Most people in the UK should get home oxygen through the NHS. The NHS assesses you, and a contracted supplier installs, services and supports the equipment. NHS guidance also says the supplier arranges payment for the electricity a concentrator uses. See how the NHS home oxygen service works.
The NHS warns that buying oxygen online and using it without a prescription can be dangerous. It can damage the brain, heart and lungs, or even kill. If you do buy privately, for example as a backup or for a second home, use only the flow your clinician prescribed.
UK prices
All from portableoxygen.co.uk (Intermedical Homecare), read 14 October 2026, before VAT. Specifications are as listed by the retailer.
| Model | Price before VAT | Flow | Weight | Power | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips Oxygenate 5 | £785 | 0.5–5 L/min | approx. 18 kg | under 360 W | — |
| Drive DeVilbiss 525 | £810 | 0.5–5 L/min | 16.3 kg | 290–312 W | 40 dBA |
| AirSep VisionAire 5 | £840 | 1–5 L/min | 13.6 kg | 290 W | 39 dB(A) |
| Drive DeVilbiss 1025 | £990 | 2–10 L/min | 19 kg | 670 W | 57 dBA |
| NewLife Intensity 10 | £1,595 | 2–10 L/min | 26.4 kg | 590 W | — |
The same retailer showed the Philips EverFlo (£795) and Nidek Nuvo Lite 5 (£945) as out of stock, so we left them out.
Running cost
At the Ofgem price cap of 26.32p per kWh (October to December 2026, Direct Debit average for England, Scotland and Wales):
| Power draw | Per day (24 h) | Per month (30 days) |
|---|---|---|
| 290 W (VisionAire 5) | £1.83 | £54.96 |
| 312 W (DeVilbiss 525, top of range) | £1.97 | £59.13 |
| 590 W (NewLife Intensity 10) | £3.73 | £111.81 |
| 670 W (DeVilbiss 1025) | £4.23 | £126.97 |
These figures assume the maximum listed draw, all day. Many machines draw less at low flow. The retailer says the DeVilbiss 525 draws less below 2.5 L/min. On the NHS, the supplier arranges payment for this electricity. If you buy privately, you pay it yourself.
VAT relief
HMRC Notice 701/7 lists oxygen concentrators as zero-rated medical appliances for a chronically sick or disabled person buying for personal or domestic use. See VAT relief on CPAP and oxygen.
5 or 10 litres?
Buy for your prescription, not the maximum. A 5-litre machine covers prescriptions up to 5 L/min. A 10-litre machine is only needed above that, and it costs more to run, weighs more and is louder: the DeVilbiss 1025 is listed at 57 dBA against 40 dBA for the 525.
The verdict
Use the NHS route if you need home oxygen. It covers the equipment, servicing and electricity. If you have a specific reason to buy, a 5-litre machine such as the DeVilbiss 525 (£810 before VAT) or VisionAire 5 (£840) covers most prescriptions. Buy a 10-litre machine only if your prescription is above 5 L/min.