UnitRate.co.uk

Standing charge calculator

A few pence a day sounds small. Over a year, and as a share of a low-usage bill, it often is not.

p/day

Leave blank to use the GB average of 57.19p a day.

days
p/kWh

Used only to show what share of your bill the standing charge is.

kWh a year

Standing charge over 365 days

£208.74

About £17.40 a month

Energy you use£705
Standing charge£209
Total£914
Standing charge share23%
The standing charge is about 23% of this bill. You pay it every day even if you use no energy at all, which is why a low unit rate with a high standing charge can still be the dearer deal for a low-use home.

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

View data source

Why the share matters more than the rate

If standing charges are a third of your bill, cutting your usage has limited effect and the tariff's daily charge is the thing to shop on. If they are a tenth, the unit rate is what matters.

Common questions

Is 50p a day a high standing charge?
Compare it with the capped figure for your region on the standing charges page — regional differences are genuine and material.
Do I pay it if the property is empty?
Yes, while the supply is connected and live. That is what the charge is for.

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.

Compare your tariff against another

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

Related calculators and data