These small yet common appliances use more electricity than people may expect
Brits are being warned that an item found in nearly every kitchen across the UK could be quietly bumping up energy bills, particularly when the temperature outside drops. While boiling the kettle might seem harmless enough, those frequent brews throughout the day can sneakily pile the pounds onto your monthly energy statement.
This standard device has recently been flagged as one of the biggest energy guzzlers in a warning issued by consumer champion Which? It earned its spot high on the list alongside other ‘vampire’ appliances, including washing machines, tumble dryers, irons and vacuum cleaners.
The graphic, posted online, showed the watts (W) of electricity consumed within a single hour. A typical kettle can take up to five minutes to bring a ‘full’ tank of water to the boil (generally around 1.5 litres for most models) and burns through roughly 3,000W on average.
In an Instagram post, the consumer watchdog group said: “Ever wondered how much power your appliances use? Here’s a quick breakdown. From phone chargers (12W) to kettles (3,000W), knowing the watts can help you save energy and reduce bills.”
Specialists added another warning for people to be careful and “not to exceed 3,000W from one socket”. This power surge can lead to overloading, which can cause plugs to overheat and could potentially spark a fire, reports the Daily Star.
Why do kettles use so much power?
Kettles are designed to rapidly boil water, which requires a high-powered heating element that quickly transfers substantial energy into the water. This high power is essential for speed, as it converts electricity directly into heat via a potent element.
Some energy is lost in the process as steam or heat escaping from the kettle, resulting in brief yet significant spikes in power consumption. According to a November 2025 report by Which?, the average annual cost of boiling a kettle in the UK is roughly £39.
This estimate assumes that people boil a litre of water twice daily and fill up to the minimum line three times per day. While usage may differ from one household to another, most people could potentially save money by only boiling the amount of water required for each round of hot beverages.
Simply fill your mugs with water and tip them into the device for accurate amounts, taking into account that some water may evaporate during the boiling process. Regularly descaling your kettle is another top tip to maintain the efficiency of the heating element over time.
Should I invest in an energy-efficient kettle?
Electrical retailer Currys suggests that energy-efficient kettles can consume up to 20% less energy per boil. These appliances typically use a similar amount of power as ‘standard’ kettles, given the nature of their function.
Certain models claim to conserve energy through features like rapid boiling, which operates for a shorter duration and often offsets the high power demand. Others might have ‘keep warm’ functions to reduce the frequency or duration of kettle reboiling.
Currys wrote in a post online: “If you have several hot drinks a day, you might end up heating the same water several times – which can be a real waste. So, power-saving kettles take the idea of thermos flasks – keeping liquid hot once it’s boiled, sometimes for hours. That way, you don’t need to keep heating up the water once it’s already hot.”