Work From Home Costs Calculator
A work-from-home day usually saves you commuting, a bought lunch and a coffee run — but adds a bit to your home heating and electricity. See the real net saving (or cost) per WFH day, your annual total, and how it changes across a hybrid working pattern.
Estimate only. This calculator gives estimates for information only, not tax advice. HMRC working-from-home tax relief eligibility depends on your specific employment circumstances — check gov.uk or ask your employer if you're unsure.
Working from home wins
On your numbers, each WFH day nets you £11.75 — mostly from skipping the commute.
You haven't ticked "required to work from home" — HMRC only pays this relief when your employer requires it, not when it's your own choice.
| Days/week | Annual net saving |
|---|---|
| 1 | £611 |
| 2 | £1,222 |
| 3 | £1,833 |
| 4 | £2,444 |
| 5 | £3,055 |
- Batch your in-office days together (e.g. Tue-Wed-Thu) rather than spreading them out — it concentrates the commute cost and keeps home heating off for longer unbroken stretches.
- Heat the room you're working in, not the whole house — a small heater or the room's own radiator valve is far cheaper than running full central heating all day.
- The £6/week flat-rate WFH tax relief was tightened after the pandemic — it's now only available if your employer requires you to work from home, not simply because you prefer to.
- If your employer doesn't require WFH but you still want the relief, ask whether they'll add WFH to your contract or offer a small home-working allowance instead.
Why the commute usually outweighs the extra heating
For most commuters, the cost of fuel or fares, a bought lunch and a coffee run adds up to far more per day than the extra gas and electricity of being home — so working from home usually comes out well ahead financially, even before counting the HMRC relief. The exception is anyone with a very short or free commute and a poorly insulated home to heat during a full working day, where the balance can tip the other way. The HMRC £6/week flat-rate relief is worth checking too, but only applies when your employer requires WFH rather than it being your own preference.