How much does it cost to run a electric shower (8.5kW)? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a electric shower (8.5kW) rated at 8.5kW costs £2.24 an hour to run and around £109 a year assuming 1 shower a day, about 8 minutes.
Per hour
£2.24
Per typical use
30p
Per day
30p
Per week
£2.09
Per year
£109
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 8.5kW for a electric shower (8.5kW); published figures for this appliance range from 8.5kW to 8.5kW. 8.5kW is the entry-level power rating for a UK electric shower, giving a noticeably weaker, cooler flow than a 9.5kW or 10.5kW unit on the same cold-water supply — useful where incoming water pressure or the supply cable is limited. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 1 shower a day, about 8 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 | £2.37 | £115 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | £2.28 | £111 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | £2.26 | £110 |
| London | 26.60 | £2.26 | £110 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | £2.26 | £110 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | £2.26 | £110 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | £2.25 | £110 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | £2.25 | £109 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | £2.24 | £109 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | £2.22 | £108 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | £2.18 | £106 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | £2.18 | £106 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | £2.16 | £105 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | £2.16 | £105 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | £2.24 | £109 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £105 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £115 a year — a gap of £10.34 for identical use.
How a electric shower (8.5kW) compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- electric shower (8.5kW) — £109 a year (this page)
- electric shower (9.5kW) — £122 a year
- heated airer — £88.38 a year
- electric underfloor heating (per m²) — £86.46 a year
- electric shower (10.5kW) — £134 a year
- ceiling fan — £46.11 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Keep showers to the time it takes to actually wash — the shower draws close to its full rated power every minute
- Fit a flow-restrictor or aerated shower head — many use 30–40% less water with little difference in feel
- Descale the heating element periodically in hard-water areas to keep heat transfer efficient
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a electric shower (8.5kW) for an hour?
- £2.24 at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 8.5kW). One typical use — 1 shower a day, about 8 minutes — costs closer to 30p.
- How much does a electric shower (8.5kW) cost to run per year?
- Around £109 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 1 shower a day, about 8 minutes — about £2.09 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a electric shower (8.5kW) in?
- East Midlands, at £105 a year, against £115 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £10.34 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my electric shower (8.5kW) change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 8.5kW–8.5kW, so the top of that range costs about 1.0x the bottom. This page uses 8.5kW; 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.