8-min shower, electric32p
8-min shower, gas combi11p
Per hour, 9 kW£2.37
Your region
Live Direct Debit rates for UK average since 1 October 2026.
Cost per shower
| Shower length | 9 kW electric shower | Same hot water from a gas boiler (85%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 20p | 7.0p |
| 8 minutes | 32p | 11p |
| 12 minutes | 47p | 17p |
Electric showers are rated at about 7 to 10.5 kW. They heat water instantly, which uses a lot of power for a short time. Heating the same water with a gas combi boiler costs roughly a third as much, because gas is so much cheaper per kWh.
Per year
One 8-minute electric shower a day costs about £115 a year. For a household of four, that's around £461.
How to cut the cost
- Shorter showers make the biggest difference: every minute off saves around 3.9p.
- Use the lower power setting in summer, when the incoming water is warmer.
- Descale the shower head so the flow stays strong.
Sources: National Energy Action, Government in-situ boiler study, Ofgem price cap via Uswitch, Octopus Energy tariff data.