How much does it cost to run a oil-filled radiator? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a oil-filled radiator rated at 2kW costs 53p an hour to run and around £576 a year assuming 3 hours a day of background heat.
Per hour
53p
Per typical use
£1.58
Per day
£1.58
Per week
£11.08
Per year
£576
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 2kW for a oil-filled radiator; published figures for this appliance range from 1kW to 2.5kW. An oil-filled radiator heats a reservoir of oil that keeps radiating heat for a while after the element switches off, giving steadier — though not necessarily cheaper — background heat than a fan heater. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 3 hours a day of background heat, 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 | £610 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 54p | £589 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 53p | £583 |
| London | 26.60 | 53p | £583 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 53p | £582 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 53p | £581 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 53p | £580 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 53p | £580 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 53p | £577 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 52p | £572 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 51p | £561 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 51p | £561 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 51p | £558 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 51p | £555 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 53p | £576 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £555 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £610 a year — a gap of £54.75 for identical use.
How a oil-filled radiator compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- oil-filled radiator — £576 a year (this page)
- portable air conditioner — £692 a year
- electric fan heater (2kW) — £384 a year
- hot tub — £769 a year
- electric fireplace — £346 a year
- immersion heater — £288 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Use the thermostat rather than running on maximum constantly
- Position away from curtains and furniture so heat radiates into the room
- Pair with a plug-in timer so it is not left running in an empty room
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a oil-filled radiator for an hour?
- 53p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 2kW). One typical use — 3 hours a day of background heat — costs closer to £1.58.
- How much does a oil-filled radiator cost to run per year?
- Around £576 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 3 hours a day of background heat — about £11.08 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a oil-filled radiator in?
- East Midlands, at £555 a year, against £610 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £54.75 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my oil-filled radiator change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 1kW–2.5kW, so the top of that range costs about 2.5x 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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