Show the formula and working
This free electric blanket running cost calculator tells households in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and France what an electric blanket costs per night and per winter, and how that compares with heating the bedroom with an electric heater. Enter the blanket’s wattage, how long it is on and your unit rate in pence or cents.
Quick answer: An electric blanket running cost calculator multiplies the blanket’s watts by the hours it is on and your unit rate. A 60 W blanket used for one hour costs about 1.6p at 26.32p per kWh, or £2.37 over 150 winter nights. A 2 kW heater for the same hour costs 52.64p.
What Is an Electric Blanket Running Cost Calculator?
An electric blanket running cost calculator is a tool that converts a heated blanket’s power and hours of use into a cost per night and per year at your electricity price.
The formula in plain words: energy per night equals the watts multiplied by the hours on, divided by 1,000. Cost per night equals that energy times the unit rate, and cost per year equals the cost per night times the nights you use it. The calculator uses the rated power, so on a low setting the real cost is usually lower.
How Do You Use the Electric Blanket Running Cost Calculator?
- Find the wattage on the label on the controller or in the manual, and enter it as the Blanket power.
- Enter the Hours on per night: about an hour if you only warm the bed first.
- Enter the Nights used per year.
- Keep or change the Room heater to compare.
- Enter the Electricity unit rate from your bill and choose pounds or euros with the currency switch.
- Read the cost per night and per year in the result, then open “Show the formula and working” to see the heater comparison.
How Much Does an Electric Blanket Cost to Run?
An electric blanket costs between about 0.4p and 3p an hour at 26.32p per kWh, because most use 15 to 115 W according to Wikipedia’s electric blanket page. A 60 W blanket costs 1.58p an hour. The rate is the Great Britain direct debit average under the Ofgem price cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026, so check your own bill.
Is an Electric Blanket Cheaper Than Heating the Bedroom?
Yes, by a wide margin: a 60 W blanket uses 3% of the electricity of a 2 kW heater over the same time. An hour costs 1.58p for the blanket against 52.64p for the heater, and over 150 nights that is £2.37 against £78.96. A blanket only warms the bed, though, so the room itself stays cold. To cost a heater on its own, use the electric heater running cost calculator.
Can You Leave an Electric Blanket On All Night?
Only if the instructions say your blanket is designed for all-night use, usually on its lowest setting. Many underblankets are made to warm the bed before you get in and should then be switched off. Newer blankets have overheat protection and timers, and UK fire services commonly advise replacing a blanket at least every 10 years, as older ones may lack these safeguards. Left on for eight hours, a 60 W blanket costs 12.63p a night.
How Do You Use an Electric Blanket Safely?
Check the blanket for scorch marks, worn fabric, exposed wires and a damaged flex before each winter, and replace it if you find any. Never use it with a hot water bottle, never fold it while on, and store it rolled or loosely folded as the manual says. Burn risk is higher for anyone who cannot feel heat or react to it, such as people with diabetic nerve damage, small children and some older people.
Electric Blanket Running Costs by Wattage
At 26.32p per kWh, over 150 nights, with an example 35 cent per kWh for one hour.
| Blanket power | 1 hour | 8 hours | Year at 1 hour a night | Year at 8 hours a night | 1 hour at 35c |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 W | 0.39p | 3.16p | 59p | £4.74 | 0.53c |
| 30 W | 0.79p | 6.32p | £1.18 | £9.48 | 1.05c |
| 60 W | 1.58p | 12.63p | £2.37 | £18.95 | 2.10c |
| 100 W | 2.63p | 21.06p | £3.95 | £31.58 | 3.50c |
| 115 W | 3.03p | 24.21p | £4.54 | £36.32 | 4.03c |
Worked Example: A 60 W Double Blanket in Pounds and Euros
Example: a 60 W blanket used for one hour to warm the bed on 150 winter nights, at 26.32p per kWh. These are the default inputs.
- Energy per night: 60 W x 1 h / 1,000 = 0.06 kWh.
- Cost per night: 0.06 kWh x 26.32p = 1.58p.
- Cost per year: 1.58p x 150 = £2.37.
- A 2 kW heater for the same hour: 2 kWh x 26.32p = 52.64p, or £78.96 over 150 nights.
In euros, switch the currency and enter an example rate of 35 in Electricity unit rate: one night costs 2.1c and a winter costs €3.15. On a time of use tariff, the Economy 7 calculator shows how much cheaper night-time electricity could be.
Electric Blanket Running Cost Calculator FAQs
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Most electric blankets use between 15 and 115 W, according to Wikipedia. Double and dual control blankets are at the higher end because they heat a larger area. The exact figure is printed on the controller label or in the manual.
Does a lower heat setting cost less?
Yes. On a lower setting the controller switches the heating element on for less of the time, so the average power is below the rated wattage. This calculator uses the rated power, so its figures are an upper limit for low settings.
Is an electric blanket cheaper than a hot water bottle?
Both are cheap. Boiling a kettle for a hot water bottle costs a few pence, similar to an hour of a 60 W blanket. Never use a hot water bottle in a bed with an electric blanket, because it can damage the wiring.
How often should I replace an electric blanket?
Follow the maker’s guidance, and replace a blanket straight away if it is scorched, frayed, has exposed wires or a damaged controller. UK fire services commonly advise replacing an electric blanket at least every 10 years, even if it looks fine, because older models may have no overheat shut-off.
Can I use an electric blanket with an extension lead?
Plug it straight into a wall socket where you can. A blanket draws little current, well within a 13 A plug and lead, but trailing leads by the bed are a trip and damage risk. Never run the flex under the mattress where it can be crushed.
Can I wash an electric blanket?
Some electric blankets are machine washable once the controller is detached, but many are not. Follow the care label exactly, and make sure the blanket is completely dry before you plug it in again.
For more home energy costs, see the energy bill calculators.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (Ofgem), Electric blanket (Wikipedia).