UK households can stay warm all night this autumn for as little as 8p per night without running the heating. With the arrival of autumn and colder, blustery weather, some households may be reaching for the thermostat to stay warm.
While it may be tempting to delay turning on the heating to save money, the NHS recommends that homes should not fall below 18C, as this is the minimum temperature to stay healthy and help fend off seasonal bugs such as colds, Covid and flu. However, running the heating can be costly, particularly as Ofgem's energy price cap increased by 4% on October 1, adding around £60 extra per year to the average bill.
Energy price cap rise
The latest price hike means the bill for the average household paying by direct debit for gas and electricity reached £1,723 per year, and experts predict the cap will rise by a further 16% to £1,999 on January 1, up by £276 on the level between October and December.
As such, many households will be keen to make savings where they can, particularly as autumn and winter months tend to be more expensive when it comes to energy costs, with running the heating and spending more time indoors helping to drive up bills. Rather than racking up costs by blasting central heating, energy experts recommend investing in an electric blanket, as these can keep you warm all night for a mere 8p.
Electric blanket running costs
An electric blanket is much cheaper than running the central heating as it only needs to heat a small area, rather than your entire home. The running costs vary depending on the energy rating of the blanket, but according to energy price comparison and switching service Uswitch, blankets with a 40W rating only cost 8p to run a night, or around £30.50 per year.
Experts at Uswitch explain: "Blankets are extremely energy-efficient as they're only designed to warm up the space around them. Most blankets have an energy rating of just 100-300 watts, which means they cost pennies to run for extended periods."
"Electric blankets cost mere pennies to run continuously for an hour. The actual amount of electricity consumed and how much that costs you will ultimately depend on the blanket's own heat settings, which usually range from 18 to 56C, and how long it takes to reach the desired temperature."
Tips for using electric blankets
Uswitch recommends turning an electric blanket on to full heat for around 10 to 15 minutes before going to bed and then switching it off, thereby avoiding any overnight costs to use it. Alternatively, you could put it on a low heat setting for up to two hours before going to bed, and then leave it on a minimal setting through the night.
Most electric blankets consume no more than 300 watts, while some single blankets use as little as 40 watts, even on their highest setting. Based on the July 2026 price cap at 26.11p/kWh for electricity, a 40W blanket would cost 8p per night to run, while a blanket with a higher rating of 250W would cost 52p per night.
While it may be cheaper to run an electric blanket compared to the central heating, it is still advised that you run the heating during the colder months to prevent dampness in your home, with the NHS recommending a minimum temperature of 18C. But you can try and keep costs down by switching off radiators in rooms you aren't using and opting to use an electric blanket to keep you warm through the night.
Uswitch added: "In a home with good insulation, your boiler typically costs around £1.76 an hour to heat your home, based on a 24kW gas boiler and the July 2026 price cap of 7.33p/kWh for gas. This compares to the pennies you'd pay to heat yourself or your bed with an electric blanket."
"However, it's not always as simple as leaving the central heating switched off for long periods, as doing so risks the build-up of damp and mould in your home, particularly if it's an older house with poor levels of insulation. You might also run the risk of frozen pipes by not heating your home sufficiently during the winter months."
"A better approach is to set the thermostat to a lower figure - no less than 14°C, and preferably higher - to ensure your home remains at least dry. Then use electric blankets to keep yourself warm - don't forget to look after everyone in your home, including your pets."
