--- title: "Is a smart thermostat worth it? Costs and realistic savings" description: "Is a smart thermostat worth it? The price, installation and how it saves by heating only when you need it, with a worked example of payback time." author: "Wealtie Team" published: 2026-11-13 updated: 2026-11-13 category: "Budgeting" canonical: https://wealtie.com/blog/smart-thermostat-worth-it --- # Is a smart thermostat worth it? Costs and realistic savings Is a smart thermostat worth it? It can be if your schedule varies or you often heat an empty home, since it makes it easy to heat only when needed, and in a worked example one costing 200 saves about 80 a year. ## Key takeaways - A smart thermostat can be worth it if you often heat an empty home. - In a worked example, one costing 200 saves about 80 a year. - The saving depends on changing habits, not the device itself. - A basic programmable thermostat can give similar savings for less. ## Is a smart thermostat worth it? It can be, but the device alone doesn't save money. A smart thermostat lets you control your heating from your phone, set detailed schedules, and in some cases heat individual rooms or switch off when everyone leaves. The savings come from heating your home only when and where you need it. If you already have a simple timer and use it well, the extra saving may be small. If your heating often runs while you're out, or your schedule changes from week to week, a smart thermostat can make it much easier to cut waste. In a worked example, a smart thermostat costing 200 including installation saves about 80 a year, paying for itself in about two and a half years. Many people find the biggest benefit is being able to turn the heating off from their phone when plans change, like staying late at work or going away for a weekend without thinking about it beforehand. Smart thermostats can also show how much your heating runs each day, which many people find eye-opening. Seeing that the heating ran for hours while nobody was home can be the push needed to change the schedule. Some apps give weekly reports and tips, which help turn good intentions into habits. Like any gadget, though, it only helps if you look at it and act on what you see. ## How much can a smart thermostat save? Here's a worked example, in round numbers that work in any currency: | Item | Amount | | --- | --- | | Thermostat and installation | 200 | | Yearly heating saving | 80 | ![Smart thermostat: cost and yearly saving. Thermostat and installation: 200, Yearly heating saving: 80.](https://us-1-s3.polodev.net/wealtie-blog-media/posts/2026/11/smart-thermostat-cost-and-yearly-saving-thermostat-and-1620577788.webp "Source: Worked example in round numbers") The saving comes from turning the heating off while the home is empty, lowering the temperature at night and avoiding heating rooms nobody uses. Your own saving depends on your habits before and after, your home and your energy prices. If you already heat carefully, expect less. ## How does a smart thermostat save money? ### Remote control You can turn the heating off when plans change, or on shortly before you get home, rather than leaving it running just in case. ### Smarter schedules Detailed schedules for each day of the week fit irregular routines, like shift work or working from home some days. ### Room-by-room control Some systems work with smart radiator valves, so you heat only the rooms you're using. This can add a lot to the cost, so start with the rooms you use most. ### Away modes and learning Some thermostats notice when everyone has left and lower the temperature automatically. Others learn your routine over time. ## When is a smart thermostat not worth it? If you live in a small flat with a simple routine and already use a timer well, a smart thermostat may save very little. If your heating system is old or inefficient, money might be better spent on insulation or draught proofing first. And if you don't use the features, it's just an expensive thermostat. A basic programmable thermostat costs less and can give much of the same benefit for people with regular routines. ## What does a smart thermostat cost? Prices vary from simple smart models to premium ones with learning features and room sensors. Installation may need a professional, especially if wiring is involved, which adds to the cost. Some models are designed for easy self-installation, which can save the fee if you're confident. Some energy companies offer discounts or free installation with certain tariffs. Check that the thermostat works with your boiler or heating system before buying. ## How do you get the most from one? Set a schedule that matches when you're home. Lower the temperature slightly, since even one degree makes a difference over a winter. Turn the heating off when you go out or away. Use the app to check you haven't left the heating on. Combine it with cheap fixes like draught proofing and closing curtains at dusk. [How to save money on heating](https://wealtie.com/blog/save-money-on-heating) and [the winter budget](https://wealtie.com/blog/winter-budget) have more ideas, and [how to save money on your electric bill](https://wealtie.com/blog/save-money-on-electric-bill) covers the rest of your energy use. ### Work out the cost per use A thermostat you use every day for years costs very little per day. [Cost per use](https://wealtie.com/blog/cost-per-use) explains this way of comparing. ## How do you track heating savings in Wealtie? Add energy bills as [recurring transactions](https://wealtie.com/features/recurring), so they log themselves on their date. Keep them in their own [expense category](https://wealtie.com/features/categories), and compare winter bills before and after installing the thermostat to see the real saving. ## Questions people ask ### Is a smart thermostat worth it? It can be if you often heat an empty home or have a changing routine. In a worked example, one costing 200 saves about 80 a year. ### How does a smart thermostat save money? By making it easy to heat only when and where you need it, with remote control, detailed schedules and away modes. ### When is a smart thermostat not worth it? If you already use a timer well, have a simple routine or haven't dealt with draughts and insulation first. ### Is a programmable thermostat as good as a smart one? For regular routines, a basic programmable thermostat can give much of the same saving for less. *This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.*