Comparison guide

Gas vs electric heating

For whole-home space heating in a typical UK home, mains gas is still usually cheaper to run than direct electric heating. Electric heating still makes sense in some situations: smaller homes without gas, occasional room-by-room use, or homes where convenience and installation simplicity matter more than lowest running cost.

Last reviewed: 16 April 2026 - UK-focused practical comparison, not a supplier tariff page

Usually cheaper for whole-home heating

Gas

Best for occasional room-by-room top-up

Electric can make sense

Best if there is no gas connection

Electric may be the simpler route despite higher running cost

FactorGas heatingDirect electric heating
Typical running costUsually lower for heating the whole home.Usually higher per kWh, so sustained heating costs mount faster.
ControlBest when the central system is zoned well or scheduled sensibly.Very simple for single-room use and fast local control.
Best fitOccupied family homes or larger spaces needing long heating hours.Smaller spaces, occasional top-up heat or homes without gas.
Common trapHeating unused rooms because the system is not controlled well.Assuming room-by-room control always outweighs the higher unit price.

When electric heating still makes good sense

  • The room is used occasionally and you do not want to heat the whole home around it.
  • The property has no gas connection or the installation route for gas is unrealistic.
  • You are topping up one colder room rather than replacing the main heating system outright.

Worked example

A family home heated every day through winter will usually see lower whole-home running costs from gas than from direct electric heaters. But a spare room used two evenings a week may be cheaper overall with targeted electric heat than with raising the whole-house schedule around that room.

Best shortcut

Think of gas as the stronger whole-home answer and electric as the flexible room-by-room answer. Problems start when people ask one to do the other's job.