Every British winter brings the same question: put the heating on, or put another layer on? With the energy price cap rising again this October, and forecasters expecting another rise in January, it's worth knowing what each way of keeping warm really costs.
In this guide we compare the running costs of an electric heater, gas central heating, a heated blanket and a heated gilet, using real wattages and the latest UK energy prices. You'll find a calculator to work out your own costs, a projection of how much you could save over one, three and five winters, and simple tips for staying warm without wasting money.
Short answer: at the current UK price cap, a 2 kW electric heater costs about 53p an hour to run, while a USB heated gilet or heated blanket costs well under 1p an hour. Heating yourself instead of the whole room can save hundreds of pounds over a winter. Use the calculator below to check your own numbers.
Prices used: Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, electricity 26.32p per kWh and gas 7.97p per kWh. If you're on a fixed deal, type your own rate from your bill into the calculator.
Heating cost calculator
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Estimates only. Heaters with a thermostat cycle on and off, so real costs are often lower than full power.
Running costs compared
Based on 4 hours a day for 150 days (roughly November to March) at the October to December 2026 price cap:
| What you run | Per hour | Per day | Per winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW electric heater | 53p | £2.11 | £316 |
| Gas central heating, whole home (rough estimate) | 48p | £1.91 | £287 |
| Ceramic fan heater, 1,200 W | 32p | £1.26 | £190 |
| Compact ceramic heater, 600 W | 16p | 63p | £95 |
| USB heated blanket or heated shawl | 0.3p | 1p | £1.60 |
| USB heated gilet | 0.2p | 1p | under £1 |
Projected yearly savings
If you use a heated gilet instead of an electric heater for your 4 hours a day, here's what you'd keep each year, at today's prices:
| Switching from | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW electric heater | £315 | £945 | £1,574 |
| 1,200 W fan heater | £189 | £566 | £943 |
| 600 W heater | £94 | £281 | £469 |
Based on 4 hours a day for 150 days a winter, the October to December 2026 electricity price, and a heated gilet costing about 95p a winter to charge. Real savings depend on how you use your heating, and future energy prices may be higher or lower. Use the calculator above to try your own hours.
How we worked these out
Running cost is simple: power in kilowatts × hours × price per kWh. A 600 W heater is 0.6 kW, so one hour costs 0.6 × 26.32p = about 16p.
- Electric heaters: the wattage on the label, at full power. Most heaters have a thermostat that switches the element off once the room is warm, so your real cost is usually lower.
- USB heated blankets and shawls: USB items run at 5 volts and draw up to about 10 W on their highest setting. We used 10 W, so this is the top end.
- USB heated gilets: a 10,000 mAh power bank, the size most gilets use, stores about 37 Wh and runs a gilet for up to 8 hours on low. Recharging it from the wall costs roughly 1p.
- Gas central heating: this one varies most, by home size, insulation and boiler. We used about 6 kWh of gas for each hour the heating is on, a rough figure for a typical home. Check your bill for your own usage.
Heat the person, not the room
A heater warms the air in a whole room, and that heat leaks out through windows, walls and draughts. Heated clothing puts a few watts right against your body, so almost nothing is wasted. That's why the difference is so big: hundreds of pounds a winter for room heating versus a pound or two for personal heating.
For sitting at a desk or on the sofa, a heated wearable blanket or USB heated blanket keeps your core warm while you work or watch TV. For moving around the house or heading out on a cold walk, a heated gilet such as the women's heated quilted gilet or men's heated gilet with 9 heating zones sits under a jumper or coat. For cold hands and feet, heated gloves and heated socks run for hours on one charge.
When you do need to warm a small room, a compact heater like our 600 W ceramic heater costs far less than heating the whole house. Browse the full range in heated products and cosy home.
Keep your home warm enough
Heated clothing is a great way to cut costs, but it warms you, not your home. Very cold rooms can lead to damp and mould, and they're risky for older people, babies and anyone with a health condition. The NHS advises heating the rooms you use most to at least 18°C if you can. A sensible approach is to keep the home at a safe base temperature and use personal heating to stay comfortable without turning the thermostat higher.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to use an electric heater than central heating?
For one small room for a short time, often yes, because you heat only that room. For the whole house, gas central heating is usually cheaper, since gas costs about a third as much per kWh as electricity.
How much does it cost to charge a heated gilet?
About 1p for a full power bank charge at current prices, enough for up to 8 hours of warmth on low.
Do heated blankets use a lot of electricity?
No. USB heated blankets use up to about 10 W, a fraction of a penny per hour. Mains electric blankets typically use more, but still far less than a room heater.
Why is my bill different from the calculator?
Your price per kWh may differ if you're on a fixed tariff, and the calculator doesn't include the daily standing charge, which you pay whatever you use. Thermostats also cut real heater use below full power.
Last updated October 2026. We update this guide each time the Ofgem price cap changes.