Erin Yurday
Author
Electric blankets, heated throws and other ways to keep warm: what they cost to run
13 October 2026
3 min read
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement.
Running costs in this article use the Ofgem price cap electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p per kWh, including the removal of VAT on electricity). Your own rate may differ, and the cap changes every three months.
Many households use electric blankets, hot water bottles and thermal clothing to stay warm while keeping the heating down. In a survey for Uswitch in September 2025, 40% of households (about 11 million) said they planned to buy at least one warming product for winter 2025/26. Electric blankets, weighted or fleece-lined blankets and thermal clothing were the most popular planned purchases.
Many people already owned these products. Hot water bottles were the most common (61% of households), followed by thermal clothing (48%) and draught excluders (40%). Three in 10 households owned heated slippers.
What energy costs this winter
The Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is £1,723 a year for a typical household paying by Direct Debit, up 4% on the previous quarter. VAT on electricity has been removed from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Under the cap, electricity costs 26.32p per kWh and gas 7.97p per kWh, plus daily standing charges. The cap limits the unit rate and standing charge, not your total bill.
Energy is one of the biggest household bills. According to ONS Family Spending (April 2024 to March 2025, adjusted for inflation to May 2026), UK households spent about £157 a month on electricity and gas, more than on phone, broadband and TV or on water.
Running costs of warming products
Product | Typical power | Approximate cost per hour |
Portable plug-in electric heater | 2 kW | 52.6p |
Heated (electric) blanket | 100 W | 2.6p |
Heated foot warmer or mat | 100 W | 2.6p |
Heated (electric) throw | 75 W | 2.0p |
Heated jumper, vest or gilet | 30 W | 0.8p |
Microwaveable heat pack | 900 W for 2 minutes | 0.8p per heat |
Heated gloves | 15 W | 0.4p |
Heated slippers | 5 W | 0.13p |
Rechargeable hand warmer | 2 W | 0.05p |
Our calculation: power (kW) × hours × 26.32p. Power ratings vary between models, so check the label on yours. Non-electric products such as hot water bottles, thermal clothing, draught excluders and thermal curtains don't use electricity, although a hot water bottle needs boiled water.
A 2kW plug-in heater uses 20 times as much electricity per hour as a 100W heated blanket. How these compare with central heating depends on your boiler, your home's insulation and how many rooms you heat.
More ways to cut energy costs
Erin Yurday
Author
13 October 2026
3 min read
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement.
Meet the author
Author
Erin Yurday
Erin was the founder of NimbleFins, a data driven personal finance site. A former derivatives trader and finance expert at the Stanford Graduate School, Erin turns research into plain answers so you can understand your credit.
Electric blankets, heated throws and other ways to keep warm: what they cost to run
Erin Yurday
Author
13 October 2026
3 min read
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement.
Running costs in this article use the Ofgem price cap electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p per kWh, including the removal of VAT on electricity). Your own rate may differ, and the cap changes every three months.
Many households use electric blankets, hot water bottles and thermal clothing to stay warm while keeping the heating down. In a survey for Uswitch in September 2025, 40% of households (about 11 million) said they planned to buy at least one warming product for winter 2025/26. Electric blankets, weighted or fleece-lined blankets and thermal clothing were the most popular planned purchases.
Many people already owned these products. Hot water bottles were the most common (61% of households), followed by thermal clothing (48%) and draught excluders (40%). Three in 10 households owned heated slippers.
What energy costs this winter
The Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is £1,723 a year for a typical household paying by Direct Debit, up 4% on the previous quarter. VAT on electricity has been removed from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Under the cap, electricity costs 26.32p per kWh and gas 7.97p per kWh, plus daily standing charges. The cap limits the unit rate and standing charge, not your total bill.
Energy is one of the biggest household bills. According to ONS Family Spending (April 2024 to March 2025, adjusted for inflation to May 2026), UK households spent about £157 a month on electricity and gas, more than on phone, broadband and TV or on water.
Running costs of warming products
Product | Typical power | Approximate cost per hour |
Portable plug-in electric heater | 2 kW | 52.6p |
Heated (electric) blanket | 100 W | 2.6p |
Heated foot warmer or mat | 100 W | 2.6p |
Heated (electric) throw | 75 W | 2.0p |
Heated jumper, vest or gilet | 30 W | 0.8p |
Microwaveable heat pack | 900 W for 2 minutes | 0.8p per heat |
Heated gloves | 15 W | 0.4p |
Heated slippers | 5 W | 0.13p |
Rechargeable hand warmer | 2 W | 0.05p |
Our calculation: power (kW) × hours × 26.32p. Power ratings vary between models, so check the label on yours. Non-electric products such as hot water bottles, thermal clothing, draught excluders and thermal curtains don't use electricity, although a hot water bottle needs boiled water.
A 2kW plug-in heater uses 20 times as much electricity per hour as a 100W heated blanket. How these compare with central heating depends on your boiler, your home's insulation and how many rooms you heat.
More ways to cut energy costs
Erin Yurday
Author
13 October 2026
3 min read
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement.
Meet the author
Author
Erin Yurday
Erin was the founder of NimbleFins, a data driven personal finance site. A former derivatives trader and finance expert at the Stanford Graduate School, Erin turns research into plain answers so you can understand your credit.