How much does it cost to run a iron? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a iron rated at 1.5kW costs 39p an hour to run and around £48.03 a year assuming 1 session a day, about 20 minutes.
Per hour
39p
Per typical use
13p
Per day
13p
Per week
92p
Per year
£48.03
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 1.5kW for a iron; published figures for this appliance range from 1kW to 2.4kW. An iron cycles its heating element on and off to hold a set plate temperature, so its rated wattage is only drawn in short bursts once it reaches temperature. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 1 session a day, about 20 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 | 42p | £50.84 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 40p | £49.06 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 40p | £48.56 |
| London | 26.60 | 40p | £48.55 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 40p | £48.51 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 40p | £48.45 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 40p | £48.34 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 40p | £48.31 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 40p | £48.09 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 39p | £47.65 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 38p | £46.72 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 38p | £46.72 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 38p | £46.46 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 38p | £46.28 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 39p | £48.03 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £46.28 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £50.84 a year — a gap of £4.56 for identical use.
How a iron compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in laundry, GB average:
- iron — £48.03 a year (this page)
- washing machine (40°C cycle) — £51.32 a year
- heat pump tumble dryer — £53.38 a year
- washing machine (60°C cycle) — £32.85 a year
- washing machine (30°C cycle) — £30.79 a year
- condenser tumble dryer — £127 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Iron in batches by fabric type, coolest first, so the iron never has to cool and reheat between items
- Use the steam function sparingly — steam generation is one of the most energy-intensive parts of ironing
- Choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics where practical to cut ironing time
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a iron for an hour?
- 39p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 1.5kW). One typical use — 1 session a day, about 20 minutes — costs closer to 13p.
- How much does a iron cost to run per year?
- Around £48.03 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 1 session a day, about 20 minutes — about 92p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a iron in?
- East Midlands, at £46.28 a year, against £50.84 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £4.56 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my iron change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 1kW–2.4kW, so the top of that range costs about 2.4x the bottom. This page uses 1.5kW; 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.
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