Running costs · price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026
How much does an oil-filled radiator cost to run?
An oil-filled radiator rated at 2,000 W uses 2 kWh an hour, which costs about 52p an hour at the current price cap of 26.11p per kWh. Used for 3 hours a day, that is £1.57 a day, £47.00 over a 30-day month or £285.12 over the colder half of the year (182 days).
Prices checked against Ofgem on .
Per hour
52p
2,000 W
Per day
£1.57
for 3 hours
per winter
£285.12
at 3 hours a day, 182 days
Unit rate
26.11p
per kWh, price cap
Oil-filled radiator running cost by time used
At 2,000 W and 26.11p per kWh. The week and winter columns assume the same use every day for 182 days.
| Time on | Per day | Per week | Per winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 8.7p | 61p | £15.84 |
| 30 minutes | 26p | £1.83 | £47.52 |
| 1 hour | 52p | £3.66 | £95.04 |
| 2 hours | £1.04 | £7.31 | £190.08 |
| 4 hours | £2.09 | £14.62 | £380.16 |
| 8 hours | £4.18 | £29.24 | £760.32 |
Oil-filled radiator running cost by electricity price
Cost over a 182-day heating season at the same usage. Fixed deals vary, so check the unit rate on your bill.
| Tariff | Unit rate | Per winter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 price cap | 26.11p | £285.12 |
| 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap | 26.32p | £287.41 |
| A 20p per kWh fixed deal | 20p | £218.40 |
| A 24p per kWh fixed deal | 24p | £262.08 |
| A 30p per kWh fixed deal | 30p | £327.60 |
How the cost is worked out
Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. For this oil-filled radiator: 2,000 ÷ 1,000 × 1 hour × 26.11p = 52p an hour. Check the rating plate on your own oil-filled radiator, as models vary.
Electric heat or gas central heating?
Under the same price cap, gas costs 7.33p per kWh against 26.11p for electricity. So a gas boiler usually heats a room for less, even though some heat is lost in the boiler. A plug-in heater can still cost less for a short spell in one room while the rest of the house stays cool.
From 1 October
The price cap changes to 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026. At the usage above, an oil-filled radiator would cost £287.41 a year, £2.29 more than now.
Guides and definitions
- Energy price cap explained: rates from 1 October 2026 and your bill (Guide)
- Is Economy 7 worth it? Hours, price cap and the night-use break-even (Guide)
- Standing charge vs unit rate: which energy tariff is cheaper for you? (Guide)
- Economy 7 (Economy 7 is an electricity tariff with seven cheaper off-peak hours, usually overnight, and a dearer daytime rate; Ofgem assumes 42% of use falls off-peak.)
- Typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) (Typical domestic consumption values are Ofgem's yearly usage figures for a typical home, 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas from 1 July 2026.)
- Energy price cap (The energy price cap is Ofgem’s limit on unit rates and standing charges for default tariffs; typical bill £1,723 from 1 October 2026.)
- Standing charge (A standing charge is the fixed daily amount on an energy bill, paid whatever you use; the capped average is 54.83p a day for electricity.)
Other appliances
- Fridge freezer (running costs)
- TV (running costs)
- Electric shower (running costs)
- Immersion heater (running costs)
- Electric heater (running costs)
- Dehumidifier (running costs)
- Microwave (running costs)
- Electric hob (running costs)
- Hairdryer (running costs)
- Iron (running costs)
Appliance running cost calculator · Use your own wattage and unit rate
Common questions
How much does an oil-filled radiator cost to run per hour?
About 52p an hour for a 2,000 W model at 26.11p per kWh.
How much does an oil-filled radiator cost to run a day?
About £1.57 if you use it for 3 hours. Double the time and the cost doubles.
How many watts does an oil-filled radiator use?
The Centre for Sustainable Energy gives an average rating of 2,000 W. Yours will be on the label or rating plate.
Sources and assumptions
- Prices use the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026: 26.11p per kWh, the average for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not covered by the cap.
- Power ratings are the average figures published by the Centre for Sustainable Energy. Check the label on your own appliance for its wattage.
- The daily standing charge (57.19p a day) is paid whatever you use, so it is not included.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
- Centre for Sustainable Energy: how much electricity am I using? (reviewed July 2026)
These are estimates. Your bill depends on your tariff, your region and how you use the appliance.