a little differently. MoneySavingExpert puts the typical bill for the same period at £1,678 on prepayment and £1,861 on other payment methods. We use the Direct Debit average.
Your tariff: a fixed or special tariff has its own rates. This calculator uses the cap, so it is a benchmark.

Tips

Use a full year of kWh from your bill or app if you can. A single winter month will give a bill that is too high.
Your own tariff may differ. A fixed or special tariff has its own rates, and the cap varies a little by region and by how you pay. Use the result as a benchmark, not a quote.
Remember the standing charge. It's charged every day, so a home that uses very little energy still pays it.
To work out what a heater or appliance costs to run, multiply its kW by the hours and by the unit rate. The solar panel calculator shows how much of your electricity panels could make.
Thinking of cutting your bill with insulation or a new boiler? Compare the costs and savings with the energy upgrade payback tool and the new boiler cost calculator.

FAQs

What is the current Ofgem price cap unit rate and standing charge?

For 1 October to 31 December 2026 (Great Britain average, Direct Debit), electricity is 26.32p per kWh with a 54.83p a day standing charge, and gas is 7.97p per kWh with a 29.68p a day standing charge. The gas rates include 5% VAT.

How often does the price cap change?

Every three months. The current cap runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026, and the next one starts on 1 January 2027. It hadn't been announced when we last checked on 6 November 2026, so check the dates shown in the calculator.

How do I calculate my electricity bill in the UK?

Multiply the kWh you use by the unit rate, then add the standing charge for each day. For example, 2,500 kWh at 26.32p is £658.00, plus 365 days at 54.83p (£200.13), makes £858.13 a year.

How much is a typical household energy bill?

The Ofgem cap for a typical home (2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas) is £1,723 a year for 1 October to 31 December 2026, up from £1,663 in the previous quarter. This calculator gives £1,723.61 for the same use, which is about £143.63 a month.

How much does it cost to run a heater per hour?

A 1 kW heater uses 1 kWh in an hour, which costs 26.32p at the current electricity unit rate. A 2 kW heater running for 3 hours uses 6 kWh and costs about £1.58.

Does the price cap limit my total bill?

No. It limits the price per unit and the daily standing charge, not the total. If you use more energy, you pay more.

Why is my bill different from the calculator?

You may be on a fixed or other tariff, in a region with different rates, or paying a different way. Prepayment customers and those who don't pay by Direct Debit pay a little differently. The calculator uses the Great Britain average for Direct Debit.