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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hair Straightener in the UK? (2026)
Flat irons and curling irons heat quickly to a set temperature and then cycle, so they average only 30 to 150 watts in use. Their cost is negligible.
A typical hair straightener (60 W) costs £0.016 per hour, or about £0.12 per month at 0.25 hours a day in United Kingdom. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (30 W) | £0.008 | £0.002 | £0.058 | £0.71 |
| Typical (60 W) | £0.016 | £0.004 | £0.12 | £1.42 |
| High (150 W) | £0.039 | £0.010 | £0.29 | £3.56 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.25 h/day ≈ 5 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 hair straightener costs £0.016 per hour and about £1.42 per year at 0.25 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 64.1 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a hair straightener
- Turn it off as soon as you finish. Leaving it on is the only meaningful cost, and a fire risk.
- Use the lowest temperature that works for your hair.
- Straighten dry hair. Damp hair takes longer and damages more.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a hair straightener use?
Around 0.015 kWh per 15 minute session, a fraction of a cent.
Does a straightener use power when on but idle?
Yes, it cycles to hold temperature, similar to in-use draw.
Are high-wattage straighteners more expensive to run?
Not meaningfully. Session times are short.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India