UnitRate.co.uk

Gas unit rate

Gas is billed per kWh even though your meter reads in cubic metres. Here is the current official rate and what it costs at your usage.

GB average gas unit rate7.33p per kWh
GB average standing charge29.04p a day
Standing charge over a year£106
Unit rate from 1 October to 31 December 20267.97p per kWh
Change per kWh+0.64p
Lowest region: East Midlands7.19p per kWh
Highest region: Southern England7.53p per kWh
Gap between regions0.34p per kWh

Rates differ by region because network costs do. See all 14 energy regions, or open the East Midlands page.

Source: Ofgem · Period: 1 July to 30 September 2026 · Last updated: 2026-09-13

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Price your own gas

Leave a box blank to use the official benchmark for your region and payment method.

p/kWh

Leave blank to use the official London benchmark of 7.50p per kWh.

p/day

Leave blank to use the official benchmark of 29.52p a day.

kWh a year

Your gas cost for a year

£970

About £81 a month

Energy used£863
Standing charge (365 days)£108
Same usage at the London benchmark£970
This is the official benchmark cost for London. Enter your own unit rate above to see how your tariff compares.

Source: Ofgem · Period: 1 July to 30 September 2026 · Last updated: 2026-09-13

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From meter reading to bill

A metric gas meter records cubic metres. Your supplier multiplies that by a volume correction and the calorific value of the gas delivered, then divides by 3.6 to reach kWh. Only then is your unit rate applied.

If your bill looks wrong, convert the reading yourself first — it is the step where most surprises come from.

Mistakes that change the answer

  • Multiplying cubic metres straight by the unit rate. Convert to kWh first.
  • Forgetting the gas standing charge, which continues through summer when you use almost no gas.
  • Assuming gas and electricity rates move together. They are capped separately and their VAT treatment can differ by period.

Common questions

Is 7p per kWh a good gas rate?
Compare it with the capped figure for your region and payment method shown above — that is the benchmark that actually applies to you.
Why is my gas standing charge so high in summer?
It is a daily charge, not a usage charge. The standing charge calculator shows what share of your bill it is.

See whether you could pay less

Your results above are based on official Ofgem figures and your own numbers. Switching is optional and nothing here changes what the calculation says.

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Affiliate disclosure — commercial links never change your results or the Ofgem figures we show.

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