At the Ofgem cap rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a vacuum cleaner rated 1000W costs about 13.2p a use and £14.41 a year when 30 minutes a time, 2 times a week.
| Per hour of running | 26.3p |
|---|---|
| Per use | 13.2p |
| Per day | 3.9p |
| Per year | £14.41 (55 kWh) |
Calculated at 26.32p per kWh, the capped electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 on a standard variable tariff paid by direct debit. Electricity carries no VAT in that period, so this is the full unit price. The 54.83p daily standing charge is not included, because you pay that whether or not anything is switched on.
Two things worth knowing about that figure. The cap limits the unit rate, not your bill, so using more still costs more. And it is a Great Britain average: the actual capped rate is set per region, so your own rate could move these numbers either way. It is on your bill.
Vacuum cleaner has no thermostat cycling it on and off, so the running cost is simply the rated power multiplied by the time it is switched on. Short bursts of high wattage cost less than people expect.
Figures for vacuum cleaner run from about 300W to 1400W. EU rules capped corded vacuum motors at 900W in 2017, so newer corded models draw less than older ones without necessarily cleaning worse. Cordless models draw very little while running but the charging losses are continuous if left on the dock.
Empty the cylinder and change filters when due. A clogged filter makes the motor work harder for less suction.
Equating wattage with cleaning power. Airflow and head design matter more, which is why the motor cap did not make vacuums worse.
Annual running cost against the appliances closest to it, on the same assumptions. The ordering surprises people: short bursts of very high wattage usually cost less than something modest left on for hours.
| Appliance | Per year |
|---|---|
| Air conditioner | £41.45 |
| Television | £38.43 |
| Hair dryer | £24.02 |
| Microwave | £20.49 |
| Vacuum cleaner | £14.41 |
Across a year, a vacuum cleaner on these assumptions is about 2.2% of a typical annual electricity bill of £658.00 at these rates.
The figures here use the capped rate. If you are on a fixed tariff, or you want to add several appliances together, put your own unit rate into the energy cost calculator on the homepage.