Best electric heaters for cold nights at home, from electric radiators to portable ceramic options

Electric heater FAQ

How much does it cost to run an electric heater?

Oil-filled heaters

According to technical service manager at Pimlico Plumbers Bennett, these are the most efficient on the whole. They use an electrical current within thermal oil, heating the oil and circulating it around the heater, a bit like water in a radiator. They are convection heaters, meaning that as the heat rises it draws in cooler air in underneath to be heated in turn - an effect that works best in well-sealed rooms.

Oil-filled heaters tend to be more cumbersome, as the oil adds weight, and can take a long time to warm up – upwards of 20 minutes – but they stay warm for a long time once they’re turned off. Oil-filled radiators are relatively cheap to run, costing as little as 26p per hour at today’s prices, and there is no need to replace the oil. Prices for a good model start roughly at the £50 mark.

Halogen heaters

Often used outdoors as patio heaters, these radiate heat directly onto objects, rather than relying on convection to circulate the warmth. They’re light and portable and cost around 50p per hour to run (based on a 1500W heater on maximum setting). However, they struggle in large spaces. Like most portable heaters, you can pick one up for under £20, but can easily spend over £100, too.

Fan heaters

These use an electric coil to create heat and then blow the warmth across the room. They are cheap and light, but noisy and the warmth can be quickly lost if you let in a draught. Modern models use ceramic elements, which get more resistant as they get hotter (they have a “positive thermal coefficient”). This means they produce heat more quickly and retain it better, making them cheaper to run than fan heaters used to be — as long as you use the thermostat wisely. Otherwise you could easily wind up spending over £1 an hour. Scroll to the bottom of this feature for more detail on the cost of electricity. 

What extra features should I look out for? 

The most useful addition is a timer, allowing you to set the heating for the moment you wake up or arrive home. Upmarket models use an app for this, although you’d get much the same functionality with a smart plug. 

Frost protection is a common extra and sees the heater automatically switch on when the room goes below 5C.

Many fan heaters also have a cold air setting – they essentially double up as fans in the summer. While not as potent as air conditioners, it could save you having to fit both appliances into your house. 

How safe are portable electric heaters?

The most important thing is to never place anything combustible on or too close to the appliance. If using a fan heater, consider whether anything nearby can be blown over (it’s also worth noting that fan heaters should be placed in sufficient space to facilitate an airflow from behind). 

Many heaters will come with tilt protection: should something knock it over, like a pet or a small child, it will switch off. Most also have overheat protection, switching the appliance off before it can reach flammable temperatures if, for example, a coat is accidentally placed on top of the heater.

According to Electrical Safety First, there are several other safety measures to implement: Never leave portable heaters unattended. Never leave them on while asleep. Position them away from anything which can knock them over. Keep at least a metre away from combustible materials. Never buy second-hand halogen heaters. Never power a halogen heater from an extension lead. Regularly inspect your heater and don’t use if it is damaged.

* The cost of one kiloWatt-hour of electricity is capped at 34p under the Energy Price Guarantee announced by the Government in October 2022. Although prices do vary by region and contract (economy 7 tariffs are more expensive by day and cheaper by night, for example), we use the capped price to estimate running costs. If the average variable unit price for energy changes, this article will be updated accordingly. 

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Electric resistance heating is 100% energy efficient in the sense that all the incoming electric energy is converted to heat. However, most electricity is produced from coal, gas, or oil generators that convert only about 30% of the fuel's energy into electricity. Because of electricity generation and transmission losses, electric heat is often more expensive than heat produced in homes or businesses that use combustion appliances. 

If electricity is the only choice, heat pumps are preferable in most climates, as they easily cut electricity use by 50% when compared with electric resistance heating. There may be some exceptions, such as in climates with so few heating days that the cost of heating with electric resistance is not significant.

Electric resistance heating may also make sense for a home addition if it is not practical to extend the existing heating system to supply heat to the new addition.