Is it cheaper to run appliances at night?
The answer depends entirely on your electricity tariff. For most households on a standard variable tariff, the unit rate is the same at all times of day or night.
Running appliances at night can be cheaper than daytime use if you are on a specific time-of-use tariff. The average standard variable tariff under the price cap in Great Britain in early 2026 charges roughly 24.5p per kWh at all times (Ofgem, 2026).
Running appliances at night can be cheaper than daytime use if you are on a specific time-of-use tariff
An Economy 7 tariff might charge as little as 12.0p per kWh during the 7-hour night window, but a higher day rate of around 30.0p per kWh (Ofgem retail market data, 2026). The saving is only real if your overall electricity use is not higher than a standard tariff would cost.
If you shift a significant amount of your high-energy appliance use into the night window, you can reduce your bill. But if your daytime use remains high, the higher day rate can wipe out any savings. The break-even point depends on the proportion of your total electricity used at night.
Which appliances actually deliver a meaningful saving when run at night?
High-heat appliances are the primary candidates because they use 1–3 kWh per cycle. A single dishwasher cycle at night could save 25p–40p compared to the peak day rate on an Economy 7 tariff (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
Low-power devices such as phone chargers, laptops and routers use so little electricity (0.01–0.05 kWh per hour) that the saving is negligible. Running a phone charger overnight saves less than 1p. The appliances that deliver real savings are those that produce heat for washing, drying or cooking.
The Energy Saving Trust says a typical washing machine uses 0.8–1.2 kWh per eco cycle, a dishwasher uses 1.0–1.5 kWh, and a tumble dryer uses 2.0–3.0 kWh (Energy Saving Trust, 2026). These are the appliances worth shifting to a night window.
The three main tariffs that offer cheaper night-time electricity
Economy 7 provides 7 consecutive hours of cheaper electricity, usually 11pm–6am or 12am–7am. It requires a separate meter or a single meter with two registers. This is the most common time-of-use tariff in the UK (Ofgem, 2026).
Economy 10 offers 10 hours of cheaper electricity spread across three daily windows, usually night, afternoon and evening. It is less common and typically only available to households with electric storage heating (Ofgem, 2026).
Smart time-of-use tariffs such as Octopus Agile or OVO Time of Use have variable rates that change every half-hour. Night rates can be near zero or even negative during very low demand. These tariffs require a smart meter and are not suitable for households that cannot shift usage flexibly (Ofgem, 2026).
Quick numbers
| Appliance | Typical cycle/runtime | kWh per use | Cost at peak day rate (30p/kWh) | Cost at night rate (12p/kWh) | Potential saving per use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washing machine (eco cycle) | 3 hours | 0.8–1.2 | 24p–36p | 10p–14p | 14p–22p |
| Dishwasher (eco cycle) | 2.5 hours | 1.0–1.5 | 30p–45p | 12p–18p | 18p–27p |
| Tumble dryer | 1.5 hours | 2.0–3.0 | 60p–90p | 24p–36p | 36p–54p |
| Electric oven (1 hour at 180°C) | 1 hour | 1.5–2.0 | 45p–60p | 18p–24p | 27p–36p |
Source: Energy Saving Trust, 2026; Ofgem, 2026.
How to confirm whether you are on a tariff with a night-time rate
Check your electricity bill for the tariff name. It will be labelled “Economy 7”, “Time of Use” or “Standard Variable”. Look for two different unit rates on your bill, one labelled “Night” or “Off-peak” and one labelled “Day” or “Peak” (Ofgem, 2026).
If your bill shows only one unit rate, you are on a single-rate tariff and running appliances at night saves nothing. The price cap rate applies at all hours.
How to check if your home already has the correct metering
Economy 7 requires a meter that records night and day usage separately. This can be a traditional two-rate meter or a smart meter operating in Economy 7 mode. Look for a meter display that cycles between two readings, usually labelled “R1” for day and “R2” for night, or has a “Low” and “Normal” indicator (Ofgem, 2026).
If you have a standard single-rate meter, you cannot access a night tariff without a meter swap. Your supplier will arrange this free of charge, though it may take several weeks to schedule.
The eligibility check for switching to a time-of-use tariff (and who should not)
You are eligible if you have a smart meter. Most suppliers offer time-of-use tariffs to smart meter customers. You are also eligible if you have a traditional two-rate meter. You are not eligible if you are on a prepayment meter with a single-rate tariff, as some suppliers restrict time-of-use options for prepayment customers (Ofgem, 2026).
You should not switch if your daytime electricity use is high. If you work from home or use electric heating during the day, the higher day rate could wipe out any night savings. Use a free online tariff comparison tool such as Citizens Advice Energy Compare to see time-of-use options for your postcode and meter type (Citizens Advice, 2026).
How to verify your installer if you need a new meter or tariff setup
If you need a meter swap, the work must be done by a supplier-approved meter operator. You cannot use an independent electrician for meter work. Your supplier will arrange this. For any electrical work related to rewiring or adding a new circuit for an appliance timer, use an NICEIC or NAPIT registered electrician (NICEIC, 2026).
Check registration at NICEIC.com or NAPIT.org.uk. Both maintain public registers of approved contractors. If the work involves gas, such as a timed gas boiler, the installer must be Gas Safe Register registered (Gas Safe Register, 2026).
