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Heating Cost Calculator

Estimate your home heating running cost without going room by room. This calculator uses property size, insulation, glazing, draughtiness, region, heating pattern and system efficiency to give an easy but fairly realistic UK heating cost estimate.

Enter your heating details

Use the total internal area (sum all floor areas) you usually heat, not the garden room or garage unless they are actually heated.

Think in terms of total active heating time across the day, including morning and evening periods.

Many UK homes are effectively heated for around 5 to 7 months each year.

For heat pumps and direct electric heating, enter your electricity unit rate.

For boilers and electric heaters, the calculator adjusts for seasonal efficiency rather than nameplate output.

This estimate focuses on space heating. It excludes standing charges and hot water use.
Estimated heating season cost £422.60
Average monthly cost in season £70.43
Average daily cost in season £2.31
Purchased energy 6,037 kWh

Estimate breakdown

Heating system Gas boiler (modern condensing)
Seasonal efficiency 92.0%
Estimated useful heat demand 5,554 kWh
Purchased energy needed 6,037 kWh
Average weekly cost in season £16.20
Fuel / electricity rate used 7.00p/kWh

Assumptions used

Property type Semi-detached house
Heated floor area 90.0 m²
Insulation Average
Glazing Mostly double glazing
Draughtiness Average
Region Midlands & East of England
Winter outdoor temperature assumption 5.0°C
Target indoor temperature 21.0°C
Heating hours per day 8.0 hours
Heating season length 6.0 months (183 days)

What the calculator is doing

  • Estimated whole-home heat loss coefficient: 216.0 W/K
  • Temperature lift between indoors and outdoors: 16.0°C
  • Approximate useful heat needed for each active heating hour: 3.46 kWh
  • This tool estimates whole-home space-heating cost without needing room-by-room measurements.
  • It does not ask for radiator counts or towel rails because emitter count affects delivery, but the running cost mainly depends on heat demand and heating system efficiency.
  • Exact window sizes are not required. Glazing quality and draughtiness are used instead as a simpler compromise between ease and realism.
  • Standing charges are not included, because they usually apply whether or not you switch the heating on.

What this heating cost calculator asks for

To keep the tool easy to use, it works from whole-home assumptions rather than requiring room-by-room heat-loss calculations. You enter your approximate heated floor area, property type, insulation level, glazing quality, draughtiness, UK region, target indoor temperature, heating hours per day, heating season length and the heating system you use.

Do you need to do it room by room?

Not for this version. A full room-by-room model is more accurate, but it makes the tool much slower to use. For most homeowners, a whole-property estimate is the better compromise when you want a practical budget figure.

Do radiator numbers, towel rails or exact window sizes matter?

They matter less than many people think for a quick cost estimate. Radiators and towel rails affect how heat is delivered, but the bill is driven mainly by the home's heat demand and the efficiency of the heating system. Instead of exact window dimensions, this tool uses glazing quality and draughtiness as simpler proxies.

What this estimate includes

  • Space heating only, not hot water.
  • System efficiency or heat pump COP so fuel purchase is adjusted for how effectively heat is produced.
  • Regional winter temperature assumptions to reflect the fact that colder parts of the UK usually cost more to heat.

Important note

This is a planning estimate, not a replacement for a professional heat-loss survey or a supplier bill. Real results vary with weather, thermostat habits, room zoning, hot water demand, occupancy, solar gains and the condition of the property.