Last Updated: 09/01/2026
Rates updated to reflect the Energy Price Cap in effect from 1 January to 31 March 2026.
Switching your energy supplier remains one of the most effective ways to cut your gas and electricity bills. To make a smart decision, it helps to understand what you currently spend each year and how that compares to the UK average. While prices have stabilised compared to previous years, energy costs are still high enough that reviewing your tariff can make a real difference.
The Energy Price Cap, set by Ofgem, increased slightly by 0.2% from 1 January 2026.
The average annual energy bill for a medium-sized UK household is now around £1,758, or about £146 per month.
Energy bills are driven by wholesale prices, how much energy you use, and how energy-efficient your home is.
Many fixed tariffs are still priced below the cap, meaning switching away from a standard variable tariff could lead to savings.
Knowing the average energy bill can help you:
Compare your own bills and usage against a national benchmark.
Understand how the “average bill” is used when the Energy Price Cap is reported, which is based on typical household usage rather than a fixed amount everyone pays.
For a medium-sized household in a 3–4 bedroom home, the average annual dual-fuel energy bill (gas and electricity combined) is £1,758 under the current price cap. That works out at roughly £146 per month.
As shown in our energy prices per kwh article, we can use the average unit rate and standing charge across the country to work out the average energy bill for small, medium and large households.
For reference the table below shows the average unit rate and standing charge.
| Electricity | Gas | |
| Unit rates | 27.69p per kWh | 5.93p per kWh |
| Standing charge | 54.75p per day | 35.09p per day |
As shown on our average gas and electricity usage page, we can see the average usage for the different sized homes across the UK. Combining this with the average unit rates and standing charges, we can then work out the average energy bill by house size.
| Energy Use | Number of bedrooms | Gas usage (kWh) | Electricity usage (kWh) | Average annual dual fuel energy bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1-2 | 7,500 | 1,800 | £1,271 |
| Medium | 3-4 | 11,500 | 2,700 | £1,758 |
| High | 5+ | 17,000 | 4,100 | £2,471 |
The cost of your energy bill depends on several factors:
The amount of energy your household uses is primarily affected by the number of people and appliances in your house. In general, the more people and more appliances, the more energy you use.
The energy efficiency of your home also affects the amount of energy you use. If your house has cavity wall and loft insulation, it'll use less energy than one without proper insulation, simply because more of the heat is kept within the home, meaning your heating system doesn't have to work as hard. You'll also use less energy if you have an energy efficient boiler and use energy efficient appliances.
The way you use energy also affects the amount you use, so try to avoid leaving appliances on standby and always turn off lights in empty rooms to avoid needlessly using electricity.
To compare your energy use against the UK average, take a copy of your latest bill and check the amount of gas and electricity your using. Once you have a figure, compare it to the figures above to see how you measure up.
If your figures are higher than average you need to consider ways to cut your average energy usage, or think about improving the energy efficiency of your home.
To compare the cost of your energy bills against the UK average, check the cost of your last energy bill and compare it to the monthly, quarterly or energy figures in the tables above.
If you're paying above the average rates, it's time to switch to a better deal.
But the simplest way to compare your energy costs against the average is to run an energy price comparison with The Energy Shop. We'll show you a range of money-saving deals, alongside how much each could save you if you switch.
To compare energy prices, enter your postcode and house number above, and we'll find a deal to cut the cost of your gas and electric bills. You just then need to choose the deal you prefer, and we'll help you switch energy supplier and save money.
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The Energy Shop is a free, independent and impartial energy price comparison service. We can help you compare and switch energy suppliers to help you save money. Our service is accredited by the Ofgem Confidence Code.
