Best electric radiators UK: panel and ceramic heaters, and what they cost to run
Electric radiators are a simple way to heat a room without central heating, but running costs catch people out. Here's what each size really costs per hour at the current price cap, the controls that save money, and the panel and ceramic heaters worth buying.
Quick picks
- Best smart panelDevola 2000W smart glass panel heater, Wi-Fi, wall-mounted or freestandingCheck price
- Best premium panelAdax Neo 2000W wall-mounted panel heater with 7-day timerCheck price
- Best budget panelFutura 2000W electric panel heater, wall-mounted and freestandingCheck price
- Best for small roomsPurus 600W electric panel heater, wall-mounted and freestandingCheck price
- Best ceramic panelMYLEK 2000W ceramic panel heater with programmable timerCheck price
- Best portable ceramic heaterDreo 1500W ceramic fan heater with remote, thermostat and 12-hour timerCheck price
- Best budget ceramic heaterRussell Hobbs 1500W oscillating ceramic heater, black and gold, with remoteCheck price
- Best compact 2kWDimplex 2kW upright ceramic fan heater with adjustable thermostat (DXUC2BS)Check price
How we chose: We compared popular electric panel radiators and ceramic heaters on Amazon.co.uk, checking power, controls (thermostat, timer, open-window detection, Wi-Fi), mounting, IP rating and warranty from listings and manufacturers. We looked for recurring themes in Amazon.co.uk owner feedback, especially reliability and app connectivity. Running costs use Ofgem's price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, and heating advice comes from the Energy Saving Trust and Centre for Sustainable Energy. We have not personally tested these products; this is a research-based roundup. Our research process.
Every electric heater turns electricity into heat at essentially 100% efficiency, as the Centre for Sustainable Energy explains. A 2kW panel, a 2kW ceramic heater and a 2kW oil-filled radiator all cost the same per hour at full power. What makes one cheaper to run is how well it controls itself: an accurate thermostat, a timer, open-window detection and being the right size for the room.
That's why the best electric radiators are the ones with good controls, not "low energy" marketing claims. The Energy Saving Trust notes that electricity costs around four times as much as gas per unit, so for warming just yourself, a heated throw or electric blanket costs a fraction of heating a room.
Who this guide is for: People heating a room that central heating doesn't reach well, such as a home office, conservatory, extension, garage room or spare bedroom, and homes without gas. It also suits anyone choosing between a wall-mounted panel heater and a portable ceramic heater. If you're heating a damp room, read our condensation guide too, because steady low heat helps.
Black Friday tip: Black Friday is Friday 27 November 2026. If you need this now for the cold or damp, don’t wait weeks for a possible discount. If you can wait, our Black Friday home buying guide explains how to check price history and spot a genuine deal.
Comparison table
| Pick | Type | Power | Controls | Mounting | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devola 2kW smart glassBest smart panel | Glass convector panel | 1000W / 2000W | Thermostat, Wi-Fi app, Alexa | Wall or feet | Check price |
| Adax Neo 2kWBest premium panel | Convector panel | 2000W | Digital thermostat, 7-day timer, open-window detection | Wall (plug-in) | Check price |
| Futura 2kW panelBest budget panel | Convector panel | 2000W | Thermostat 5–35°C, open-window detection | Wall or feet | Check price |
| Purus 600W panelBest for small rooms | Convector panel | 600W | Thermostat 5–35°C, open-window detection | Wall or feet | Check price |
| Mylek ceramic panel 2kWBest ceramic panel | Ceramic panel radiator | 2000W | Thermostat, 7-day timer, 3 heat settings | Wall or feet | Check price |
| Dreo 1500W ceramicBest portable ceramic heater | PTC ceramic fan heater | 1500W | Thermostat 5–35°C, ECO mode, 12h timer, remote | Portable | Check price |
| Russell Hobbs 1500W ceramicBest budget ceramic heater | PTC ceramic fan heater | 1500W | Thermostat 5–36°C, ECO, 24h timer, remote | Portable | Check price |
| Dimplex 2kW ceramicBest compact 2kW | PTC ceramic fan heater | 2000W | Adjustable thermostat, 3 heat settings, fan | Portable | Check price |
Specs are from manufacturer listings as of 20 October 2026; claimed figures (running costs, runtimes) are the maker’s, not ours. Check the Amazon page for the current price and exact variant before you buy.
Electric panel radiators (wall-mounted or freestanding)
Slim convector panels that heat the air in the room. They're best left on a thermostat and timer in rooms you use regularly. All four plug into a normal socket, and most come with feet as well as wall brackets.
Devola 2000W smart glass panel heater, Wi-Fi, wall-mounted or freestanding
Best for: Living rooms and home offices where you want app control
- Type
- Glass convector panel
- Power
- 1000W / 2000W
- Controls
- Thermostat, Wi-Fi app, Alexa
- Mounting
- Wall or feet
A smart-looking glass-fronted panel from UK brand Devola. It has a precision thermostat (accurate to half a degree, Devola says), two power levels and Wi-Fi control through the Tuya Smart app, which works with Alexa, so you can set schedules and heat the room before you get home. It's IP24 rated, approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2025, and comes with a 12-month warranty, extendable to 2 years if you register.
Owners say it warms rooms quickly, looks modern and is easy to install. App control is the most divisive feature: some find connecting easy, others struggle with Wi-Fi setup. There's also a 1500W version for smaller rooms.
What owners and reviewers like
- App scheduling and Alexa
- Accurate thermostat
- Attractive glass front
Watch-outs
- Wi-Fi setup can be fiddly
- Short standard warranty
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Adax Neo 2000W wall-mounted panel heater with 7-day timer
Best for: Rooms used every day, where quality and quiet matter
- Type
- Convector panel
- Power
- 2000W
- Controls
- Digital thermostat, 7-day timer, open-window detection
- Mounting
- Wall (plug-in)
A slim (9cm deep) Norwegian panel heater with a digital thermostat (7–30°C), a 7-day programme with day/night setback and open-window detection, which cuts the heat when it senses a sudden temperature drop. It has no fan, so it's silent. Adax suggests the 2000W model for rooms up to about 25m², and there are smaller sizes from 400W. It has a 5-year warranty.
Owners say it quickly heats conservatories and cold rooms, is simple to install and looks unobtrusive. It's the most expensive panel here and is sold by a third-party seller, but the controls and warranty suit a heater that will be used every day.
What owners and reviewers like
- Excellent controls
- Silent
- 5-year warranty
Watch-outs
- Expensive
- Third-party seller
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Futura 2000W electric panel heater, wall-mounted and freestanding
Best for: Larger rooms on a budget
- Type
- Convector panel
- Power
- 2000W
- Controls
- Thermostat 5–35°C, open-window detection
- Mounting
- Wall or feet
A plain white panel from UK seller Futura with a digital thermostat (5–35°C), open-window detection that switches it off after a sudden 5°C drop, and an IP24 splash-proof rating. Futura says it suits rooms up to about 23m². It comes with feet and a wall bracket and has a 1.75m cable on the right-hand side.
Owners say it heats very cold rooms quickly and is easy to install and use, and like its neat look. Durability is the concern, with some units failing after a few months, and opinions on running costs are mixed (every 2kW heater costs the same per hour). Keep your receipt.
What owners and reviewers like
- Good controls for the money
- Wall or freestanding
- IP24
Watch-outs
- Some early failures
- Plain looks
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Purus 600W electric panel heater, wall-mounted and freestanding
Best for: Box rooms, small kitchens, cloakrooms and background heat
- Type
- Convector panel
- Power
- 600W
- Controls
- Thermostat 5–35°C, open-window detection
- Mounting
- Wall or feet
The small sibling of the Futura, at 600W and 45cm wide. It has the same thermostat, open-window detection and IP24 rating, and is suited to rooms up to about 7.5m². At 600W it costs about 15.8p an hour at full power, which is under a third of a 2kW heater.
Owners say it heats up quickly and is perfect for small kitchens and as a background heater. Some found the installation instructions vague. It won't heat a large room on its own, but it's ideal for keeping a small space from getting cold and damp.
What owners and reviewers like
- Cheap to run
- Compact
- Thermostat and open-window detection
Watch-outs
- Only for small rooms
- Vague instructions
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Ceramic heaters
"Ceramic" heaters come in two kinds: panel radiators with a ceramic element, and portable fan heaters with a PTC ceramic element. The fan heaters warm you up fastest.
MYLEK 2000W ceramic panel heater with programmable timer
Best for: Wall-mounted heat with a weekly programme
- Type
- Ceramic panel radiator
- Power
- 2000W
- Controls
- Thermostat, 7-day timer, 3 heat settings
- Mounting
- Wall or feet
A heavier aluminium panel radiator with a ceramic element and an LCD programmer, so you can set times and temperatures across the week. It's Lot 20 compliant, has three heat settings and comes with both feet and wall brackets. At 15kg it's much more substantial than a light convector panel. It's IP24 rated.
Owners say it gives good heat and is easy to programme and install. Opinions on reliability are mixed, and some feel it's poor value for the price. The ceramic element doesn't make the electricity cheaper, but it gives a gentler, steadier warmth than a light convector.
What owners and reviewers like
- Weekly programmer
- Steady warmth
- Wall or freestanding
Watch-outs
- Mixed reliability
- Heavy
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Dreo 1500W ceramic fan heater with remote, thermostat and 12-hour timer
Best for: Quick, quiet heat in a bedroom or home office
- Type
- PTC ceramic fan heater
- Power
- 1500W
- Controls
- Thermostat 5–35°C, ECO mode, 12h timer, remote
- Mounting
- Portable
A kettle-sized ceramic fan heater with a thermostat adjustable in 1°C steps (5–35°C), an ECO mode, a 12-hour timer and a remote control. Its brushless motor runs at 34dB, Dreo says. Safety features include tip-over and overheat protection and flame-retardant materials.
Owners say it heats rooms quickly, is compact and quiet, and is worth the price. It's the best way to warm a small room fast before you sit down to work. Use the thermostat or ECO mode rather than leaving it on full.
What owners and reviewers like
- Fast and quiet
- Accurate thermostat
- Remote and timer
Watch-outs
- Fan noise, however low
- Not for big rooms
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Russell Hobbs 1500W oscillating ceramic heater, black and gold, with remote
Best for: Bedrooms and offices up to about 15m²
- Type
- PTC ceramic fan heater
- Power
- 1500W
- Controls
- Thermostat 5–36°C, ECO, 24h timer, remote
- Mounting
- Portable
A Quiet Mark-approved oscillating ceramic heater with touch controls, an LED display, a remote, a thermostat from 5–36°C, four modes (High, Low, ECO and Fan only) and a 24-hour on/off timer. Russell Hobbs suggests it for rooms up to about 15m². The fan-only mode makes it a desk fan in summer.
Owners say it heats quickly (one says about 15 minutes to reach the target temperature), and like the remote and the looks. Some find it quiet and others a bit noisy, and the thermostat gets mixed comments.
What owners and reviewers like
- Oscillates
- Quiet Mark approved
- Timer and remote
Watch-outs
- Mixed thermostat feedback
- Some find it noisy
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Dimplex 2kW upright ceramic fan heater with adjustable thermostat (DXUC2BS)
Best for: A small, powerful heater from a British heating brand
- Type
- PTC ceramic fan heater
- Power
- 2000W
- Controls
- Adjustable thermostat, 3 heat settings, fan
- Mounting
- Portable
A compact upright ceramic fan heater from Dimplex, the long-established British heating brand. It has three heat settings, a fan-only mode, an adjustable thermostat and a carry handle, and is small enough for a desk or bedside table. It's sold by Amazon.
This is a newer listing with only a few owner reviews so far, so there's less evidence on long-term reliability than for the Dreo or Russell Hobbs. It has no timer or remote, so it's best for short bursts of heat rather than running unattended.
What owners and reviewers like
- 2kW in a small body
- Trusted brand
- Sold by Amazon
Watch-outs
- No timer or remote
- Few reviews yet
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Electric heater running costs (26.32p/kWh)
Ofgem's price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 sets an average electricity unit rate of 26.32p per kWh for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales. To work out the hourly cost, multiply the heater's power in kW by your unit rate. These figures are at full power:
| Heater power | Per hour | 4 hours | 8 hours | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600W | 15.8p | 63p | 126p | Purus 600W |
| 1kW | 26.3p | 105p | 211p | Devola on low |
| 1.5kW | 39.5p | 158p | 316p | Dreo, Russell Hobbs |
| 2kW | 52.6p | 211p | 421p | Devola, Adax, Futura, Mylek, Dimplex |
| 2.5kW | 65.8p | 263p | 526p | Large oil-filled radiators |
These are worst-case figures. Once the room reaches the thermostat setting, the heater cycles on and off, so if it runs half the time, the cost halves. Your actual cost depends on your tariff, insulation, room size and how cold it is outside. The Centre for Sustainable Energy warns that room heaters can be expensive if they're used for long periods, so heat only the rooms you're using.
Panel radiator, ceramic heater or oil-filled radiator?
| Type | Heats by | Good for | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convector panel | Warming air, which circulates | Regular use, wall-mounting, timers | Warmth fades soon after it switches off |
| Ceramic panel | Ceramic-core element, steadier warmth | Gentler heat, wall-mounting | Heavy, often pricier |
| Ceramic fan heater | Fan blowing over a PTC ceramic element | Fast heat in small rooms | Fan noise, dries air, not for big rooms |
| Oil-filled radiator | Heated oil, radiant and convected heat | Silent, long sessions, bedrooms | Slow to warm up, heavy |
None of these is cheaper per kWh. Choose by how you use the room: a panel on a timer for a room used every day, a ceramic fan heater for quick bursts, or an oil-filled radiator for quiet, steady warmth.
Controls that save money
- Electronic thermostat: stops the heater running once the room is warm. This is the biggest saving.
- Timer or 7-day programme: heats the room only when you need it.
- Open-window detection: switches off if a window is opened.
- Right size: an undersized heater runs flat out all the time, while an oversized one cycles. Manufacturers give rough guides, such as Adax's 1000W for about 12m² and 2000W for about 25m².
Since 2018, ecodesign rules (often called Lot 20) have required new electric room heaters sold in Great Britain to include energy-saving controls such as electronic thermostats and timers. Check for "Lot 20 compliant" on fixed panel heaters. The Centre for Sustainable Energy points out that heaters with a timer and thermostat avoid overheating the room and wasting energy, while heaters without them can cost more over long periods.
Safety and installation
Plug portable and plug-in heaters directly into a wall socket, not an extension lead, because a 2kW heater draws a lot of current. Electrical Safety First also advises keeping heaters clear of curtains, bedding and furniture and never drying clothes on them. In bathrooms, only use heaters with a suitable IP rating that a qualified electrician has wired in according to the bathroom zone rules. Plug-in portable heaters aren't suitable.
FAQs
What is the best electric radiator in the UK?
For most rooms, the Devola 2000W smart panel offers good controls and app scheduling. The Adax Neo is the premium choice with excellent controls and a 5-year warranty, and the Futura 2000W is a good budget panel.
How much does a 2kW electric heater cost to run per hour?
At Ofgem's October–December 2026 cap of 26.32p per kWh, a 2kW heater costs about 52.6p an hour at full power. With a thermostat cycling it on and off, the real cost is often lower.
Are ceramic heaters cheaper to run?
No. A 1.5kW ceramic heater costs the same per hour at full power as any other 1.5kW heater (about 39.5p at the current cap). They heat a small room quickly, so you may run them for less time.
Are oil-filled radiators cheaper than electric panel heaters?
Not per kWh: all electric heaters are equally efficient. Oil-filled radiators keep giving off heat after they switch off, and panels respond faster. The controls matter more than the type.
Can I leave an electric heater on overnight?
Only use heaters designed for unattended use, with a thermostat and safety cut-outs, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. For warmth in bed, an electric blanket is far cheaper and designed for the job.
Do you get commission?
Yes. If you buy through our links, Amazon may pay us a small commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn't affect which products we include. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Sources we consulted
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates, 1 October to 31 December 2026
- Energy Saving Trust: electric heating
- Centre for Sustainable Energy: room heaters
- GOV.UK: placing energy-related products on the GB market (ecodesign)
- Electrical Safety First: portable heaters safety advice
Prices change constantly, so we don’t list them here. Always check the current price, seller and delivery details on Amazon before buying. If anything on this page looks wrong or out of date, tell us.
