How much does it cost to run a greenhouse frost-protection heater? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a greenhouse frost-protection heater rated at 2kW costs 53p an hour to run and around £1,537 a year assuming 8 hours a night through the coldest months.
Per hour
53p
Per typical use
£4.21
Per day
£4.21
Per week
£29.56
Per year
£1,537
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 2kW for a greenhouse frost-protection heater; published figures for this appliance range from 750W to 3kW. A frost-protection greenhouse heater only needs to run when overnight temperatures threaten to drop below freezing, so seasonal running cost depends heavily on how cold the winter is and how well the greenhouse is insulated. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 8 hours a night through the coldest months, 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 | 56p | £1,627 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 54p | £1,570 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 53p | £1,554 |
| London | 26.60 | 53p | £1,553 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 53p | £1,552 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 53p | £1,551 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 53p | £1,547 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 53p | £1,546 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 53p | £1,539 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 52p | £1,525 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 51p | £1,495 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 51p | £1,495 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 51p | £1,487 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 51p | £1,481 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 53p | £1,537 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £1,481 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £1,627 a year — a gap of £146 for identical use.
How a greenhouse frost-protection heater compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in garden & other, GB average:
- greenhouse frost-protection heater — £1,537 a year (this page)
- EV home charger (7kW) — £1,232 a year
- home aquarium — £92.23 a year
- pond pump — £61.48 a year
- treadmill — £28.82 a year
- hair dryer — £25.62 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Fit a thermostat set just above freezing rather than running continuously through the night — most plants only need frost protecting, not warmth
- Line the greenhouse with horticultural bubble insulation for winter
- Group more tender plants together near the heater rather than heating the whole greenhouse evenly
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a greenhouse frost-protection heater for an hour?
- 53p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 2kW). One typical use — 8 hours a night through the coldest months — costs closer to £4.21.
- How much does a greenhouse frost-protection heater cost to run per year?
- Around £1,537 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 8 hours a night through the coldest months — about £29.56 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a greenhouse frost-protection heater in?
- East Midlands, at £1,481 a year, against £1,627 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £146 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my greenhouse frost-protection heater change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 750W–3kW, so the top of that range costs about 4.0x the bottom. This page uses 2kW; 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.
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