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Family of four in a house vs Family of five or more in a house: Electricity Use Compared in the UK (2026)
A fifth person adds less than the fourth did. Larger families use more, mostly through laundry, a second fridge and more screens, but the per-person figure keeps falling. The US and Australian benchmarks show the step from four to five people is around 10 to 20 percent.
In the UK, family of four in a house uses about 3,800 kWh a year (£82.33 a month) and family of five or more in a house about 3,800 kWh (£82.33 a month). That is 1.0× as much, or £0.000 more per month. Per person: 950 kWh vs 760 kWh a year.
Sources: Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values, decision May 2026, effective 1 July 2026: High user (single-rate). Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values, decision May 2026, effective 1 July 2026: High user (single-rate). Priced at £0.26 per kWh (Ofgem price cap 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026, 2026-07).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Family of four in a house | Family of five or more in a house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration & freezing | 570 kWh | 570 kWh | +0 |
| Cooking | 331 kWh | 331 kWh | +0 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 327 kWh | 327 kWh | +0 |
| TV, computing & network | 341 kWh | 341 kWh | +0 |
| Lighting | 196 kWh | 196 kWh | +0 |
| Other appliances | 2,035 kWh | 2,035 kWh | +0 |
- Two laundry loads a day with a dryer is the biggest step up.
- Teenagers add screens and long showers, which matter only if hot water is electric.
- Per person, a family of five is the cheapest household of all.
Only in the family of five or more in a house
- Hair Straightener 5 kWh/yr
Only in the family of four in a house
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Family of four in a house | Family of five or more in a house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 13,072 | 14,336 | 1.1× | $18.96 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 3,800 | 1.0× | £0.000 |
| Germany | 3,800 | 4,500 | 1.2× | €21.58 |
| France | 6,034 | 7,145 | 1.2× | €18.52 |
| Australia | 7,311 | 9,008 | 1.2× | A$49.50 |
| Canada (average) | 12,694 | 12,694 | 1.0× | C$0.000 |