The quick answer: Ofgem's typical figure for a medium Great Britain household is 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas a year (current from 1 July 2026). That is a benchmark for comparing bills, not a measured average of every home.
| Figure | Electricity (kWh/year) | Gas (kWh/year) | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Value, medium household, single-rate meter | 2,500 | 9,500 | Official typical-use benchmark, from 1 July 2026 |
| Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Value, medium household, multi-rate meter (e.g. Economy 7) | 3,400 | — | Official typical-use benchmark, from 1 July 2026 |
| Ofgem price cap headline household | 2,700 | 11,500 | The consumption Ofgem uses for its headline cap figure — a different basis from the typical values above |
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Sources: Ofgem — average gas and electricity use explained; Ofgem — energy price cap unit rates and standing charges. Last checked by PowerGuardian: 11 August 2026.
Three kinds of "average" — and why they differ
- Official typical-use benchmarks. Ofgem's Typical Domestic Consumption Values describe a typical medium household. Suppliers and comparison sites use them so quotes can be compared on the same basis. They are what we use as calculator defaults.
- The price cap headline basis. When Ofgem quotes a headline annual cap figure, it uses its own benchmark household (2,700 kWh electricity, 11,500 kWh gas). That is why the headline cap can look higher than a bill worked out on the typical values.
- Measured averages. Government statistics on actual meter readings by area are published separately by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. They differ from both benchmarks above and vary by region. We haven't quoted them here.
Anything else you see — including figures for "a small flat" or "a large detached house" — is an illustrative estimate unless a source is named.
Per day and per month
Dividing the Ofgem typical values evenly gives about 6.8 kWh of electricity a day (2,500 ÷ 365) and 26 kWh of gas a day (9,500 ÷ 365). Real use is not even: gas use is far higher in winter than in summer, so a monthly gas figure based on an even split will be too high in summer and too low in winter.
What moves your usage up or down
These are the factors that make a home use more or less than the benchmark. We don't put numbers on them, because the effect depends on the home:
- Heating type. Homes heated by electricity (storage heaters, panel heaters or a heat pump) use far more electricity and no gas.
- Electric vehicles. Charging at home adds the car's energy use to your electricity total. Estimate yours with the EV charging cost calculator.
- Occupants and time at home. More people, or people at home in the day, usually means more heating, hot water and appliance use.
- Insulation and property age. Poorly insulated homes need more heat to stay warm.
- Appliances and habits. Tumble dryers, electric showers and heaters are big users. Work out any appliance with the appliance running cost calculator or a heater with the electric heating cost calculator.
How to find your own usage
Your annual usage is printed on your energy bill, usually as "estimated annual consumption". If you have a smart meter, your supplier's app shows daily and half-hourly use — see our smart meter guide. Your own figure is far more useful than any average.
What it costs
Cost = your usage × your unit rate, plus the daily standing charge. Rates change each quarter under the price cap and vary by region, so we don't fix a cost here. Put your own usage into the energy bill calculator, or see how the cap works in our price cap explainer.
Continue with related guides and tools
- Why Are My Energy Bills So High in the UK?
- 5 Quick Wins to Cut Your Energy Bill This Month
- Understand smart meters
- Check your energy bill
- Explore the Knowledge Centre
Relevant products to compare
A plug-in monitor measures compatible appliances; it does not replace your supplier's billing meter. Check the product's rated load and follow its instructions.
- Read about Energenie ENER007 Energy Saving Power Meter
- Read about Tapo P110 Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring
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