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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Exercise Bike or Smart Trainer in the UK? (2026)
Most exercise bikes use almost nothing. Magnetic resistance and the display draw a few watts; bikes with large touchscreens and smart trainers draw 30 to 100 watts while streaming a class.
A typical exercise bike or smart trainer (30 W) costs £0.008 per hour, or about £0.18 per month at 0.75 hours a day in United Kingdom. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (5 W) | £0.001 | £0.001 | £0.029 | £0.36 |
| Typical (30 W) | £0.008 | £0.006 | £0.18 | £2.14 |
| High (100 W) | £0.026 | £0.020 | £0.59 | £7.12 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.75 h/day ≈ 8 kWh per year.
In the UK, with electricity at £0.26 per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026, 2026-07), a typical exercise bike or smart trainer costs £0.008 per hour and about £2.14 per year at 0.75 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 128.2 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a exercise bike or smart trainer
- Turn off the screen when not in use. The display is the main consumer.
- Use a tablet instead of a built-in screen on trainers that allow it.
- Nothing else matters here. The bike costs pennies to run.
In standby it draws about 2 W, which adds roughly 18 kWh (£4.56) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does an exercise bike use?
Under 0.1 kWh per session for most bikes, a bit more with a big screen.
Does a Peloton use a lot of electricity?
Around 30 to 60 watts during a class, so a 45 minute ride is under 0.05 kWh.
Do exercise bikes use power when off?
Smart models draw 1 to 3 watts in standby.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India