Cheapest gas tariff to switch to right now (UK, May 2026)
Gas-only and dual-fuel rates are at their lowest for the year ahead of the Q3 2026 Ofgem cap. Outfox the Market, So Energy, E.ON Next and Octopus all have 12-month gas fixes priced 3–7% below the current cap.
- Top 6 gas-cheap fixes available in May 2026 (with annual cost estimates)
- How the July 2026 cap announcement (27 May) will move things
- Gas-only vs dual-fuel: which actually wins in 2026
Indicative direct-debit pricing for typical-use households (12,000 kWh gas). Your actual price depends on your region, payment method and consumption.
Fast answer (May 2026)
The cheapest gas-only fix right now is Outfox the Market Gas Fix'd May 26 at ~5.4p/kWh + 28p/day standing — roughly £750/yr for a typical-use home, about 6% under the Q2 2026 cap. The cheapest dual-fuel fix is the same supplier's combined product at ~£1,612/yr.
Cornwall Insight's mid-May 2026 central forecast points to the 27 May Ofgem announcement setting a small July cap fall (~2–4%). 12-month gas fixes 3% or more below the current cap should still beat that on a full-year basis.
If you have gas only (e.g. you've already gone solar + heat-pump for electricity), a single-fuel gas switch is straightforward; if you also need electricity, dual-fuel is usually cheaper than two separate single-fuel deals once standing charges are combined.
Cheapest gas-only fixes — May 2026
| Supplier / tariff | Unit (p/kWh) | Standing (p/day) | Est. annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outfox the Market — Gas Fix'd May 26 | ~5.4 | ~28 | ~£750 |
| So Energy — So Bluebell Gas 12m | ~5.5 | ~29 | ~£762 |
| E.ON Next — Pledge Gas Fixed 12m | ~5.6 | ~29 | ~£775 |
| Octopus Energy — 12M Gas Fixed | ~5.7 | ~29 | ~£786 |
| EDF — Essentials Gas 1Yr May 26 | ~5.8 | ~30 | ~£797 |
| OVO — Greener Gas Fix | ~5.9 | ~30 | ~£807 |
Indicative GB-average rates for typical use (12,000 kWh/yr) — your postcode-specific price will differ.
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Gas-only vs dual-fuel in 2026 — which actually wins?
Suppliers usually price the cheapest fix for dual-fuel customers. The maths in May 2026 looks like this for a typical home (12,000 kWh gas + 2,900 kWh electricity, GB average):
- Dual-fuel fix (best on panel): ~£1,612/yr — Outfox the Market Fix'd Dual
- Two single-fuel fixes (gas + electricity separately): ~£1,648/yr
- Dual-fuel saves ~£36/yr on standing charges and combined billing.
Exception: if you have solar PV with net export contracts (SEG) and are loyal to your export supplier, splitting gas to a separate cheaper supplier can sometimes win — usually by £10–£30/yr, so worth a quick check.
Common pitfalls
Headline unit rate
5.4p sounds great until the standing charge is 32p/day. Compare on total annual cost.
Exit fees on your current fix
£25–£75 per fuel mid-term. Free to leave in the last 49 days.
Cashback conditions
Some sub-cap deals only beat the cap with cashback included. Read the payout terms.
Switching mid heating season
Submit a meter reading on the day of switch — final/opening reads avoid disputes on summer balances.
Gas switching FAQs (May 2026)
How we assess this
- Written by:
- EnergyPlus Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- EnergyPlus Energy Specialist
- Last updated
- May 2026
Tariff snapshot taken on 22 May 2026 from the EnergyPlus switching panel and confirmed against supplier websites. Annual cost figures use Ofgem Typical Domestic Consumption Values (TDCV) and the Q2 2026 cap as the baseline.
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Sources
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