How much does it cost to run a robot vacuum? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a robot vacuum rated at 35W costs 0.9p an hour to run and around £2.51 a year assuming a daily clean, about 45 minutes.
Per hour
0.9p
Per typical use
0.7p
Per day
0.7p
Per week
4.8p
Per year
£2.51
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 35W for a robot vacuum; published figures for this appliance range from 30W to 100W. A robot vacuum draws relatively little power while cleaning compared with an upright, but many run daily and then sit on a charging dock drawing a small standby load between cleans. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as a daily clean, about 45 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 | 1.0p | £2.66 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 0.9p | £2.57 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 0.9p | £2.54 |
| London | 26.60 | 0.9p | £2.54 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 0.9p | £2.54 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 0.9p | £2.54 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 0.9p | £2.53 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 0.9p | £2.53 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 0.9p | £2.52 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 0.9p | £2.49 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 0.9p | £2.45 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 0.9p | £2.45 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 0.9p | £2.43 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 0.9p | £2.42 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 0.9p | £2.51 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £2.42 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £2.66 a year — a gap of 24p for identical use.
How a robot vacuum compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in garden & other, GB average:
- robot vacuum — £2.51 a year (this page)
- pressure washer — £2.57 a year
- hair straighteners — £2.40 a year
- phone charging — £1.44 a year
- electric leaf blower — £5.70 a year
- sewing machine — £6.48 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Keep the charging dock area clear so the robot docks reliably rather than running its battery flat searching for it
- Clean the brushes and sensors regularly — a clogged brush makes the motor work harder for the same area
- Schedule cleans for when the home is empty rather than running it multiple times a day
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a robot vacuum for an hour?
- 0.9p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 35W). One typical use — a daily clean, about 45 minutes — costs closer to 0.7p.
- How much does a robot vacuum cost to run per year?
- Around £2.51 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming a daily clean, about 45 minutes — about 4.8p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a robot vacuum in?
- East Midlands, at £2.42 a year, against £2.66 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — 24p apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my robot vacuum change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 30W–100W, so the top of that range costs about 3.3x the bottom. This page uses 35W; 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
- Eufy — how much power does a robot vacuum 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.