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Student house share vs Family of four in a house: Electricity Use Compared in the UK (2026)
Five students sharing a flat use about as much electricity as a family of four in a house, despite having no dryer, no dishwasher and no garage. Five people cooking separately, five laptops, and several bedroom fridges make up for the missing big appliances. Per person the students are cheaper, but per home they are not.
In the UK, student house share uses about 3,800 kWh a year (£82.33 a month) and family of four 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: 760 kWh vs 950 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 | Student house share | Family of four 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 |
- Five separate cooking sessions a day cost more than one family meal.
- Bedroom mini fridges are inefficient for their size and add up quickly.
- The family's dryer and dishwasher are roughly matched by the students' extra kettles, microwaves and screens.
Only in the family of four in a house
- Chest Freezer 228 kWh/yr
- Clothes Dryer 187 kWh/yr
- Desktop Computer 102 kWh/yr
- Dishwasher 93 kWh/yr
- Outdoor Security Floodlight 53 kWh/yr
- Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery) 44 kWh/yr
- Air Fryer 33 kWh/yr
- Coffee Maker (Drip) 22 kWh/yr
Only in the student house share
- Mini Fridge 350 kWh/yr
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Student house share | Family of four in a house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 14,336 | 13,072 | 0.9× | $-18.960 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 3,800 | 1.0× | £0.000 |
| Germany | 3,100 | 3,800 | 1.2× | €21.58 |
| France | 4,922 | 6,034 | 1.2× | €18.53 |
| Australia | 9,008 | 7,311 | 0.8× | A$-49.496 |
| Canada (average) | 7,417 | 12,694 | 1.7× | C$61.57 |