How much does an electric blanket cost to run?
Short answer
Very little. Dreamland's Intelliheat blankets heat up on 150 W, about 3.9p an hour at the cap's Great Britain average Direct Debit rate of 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026, then turn down. An hour a night at 150 W costs about £1.20 a month, against 52.6p an hour for a 2 kW heater.
Updated
3.9p
An hour at 150 W, the heat-up power of Dreamland's Intelliheat blankets
1 October to 31 December 2026
£1.20
A month for an hour a night at 150 W
10 years
The longest London Fire Brigade says to keep a blanket before replacing it
An electric blanket warms the bed rather than the room, on a fraction of a heater's power. This guide prices one at Ofgem's cap rates, sets it against a 2 kW heater, and lists the checks London Fire Brigade asks you to make before each winter.
Work out what an appliance costs to run
Enter the appliance's power and how long it runs. The cost uses Ofgem's cap rate for your region and the way you pay, with the standing charge shown on its own.
On the rating plate or in the manual. 1 kW is 1,000 W.
How long it runs on a day you use it. Half an hour is 0.5.
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Running cost
- an hour
- 3.9p
- a day of use
- £0.04
- a week
- £0.28
- a month
- £1.20
At 26.32p per kWh, the Great Britain average cap rate (Direct Debit).
Standing charge: 54.83p a day, about £16.68 a month. You pay it whether or not this appliance runs, so it is not in the figures above.
This assumes the appliance draws its full rated power for every hour it runs. A thermostat or a lower setting uses less.
Cap rates for 1 October to 31 December 2026, from Ofgem's regional tables. New cap rates apply from 1 January 2027. Ofgem's cap covers England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland.
How to split bills with housematesHow much electricity does an electric blanket use?
Priced at the cap's Great Britain average Direct Debit rate of 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026.
- Dreamland says its Intelliheat technology heats a blanket in 5 minutes on 150 W, then adjusts its energy use as needed.
- At 150 W, an hour costs about 3.9p and a 30-minute warm-up about 2.0p.
- An hour a night for a month comes to about £1.20 at 150 W (Taupia arithmetic). A blanket that turns its output down once warm uses less.
- By region, the Direct Debit cap rate runs from 25.36p in the East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so an hour at 150 W costs between about 3.8p and 4.2p.
- These costs use the cap rates for 1 October to 31 December 2026. New cap rates apply from 1 January 2027, and a fixed tariff keeps the rates in its contract.
- Ofgem's cap covers default tariffs in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, use the unit rate on your own bill.
Sources: Dreamland: Intelliheat technology (read 15 October 2026); Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (read 15 October 2026)
Is an electric blanket cheaper than heating the bedroom?
- A 2 kW heater draws about 13 times the power of a blanket at 150 W: about 52.6p an hour against 3.9p.
- An hour a night for a month costs about £1.20 at 150 W, and about £16.01 for a 2 kW heater, at 26.32p per kWh.
- A blanket warms the bed rather than the room.
- A blanket does not deal with a cold or damp home. In England, the government's damp and mould guidance says landlords are legally responsible for addressing damp and mould.
Sources: Dreamland: Intelliheat technology (read 15 October 2026); Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (read 15 October 2026); GOV.UK: understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home (read 15 October 2026)
How do I use an electric blanket safely?
- London Fire Brigade says to check regularly for wear and tear and to replace a blanket at least every 10 years.
- It says to replace a blanket if the fabric is worn or frayed, there are scorch marks, wires are poking through, the cord is damaged, the controls buzz or give off a smell, or the connector is damaged or overheating.
- Unplug it before you get into bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use.
- Store it flat, rolled up or loosely folded, to avoid damaging the wiring inside.
Sources: London Fire Brigade: electric blankets (read 15 October 2026)
How do I use an electric blanket safely and cheaply?
Four steps for each night and each winter.
- 1
Check the blanket before winter
Look for worn or frayed fabric, scorch marks, wires poking through or a damaged cord, and replace it if you find any.
- 2
Warm the bed before you get in
Dreamland says its Intelliheat blankets heat up in about 5 minutes, so a short warm-up is enough.
- 3
Unplug it at bedtime
Unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use, unplug it before you get into bed.
- 4
Work out the cost from its wattage
Multiply its kilowatts by the hours it runs and your unit rate: 150 W for an hour is 0.15 kWh.
Sources: London Fire Brigade: electric blankets (read 15 October 2026); Dreamland: Intelliheat technology (read 15 October 2026)
How can Taupia help with energy costs this winter?
- Taupia keeps the household's energy, broadband, mobile and water bills in one place and splits each one between housemates.
- Your household sets the split rule: each person gets a percentage of a bill, so a housemate who runs a heater all day can carry a bigger share of the energy bill.
- Taupia tracks who has paid their share. It never moves money between housemates.
- It compares energy deals from 19 suppliers covering around 90% of the GB market, and switches only once your household approves.
- Taupia is free.
Questions about electric blankets
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket all night?
London Fire Brigade says to use one all night only if it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use. At the full 150 W, 8 hours would cost about 31.6p at the cap's Great Britain average Direct Debit rate of 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026. A blanket that turns down once warm costs less.
Is an electric blanket cheaper than a heater?
Yes, by a wide margin. At 150 W a blanket costs about 3.9p an hour and a 2 kW heater about 52.6p, at the cap's Great Britain average Direct Debit rate of 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026. The blanket warms the bed rather than the room.
How often should I replace an electric blanket?
London Fire Brigade says to check it regularly for wear and tear and replace it at least every 10 years. Replace it sooner if the fabric is worn, there are scorch marks, wires show through, the cord is damaged, or the controls buzz or smell.
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Dreamland says its Intelliheat blankets heat up on 150 W and then adjust their energy use as needed. Other blankets differ, so check the rating label or the manual, then multiply the kilowatts by the hours it runs and your unit rate.
More on running costs and shared bills
The calculator, the other appliance guides and the cap rates behind every figure.
Start here
What any appliance costs to run
RecommendedThe running-cost calculator for your region and payment method, with the standing charge kept apart.
What an electric heater costs to run
Fan, convector, oil-filled and panel heaters per hour, against gas central heating.
What drying clothes indoors costs
Heated airer, dehumidifier or tumble dryer, per hour and per load.
Energy price cap rates by region
The unit rate and standing charge in your own region, for each way of paying.
How to split bills with housemates
Fair ways to divide a shared bill, with a calculator for the even split.
Cite this page
Taupia. "How much does an electric blanket cost to run?". Last updated 15 October 2026. https://taupia.com/compare-energy-prices/appliance-running-costs/electric-blankets
Keeping a shared house warm for less?
Taupia splits each bill between housemates by the percentages your household sets and tracks who has paid, without moving any money. It compares energy deals from 19 suppliers covering around 90% of the GB market. It is free, and nothing changes without your approval.