Cheapest Gas Only Deals UK 2026: The 7.97p Cap Maths

Last updated: Thursday 29 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when Ofgem reprints the next quarterly price-cap unit rates / standing charges, or major suppliers publish transparent gas-only fixed unit rates on their own sites.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd

As of 16 September 2026, Ofgem’s average Direct Debit gas cap rates for 1 October–31 December 2026 are 7.97p/kWh plus a 29.68p daily standing charge (including 5% VAT on gas). Using Ofgem’s typical domestic gas consumption of 9,500 kWh/year, that annualises to about £865 for gas alone (£757 units + £108 standing) — before regional skew. The famous £1,723 dual-fuel Direct Debit headline for the same quarter is not a gas-only figure; it bundles 2,500 kWh electricity with that 9,500 kWh of gas.

This guide answers cheapest gas only deals UK with Ofgem’s figures first and supplier marketing second. We do not quote a supplier’s unit rate unless we have checked it on that supplier’s own site. You can find more guides on our energy guides; the buttons on this page open MoneySuperMarket, and we may earn a commission if you switch through them.

Dual-fuel £1,723 vs gas-only reality

Every autumn the dual-fuel “typical household” number dominates headlines. For October–December 2026 Ofgem’s Direct Debit dual-fuel typical is £1,723/year (up about 4% on the July–September £1,663 level). That figure assumes medium Typical Domestic Consumption Values: 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas. If your home is gas-only on the bill you care about — a flat with electric cooking but gas heat, a landlord split, or a deliberate dual-to-split strategy — the dual-fuel headline will mislead you.

Ofgem publishes the gas unit rate and standing charge separately. For Direct Debit, 1 October–31 December 2026 averages:

• Gas unit: 7.97 pence per kWh (inc 5% VAT)

• Gas standing: 29.68 pence per day (inc 5% VAT)

July–September 2026 gas was 7.33p/kWh and 29.04p/day — so the October gas rise is real even if your electricity story differs (electricity VAT treatment also changes in the October window per Ofgem’s unit-rates page).

Worked gas-only annualised table (Ofgem averages)

Sources: Ofgem “Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges” and the October–December 2026 summary of changes (TDCVs stated in the summary PDF). Figures are national averages rounded by Ofgem; your region, payment method (standard credit / PPM), and meter type change the pence.

When gas-only is the right shopping mode

Split suppliers can win when electricity and gas markets move differently, when you have a heat pump / Economy 7 / EV tariff on power but ordinary gas boilers for heat, or when a landlord already locks one fuel. Gas-only shopping also matters for park homes and some networked heat setups where electricity is separately contracted.

It is the wrong mode if every competitive fix you are offered is dual-fuel-only with exit fees that erase the split, or if your gas use is tiny (a hob-only flat) — then standing charge dominates and the “cheap unit rate” chase wastes time. Pull 12 months of kWh from your app or bill before you compare.

Fixed gas-only deals vs the price cap

A fixed gas-only tariff is worth taking if its unit rate and standing charge, plus any exit fee, come in below what you expect to pay on the capped variable rate over the length of the fix. With the gas unit rate capped at 7.97p a kWh from 1 October 2026, autumn 2026 is a good time to compare fixes, but there is no need to rush into the first deal you see. Gas-only fixes are priced by postcode and change often, so we do not publish a ranked table of supplier prices. A quote for your own address is the reliable way to see which fix is cheapest for you.

What you can do immediately:

1. Note your annual gas kWh and current unit/standing.

2. Work out your expected variable-tariff gas bill at 7.97p + 29.68p/day (adjust for region when Ofgem’s regional tables differ).

3. Run a gas-only comparison and open the winning suppliers’ own sites before you renew.

4. Read exit fees, payment method, and whether the tariff is dual-fuel-only in disguise.

Standing charges still matter on gas

At 29.68p/day, standing alone is about £108/year before you burn a single kWh. Low users feel this harder than heavy users. Prepay and standard credit gas rates differ from Direct Debit averages on Ofgem’s tables — if you are not on Direct Debit, do not use the 7.97p / 29.68p pair blindly. Warm Home Discount and other support schemes have their own eligibility rules; they are not a substitute for tariff choice.

How we link to energy deals

On home energy guides, our Compare buttons open MoneySuperMarket’s gas and electricity comparison. These are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you switch, at no extra cost to you. For a business, use our business energy quote form instead, because household comparisons do not cover business supplies.

Prepay, standard credit and regional skew

Ofgem’s unit-rates page publishes separate tables for Direct Debit, standard credit and prepayment. The 7.97p / 29.68p pair used in the worked example is the Direct Debit national average for October–December 2026. Prepay gas standing and unit rates differ — sometimes standing is lower after levelisation policy, sometimes unit rates are higher. If you are on a prepay meter, re-read the prepay column before you use any £865-style illustration.

Network regions also differ. A North Scotland standing charge is not a London standing charge. When you open a comparison result, check the tariff’s region code against your bill. National averages are for ranking the cap rates, not for pretending every UK postcode pays the same for gas.

VAT on gas vs electricity in winter 2026/27

Ofgem’s October–December 2026 materials note 5% VAT remaining on gas while electricity VAT is 0%. GOV.UK says the 0% rate runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, and 5% applies again from 1 July 2027 (HMRC VAT Notice 701/19). That asymmetric VAT treatment is one reason dual-fuel headlines and single-fuel maths diverge. Gas-only shoppers still pay VAT on gas. Do not copy an electricity-only saving story onto a gas bill.

Policy cost shares inside the cap also move quarter to quarter — wholesale was the main driver of the October dual-fuel uplift in Ofgem’s summary PDF. For gas-only decision-making, watch the gas unit and standing lines first; the dual-fuel £1,723 is context, not your target.

Heat pumps, dual-fuel inertia and “do nothing”

If you are about to install a heat pump, do not sign a long gas-only fix that assumes your current boiler load for three winters. Your gas kWh should fall; a fat standing charge on a near-empty gas supply can look silly next to an electricity-led tariff. Conversely, if heat pumps are years away, ignoring the October gas unit rise because “dual fuel feels simpler” can cost real pounds on a 9,500 kWh profile.

Doing nothing is still a choice: you stay on a default tariff shaped by the cap rates above. That can be rational for a month while you gather bills — it is not a strategy for a whole heating season if fixed quotes clearly undercut your expected cost on a variable tariff after exit fees.

Ofgem averages are not your personal quote. Affiliate links may earn SwitchSquid a commission at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

What is the cheapest gas only deal in the UK?

The honest regulator baseline for Oct–Dec 2026 Direct Debit gas is 7.97p/kWh + 29.68p/day standing (Ofgem averages). A typical 9,500 kWh user annualises near £865 for gas alone. Fixed-deal prices need a postcode comparison on the day you switch, and we only link to offers we have checked on the retailer’s site.

Is the Ofgem £1,723 price cap a gas-only figure?

No. £1,723 is the dual-fuel typical Direct Debit annualised bill for Oct–Dec 2026 (2,500 kWh electricity + 9,500 kWh gas).

How do I estimate my gas-only variable-tariff bill?

Multiply your kWh by 0.0797 and add 365 × 0.2968 for the Oct–Dec 2026 average Direct Debit rates, then adjust if Ofgem’s regional table for your area differs. Your bill also depends on payment method.

Did gas go up in October 2026?

Yes, on the average Direct Debit rates: unit rates moved from 7.33p (Jul–Sep) to 7.97p (Oct–Dec); standing from 29.04p/day to 29.68p/day, per Ofgem’s unit-rates page.

Should I fix gas only before winter?

Compare a fix against your expected variable path including exit fees. Fixing “because the cap rose” without checking your kWh can still leave you overpaying.

Can I have different suppliers for gas and electricity?

Yes — split supply is legal and sometimes cheaper. Make sure each contract’s exit fees and renewal dates are noted separately.

Where should I compare gas-only deals?

Use a comparison site, then check the tariff on the supplier’s own site. The Compare buttons on this page open MoneySuperMarket through an affiliate link.

Do standing charges apply if I use almost no gas in summer?

Yes, for now. The standing charge builds up daily whether you heat or not, which is why low summer use still shows a gas bill. According to GOV.UK, 28 October 2026, standing charges on household gas bills are due to be removed in 2027 or as soon as possible after, with the cost moved onto the gas unit rate; electricity standing charges are not part of that announcement.