Page last updated on 17th August 2026
How can I read a gas smart meter?
Your gas smart meter will send your meter readings directly to your energy supplier, making manual readings a thing of the past. However, if you want to monitor your energy use more closely, it’s still useful to know how to read a gas smart meter and where to find your reading on the display.
What's on this page?
Am I looking at a smart meter or a smart meter display?
Smart meters and in-home displays can look similar at first glance, but they show different information. Before following advice on how to read digital gas meter displays, it helps to check which device you’re looking at.
Your smart meter is usually attached to the wall and records your gas usage directly. Your in-home display (IHD) is a separate screen designed to help you monitor your energy use in near real time.
Why take a manual smart meter reading?
Smart meters automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier. This means you’ll no longer need to take a meter reading. And you can expect accurate, not estimated bills.
But there are instances where manual meter readings could help you:
You want to personally track your energy use alongside your in-home display.
If you change the settings on your smart meter so it no longer sends your meter readings automatically.
You’ve just switched supplier (you normally need to send just the first meter reading)
Or you may need to take a meter reading if you have switched supplier and have a SMETS1 meter.
Some households also manually check their gas smart meter reading if the meter temporarily loses connection or stops sharing readings automatically with their supplier.
How to take a meter reading if you have a smart meter
If you’re wondering how to take a gas meter reading on a smart meter, the steps depend on the type of smart meter you have.
Most gas smart meters show your reading as numbers followed by ‘m3’. To avoid incorrect submissions, record only the numbers before the decimal point.
The steps for taking a reading depend on which smart meter you’re looking at:
Quick summary: how to read a gas smart meter
To quickly understand how to read a gas smart meter, follow these basic steps:
Press the main display or menu button on your smart meter
Wait for the screen to display numbers followed by ‘m3’
Write down the numbers from left to right
Ignore leading zeros and numbers after the decimal point
This method works for many common smart gas meter models used across Great Britain.
How to read your electric smart meter
Click on the link below to find out how to read your electric smart meter.
How to read your gas smart meter
The steps below explain how to find your reading based on the type of meter you have, whether you’re asking ‘how to read my gas smart meter’.
Click on the link below if your meter has:
If you’re unsure how to check gas meter readings on smart meter display, your reading will usually appear as a number followed by ‘m3’. If it is still difficult to find, speak to your energy supplier for advice tailored to your smart meter model. Different energy suppliers use different smart meter models, including SMETS1 and SMETS2 meters, so the buttons and screen layouts may vary slightly.
For specific advice on using your smart meter to take a meter reading, contact your energy supplier.
How do you read a smart meter with A and B buttons?
One of the most common questions customers ask is: How do you read a smart meter with A and B buttons?
To read this type of meter, press the A button until ‘METER INDEX’ appears on the screen. The numbers displayed next to ‘m3’ are your gas meter reading.
Gas smart meters with ‘A’ and ‘B’ buttons under the screen
Press the A button
Press the A button again until you see ‘METER INDEX’ and numbers followed by ‘M3’
Write down the number from left to right, this is your gas meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
If you’ve wondered what are the A and B buttons on my gas smart meter, they are used to cycle through menu screens and locate your reading.
Gas smart meters with 3 square red buttons
Press the left button - it might say ‘A’
Write down the number from left to right, this is your gas meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
This is another common example of how to read digital gas meter displays used by some UK energy suppliers.
Gas smart meters with a circle button and 2 arrow buttons
Press the middle circle button
Write down the number from left to right, this is your gas meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point
Gas smart meters with a keypad
Press 9 - you’ll see ‘VOLUME’ on the screen
Wait until it changes - you’ll see numbers followed by ‘M3’
Write down the number from left to right, this is your gas meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point. If you’re learning how to read a gas smart meter with keypad controls, the reading will normally appear automatically after pressing 9.
Gas smart meters with orange and blue arrow buttons
Press the orange button
Write down the number from left to right, this is your gas meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Gas smart meters with 2 white buttons to the right of the screen
Press the right button - it might be labelled 'OK' or have an arrow on it
Write down the number from left to right, this is your gas meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Gas smart meters with a button to the left and right of the screen
Press either of the buttons on your meter
Wait until you see ‘01’ with numbers followed by ‘M3’ 3.
Write down the number from left to right, this is your gas meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Why is my gas meter not showing a reading?
If your gas meter is not showing a reading correctly, there are several quick checks you can try before contacting your energy supplier.
Check the following:
Press the display button more than once to wake the screen
Check whether your in-home display (IHD) has disconnected. This is the small portable screen that shows your energy use. If it is disconnected, it may show a blank screen, an error message or stop updating with new usage information.
Wait a few moments after pressing the button for the reading to appear
If your gas meter is not showing a reading after trying these steps, contact your supplier for support specific to your smart meter model. If you're checking how to check gas meter reading on smart meter devices, older SMETS1 meters may sometimes lose connectivity after you switch supplier.
How can I get a smart meter if I don’t have one?
Many homes in Britain can upgrade to a smart meter right now. But where you live, the type of home you live in and the age and type of your existing meter may mean that your energy supplier will take a little longer to install yours.
Smart meters can help households monitor energy use more accurately and reduce the need for manual readings.
Your supplier will be in touch when your smart meter is ready to be installed. If you would like to enquire about getting one now, please click the link below:
FAQs
Can I get a smart meter for free?
There is no additional cost for installation of your smart meter. At the point of installation you may be offered an in-home display that shows your spending in near real-time for no additional cost. You won’t have an extra charge on your bill because you choose to have a smart meter. The costs will be spread across everyone’s bills, just like the cost of running and maintaining today’s traditional meters are.
Do I need one smart meter for gas and another for electricity?
Most dual-fuel homes need one smart meter for gas and one smart meter for electricity. Gas and electricity are measured in different ways, so each fuel usually needs its own meter.
If you’re a dual-fuel customer, your supplier will usually replace both meters in one visit and you’ll use one in-home display to view both gas and electricity usage. If your gas and electricity accounts are with different suppliers, each supplier is responsible for its own meter, so you may need two separate installations.
Where you have different suppliers for gas and electricity, it can help to have the electricity smart meter installed first. You can find more information about smart meters and the installation process on our installation process page.
This order can matter because the electricity smart meter often plays an important role in the wider smart meter setup. If your gas and electricity are supplied by different companies, each supplier is responsible for its own meter, and you may need separate appointments.
How do I check my gas smart meter reading?
If you want to know how to check gas meter reading on smart meter displays, press the main display button until numbers followed by ‘m3’ appear on screen.
This is one of the most common ways to find your reading. Remember to ignore any zeros at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
What are the A and B buttons on my gas smart meter?
Customers often ask what are the A and B buttons on my gas smart meter because button layouts vary between suppliers. The A and B buttons are used to scroll through information screens and locate your gas smart meter reading.
How do I read my gas smart meter if the display is blank?
If you’re unsure how do I read my gas smart meter because the screen is blank, try pressing the main button several times and checking whether your smart meter has power.
If the display still does not respond, contact your energy supplier for further support.