APPLIANCE COMPARISON · OCT–DEC 2026

Electric blanket vs oil-filled radiator: which costs less to run?

At 26.32p per kWh, an electric blanket costs about 3.9p per hour and an oil-filled radiator about 53p per hour at full power, so the oil-filled radiator costs 13 times as much.

Last updated 11 October 2026GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT

ELECTRIC BLANKET · CHEAPER

3.9pper hour at 150 W

OIL-FILLED RADIATOR

53pper hour at 2,000 W

DIFFERENCE

49pper hour at 26.32p per kWh

Side by side

**Electric blanket and oil-filled radiator running costs**Typical figures at 26.32p per kWh (GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT). Running costs exclude the standing charge.
Measure	Electric blanket	Oil-filled radiator
Rated power	150 W	2,000 W
Cost per hour at full power	3.9p	53p
One typical use	1 night, 1 hour	1 evening, 3 hours
Cost per use	3.9p (0.15 kWh)	£1.58 (6.00 kWh)
Assumed use a week	7 nights	7 evenings
Cost a year at that use	£14	£576

Usage assumptions: Electric blanket: One hour a night at full power, for example to warm the bed before getting in.Oil-filled radiator: Three hours a day at full power.These are illustrations, not measured averages.

What the difference means for keeping warm

An electric blanket warms the bed rather than the room, at a small fraction of a radiator’s power. An oil-filled radiator heats the whole room and keeps giving off warmth after it switches off.

The yearly figures above use different hours for each appliance, so compare the hourly cost for the same length of use.

Work out your own costs

Each appliance page has a calculator: enter your own wattage or energy label figure, how long you use it, and your region or unit rate.

Electric blanket calculator Oil-filled radiator calculator

Unit rates vary by region: this period they run from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Electricity prices per kWh →

Questions

Is an electric blanket cheaper to run than an oil-filled radiator?

Yes, per hour at full power. At 26.32p per kWh, an electric blanket costs about 3.9p per hour and an oil-filled radiator about 53p per hour at full power, so the oil-filled radiator costs 13 times as much. An electric blanket warms the bed rather than the room, at a small fraction of a radiator’s power. An oil-filled radiator heats the whole room and keeps giving off warmth after it switches off.

How much do they cost a year?

At the usage each page assumes, about £14 a year for an electric blanket and £576 for an oil-filled radiator (October–December 2026 GB average rate). For an electric blanket: one hour a night at full power, for example to warm the bed before getting in. For an oil-filled radiator: three hours a day at full power.

Does where I live change which is cheaper?

No. Both run on electricity, so a higher or lower unit rate changes both costs in the same proportion. The cheaper appliance stays cheaper; only the pence change. Your region, tariff and how long you run each appliance change the actual amounts.

About these figures

Running cost is energy used × unit rate. Costs at full power assume the appliance draws its full rating the whole time; thermostats and programmes often switch elements on and off, so real use can be lower. Power ratings and energy label figures are examples from the sources below, not a measured UK average.

More comparisons

Sources

Silentnight: single electric blankets ↗Electric blankets use between 100 and 150 watts.
John Lewis: Dreamland Sherpa electric underblanket (super king, MPN 16698) ↗300 W, super king, dual control.
De’Longhi Dragon 4 oil-filled radiator 2kW TRD40820T ↗Maximum 2,000 W, minimum 900 W, three power settings.
De’Longhi Dragon 4 Pro oil-filled radiator 2.5kW TRDSX41025E.WB ↗Maximum 2,500 W, minimum 1,100 W.
Energy Saving Trust: electric heating ↗Running costs of portable electric heaters compared with main heating.
Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average electricity unit rate and VAT basis, October–December 2026.

Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →