How Much Does it Cost to Run Central Heating Per Hour in The UK?

Living in the UK, homeowners must understand how much gas central heating costs per hour. By doing this, you will identify your consumption patterns and may be able to save on your rising energy bills. Also, the cost of running your central heating per hour. It would help to consider your hourly energy consumption (kWh), as it will affect the cost of running your central heating system.

In this article, I will explain how to calculate the running costs of your gas central heating system, the factors to consider, alternative fuel options, and tips to save your energy bills.

Running Cost of a Gas Central Heating System per Hour

The standard fuel source to run your central heating system in the UK is gas if you are connected to a mains gas supply. Although it is the cheapest fuel source for heating, it has the highest CO2 emissions.

To determine the cost to run central heating per hour , you must consider additional factors, such as your home’s size, the number of people, and the number of rooms requiring heating and hot water. Also, consider which appliances require gas and how often you use them. Additionally, the primary factor is your boiler’s kilowatt output rating.

Considering all these factors, the running cost of running central heating per hour is 5.93 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh) and a daily standing charge of 29.80 pence, equating to an additional 1.2 pence per hour. Now, let’s say you have a 26-kWh system boiler, providing heating to 3–4 bedrooms and hot water to 2–3 bathrooms. Then, expect to pay somewhere around £1.54 (kWh).

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2026 price cap.

To calculate the running cost of your gas central heating system, use this gas calculator: https://www.sust-it.net/gas-calculator.php.

Running Cost of the LPG Central Heating System per Hour

If you are not connected to a gas mains supply, another option for central heating in your home is LPG (liquid petroleum gas). The running cost of an LPG-fuelled central heating system will be £15 per kilowatt-hour. Compared to gas, LPG will be cheaper per hour over the long term due to its energy efficiency. However, converting to LPG as a fuel option will cost more.

This is because you will need a storage tank, which requires both capital and space. Expect to pay between £60 and £70 per year to rent an above-ground LPG tank, and between £120 and £150 per year for underground tanks.

Also, remember that installing an underground tank will incur an additional £1,500 cost. Let’s say you have a 24-kW boiler. The running cost for your LPG boiler will be £3.60 (kWh).

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2026 price cap.

Running Cost of an Oil-Fuelled Central Heating System per Hour

Another fuel option, like LPG, is oil. The reason is the same: It is a viable option if you are not connected to a gas network. The running cost of an oil-fuelled central heating system will be around 11p per kilowatt-hour, meaning that if your boiler is 30 kWh and it runs for, let’s say, 5 hours, then the cost you will be paying per day will be £16.50. It is cheaper than LPG, but less environmentally friendly. Compared with LPG and gas, it has higher carbon emissions.

To store oil, you’ll need a tank and have it refilled at least once a year. The oil boiler will be installed by an OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) registered engineer, which will cost more than an LPG boiler, which a Gas Safe registered engineer will install.

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2026 price cap.

Running Cost of an Electric Central Heating System per Hour

Lastly, if you are not connected to a gas network, electricity is another viable option to run your central heating system. Although it is the most expensive option compared to gas, oil, and LPG, it costs 27.69 pence per kWh, with a daily standing charge of 53.68 pence. If you have a 30 kW boiler, the cost to run your electric central heating system will be around £8.31 per hour.

But in terms of performance, electric boilers are way more efficient, having an efficiency rating of 98% compared to a boiler’s 90%. Also, electric boilers have a longer lifespan of 20–25 years, whereas gas boilers have a lifespan of 10–15 years.

Moreover, electric boilers are an ideal choice for reducing your carbon footprint. Overall, there are numerous advantages and some disadvantages. So, it will depend on you and your budget

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2026 price cap.

Read more about: Electric vs Gas boilers

Basic Formula to Calculate Your Energy Consumption

Above, I have listed the hourly cost of running your central heating system for different fuel types. For simplicity, you can use a basic formula to calculate energy consumption yourself.

Calculation:

The size of your boiler, in kWh, multiplied by the fuel type’s cost per kWh, divided by 100, gives the central heating cost per hour for different fuel types.

E.g., boiler output (24 kWh) x gas per hour (5.93 pence) = 142.32/100 = £1.42 per hour.

The Running Cost of your Central Heating System Per Year

Now, to give you an estimate, I will be mentioning the yearly cost of running your central heating system for different fuel types:

Note: The above-mentioned prices and energy output consumption are just estimates. These values can vary significantly depending on factors like house size, insulation levels, and consumption patterns.

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Which fuel source is cheaper to run a central heating system?

As mentioned above, gas is the cheapest fuel to heat your home. However, there are certain advantages and disadvantages for every fuel type. Also, if you live in an area where you are not connected to a gas grid network, then alternative options are:

• LPG
• Oil
• Electricity
• Air-source heat pumps
• Ground-source heat pump

Additional factors affecting the central heating running cost

Apart from fuel, various factors affect the cost of running a central heating system:

1. The types of boilers you have include system, combi, and regular boilers.
2. Size of your home: the number of bathrooms, rooms, and people who require heating.
3. Energy consumption in your home.
4. The size of your boiler in terms of energy output depends on your home’s size.

Tips to Lower the Cost of Your Heating Bills

1. Maintain your boiler and get an annual boiler service. This will ensure that your boiler remains in optimal condition for longer.
2. Improve your home’s insulation, including doors and windows, so that heat doesn’t escape your home.
3. Compare the tariff rates of different utility providers in your area and try to find the cheapest option.
4. Adjust the temperature settings in your home and keep the temperature low in rooms that do not require that much heat.
5. Install the Utrack mobile app, through which you can connect to your smart metre, track your hourly energy usage, and understand your energy consumption to adjust accordingly.

Conclusion

So here you have it. You now know the cost of running a gas central heating system and running a central heating system on other fuel types. Also, you are now aware of the factors that affect the cost of your energy bills, plus tips to lower them.

If you still have any queries, please contact us on 0345 3192 247, and one of our representatives will assist you on the call.

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