How much does it cost to run a kettle? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a kettle rated at 3kW costs 79p an hour to run and around £72.05 a year assuming 5 boils a day, about 3 minutes each.
Per hour
79p
Per typical use
3.9p
Per day
20p
Per week
£1.39
Per year
£72.05
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 3kW for a kettle; published figures for this appliance range from 2.2kW to 3kW. Most UK kettles are rated 2,200–3,000W and reach the boil in two to four minutes; 3kW is the most common rating sold in the UK, so that is used here. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 5 boils a day, about 3 minutes each, 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 | 84p | £76.27 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 81p | £73.58 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 80p | £72.84 |
| London | 26.60 | 80p | £72.82 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 80p | £72.76 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 80p | £72.68 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 79p | £72.52 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 79p | £72.46 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 79p | £72.13 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 78p | £71.48 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 77p | £70.08 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 77p | £70.08 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 76p | £69.70 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 76p | £69.42 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 79p | £72.05 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £69.42 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £76.27 a year — a gap of £6.84 for identical use.
How a kettle compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in kitchen, GB average:
- kettle — £72.05 a year (this page)
- air fryer — £68.05 a year
- chest freezer — £64.56 a year
- dishwasher — £64.05 a year
- bread maker — £54.75 a year
- gas hob — £27.64 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Only fill the kettle to the level you actually need — boiling a full jug for one cup wastes most of the energy
- Descale every 4–8 weeks in hard-water areas; limescale on the element lengthens boil time
- Use a thermal (vacuum-jacketed) jug if you re-boil often — it keeps water hot for hours without a second boil
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a kettle for an hour?
- 79p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 3kW). One typical use — 5 boils a day, about 3 minutes each — costs closer to 3.9p.
- How much does a kettle cost to run per year?
- Around £72.05 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 5 boils a day, about 3 minutes each — about £1.39 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a kettle in?
- East Midlands, at £69.42 a year, against £76.27 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £6.84 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my kettle change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 2.2kW–3kW, so the top of that range costs about 1.4x the bottom. This page uses 3kW; 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.