Electric Shower Running Cost Calculator
Estimate the electricity and water cost of an electric shower. Enter shower power, minutes, showers per day, electricity tariff and flow rate to see daily, monthly and yearly cost.
Shower Use Inputs
Estimated Shower Cost
Electric shower cost is mainly power multiplied by minutes. Water cost is shown separately.
This result separates electricity from water. That matters because power rating and minutes drive the energy bill, while flow rate and metered water charges explain the water line.
What Makes an Electric Shower Expensive or Cheap
Power rating
A higher kW shower heats more water each minute but uses more electricity while running.
Minutes
Shower length is the easiest input to change. Two minutes saved every day can make a clear monthly difference.
Water flow
Electric showers heat cold water as it passes through, so flow rate affects comfort and water cost, but electricity cost comes from kW and time.
How to Use the Calculator
Enter the shower kW rating from the unit or manual. Do not use the fuse rating or cable rating as the shower output. Then enter minutes per shower and the number of showers per day. If one person takes a 6-minute shower and another takes 12 minutes, use the average or run two separate estimates.
Electricity cost is usually the largest line. Water cost matters for metered households and is useful for conservation, but an electric shower’s energy use is calculated from power and running time. A 9.5 kW shower for 8 minutes uses about 1.27 kWh before any small rounding. At 24.67p per kWh, that is about 31p for electricity before water is added.
Include standing charge only if you are costing a separate supply. For normal household appliance comparison, exclude it because the standing charge is paid whether or not anyone showers.
Formula and Method
hours per shower = minutes per shower / 60
kWh per shower = shower kW x hours per shower
electricity cost per shower = kWh per shower x electricity unit rate
litres per shower = flow rate x minutes per shower
water cost per shower = litres per shower x water pence per litre
daily cost = cost per shower x showers per day
annual cost = daily cost x days used per week / 7 x 365 + included standing charge
The calculator treats the shower as running at its rated power. Some units may vary output with setting and incoming water temperature, but rated kW is the clearest household estimate.
Shower Time Comparison
| Routine | Example input | Cost effect | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short shower | 5 minutes, 9.5 kW. | About 0.79 kWh before water cost. | Can still be comfortable with good flow and preparation. |
| Average shower | 8 minutes, 9.5 kW. | About 1.27 kWh before water cost. | Small changes in time are noticeable over a month. |
| Long shower | 15 minutes, 9.5 kW. | About 2.38 kWh before water cost. | May cost as much as several short showers. |
| Household rush | Four 8-minute showers daily. | Cost scales directly with shower count. | A timer or bathroom schedule can reduce overrun. |
Saving Without Losing Comfort
- Use a timer: Reducing from 10 minutes to 7 minutes cuts energy by 30% for that shower.
- Fix drips: A dripping shower wastes water and may indicate a worn valve.
- Descale the head: Poor spray can make people stay under the shower longer.
- Check suitability: Electrical shower installation and repair should be handled by competent professionals.
- Ventilate: Shorter showers still need ventilation to reduce condensation and mould risk.
Worked Example
A 9.5 kW electric shower runs for 8 minutes. That is 8 divided by 60 hours, or 0.133 hours. Energy use is 9.5 x 0.133, which is about 1.27 kWh. At 24.67p per kWh, electricity costs about 31p. With a 6 L/min flow rate, the shower uses 48 litres. At 0.35p per litre for water and sewerage, water adds about 17p. The total is about 48p for one shower.
If two people take that shower every day, the annual total becomes meaningful. Reducing each shower by two minutes saves both electricity and water.
Metered Water and Household Routine
If your home has a water meter, shower length affects two bills: electricity and water. Water companies usually charge for clean water and wastewater, so add both charges and divide by litres before entering a pence-per-litre figure. If you are not on a water meter, the calculator can still show litres used, but the money part of the water line may not reduce your bill directly.
For households, the most useful estimate often comes from routine rather than one shower. Count school mornings, gym days, guests and weekend patterns separately if they are very different. A four-person household with short showers may cost less than a two-person household with long showers. If someone needs a longer shower for care, mobility or health reasons, treat that as a real need and look for savings in other parts of the routine instead.
FAQ
Is an electric shower cheaper than a mixer shower?
It depends on electricity, gas, hot water system efficiency, flow rate and shower length. This page costs electric showers only.
Does the power setting change cost?
Yes if it changes the effective kW. Use a lower kW estimate only if the manual states it or you can measure it safely.
Should I include standing charge?
Usually no. Standing charge is paid for the supply even when the shower is not used.
Does flow rate change electricity cost?
Not directly in this calculator. Electricity is based on kW and minutes; flow rate is used for water volume and metered water cost.
Can shorter showers save much?
Yes. Cutting minutes reduces both kWh and litres, so repeated small changes can show clearly over a month or year.
Sources
- Ofgem (2026) ‘Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges‘. Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.
- Energy Saving Trust (2026) ‘Saving water at home‘. Energy Saving Trust.
- Waterwise (2026) ‘Save water‘. Waterwise.