Best Electric Heaters UK (2026): Cheapest to Run by Type
One pick for each type of heater, what each costs per hour at the October to December 2026 price cap, and how to choose the right one for your room
Quick answer
- Best overall (ceramic fan)Dreo Atom 316 – fast, quiet heat with a digital thermostat
- Best smart panelDevola 2kW Smart Glass Panel Heater – app, timer and a thermostat for long evenings
- Best budget convectorDimplex HeatLite 2kW Convector – quiet whole-room heat for under £60
- Best for warming you, not the roomBelaco 3-Bar Halogen Heater – instant glow from 400W
- Lowest cost per hourWarmlite 650W Oil-Filled Radiator – about 17p an hour at full power
The best electric heaters UK shoppers can buy depend on the job, but for most people our pick is the Dreo Atom 316 ceramic fan heater. It warms a room in minutes, Dreo says it runs at just 34dB, and its digital thermostat switches the heat off once the room reaches the temperature you set, so you do not pay for heat you do not need.
Here is the honest bit about the cheapest electric heater to run: every plug-in electric heater turns electricity into heat at the same rate. A 2kW heater costs the same per hour whether it is a fan, a convector, a panel or an oil-filled radiator. At the Ofgem price cap of 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 December 2026, each 1,000W costs about 26p an hour at full power. So you save money by choosing the right wattage for the room, using a good thermostat and timer, and heating only the room you are in. Below we pick one heater of each type, from a 650W mini oil-filled radiator at about 17p an hour to a 2kW smart glass panel at about 53p, all worked out from each product's listed wattage. For more choice, see our best fan heater UK and best oil-filled radiators UK guides, and work out your own costs with our heating cost calculator. We have not tested these ourselves.
26.32p
What 1kWh of electricity costs at the Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026. A 1,000W heater uses 1kWh an hour at full power
Editor's Choice
Dreo Atom 316 1500W Ceramic Fan Heater with Remote
The best electric heater for most people: it heats a bedroom or office fast, is quiet for a fan heater, and the thermostat stops it wasting electricity once the room is warm.
Diagnose your problem
How to Choose an Electric Heater
Four quick questions to find the cheapest heater to run for the way you use it.
Problem
Heat the room, or just you?
A halogen heater mainly warms the person in front of it, like sitting near a fire. Fan, convector, panel and oil-filled heaters warm the air in the whole room.
Recommendation
Sitting still in one spot? The Belaco halogen warms you from 400W. To warm the whole room, pick one of the other four.
Products
Problem
Short bursts or all evening?
A fan heater warms a room within minutes, which suits a quick blast before work or bed. Convectors, panels and oil-filled radiators are quieter and steadier for hours at a time.
Problem
How big is the room?
More watts heat a bigger room, but cost more per hour. Dimplex says its 2kW HeatLite suits rooms up to 20 square metres, and Devola rates its 2kW panel for up to 25 square metres.
Recommendation
Box room, small study or top-up heat: the Warmlite 650W. Bedroom or home office: the Dreo. Living room: the Dimplex or Devola.
Problem
How much control do you want?
The biggest saving comes from not running a heater longer than you need. A digital thermostat set in degrees and a timer help most.
Quick Picks
The best electric heater of each type
Our Top 5 Picks
Compare all
Dreo
Dreo Atom 316 1500W Ceramic Fan Heater with Remote
“The best electric heater for most people: it heats a bedroom or office fast, is quiet for a fan heater, and the thermostat stops it wasting electricity once the room is warm.”
Best for
Bedrooms, home offices and quick bursts of heat
Skip it if
You want silent heat for a whole living room all evening.
Pros
- +Digital thermostat set to the degree
- +Quiet for a fan heater, 34dB (claimed)
- +Heats a small room in minutes
- +12-hour timer, remote and child lock
Cons
- −No oscillation, so heat goes one way
- −Fan noise is still there
- −About 39p an hour flat out
All specifications
| Type | Ceramic fan heater |
| Power | 1500W |
| Cost per hour | About 39p at full power |
| Thermostat | Digital, 5 to 35°C |
| Timer | 12 hours |
Devola
Devola 2000W Smart Electric Glass Panel Heater (White)
“The best pick for heating a room all evening: quiet, slim, and the app and timer make it easy to only heat the room when you are in it.”
Best for
Living rooms, home offices and rented flats with no central heating in one room
Skip it if
You only need a quick blast of heat now and then, or do not want an app.
Pros
- +App, Alexa and Google control
- +Thermostat accurate to half a degree (claimed)
- +24-hour timer and remote
- +Wall or floor, IP24 rated
Cons
- −Costs the most of our picks to buy
- −About 53p an hour at full power
- −Wi-Fi set-up needs a 2.4GHz network
All specifications
| Type | Glass panel heater (convector) |
| Power | 2000W |
| Cost per hour | About 53p at full power |
| Thermostat | Digital, 5 to 35°C |
| Timer | 24 hours plus app |
Dimplex
Dimplex HeatLite 2kW Convector Heater (White)
“A simple, quiet way to warm a whole room from a well-known UK heating brand, for much less than a smart panel.”
Best for
Bedrooms, living rooms and home offices up to about 20 square metres
Skip it if
You want a timer or app to switch it on before you get home.
Pros
- +Dimplex brand for under £60
- +Three heat settings
- +Near-silent running (claimed)
- +Tilt and overheat cut-outs
Cons
- −Dial thermostat, not set in degrees
- −No timer
- −Few Amazon UK ratings so far
All specifications
| Type | Convector heater |
| Power | 2000W (3 settings) |
| Cost per hour | About 53p at full power |
| Thermostat | Dial |
| Timer | No |
Belaco
Belaco 3-Bar Halogen Heater 1200W (Black)
“The cheapest way to feel warm straight away when you are sitting in one spot, because you can run it on a single 400W bar.”
Best for
Warming yourself at a desk, in a garage or in a conservatory
Skip it if
You need to keep a whole room warm, or have small children or pets.
Pros
- +Instant heat, no warm-up
- +Runs from 400W, about 11p an hour
- +Oscillates 90 degrees
- +Tip-over switch and overheat cut-out
Cons
- −Warms you more than the room
- −No thermostat or timer listed
- −Bright glow and hot bars, so not for bedrooms with children
All specifications
| Type | Halogen heater |
| Power | 400W, 800W or 1200W |
| Cost per hour | About 11p to 32p |
| Thermostat | None listed |
| Timer | No |
Warmlite
Warmlite 650W 5-Fin Oil-Filled Radiator (White)
“The lowest cost per hour of our picks. It will not heat a big room, but it keeps a box room, study or bathroom corner from getting cold.”
Best for
Box rooms, small studies and gentle background heat
Skip it if
You need to heat a living room or want heat in minutes.
Pros
- +About 17p an hour at full power
- +Silent, no fan
- +Small and light with a handle
- +Adjustable thermostat
Cons
- −Only 650W, so slow in a bigger room
- −Dial thermostat, no timer
- −Takes a while to warm up
All specifications
| Type | Oil-filled radiator |
| Power | 650W |
| Cost per hour | About 17p at full power |
| Thermostat | Dial |
| Timer | No |
Compare All Products
Side-by-side specs for quick decision-making
Swipe to compare →
| Product | Action | Power | Cost per hour | Thermostat | Timer | Price | Best For | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dreo Atom 316 1500W Ceramic Fan Heater with RemoteBest Overall (Ceramic Fan) | Ceramic fan heater | 1500W | About 39p at full power | Digital, 5 to 35°C | 12 hours | £40–£60 | Bedrooms, home offices and quick bursts of heat | View |
 Devola 2000W Smart Electric Glass Panel Heater (White)Best Smart Panel | Glass panel heater (convector) | 2000W | About 53p at full power | Digital, 5 to 35°C | 24 hours plus app | £95–£120 | Living rooms, home offices and rented flats with no central heating in one room | View |
 Dimplex HeatLite 2kW Convector Heater (White)Best Budget Convector | Convector heater | 2000W (3 settings) | About 53p at full power | Dial | No | £45–£60 | Bedrooms, living rooms and home offices up to about 20 square metres | View |
 Belaco 3-Bar Halogen Heater 1200W (Black)Best for Warming You, Not the Room | Halogen heater | 400W, 800W or 1200W | About 11p to 32p | None listed | No | £18–£25 | Warming yourself at a desk, in a garage or in a conservatory | View |
 Warmlite 650W 5-Fin Oil-Filled Radiator (White)Lowest Cost per Hour | Oil-filled radiator | 650W | About 17p at full power | Dial | No | £22–£30 | Box rooms, small studies and gentle background heat | View |
What it costs to run in the UK
At 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026), for 3 hours a day at full power.
| Product | Power | Per hour | Per day | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreo Atom 316 1500W Ceramic Fan Heater with Remote | 1,500WTop setting | 39p | £1.18 | £8.29 |
| Devola 2000W Smart Electric Glass Panel Heater (White) | 2,000WListed wattage | 53p | £1.58 | £11.05 |
| Dimplex HeatLite 2kW Convector Heater (White) | 2,000WTop setting | 53p | £1.58 | £11.05 |
| Belaco 3-Bar Halogen Heater 1200W (Black) | 1,200WAll 3 bars | 32p | 95p | £6.63 |
| Warmlite 650W 5-Fin Oil-Filled Radiator (White) | 650WListed wattage | 17p | 51p | £3.59 |
Worked out from each listing’s rated wattage at the Ofgem price cap unit rate. Once the room is warm, a thermostat switches the heat off and on, so real costs are usually lower. Lower settings cost less: the Belaco halogen on one bar (400W) costs about 11p an hour. Your own rate depends on your tariff and region. Rate source: Ofgem energy price cap, average Direct Debit electricity unit rate (England, Scotland and Wales), checked 29 September 2026.
Using an Electric Heater Safely
Plug heaters straight into a wall socket, not an extension lead, and keep them at least a metre from curtains, bedding, clothes and furniture. Never cover a heater or dry clothes on it. Halogen bars get very hot, so keep children and pets away. Stand portable heaters on a flat, hard floor and switch them off when you go out or go to sleep unless the manual says otherwise. Only use a heater in a bathroom if it is rated for it and fitted following the rules for bathroom electrics. Make sure your smoke alarms work.
Research Methodology
How We Chose These Products
We have not tested these ourselves. This is desk research, so we have not measured heat output, noise or how much power each heater really uses.
We checked Amazon UK listings on 6 October 2026 for stock, seller, price and rated wattage, read maker claims and buyer feedback, and picked one heater per type. Running costs are the listed wattage in kW multiplied by the Ofgem price cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh (1 October to 31 December 2026). Product order is our own judgement.
Selection Criteria
Control
25% weightThermostat type, timer and app, which decide how long the heater actually runs
Right Power for the Job
25% weightRated wattage against the room size the maker gives, and the running cost that follows
Safety
20% weightTip-over and overheat cut-outs listed by the maker
Amazon UK Listing
15% weightStock, seller, number of ratings and recent buyer feedback, checked 6 October 2026
Price
15% weightPrice band for what you get
Important Limitations
- •We have not tested these ourselves, and all specs are maker or listing claims
- •Running costs assume full power for the whole time. A thermostat that switches off once the room is warm will cost less, and your own tariff may differ from the price cap
- •Costs do not include the daily standing charge, which you pay whether the heater is on or not
- •We show price bands, not live prices, so always check the current Amazon UK price
Research last conducted: · Price bands checked:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about electric heaters and running costs
The one with the lowest wattage that still keeps you warm, used with a thermostat. Per hour, the Warmlite 650W oil-filled radiator is the cheapest of our picks at about 17p flat out, and the Belaco halogen costs about 11p on one 400W bar. Every electric heater turns electricity into heat at the same rate, so a lower-wattage heater simply gives out less heat.
Not really. A plug-in electric heater turns almost all the electricity it uses into heat, whatever the type. What differs is how the heat reaches you: a fan spreads it quickly, a halogen warms you directly and an oil-filled radiator releases it slowly. Good thermostats and timers save money because the heater runs for less time.
Multiply the wattage in kW by your unit rate. At the Ofgem price cap of 26.32p per kWh for October to December 2026, a 650W heater costs about 17p an hour, 1.2kW about 32p, 1.5kW about 39p and 2kW about 53p at full power. Use our heating cost calculator to try your own heater and tariff.
Per unit of heat, usually not. At the price cap, gas is 7.97p per kWh and electricity is 26.32p, so electricity costs more than three times as much per unit. An electric heater can still save money if it means you heat one room for a few hours instead of the whole house.
A quiet one with a thermostat. The Dreo Atom 316 is quiet for a fan heater and good for warming the room before bed. For silent heat, an oil-filled radiator is better, and our best oil-filled radiator for bedroom UK guide has more picks. Switch heaters off when you go to sleep unless the manual says they are designed to stay on.
They can be, because you can run them on one bar. The Belaco uses 400W, 800W or 1200W, which is about 11p, 21p or 32p an hour at the price cap. But halogen heaters mainly warm the person in front of them, not the room, so they suit sitting in one spot rather than heating a whole room.
Both are quiet and good for longer heating. A convector warms up faster and is lighter to move. An oil-filled radiator takes longer to warm up but keeps giving off heat after it switches off, which some people find more comfortable. At the same wattage they cost the same per hour.
It is safest not to unless the manual says the heater is designed for it. Use a timer to warm the room before bed and switch off when you go to sleep. Never leave a heater on near bedding or clothes.
They cost more to buy but not more to run than any other heater of the same wattage. You pay for the slim look, wall mounting, app control and a more precise thermostat, which can help you avoid heating an empty room. If you just want heat, a convector like the Dimplex HeatLite is far cheaper.
Use the maker’s room size as a guide. Dimplex says its 2kW HeatLite suits rooms up to 20 square metres and Devola rates its 2kW panel for up to 25 square metres. A small 650W radiator suits a box room or gentle background heat. Draughty rooms need more heat, so seal gaps first.
Ready to pick an electric heater?
The Dreo Atom 316 is our pick for most people: fast, quiet heat and a digital thermostat that stops it running once the room is warm.
View Our Top Pick on Amazon UKDisclosure & Editorial Policy
Amazon Affiliate: TopMagpie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme. We earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't affect our editorial choices or the prices you pay.
No Lab Testing: We have not laboratory-tested these products. Recommendations are based on spec analysis, reviews, and editorial judgement.
Prices: Approximate bands, checked . Amazon prices change frequently – always verify the current price before purchasing. We do not invent live prices.
Data Source: The 26.32p figure is from the Ofgem energy price cap unit rates. Actual results vary based on your specific situation.
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