How much does a gas oven cost to run?

A typical gas oven has a rating of around 2.5 kW. At the current Ofgem gas rate of 6.24p/kWh, it costs approximately 15.6p per hour to run. If you use your oven for one hour per day, that works out to around £4.68 per month or £56.94 per year. Actual costs depend on how efficiently your oven retains heat and how often you open the door during cooking.

How much does a gas hob cost per hour?

A four-burner gas hob with all burners running has a combined rating of roughly 8 kW. At 6.24p/kWh, that is approximately 49.9p per hour with all burners on full. In practice, most people use one or two burners at a time and rarely run them at maximum, so typical hourly costs are much lower — around 12p to 25p depending on usage.

What is the cheapest gas appliance to run?

The cheapest gas appliances to run are those with low kW ratings and short usage times. A gas oven at 2.5 kW used for one hour per day costs roughly £4.68 per month. A gas dryer at 2.5 kW used for one hour per day costs the same. Gas hobs are also inexpensive if you only use one or two burners for short cooking sessions. Gas boilers are the most expensive due to their high kW rating and long daily run times.

Is gas cheaper than electric for cooking?

Yes, gas is significantly cheaper per unit of energy. The current gas rate is 6.24p/kWh compared to approximately 24.5p/kWh for electricity — making gas roughly four times cheaper per kWh. However, electric appliances such as induction hobs are more energy-efficient (around 85-90% vs 40% for gas hobs), which narrows the gap. For ovens, gas typically remains cheaper overall because gas ovens are reasonably efficient.

How much does it cost to run a gas dryer?

A gas tumble dryer typically has a rating of around 2.5 kW. At the Ofgem gas rate of 6.24p/kWh, it costs approximately 15.6p per hour to run. A typical drying cycle of one hour would therefore cost about 15.6p. If you use the dryer five times per week, the monthly cost would be around £3.37. Gas dryers are generally cheaper to run than electric dryers, which cost approximately 60p per hour at current electricity rates.

How can I work out my gas appliance running cost?

To calculate the running cost of any gas appliance, you need three things: the appliance kW rating (found on the data plate), the gas unit rate in pence per kWh (currently 6.24p under the Ofgem price cap), and the number of hours you use it. The formula is: Cost per hour = kW rating x unit rate (in pence) / 100. For example, a 3.5 kW gas fire costs 3.5 x 6.24 / 100 = £0.22 per hour. Multiply by hours per day and days per month for longer-term estimates.

Appliance Running Cost Calculator UK — Estimate Your Gas Appliance Costs

Select your gas appliance below and instantly see estimated running costs per hour, day, week, month and year using the current Ofgem gas rate of 6.24p/kWh for 2026.

Gas Appliance Running Cost Calculator

Appliance Type

kW Rating

Hours Per Day

Days Per Month

Gas Unit Rate (p/kWh)

Estimated Running Costs — Gas Boiler (24 kW)

Cost per hour£1.50

Cost per day (8 hrs)£11.98

Cost per week£83.87

Cost per month (30 days)£359.42

Cost per year£4372.99

Important: Please rely on a professional, accredited Gas Safe engineer and accredited tools for all measuring. This calculator provides estimates only and accepts no liability for calculations.

Gas Appliance Running Costs at a Glance

The table below shows estimated monthly running costs for common UK gas appliances based on typical kW ratings and daily usage hours, calculated at the current Ofgem gas rate of 6.24p/kWh.

Appliance	Typical kW	Daily Hours	Est. Monthly Cost
Combi Boiler	24 kW	8 hrs	£359.42
System Boiler	30 kW	8 hrs	£449.28
Gas Fire	3.5 kW	4 hrs	£26.21
Gas Hob (4 burners)	8 kW	1 hrs	£14.98
Gas Oven	2.5 kW	1 hrs	£4.68
Gas Dryer	2.5 kW	1 hrs	£4.68
Gas Water Heater	12 kW	3 hrs	£67.39

Costs based on 30 days per month at the Ofgem price cap rate of 6.24p/kWh (January 2026). Actual costs depend on your tariff, appliance efficiency, and usage patterns.

How to Calculate Gas Appliance Running Costs

Working out the running cost of any gas appliance is straightforward once you know the kW rating and how long you use it. The kW rating can usually be found on the appliance data plate or in the manufacturer's manual.

The Formula

1. Cost per hour = kW rating x unit rate (pence) / 100

2. Cost per day = cost per hour x hours used per day

3. Cost per month = cost per day x 30 days

Worked Example: Gas Fire (3.5 kW)

Suppose you run a 3.5 kW gas fire for 4 hours per day:

Cost per hour: 3.5 x 6.24 = 21.84p = £0.22
Cost per day: £0.22 x 4 hours = £0.87
Cost per month: £0.87 x 30 = £26.21
Cost per year: £0.87 x 365 = £318.55

This assumes the appliance runs at full rated input for the entire duration. In practice, modern boilers and fires modulate their output, so actual costs may be lower.

Tips to Reduce Appliance Running Costs

Small changes to how you use your gas appliances can add up to meaningful savings over the course of a year. Here are practical tips recommended by the Energy Saving Trust:

Use Lids on Hob Pans

Covering pans with lids when cooking on your gas hob traps heat and can reduce energy use by up to 30%. Water boils faster and food cooks more efficiently.

Don't Over-Preheat Your Oven

Most gas ovens reach cooking temperature within 10-15 minutes. Preheating for longer wastes gas. For dishes like casseroles and roasts, you can skip preheating entirely.

Service Your Boiler Annually

An annual boiler service by a Gas Safe registered engineer keeps your boiler running efficiently. A poorly maintained boiler can waste significant amounts of gas.

Use a Timer for Heating

Programme your boiler to switch on 30 minutes before you need heating and off 30 minutes before you leave. Using a timer prevents the boiler running when nobody is home.

Upgrade Old Appliances

Older gas boilers can be as low as 60% efficient, while modern condensing boilers achieve 90%+. Replacing a 15+ year old boiler could save hundreds of pounds per year. Similarly, newer gas fires and ovens are designed to use less gas for the same heat output.

Gas vs Electric Appliance Costs

One of the most common questions homeowners ask is whether gas or electric appliances are cheaper to run. The answer depends on the unit rate and the efficiency of each appliance.

Gas Unit Rate

6.24p/kWh

Ofgem Price Cap 2026

Electricity Unit Rate

~24.5p/kWh

Ofgem Price Cap 2026

Gas is approximately 4 times cheaper per unit of energy than electricity. However, this does not tell the full story because appliance efficiency matters:

Gas hobs are around 40% efficient, while induction hobs reach 85-90%. Despite the higher electricity rate, induction hobs can be comparable in running cost — and they cook faster.
Gas ovens are roughly 60-70% efficient, while electric fan ovens reach 70-75%. Gas ovens generally remain cheaper to run due to the large price gap between gas and electricity per kWh.
Gas boilers are 90%+ efficient (condensing models), but heat pumps achieve 300-400% efficiency (COP of 3-4), making them cheaper to run despite higher electricity costs.
Gas dryers are cheaper per cycle than electric dryers, as dryer efficiency is broadly similar between fuel types, so the lower gas unit rate wins out.

For more detail on current gas and electricity rates, visit Ofgem.

Frequently Asked Questions — Appliance Running Costs

Related Calculators & Helpful Resources

Our Calculators

Gas Rate Calculator (kW)— For Gas Safe engineers
Gas Cost Calculator— Estimate gas costs by usage
Gas Boiler Running Cost Calculator— Boiler-specific estimates
Gas Fire Running Cost Calculator— Gas fire cost estimates
Gas Bill Calculator— Full bill estimator
How Much Do Gas Units Cost?— Gas unit pricing guide

Official Resources

Ofgem — UK Energy Regulator— Price cap information
Gas Safe Register— Find a registered engineer
Energy Saving Trust— Reduce energy use