How much does it cost to run a broadband router? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a broadband router rated at 8W costs 0.2p an hour to run and around £18.45 a year assuming runs continuously.
Per hour
0.2p
Per typical use
5.1p
Per day
5.1p
Per week
35p
Per year
£18.45
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 8W for a broadband router; published figures for this appliance range from 4W to 10W. A home broadband router is one of the few devices most households genuinely run continuously, but its low wattage means even 24/7 operation costs only a few pounds a year. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as runs continuously, 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 | 0.2p | £19.52 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 0.2p | £18.84 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 0.2p | £18.65 |
| London | 26.60 | 0.2p | £18.64 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 0.2p | £18.63 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 0.2p | £18.61 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 0.2p | £18.56 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 0.2p | £18.55 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 0.2p | £18.47 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 0.2p | £18.30 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 0.2p | £17.94 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 0.2p | £17.94 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 0.2p | £17.84 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 0.2p | £17.77 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 0.2p | £18.45 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £17.77 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £19.52 a year — a gap of £1.75 for identical use.
How a broadband router compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in entertainment & office, GB average:
- broadband router — £18.45 a year (this page)
- laptop — £19.21 a year
- computer monitor — £17.29 a year
- 43-inch LED TV — £28.82 a year
- smart speaker — £2.88 a year
- games console (Xbox Series X-class) — £34.58 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Leave it running rather than switching off overnight — the saving is minimal and some ISPs prefer a stable connection
- Avoid running an old router alongside a newer mesh system permanently — retire hardware you don't need plugged in
- Position for good signal rather than adding extra always-on range extenders you do not need
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a broadband router for an hour?
- 0.2p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 8W). One typical use — runs continuously — costs closer to 5.1p.
- How much does a broadband router cost to run per year?
- Around £18.45 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming runs continuously — about 35p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a broadband router in?
- East Midlands, at £17.77 a year, against £19.52 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £1.75 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my broadband router change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 4W–10W, so the top of that range costs about 2.5x the bottom. This page uses 8W; 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
- Daftlogic — power consumption of typical household appliances — 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.