It depends on your hair growth and skin rather than price — both are sold across the same range. It is a fit decision, not a budget one.

Are cleaning stations worth it?

They are convenient and they need cartridges, which is an ongoing cost rarely included in anyone’s comparison. Price the refills before deciding.

Cheapest place to buy an electric shaver in the UK

Q: How often do electric shaver heads need replacing?

Roughly annually. A genuine replacement head for a premium shaver costs a substantial fraction of a new mid-range shaver, which changes which model is actually the cheap one.

The replacement head can cost most of what the shaver did.

Updated 25 September 2026 · 1 min read

Replacement heads are the real cost

Shaver foils and cutters wear out and need replacing roughly annually. A genuine replacement head for a premium shaver costs a substantial fraction of a new mid-range shaver, which changes the arithmetic on which model is actually cheap.

Foil and rotary suit different faces

Foil shavers use oscillating blades behind a mesh; rotary shavers use spinning circular heads. Which is better depends on your hair growth and skin, not on price, and they are priced across the same range — so this is a fit decision rather than a budget one.

What actually drives the price

Wet and dry use, which decides whether you can shave in the shower.
Cleaning stations, expensive to buy and expensive to refill with cartridges.
Battery life and quick charge, which matter mostly when travelling.
Bundled trimmers, frequently the difference between two otherwise identical listings.

Before you buy

Price a genuine replacement head for the model.
Decide foil or rotary based on your face, not the price.
If it comes with a cleaning station, price the refill cartridges too.
Check the box contents, since bundles differ by retailer.