Octopus fixed tariff ending: 45 days or 49 days?

A fixed Octopus tariff can produce two apparently conflicting answers as its end date approaches. Consumer guidance says you can leave a fixed tariff without an exit fee when 49 days or less remain. The Octopus account help page says its tariff-change option appears when you are within 45 days of the end date.

Both can be true. One number describes the contract protection. The other describes when a particular self-service account button becomes available.

The 45-day and 49-day rules compared

Number	What it means	What to do
49 days	Octopus's domestic terms say no exit fee is charged if the contract is cancelled within its final 49 days. Citizens Advice gives the same 49-day rule for fixed tariffs.	Check the exact tariff end date and confirm the date your old contract will end.
45 days	Octopus says the self-service Change my tariff option appears for fixed-tariff customers within 45 days of the contract end.	Use the account option once it appears, or contact Octopus if you need help before then.

What happens between 49 and 45 days?

You can be inside the fee-free final window while the account's self-service tariff-change option is not yet visible. That does not mean the 49-day protection has disappeared. It means the online account route has not opened yet.

If you want to move during that four-day gap, contact Octopus and ask it to confirm the tariff end date, any exit fee and the date the proposed change would take effect. Keep that confirmation with the tariff information shown in your account.

If you are switching to another supplier, Ofgem says a household supplier switch should take up to five working days and you can ask for a later switch date. Do not choose a start date from mental arithmetic alone. Confirm when the old fixed contract will actually end and whether that date falls inside the protected window.

Changing Octopus tariff is not the same as changing supplier

The 45-day account message is about moving between tariffs available in your Octopus account. A switch to another supplier follows the wider supplier-switching process. The tariff you want may also have separate eligibility rules, smart-meter requirements or additional terms.

Do not assume every internal move is automatic or immediate. If the account does not show the tariff, ask Octopus whether it is available for your meter, postcode and current contract. For a smart tariff, also check the relevant smart-tariff terms and the required half-hourly meter setup before leaving a working arrangement.

A practical end-of-fix checklist

Find the exact end date. Use the tariff information in your Octopus account or contract, not the next Direct Debit date.
Check whether your tariff has an exit fee. Octopus says any fee is stated when you sign up, and an older fix without one does not gain one later.
Count back 49 days. Treat this as the contractual fee-free window, then confirm the effective cancellation or switch date.
Look for Change my tariff at 45 days. If it is missing and you need to act, contact Octopus rather than assuming you must wait.
Compare the whole next deal. Check unit rates, standing charges, tariff term, exit fees, meter eligibility and your actual usage pattern.
Record the handover. Keep the old tariff end date, new tariff start date, account messages and meter readings.

Common mistakes to avoid

Treating 45 days as the fee rule. It is the current Octopus self-service account window.
Assuming every fix has the same fee. Check the terms accepted for the actual tariff rather than a remembered amount.
Using the application date instead of the contract-end date. What matters is when the old fixed contract is cancelled or ends.
Comparing only a monthly Direct Debit. Compare annual usage, rates, standing charges and tariff fit.
Leaving a suitable smart tariff without checking re-entry rules. Some smart tariffs have extra eligibility or return restrictions.

The practical verdict

Use 49 days for the fee-free fixed-contract window and 45 days for the Octopus account button. If the dates do not line up on your account, ask Octopus to confirm the effective change date and any fee in writing before proceeding.

The broader changing tariffs guide covers account quotes, smart-tariff eligibility and meter evidence. If you are considering another supplier, the switching guide covers the wider handover process.

If you are still comparing Octopus, check tariff fit and current account-specific prices first. Use the referral page only if Octopus remains the right choice for the home.