What's the average UK home gas usage?

For the average UK home, understanding how much gas you use each year is essential for budgeting and staying on top of your energy consumption. But with so many different types of energy sources, it can be difficult to calculate what your yearly usage actually amounts to.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, if your gas bill is too high, you may need to update your boiler. This could really help reduce your energy consumption. We are all feeling the cost of living crisis at the moment, so let's look at the average gas usage household bills in the UK.

Remember, your average bill could be higher or lower than the average household bill. This all depends on how much you use, your energy supplier and more. This guide will give you an indication of how much gas you should be using to help save money.

How much gas does the average UK home use? 

The average gas usage across different-sized homes is about 1,000 kWh per month, according to Ofgem's Typical Domestic Consumption Values.

This is based on the figures from the Government's Energy Price Guarantee Rates, which came into effect in October 2022. 

Average UK home gas usage for a one-bedroom house or flat

The average gas usage for a one-bedroom house in the UK is 242 kWh per month. This is based on the fact that the average one-bedroom household in the UK has 2.4 people living in it.

The assumption is that the home has central heating and hot water and that the occupants use gas for cooking and domestic appliances. The average annual energy bill will cost you around £1,712.25. Monthly energy bills should cost you around £142.69. Just for gas alone, it will cost you around £77.53 per month.

If your home only has one occupant, your gas usage is likely lower than the average. On the other hand, if you have a large family or often entertain guests, your average energy usage will likely be higher.

Average UK home gas usage for a two-bedroom house

The average UK home gas usage for a two-bedroom house is around 33 kWh per day, depending on the size of the property. Most of the fees of an average energy bill come from heating the home. This is why monitoring energy usage is essential when it comes to heating, especially in winter.

A two-bedroom household will spend around £79-£135 a month to power the home. This relates to around £1,624 annually.

For example, a small two-bedroom house may have an average gas usage of 33 kWh per day, while a larger two-bedroom place may have an average gas usage of 38 kWh per day. Gas usage can vary significantly from household to household, so it's important to understand your own gas usage to make comparisons.

Average UK home gas usage for a three-bedroom house

The average UK home gas usage for a three-bedroom house is approximately 12,000 kWh per year. This figure will vary depending on the size and age of the property, as well as the number of occupants. The figure is based explicitly on three people living in a three-bedroom house.

It is important to remember that gas usage can fluctuate throughout the year, with winter months typically seeing higher consumption levels.

The average annual energy bill for this property size is around £2,499.87. Every month, this is £208.32. Just for gas alone, it will cost you around £111.97 per month.

Remember, average annual bills could vary depending on various outside factors - the average gas bill is higher in the winter when central heating is used considerably more.

Average UK home gas usage for a four bedroom house

It’s estimated that the gas usage for a four bedroom house in the UK is around 15,000 kWh, which, of course, can vary between different sized properties. 

With this in mind, on average, the gas bill for a four bedroom house is around £1,647 a year, or around £137 per month. This may vary depending on the occupants of said house, for example, whether it’s a family of four, or four young professionals.

In terms of electricity usage for a four bedroom house, it’s estimated that there’ll be a consumption of around 3,500 kWh, which is around £1,358 a year. Again, this can fluctuate depending on the behaviour of the occupants (e.g. are people running electrical appliances in their separate rooms?).

Average UK home gas usage for a five + bedroom house

When it comes to gas usage, larger homes tend to use more than smaller homes (unless one person is living in a large home). 

The average electricity usage for a five + bedroom house in the UK is 4,300 kWh per year. The average gas used is around 17,000 kWh per year.

This is significantly higher than the average gas usage for a three-bedroom home. The annual average gas and electricity bill for a five-bedroom house should cost you around £3,492.90. This will work out to around £291.08 per month. Just for gas, that will be around £155.01 per month.

Several factors can contribute to higher gas usage in larger homes. Firstly, more people are living in the house, which means more appliances are running and more hot water is being used.

Additionally, larger homes tend to have poorer insulation than smaller ones due to more windows and doors. Heat escapes quicker, requiring more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature inside. 

Why is gas usage changing in the UK?

In the past few years, gas usage in UK households has been declining. The main reason for this is the skyrocketing gas prices. That is why there is a major switch to using more efficient heating systems, such as heat pumps or solar power. In the same breath, UK household energy bills went up by 54% in April 2022.

Gas usage is also declining because people are increasingly living in smaller homes and using less gas for cooking and hot water. New boilers' improved energy efficiency also impacts how much energy we consume.

How are your energy bills calculated?

There will be two main charges on the average energy bill. The unit rate is the first - this will be the unit rates you agreed on with your energy suppliers.

The second charge on your gas and electricity bill will be the standing charge. You will pay a fixed daily charge on top of the unit rate. This has nothing to do with energy usage but more with maintaining the cables and pipes that provide the energy.

Remember that one kWh (kilowatt-hour) equals a thousand watts of energy in an hour. Every appliance in your home will use a different amount of watts. Take note that leaving appliances on standby uses energy and will therefore have an effect on your energy bills.

Your area will affect the average gas and electricity bills

The area where you live will affect the price of the average gas and electricity bills. The average gas and electricity prices will be steeper in more remote areas because the area is harder to service.

What are the benefits of using less gas?

There are many benefits to using less gas, including reducing your carbon footprint, saving money on your energy bills, and reducing your reliance on fossil fuels.

Using less gas can help reduce your carbon footprint in two ways:

1. Burning natural gas emits carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. 

2. When you use less gas, you’re also likely to use less electricity. Since the production of electricity generates emissions too, using less electricity also reduces your carbon footprint.

There are also benefits to you and your home:

• In addition to helping the environment, using less gas can save you money on your energy bills. When you use less natural gas, you’ll see a corresponding decrease in the amount you pay each month.

• Energy-efficiency improvements to your home (such as insulation or weatherstripping) will reduce your overall energy consumption. You may be eligible for utility rebates or other financial incentives that can further lower your costs.

• Finally, by using less natural gas, you can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources that will eventually run out.

As demand for these limited resources increases due to population growth and industrialisation, their price is likely to increase as well. Therefore, using less natural gas today can help preserve these resources for future generations.

Final thoughts

The average UK home gas usage is set to increase again this year (2023), but rest assured that the energy price cap does offer some protection against exorbitant costs. The best way to save money on gas bills is by using energy wisely and investing in efficient solutions.

By keeping an eye on your usage over time, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of every penny spent and help reduce emissions simultaneously. If you're worried that you're using too much gas due to an inefficient boiler, consider an upgrade from BOXT today.