How much does it cost to run a electric blanket? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a electric blanket rated at 150W costs 3.9p an hour to run and around £10.81 a year assuming 1 pre-warm a night, about 45 minutes.
Per hour
3.9p
Per typical use
3.0p
Per day
3.0p
Per week
21p
Per year
£10.81
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 150W for a electric blanket; published figures for this appliance range from 60W to 200W. An electric blanket only needs to run for the 20–45 minutes it takes to warm the bed before you get in — most modern models include a timer or auto-off for exactly this reason. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 1 pre-warm a night, about 45 minutes, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 4.2p | £11.44 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 4.0p | £11.04 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 4.0p | £10.93 |
| London | 26.60 | 4.0p | £10.92 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 4.0p | £10.91 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 4.0p | £10.90 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 4.0p | £10.88 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 4.0p | £10.87 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 4.0p | £10.82 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 3.9p | £10.72 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 3.8p | £10.51 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 3.8p | £10.51 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 3.8p | £10.45 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 3.8p | £10.41 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 3.9p | £10.81 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £10.41 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £11.44 a year — a gap of £1.03 for identical use.
How a electric blanket compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- electric blanket — £10.81 a year (this page)
- tower fan — £28.82 a year
- ceiling fan — £46.11 a year
- electric underfloor heating (per m²) — £86.46 a year
- heated airer — £88.38 a year
- electric shower (8.5kW) — £109 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Pre-heat for 20–30 minutes rather than leaving it on overnight — most are not designed for all-night use once warm
- Use the lowest heat setting that's comfortable
- Check the blanket is in good condition each autumn — a worn element is both less efficient and a safety issue
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a electric blanket for an hour?
- 3.9p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 150W). One typical use — 1 pre-warm a night, about 45 minutes — costs closer to 3.0p.
- How much does a electric blanket cost to run per year?
- Around £10.81 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 1 pre-warm a night, about 45 minutes — about 21p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a electric blanket in?
- East Midlands, at £10.41 a year, against £11.44 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £1.03 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my electric blanket change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 60W–200W, so the top of that range costs about 3.3x the bottom. This page uses 150W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Heatable — how much energy do household appliances use — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
Send us one bill. We'll send back every overcharge — and the cheapest legitimate replacement.
Whether you run a Mayfair restaurant group or rent a flat in Salford, the audit is the same and the fee is the same: nothing, unless we save you money.