Look Into Research
The UK Household Cost Atlas
The Atlas answers the common questions about what it costs to run, fix, adapt and own a UK home, with the date each answer was last checked and a link to the research behind it. It covers six areas: appliance running costs, home improvement prices, household living costs, accessibility and care, product lifetime costs and regional differences. Where Look Into has not yet researched a question properly, the Atlas says so instead of filling the gap.
- 35questions answered
- 31checked in the last six months
- 23gaps we have not filled yet
- 15data files to download
Energy figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026: electricity 26.32p per kWh. They rebase automatically when the cap changes on 1 January 2027. Atlas checked 6 November 2026.
Nothing in the Atlas matches that. Try a broader word, or browse all Look Into research.
How to read the Atlas
Status
- Verified The page states a check date in the last six months.
- Due for review No check date on the page, or older than six months. Use with care.
- Conflict Two Look Into figures exist for this question. Do not cite until reconciled.
- Method under review Published, but the method is known to overstate. See the note.
Figure type
- Official statistic or rule.
- Maker or seller published figure.
- Look Into calculation.
- Compiled from published guides.
- Dated prices read from listings.
Look Into does not test products. Where a figure is arithmetic, the inputs and their dates are on the linked page.
Area 1 of 6
Appliance running costs
What household appliances cost to run per use, per hour and per year, at the current Ofgem price cap. Most figures are rated power multiplied by an assumed time, and the time is printed beside each one.
| Question | Look Into answer | Figure type | Status | Last checked | Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How much does a 10 minute electric shower cost? | 39p in electricity at 9,000W. Water is extra and not included. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 2 Oct 2026 | UK Running Cost Index |
| How much does a tumble dryer cost per load? | 99p for a 90 minute cycle at the Running Cost Index's 2,500W rating, an upper bound. A heat pump dryer was 15p a load at the October 2026 cap. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 28 Sep 2026 | Cheapest way to dry clothes |
| How much does a dehumidifier cost to run? | £1.05 for 8 hours at 500W. Through October to March at 8 hours a day that is £191.61. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 2 Oct 2026 | UK Running Cost Index |
| How much does an electric heater cost per hour? | 52.6p an hour at 2kW, against about 1.8p for a 70W foot warmer. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 30 Oct 2026 | Cheapest way to heat a room |
| Is an air fryer cheaper than an oven? | For a jacket potato, yes: 10p in an air fryer and 29p in an oven at the October 2026 cap. A microwave was 4p. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 2 Oct 2026 | Cheapest way to cook |
| How much does a washing machine cost per wash? | 55p on a 2,100W rating for a 1 hour cycle. That is an upper bound: the heater does not run for the whole cycle. A label-based per-cycle figure is in research. | Look Into calculation | Method under review | 2 Oct 2026 | UK Running Cost Index |
| How much does a fridge freezer cost to run a year? | About £80 a year, the Energy Saving Trust's published estimate (3 Aug 2026). Not yet broken down by energy class. | Official statistic or rule | Verified | 2 Oct 2026 | UK Running Cost Index |
| What does an immersion heater cost per hour? | 79p an hour at 3kW while the element is on. The thermostat cuts out once the tank is hot. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 2 Oct 2026 | UK Running Cost Index |
| What does leaving things on standby cost? | Each watt left on all year costs £2.31. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 5 Nov 2026 | UK Always-On Load Index |
| How efficient does a heat pump need to be to beat a gas boiler? | A seasonal efficiency (SCOP) of about 2.97 at the October to December 2026 cap, against a 90% efficient gas boiler. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 2 Oct 2026 | UK Running Cost Index |
Not yet researched to Atlas standard
- Dishwasher cost per load, and against washing up by hand
- Washing machine and fridge freezer costs by energy-label class
- Electric shower cost including water, by water company
- Underfloor heating running costs
- Every appliance at your region's cap rate (in build for the January 2027 cap)
Area 2 of 6
Home improvement prices
What it costs to buy and install the big upgrades. This is the weakest area of the Atlas: several pages compile published price guides and do not yet state a check date. Those are marked for review rather than presented as verified.
| Question | Look Into answer | Figure type | Status | Last checked | Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How much does a heat pump cost to install? | A median advertised £4,486 after the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, against £12,826 installers reported before it. | Dated prices read from listings | Verified | 29 Oct 2026 | Heat pump install price tracker |
| How long do solar panels take to pay back? | About 10.2 years for a 4kW system costing about £7,000, from 8.8 years on the south coast to about 12 in northern Scotland. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 25 Oct 2026 | UK Solar Panel Payback Index |
| How much of a home battery's capacity can you use? | In 10 of 20 UK battery datasheets read on 15 Sep 2026, the product name promises more kWh than you can use. Three print no usable figure at all. | Maker or seller published figure | Verified | 15 Sep 2026 | Home Battery Usable Capacity Audit |
| Which home upgrades pay back fastest? | Loft insulation returns about 40% a year on its cost; double glazing barely 3%. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 29 Oct 2026 | Home Upgrade Payback Index |
| How much does a new boiler cost? | Typically £1,800 to £4,500 fitted; a straightforward combi swap £2,000 to £3,500. | Compiled from published guides | Due for review | Jun 2026 | Boiler costs |
| How much does double glazing cost? | £4,000 to £9,000 for a full house in uPVC (10 to 12 windows and 2 doors). | Compiled from published guides | Due for review | Not stated | Double glazing cost |
Not yet researched to Atlas standard
- Bathroom renovation, kitchen renovation, roofing, rewiring, plumbing, damp treatment, flooring and extensions: no dated, line-item UK evidence yet. The UK Home Improvement Cost Index lists budget, typical and high figures compiled from published guides; it will be rebuilt with dated, per-row sources before the Atlas cites it
- Loft and cavity wall insulation installed prices with a stated check date
- Labour, materials and VAT split for any job
Area 3 of 6
Household living costs
What it costs to keep a UK home running. So far this covers energy only.
| Question | Look Into answer | Figure type | Status | Last checked | Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is the energy price cap now? | £1,723 a year for a typical dual-fuel Direct Debit household, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (Ofgem). Electricity 26.32p per kWh, gas 7.97p. | Official statistic or rule | Verified | 6 Nov 2026 | Energy price cap October 2026 |
| What do you pay before using any energy? | £308.46 a year in standing charges for both fuels at the October to December 2026 cap. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 2 Oct 2026 | UK Running Cost Index |
| What does it cost to heat a typical UK home? | About £1,046 a year on gas and £940 on a heat pump at the October to December 2026 cap. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 24 Oct 2026 | UK Heating Cost Index |
| When does the next price cap start? | 1 January 2027. Ofgem announces it on 25 November 2026. | Official statistic or rule | Verified | 30 Oct 2026 | Energy price cap January 2027 |
| What does an electric car cost per mile? | About 2.2p a mile charged at home off-peak, 17.6p for petrol and 24.7p on the public rapid network (October 2026). | Look Into calculation | Verified | 30 Oct 2026 | EV vs petrol cost per mile |
Not yet researched to Atlas standard
- Water and sewerage bills
- Council tax and the TV licence (planned in the Home Running Cost Index, 2027)
- Home insurance
- Household maintenance, cleaning and common replacement costs
- Comparisons by household size and property type
Area 4 of 6
Accessibility and care costs
What it costs to adapt a home, buy mobility equipment and pay for care, and what grants cover. Grants and limits differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; each linked page states which nation a figure applies to.
| Question | Look Into answer | Figure type | Status | Last checked | Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How much does a stairlift cost? | About £2,400 for a new straight stairlift and about £5,500 for a curved one, installed. Sellers' own published prices run lower at the median (£1,995 straight, 20 Oct 2026) because they mix VAT and installation terms; treat those as a floor, not a quote. | Compiled from published guides | Verified | Jun 2026 | UK Stairlift Price Index |
| What does a wet room or walk-in shower cost? | About £1,500 to £7,000 for a walk-in shower and about £7,500 for a wet room. | Dated prices read from listings | Verified | 2 Nov 2026 | Walk-in shower and wet room costs |
| How much will the Disabled Facilities Grant pay? | Up to £30,000 in England. That cap, unchanged since 2008, is worth £17,613 in 2008 money; matching its original value would take £51,099. | Official statistic or rule | Verified | 3 Nov 2026 | The DFG cap in real terms |
| How much DFG money does my council get? | £73.97 per disabled resident across England in 2026-27, from £24.76 in Uttlesford to £173.23 in Burnley. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 3 Nov 2026 | DFG funding per disabled resident |
| What does an hour of home care cost? | At least £34.42 an hour in England in 2026/27 to pay lawful wages and costs (Homecare Association minimum price). At that rate the higher Attendance Allowance buys 3 hours 20 minutes a week. | Official statistic or rule | Verified | 6 Nov 2026 | UK Care Hours Index |
| What does a care home cost? | The index is built on September 2025 self-funder fees (£1,298 a week residential). carehome.co.uk published £1,317 residential and £1,564 nursing on 23 Oct 2026; a rebuild is due. | Compiled from published guides | Verified | 29 Oct 2026 | UK Cost of Care Index |
| What does a mobility scooter cost to own over five years? | About £765 to £3,287 in total, depending on type; the purchase price is a fifth to three quarters of it. | Dated prices read from listings | Verified | 15 Oct 2026 | Mobility scooter cost of ownership |
Not yet researched to Atlas standard
- Disabled Facilities Grant waiting times by council (FOI requests planned)
- Home lift prices with a stated check date
- Council charges for personal alarms and telecare
- Ramps, door widening and through-floor lifts priced line by line
Area 5 of 6
Product lifetime costs
What products cost to own, not just to buy: consumables, plans, repairs and energy over one to ten years.
| Question | Look Into answer | Figure type | Status | Last checked | Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Which products cost more after checkout than at it? | For 16 of 23 products costed over five years, more than half the total comes after checkout: ink, filters, heads or plans. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 31 Oct 2026 | Product Ownership Cost Index |
| What do smart doorbell subscriptions add? | Over three years a Ring plan costs 1.9 times the doorbell itself. | Dated prices read from listings | Verified | 15 Sep 2026 | The Subscription Tax Index |
| When is a more efficient appliance worth the extra price? | Each £100 of extra purchase price needs about 76 kWh a year of savings to repay in five years at 26.32p per kWh: the 76 kWh rule. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 1 Nov 2026 | Repair or replace calculator |
Not yet researched to Atlas standard
- Tumble dryer, fridge freezer and washing machine five- and ten-year costs by energy class
- Extended warranty price against expected repair cost
- Laptop, phone and TV cost per year of security support
Area 6 of 6
Regional costs
Where the same thing costs different money. Look Into only publishes a regional figure where a regional source exists; it does not split national averages by region.
| Question | Look Into answer | Figure type | Status | Last checked | Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do standing charges depend on where I live? | Yes. Under the October to December 2026 cap, Merseyside and North Wales pays £357 a year in standing charges and London £267, a postcode penalty of about £90. | Official statistic or rule | Verified | 9 Oct 2026 | UK Standing Charge Postcode Report |
| Where does solar pay back fastest? | About 8.8 years on the south coast against about 12 in northern Scotland, for the same 4kW system. | Look Into calculation | Verified | 25 Oct 2026 | UK Solar Panel Payback Index |
| Which councils have no wheelchair-accessible taxis? | 18 of 290 licensing areas have no wheelchair-accessible taxi, covering 306,415 disabled residents. | Official statistic or rule | Verified | 3 Nov 2026 | Wheelchair-accessible taxis by council |
| Does a boiler cost more in London? | The Big-Purchase Postcode Report puts the gap at up to £1,000 against the North East. The page does not state when its figures were checked. | Compiled from published guides | Due for review | Not stated | Big-Purchase Postcode Report |
Not yet researched to Atlas standard
- Appliance, heating and EV running costs at each of the 14 regional cap rates
- Water bills by company and council tax by area
- Care home fees by local authority
Interactive
Appliance cost explorer
Pick an appliance and change any input: power, minutes per use, uses per week and your own unit rate. The defaults are the Running Cost Index's published inputs. Rated power is an average for the appliance type from the Centre for Sustainable Energy, not a measurement of any model. Standing charges are left out because they do not change with use.
Five years holds today's rate flat. It is arithmetic, not a forecast.
All 26 appliances at the current cap
| Appliance | Rated power | Per hour | Typical use (assumed) | Per use | Upper bound? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric shower | 9,000W | £2.37 | 10 minute shower | 39p | |
| Immersion heater | 3,000W | 79p | 1 hour | 79p | Yes |
| Kettle | 3,000W | 79p | 3 minute boil | 3.9p | |
| Tumble dryer | 2,500W | 66p | 90 minute cycle | 99p | Yes |
| Portable electric heater | 2,500W | 66p | 1 hour | 66p | Yes |
| Electric oven | 2,100W | 55p | 1 hour | 55p | Yes |
| Washing machine | 2,100W | 55p | 1 hour cycle | 55p | Yes |
| Oil filled radiator | 2,000W | 53p | 1 hour | 53p | Yes |
| Hairdryer | 2,000W | 53p | 10 minutes | 8.8p | |
| Electric hob ring | 2,000W | 53p | 30 minutes | 26p | Yes |
| Grill | 1,500W | 39p | 15 minutes | 9.9p | |
| Iron | 1,500W | 39p | 30 minutes | 20p | Yes |
| Toaster | 1,000W | 26p | 4 minutes | 1.8p | |
| Microwave | 1,000W | 26p | 10 minutes | 4.4p | |
| Electric lawnmower | 1,000W | 26p | 30 minutes | 13p | |
| Vacuum cleaner | 900W | 24p | 20 minutes | 7.9p | |
| Dehumidifier | 500W | 13p | 8 hours | £1.05 | Yes |
| Heated towel rail | 450W | 12p | 4 hours | 47p | Yes |
| Electric blanket | 150W | 3.9p | 1 hour | 3.9p | Yes |
| Desktop computer | 140W | 3.7p | 8 hours | 29p | |
| Games console | 120W | 3.2p | 3 hours | 9.5p | |
| Television, LCD or LED | 120W | 3.2p | 4 hours | 13p | |
| Laptop | 50W | 1.3p | 8 hours | 11p | |
| TV box or set top box | 40W | 1.1p | 24 hours | 25p | |
| Extractor fan | 20W | 0.5p | 1 hour | 0.5p | |
| Broadband router | 10W | 0.3p | 24 hours | 6.3p |
"Upper bound" means a thermostat or programme switches the heater off for part of the time, so real use is lower than rated power multiplied by time. For washing machines and fridge freezers, the energy label's kWh figure is a better guide.
Open data
Data downloads
Every file is free to reuse with attribution to Look Into and a link to its research page. The first dataset in the Look Into Dataset Standard v1 is below: one row per appliance, numbers in numeric columns, units stated, a figure type and a source on every row, and a version number. The older files are exports of each page's HTML tables, with units inside the values; they stay online and will be rebuilt to the standard index by index.
Look Into appliance running costs, v1.0.0 LI-DS-0001
26 appliances: rated power, assumed use, kWh per use, pence per hour and per use, and annual and five-year cost for six published habits, at the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Collected and verified 6 November 2026. Next review 1 January 2027. The ledger behind the UK Running Cost Index.
Download CSV JSON with data dictionary
All datasets as JSON: /wp-json/lookinto/v1/datasets
Method and standards
How the Atlas is kept honest
- One answer per question. Each answer comes from one Look Into page, read on the date shown. If two pages disagree, the row is marked as a conflict and is not presented as fact.
- Dated. "Last checked" is the date the linked page says its figures were checked, not when it was last edited.
- Typed. Every figure says whether it is an official statistic, a maker or seller figure, dated listing prices, a compilation of published guides, or Look Into arithmetic.
- Gaps stated. Questions we have not researched to this standard are listed under each area rather than answered with borrowed averages.
- No regional guesses. A regional figure appears only where a regional source exists. National averages are never split by region.
- No commerce. This page carries no affiliate links, adverts or quote forms.
Who produces this
Look Into (lookinto.co.uk), published by Whito Ltd, company 10918465. Desk research from official sources, published specifications and dated listings.
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How to cite
Cite the research page an answer links to, with its check date. To cite the Atlas itself:
Look Into (lookinto.co.uk), "The UK Household Cost Atlas", checked 6 November 2026, https://lookinto.co.uk/uk-household-cost-atlas/Keep the date with any energy figure: they change with every Ofgem cap.