How Much Does a Gas Hob Cost to Run? UK Guide

The short answer: burner size and time set the cost

A gas hob does not have one fixed hourly price. Each burner has a different maximum gas input, and turning the flame down reduces the input. Cooking time and the gas unit rate on your tariff then determine the cost. A large burner at full power will cost more per minute than a small burner on a low flame.

For a quick maximum-power estimate, multiply the burner input in kilowatts (kW) by the time in hours, then multiply the result by your gas price per kilowatt hour (kWh). An illustrative 2 kW burner used at full power for 30 minutes consumes 1 kWh. At 7.97p per kWh, that is about 8p.

Real cooking usually costs less than that maximum-power estimate because a burner may be turned down after a pan reaches temperature. The most useful check is either to use the input ratings in the hob manual or measure gas at the meter over one or more normal cooking sessions.

Find the burner input without guessing

Look in the hob instruction manual or the manufacturer’s specification for terms such as “burner power”, “nominal heat input” or “gas input”. A four-burner hob will normally list a separate kW figure for each burner rather than one useful figure for every pan. Use the rating for the burner you actually use.

Treat that figure as the input at the specified maximum setting, not a promise about every minute of cooking. If the flame is reduced, the average input over the session is lower. If you use two burners together, estimate each one separately and add the kWh results.

Do not pull out a fitted hob, remove panels or disturb the gas connection to look for a data plate. If the manual is unavailable, search the exact model number where it is already visible, ask the manufacturer, or use the meter method below. Any work on a gas fitting must be left to a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.

• Burner input: use the kW figure for the ring under the pan.
• Time: convert minutes to hours by dividing by 60.
• Gas rate: use the pence-per-kWh figure on your bill or tariff.
• Flame setting: remember that the rated figure normally represents full power.
• Several rings: calculate them separately, then add the results.

Calculate gas hob running cost from the power rating

The formula is burner input (kW) × cooking time (hours) = gas energy (kWh). Then calculate gas energy (kWh) × unit rate (pence per kWh) = cooking cost in pence. This works because a kilowatt is a rate of energy use: a 2 kW input sustained for half an hour is 1 kWh.

The table uses Ofgem’s average Great Britain Direct Debit gas rate of 7.97p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026. It assumes each illustrative burner remains at the stated input for the full 30 minutes. These are calculation examples, not typical-burner claims or predictions of what a meal should cost.

Use the rate on your own bill. Capped rates vary by region and payment method, fixed tariffs can differ from the cap, and Northern Ireland has a separate energy market. The 29.68p average daily gas standing charge in Ofgem’s same Great Britain example is not added to one cooking session because it does not increase when the hob is switched on.

Rounded examples using the 7.97p/kWh average GB Direct Debit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Actual input falls when the flame is reduced.

Measure a normal cooking session at the gas meter

A meter test captures the way you actually use the flame. Choose a time when the boiler, gas fire, oven and other gas appliances are not running. Record the physical gas-meter reading, cook normally, then record it again. Do not turn off the gas supply, open the meter or change any appliance setting solely for the test.

For a metric meter, subtract the first cubic-metre reading from the second. Convert the difference using the calorific value on your bill and the prescribed volume-correction calculation: m³ used × calorific value × 1.02264 ÷ 3.6. Enter the two readings in the gas bill calculator, or follow the gas units to kWh guide.

Suppose the meter rises by 0.10 m³ and the bill’s calorific value is 39.5 MJ/m³. The calculation is 0.10 × 39.5 × 1.02264 ÷ 3.6 = 1.12 kWh. At 7.97p per kWh, that session costs about 8.9p. Keep full precision until the final cost, then round to the nearest penny or tenth of a penny.

A short session may be too small for the visible meter digits or a smart display to show reliably. In that case, compare several similar cooking sessions or measure a longer period when you can confidently exclude heating and hot water. Do not assume a smart display’s rounded cost updates at the same moment as the physical meter.

Why the same meal can use different amounts of gas

Pan size, lid use, water volume and burner choice all change how long the flame must stay high. A flame that spreads beyond the base heats the room and pan sides rather than concentrating heat where it is useful. Once food is boiling or simmering, a lower stable flame may be enough.

Energy Saving Trust recommends using only as much water as needed and putting lids on pans so water boils faster. Match the pan to a suitable burner, prepare ingredients before lighting the hob and avoid keeping a pan at a vigorous boil when a simmer will cook it properly. These steps reduce running time without relying on an unverified saving percentage.

• Use a lid: less heat and steam escape while water comes to the boil.
• Match pan and ring: keep the flame beneath the pan base.
• Measure water: heating surplus water adds time and energy.
• Turn down promptly: use the lowest flame that safely maintains the required cooking state.

Keep cost checks separate from gas safety

Ventilate the kitchen as the hob instructions require. Energy Saving Trust advises good ventilation when cooking at high temperatures, while HSE says gas appliances need an adequate air supply and that ventilation openings must not be blocked. An extractor should be used according to its instructions; cost saving is never a reason to obstruct ventilation.

Stop using the hob if you suspect it is unsafe. HSE warning signs include yellow or orange flames on an appliance where that is not normal, soot or staining, and pilot lights that repeatedly go out. Do not try to adjust burners, dismantle the hob or repair a gas connection yourself: arrange a check by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

If you smell gas, do not continue a meter experiment. Open doors and windows, avoid flames and electrical switches, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 in Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, call the gas emergency number for your network. The gas smell emergency guide gives the immediate steps.