Household electricity use calculator

Use meter readings or billed electricity covering a full year. Enter household size, floor area, the previous year’s consumption and old and new unit rates. Keep the boundary consistent: shared heating, EV charging or solar self-consumption can make otherwise similar homes difficult to compare.

Formula

Monthly use = annual kWh ÷ 12. Use per person = annual kWh ÷ occupants; use per m² = annual kWh ÷ area. Annual change = (current − previous) ÷ previous × 100. Tariff impact = annual kWh × (new rate − old rate).

Worked example

A household using 3,600 kWh annually averages 300 kWh per month. With three occupants and 90 m², that is 1,200 kWh per person and 40 kWh per m². These are descriptive ratios, not efficiency ratings.

What the result means

A negative year-on-year change means lower consumption. A positive tariff impact means higher energy spending at unchanged consumption. Check whether occupancy or electric heating changed before attributing a difference to efficiency.

Electricity price · United Kingdom

£0.2611/kWh is Ofgem’s average capped electricity unit rate for standard variable tariffs paid by Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales, valid from 1 July to 30 September 2026. It includes 5% VAT and excludes the separate standing charge. It is not an average across all contracts and does not apply to Northern Ireland. Use your own tariff where available.

Last reviewed: 9 September 2026 · Ofgem · July–September 2026

Enter the unit rate including any applicable tax. Check your bill rather than adding a tax percentage automatically. Standing charges, export payments and subscription fees are separate. Ofgem information applies to Great Britain; Northern Ireland has its own regulator and market arrangements.

Assumptions and limits

Average months hide seasonal demand. The calculation excludes standing charges and does not automatically adjust for weather, household changes or billing estimates.

Questions answered

Methodology · Report an error