As the winter has set in, chances are you’re a little overcome by the chill – which is why finding the best electric heater for those frosty days and even colder nights – should be your main priority. Unfortunately, using central heating to heat your home is going to cost a pretty penny, so something like an electric blanket or heater will keep you snug, and not hike up your energy bills.
After all, what good is heating the entire house, when you’re using one or two rooms? Seems logical to us. Howden Insurance has crunched some numbers, which puts your heating costs into perspective, claiming that investing in an electric heater can save you up to 67 per cent of your bill. At Yours, we’re experts at helping you to find money-saving gadgets – and by grabbing an electric heater or even using an old-fashioned hot water bottle, you’re in the green.
Best electric heater at a glance:
• Best overall electric heater: Dreo Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater - View offer on Amazon UK
• Budget-friendly electric heater: Dunelm White Fan Heater - View offer at Dunelm
• Most energy-efficient pick: Dreo 16-Inch Low-Energy Space Heater - View offer on Amazon UK
• Best electric heater for large rooms: John Lewis Tower Electric Heater - View offer at John Lewis
Perhaps, you're thinking: what's wrong with gas heating? And, is electric heating cheaper than gas? When prices are running at a reasonable rate, gas can be significantly cheaper to run than electricity. However, gas has a few disadvantages. Money Supermarket says that "Gas boilers are inefficient compared with electric systems." This is because not all of a gas heater's energy converts to heat, often lost as moisture, light and exhaust fumes.
Plug in your electric heater and get cosy this winter. We've found the best on the market, looking at type, dimensions, power and energy efficiency to inform our choices. This way, you will find the best electric space heater to suit your home, lifestyle and budget. Electric heaters are just one of the many ways you can easily cut down your bills.
Best electric heater
Best overall electric heater
Compact and potent, this Dreo Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater utilises advanced PTC ceramic heating for rapid warmth, fitting perfectly on various surfaces. Its 1500W output, DC motor, and 9 blades offer faster heating. With safety features, wide oscillation, and energy-saving modes, it ensures efficient and safe heating in diverse spaces.
Customer review: "Bought this for my WFH space in the corner of the lounge. Easy to set up, instantly warms the space, quiet fan and even lets you silence the ‘bleeps’. Remote control and easy-to-read LED on the heater let you customise everything and it remembers your last settings. Small but stable. Very pleased with this purchase."
Pros
- Advanced ceramic heating for quick warmth in all spaces
- Compact size with a handle allows easy movement between rooms
- With overheat protection ensures secure and stress-free use
Cons
- Some users may still find this loud, especially in quieter settings or during nighttime use
Best portable electric heater
www.currys.co.uk
Stay cosy using the RUSSELL HOBBS RHPH7001 Portable Plug Heater - Black, ideal for smaller spaces at home or in caravans. Its compact size makes it travel-friendly, easily plugging into walls for hassle-free use. With temperature settings from 15°C to 30°C, 2 speeds, and a 12-hour timer, it adapts well to your daily needs.
Customer review: "Good heater, temperature control good, would recommend this item."
Pros
- Compact and lightweight for convenience and versatility
- Directly plugging into a wall reduces cable clutter and set-up
- Adjustable temperature to switch up to your comfort
Cons
- A little more noisy than some expected
Budget-friendly electric heater
www.dunelm.com
This Dunelm White Fan Heater efficiently disperses warmth using an electric coil, swiftly heating small to medium-sized rooms. With a carry handle for easy mobility, it offers two heat settings, thermostatic control, overheat protection and a safety cut-out. Running at 60p per hour, it ensures winter comfort with its features.
Customer review: "Perfect to blast the bedroom on a morning while getting dressed! Cheap to run!"
Pros
- Provides immediate warmth in small to medium-sized spaces
- Compact and lightweight for convenience and versatility
- Budget-friendly pick and a cost-effective winter solution
Cons
- Only suits small to medium-sized rooms
Most energy-efficient pick
V0 flame-retardant construction with tip-over protection, overheat safety, 12-hour timer, and 24-hour auto power-off. This 1800W Most energy-efficient pick ceramic heater swiftly warms spaces, operates quietly at 37.5dB, features wide-angle oscillation, and offers energy-efficient smart ECO mode. Just imagine how snug you'd be with this heater...
Customer review: "I recommend this product, it's easy to use, you can choose from 3 different intensities of heat, it's easy to change the temperature, also I like the design. The remote control is so useful. It heats well a small room."
Pros
- A wider coverage area, distributing warmth evenly across the room
- Provides rapid warmth, which can be great during colder months
- Compact and designed for easy placement in various settings
Cons
- May not suit larger rooms
Premium electric heater
www.johnlewis.com
The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Purifying Fan Heater, White/Silver removes 99.95% of allergens and pollutants as tiny as 0.1 microns. It purifies, heats, and cools while capturing gases and pollutants, featuring a 360-degree filtration system, Air Multiplier™ technology for whole-room purification, 70-degree oscillation, and a convenient remote control.
Customer review: "We purchased this item to help us keep warm in the cool summer days without having to put on the central heating. It is ideal for the two of us as we are both in our 80s and feel the cold, particularly on cold damp days. It is very effective for warming up individual rooms."
Pros
- Powerful HP00 purifies, heats and cools you - when desired
- Captures 99.95% of microscopic allergens and pollutants
- Oscillates up to 70 degrees and is adjustable for whole-room heat
Cons
- No timer function
Best electric heater for large rooms
www.johnlewis.com
Experience warmth and convenience with the John Lewis Tower Electric Heater, White. This sleek heater boasts electronic control, a digital display, a waterfall design, 2 heat settings, an 8-hour timer, oscillation, safety features, and a carrying handle. Plus, there is a remote control option to help you test a range of settings.
Customer review: "We borrowed a John Lewis heater from our daughter when ours broke and liked it so much we bought the latest version. So many useful features on it including remote control and it is ideal for heating our room. Excellent value and a two-year warranty. Highly recommended."
Pros
- Electronic control, remote control, digital display, and an 8-hour timer
- Overheat protection and carry handle contribute to a great experience
- Stylish design is aesthetically pleasing, complementing various decor.
Cons
- Some customers questioned the cost-effectiveness
Best electric fan heater
www.johnlewis.com
Ensure your bedroom's ideal temperature with the John Lewis Mini Tower Fan Heater, White. Featuring an adjustable thermostat, two heating levels, and an anti-frost setting, it covers a large area with wide-angle oscillation for maximum comfort and safety features for ease of use. Plus, it's been made to help stay cosy in smaller spaces.
Customer review: "This has turned out to be such a good buy that I'm getting another one for the office. It's quiet - so no problem with people on phone calls. It's quick - it'll heat up a small room almost instantly. Best of all, it's cheap to run. I've also got the larger one which is just as brilliant and heats my whole flat up."
Pros
- Should the room drop below 5°c the heater will switch on and off automatically
- Offering wide-angle oscillation to ensure most of the room is covered
- Safety tip-over switch and carry handle for guaranteed stability and versatility
Cons
- Probably isn't the right thing to heat a large space
Best small electric heater
www.argos.co.uk
Stay cosy or cool with the Challenge 2.4kW Upright Oscillating Fan Heater offering two heat settings for warmth and a cool air blow option for ventilation. It features handles for easy transport, plus frost protection and a safety cut-out switch for added reassurance. Peace of mind - ease of use, what more could you want?
Customer review: "Hello! I bought this heater a few weeks ago, and I am very satisfied. It operates quietly and automatically turns off when it reaches the set temperature. A good purchase!"
Pros
- Offers both heating and cooling functionalities, providing flexibility
- The handles make it easy to move around the home, offering convenience
- Comes equipped with built-in frost protection and a safety cut-out switch
Cons
- Much more effective on the 2kw setting so, a little expensive to run
Best oil electric heater
www.dunelm.com
Costing around 60p per hour to run, this Dunelm Contemporary Round 9 Fin Oil Heater ensures safety with features like an adjustable thermostat, thermal cut-off, and tip-over switch for overheat protection. It keeps you warm in colder months and features convenient cord storage for a neat appearance during use. This makes a good choice.
Customer review: "Tested this oil-filled radiator 5 hours on 1st setting. Heated my 3x4m room quickly in -1°❄. Used only 3kw according to my main meter reading. Retained a lot of heat even once switched off. The black version is so classy in my dark Georgian-style decor. Thanks to all the Reviewers for this great purchase."
Pros
- Features an adjustable thermostat, thermal cut off and tip-over switch,
- Safe use with overheat protection to put your mind at ease
- Complete with cord storage, so there are no eye sores when using it.
Cons
- Remember to set the thermostat, as it turns itself off once at the desired temperature
Best electric convector heater
www.dunelm.com
Ideal for winter warmth, the Dunelm White Convector Heater offers three heat settings and overheating protection, ensuring a comfortable room temperature. Its freestanding design includes a convenient carry handle and comes with a moulded BS plug featuring a 13 AMP fuse. Lukc, you - you'll be warm in no time - at a fraction of the cost.
Customer review: "I bought this heater because my previous one stopped working. This is an inexpensive lightweight heater that gives good balanced heat and heats up quickly."
Pros
- This convector heater provides rapid heat, warming up rooms quickly
- Distribute heat evenly throughout the room due to convection currents
- Operates quietly, making it suitable for use in home offices, bedrooms
Cons
- The power lead is not long enough
Best electric heater for silence
www.johnlewis.com
Duux Threesixty 2 Ceramic Electric Heater, Grey, a powerful 1,800W heater with a unique design, swiftly warms spaces up to 30m² using its 360° heat distribution and PTC element. Its discreet appearance blends seamlessly, offering versatile settings, safety features, and app-controlled operation for customized comfort. Plus, it's very quiet.
Customer review: "Got this for my daughter and she loves it! She is able to turn on and adjust the temperature via an app, which is great when working from home and needing to manage from a distance."
Pros
- Offers efficient heating in all directions with its built-in fan and 360° distribution
- With multiple heating settings, it allows users to adjust and control the temperature
- Easy control via its minimalistic two-button operation on the device or free Duux app
Cons
- May take a while to heat a large room
Electric heater FAQs
What type of electric heater is best?
Each type of electric heater has its own advantages and ideal uses depending on factors such as room size, desired heating method, energy efficiency, and portability. So, which is the best type of electric heater?
Fan heaters – use an electric fan to pass air over a heating element and distribute warm air quickly in a room.
Radiant heaters - emit infrared radiation that directly heats objects and people in their vicinity.
Oil-filled heaters - use electricity to heat oil inside, which is released gradually, making them suitable for maintaining consistent warmth over time.
Convection heaters – work by heating the air, which then rises and consistently circulates throughout the room.
Ceramic heaters – are known for quick heating and energy efficiency.
Wall heaters – are mounted on walls, usually fan-forced or convection-based, providing heat while conserving space.
Portable heaters – encompass a variety of styles that can be moved from room to room.
Are electric heaters expensive to run?
You may have a lot of questions about electric heaters, ranging from the energy efficiency to the cost of running one. With an electric heater, your main goal is to provide heat for just one room, instead of paying the price of turning your heating bills on. Electric heaters could be a cost-effective solution.
So, do electric heaters use a lot of electricity?
For a little clarity, we spoke to Howden Insurance who gave us some expert advice.
A spokesperson at Howden Insurance commented on the current economic climate: “With the cost of living such a prominent talking point everyone is trying to find ways to save money. Everyone deserves the right to be warm, however, not everyone can run their heating all day…”
In the UK, as for energy costs, it can cost us around 7p per kilowatt-hour if connected to mains gas. Doesn’t sound like much? Keep reading. With a 24 kW boiler that works out at £1.68 per hour. If this is left on for eight hours a day that’s £13.44 which totals up to £94.08 per week. Super pricey.
Although they’re not as money-saving as an electric blanket or hot water bottle, electric heaters are still a “great cheaper alternative”, say experts at Howden Insurance. They add: “A typical 2kW heater would cost 54p an hour, which is still a 67% saving instead of using the heating.”
Are electric heaters safe?
"When used correctly electric heaters are one of the safest ways to warm a room," says Dimplex. After all, there's no naked flame, no risk of fumes, carbon monoxide, or the dangers of storing and changing gas bottles.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Yours, an all-rounder who will write on anything from décor to wellness. When not scouring the net for the best home bargains, Piper is listening to a musical soundtrack and tending to her houseplants.