What uses the most electricity in a UK home?

In a typical UK home, the biggest electricity users are: electric heating and hot water (if applicable), electric showers, tumble dryers, ovens and hobs, and washing machines. For homes with gas heating, the fridge-freezer is often the single biggest electricity consumer because it runs 24/7, using around 300-400 kWh per year.

How much does it cost to run a tumble dryer?

A condenser tumble dryer uses about 4.5 kWh per cycle. At the Q1 2026 electricity rate of 27.69p/kWh, that is about £1.25 per load. Running it twice a week costs roughly £130 per year. A heat pump tumble dryer uses about 2 kWh per cycle (£0.55 per load, £57/year), making it significantly cheaper to run.

Does leaving the TV on standby use a lot of electricity?

Modern TVs use very little on standby, typically 0.5 to 1 watt, which costs about £1 to £2 per year. Older TVs and set-top boxes can use 10 to 15 watts on standby, costing £20 to £35 per year. The standby drain from games consoles in rest mode is often worse than TVs.

How much electricity does a fridge-freezer use?

A typical fridge-freezer uses 300 to 400 kWh per year, costing £80 to £110 at current rates. Energy-efficient models (A-rated) use closer to 150 to 200 kWh. Since it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it is often the single biggest electricity consumer in homes with gas heating.

What Uses the Most Electricity? Full UK Breakdown (2026)

A typical UK home uses about 2,700 kWh of electricity per year. At the Q1 2026 rate of 27.69p/kWh, that costs roughly £748. But where does it all go?

Most people massively overestimate what their TV costs and massively underestimate their tumble dryer and oven. Here is the actual breakdown, appliance by appliance, using real power consumption data.

The full breakdown

All costs calculated at Ofgem Q1 2026 rate: 27.69p/kWh.

Appliance	kWh/use	kWh/year	Cost/year
Electric shower (8.5kW, 7 min)	1.0	365	£101
Tumble dryer (condenser)	4.5	468	£130
Tumble dryer (heat pump)	2.0	208	£58
Washing machine (40°C)	0.7	182	£50
Dishwasher	1.4	364	£101
Electric oven	2.0	520	£144
Electric hob (1 ring, 30 min)	1.0	365	£101
Kettle (1 boil)	0.1	146	£40
Fridge-freezer	n/a	350	£97
TV (55″ LED, 4 hours/day)	0.24	88	£24
Laptop (8 hours/day)	0.4	146	£40
Games console (3 hours/day)	0.45	164	£45
Wi-Fi router	n/a	88	£24
LED lighting (10 bulbs, 5h/day)	0.07	128	£35
Halogen lighting (10 bulbs, 5h/day)	0.50	913	£253

These are estimates for typical usage patterns. Your actual consumption depends on the specific model, how often you use it, and your settings. Figures based on Energy Saving Trust and product specifications data.

The surprises

Lighting is the biggest swing

If you still have halogen downlights, they could be costing you £253 per year. The same number of LED bulbs costs £35. That is a saving of £218 a year for a one-off spend of about £30. Nothing else comes close on payback time.

The tumble dryer is expensive

A condenser tumble dryer at £130/year is one of the most expensive appliances to run. A heat pump tumble dryer uses less than half the electricity (£58/year). If you are replacing one, the extra cost of a heat pump model pays for itself within 2 to 3 years. Or use a clothes airer and skip the cost entirely.

The TV is cheap

A modern 55-inch LED TV watched for 4 hours a day costs about £24 per year. Even a larger TV is unlikely to cost more than £40. The TV is not the problem. The set-top box left on standby 24/7 can cost more than the TV itself.

The fridge never stops

Your fridge-freezer runs 24/7, 365 days a year. At £97/year it is not the most expensive per hour, but it is always on. If yours is more than 10 years old, a modern A-rated model could use half the electricity. Worth considering if it is due for replacement.

Where the real savings are

Looking at the table, three things stand out:

1Switch to LED lighting if you have not already. Biggest bang for your money.
2Reduce tumble dryer use. Air-dry when possible. If replacing, buy heat pump.
3Watch the oven. Using a slow cooker, air fryer, or microwave for smaller meals uses a fraction of the electricity of a full oven.

For a full guide to cutting your bill including heating, hot water, and insulation, see our guide to reducing your energy bill.

The bigger picture

Electricity is only part of your energy bill. For most UK homes with gas heating, gas accounts for about 60-70% of the total energy cost. The biggest single saving usually comes from using less gas: better insulation, a more efficient boiler, or eventually a heat pump.

Check your home's EPC to see what improvements are recommended for your specific property and what they could save.

See your home's energy profile

Your EPC shows your home's energy rating, wall type, heating system, and recommended improvements.

Check your home

What uses the most electricity in your home?