Running costs
Electric heating cost per month in the UK
The short answer
One 1.5kW heater used for 4 hours a day costs about £48.60 a month at full power (27p/kWh). Find your own row below.
Written and checked by the RapidHeat UK team · Last updated October 2026 · how we work out running costs
Key takeaways
- Monthly cost = kW × hours a day × 30 × unit rate.
- A thermostat means real use is usually below these full-power figures.
- Heating one room is usually far cheaper than heating every room.
Monthly cost table at 27p/kWh (full power, 30 days)
| Hours a day | 1kW heater | 1.5kW heater | 2kW heater |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | £16.20 | £24.30 | £32.40 |
| 4 hours | £32.40 | £48.60 | £64.80 |
| 6 hours | £48.60 | £72.90 | £97.20 |
| 8 hours | £64.80 | £97.20 | £129.60 |
Typical monthly cost by room
| Room | Typical use | Rough monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Home office | 1kW, 6 hours, weekdays | about £35.64 (22 days) |
| Bedroom | 1kW, 2 hours on a timer | about £16.20 |
| Living room evenings | 1.5kW, 4 hours | about £48.60 |
These are full-power figures. Once the room is warm, a thermostat cuts the hours the element is actually on. For hour-by-hour maths see 2kW heater running cost or the running cost calculator.
How to bring the monthly bill down
- Heat only the room you are in and keep the door closed.
- Use a timer instead of leaving the heater on all day.
- Set 19–20°C on the thermostat.
- Check whether your tariff has cheaper off-peak hours.
RapidHeat ceramic heater
4.8/5 · 1,247 UK customers£49.95· £89.91 for two · £110.89 for three (about £36.96 each)
- Thermostat, timer and remote
- Warm room in about 5 minutes
- Free tracked UK delivery
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Questions people ask
- How much does electric heating cost per month in the UK?
- One 1.5kW heater used 4 hours a day at full power costs about £48.60 a month at 27p/kWh. Your figure depends on wattage, hours, your unit rate and how often the thermostat cycles off.
- Is it cheaper to heat one room with electric than the whole house with gas?
- Often, if you only use one room. Heating a whole house to warm a single living room wastes energy. Compare your own figures before deciding.
- Why is my real bill lower than these tables?
- The tables assume the heater runs at full power the whole time. A thermostat switches it off once the room is warm, so actual use is usually lower.
RapidHeat ceramic heater
4.8/5 · 1,247 UK customers£49.95· £89.91 for two · £110.89 for three (about £36.96 each)
- Thermostat, timer and remote
- Warm room in about 5 minutes
- Free tracked UK delivery
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Perfect for my cold office
I have a small office with a door that gets really cold because the building management keeps the winter temperature far too low for comfort. I plugged this into the socket above my desk and now I am warm without anyone even knowing it is there. I love it.
Great in the bathroom
We use it to take the chill off the bathroom before the kids' bath time. Warms up fast and the timer is handy. Four stars only because I wish the display were a little dimmer at night.
Worth being straight about: RapidHeat is built for rooms up to about 12 m². It is not a replacement for central heating and it will not transform an open-plan lounge or an uninsulated garage. If it is not right for your room, send it back within 30 days.
Warm the room you use, not the whole house
Order RapidHeat today with free tracked UK delivery and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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