Portable 500W Electric Heater Stove, Multifunction Single Burner Hot Plate for Home Kitchen Appliance Milk Water Coffee Heating

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Pinning down an exact comparison of how much central heating and electric heaters cost to run is nigh-on impossible, as the factors below are just some of the variables that play a part:

However, they’re not the best heating system for large rooms with high ceilings, or spaces you’re planning to heat over a long period of time.

Portable electric heaters use electricity, which costs 28.62p/kWh under the current energy price cap. Depending on how effective the heater is, they can take anything from 30 minutes to an hour to notably raise the temperature of a medium-sized room, so if you're only planning on using it until the room gets up to temperature, it will likely cost you between 28 and 57p. Similar in appearance to the radiators you’ll find in your home, these portable versions generally heat and circulate oil instead of water to generate their warmth. Fan heaters are probably the ones you want if you’re on a budget and you expect good results. Which is the cheapest electric heater to run?

An electric halogen heater is one of the best heating methods for outside spaces or those that are particularly draughty (such as an old building without good insulation). And that’s because halogen space heaters direct infrared heat at specific objects (or people), rather than trying to heat the surrounding air. These have exposed heating elements, which heat up cold air as it passes. This often leads to slower, but more even, heating. They tend to be a little slower than fan heaters, but are quieter, and our tests found some are still pretty speedy. Jason Horn, The Spruce Eats staff commerce editor, updated this story with additional home-testing insights. Despite a full career as a food and drinks writer, he took AP physics in high school and could explain how induction cooking works in much more scientific detail than necessary here. That’s not to say there aren’t other options. For instance, there are small heater fan units likes this one for around half the price. But if it were me, I’d invest in something that will stand the test of time.The difference in price between the cheap brands and Dimplex is much higher for a small heater fan than it is, for say, convection heaters. You’re looking about twice the price for a Dimplex fan heater compared to the cheapest ones available. In terms of weight, electric halogen heaters typically sit somewhere in between convection and fan heaters. Gas is a cheaper fuel than standard rate electricity, so if you have gas central heating, it will generally be cheaper to use than an electric heater,” she explains. “If you don’t want to heat the whole home, turn your radiator valves lower in the rooms you’re not heating and higher in the rooms you are.

Convector heaters are usually taller than fan heaters, but thin and light – making them larger, but still relatively easy to move between rooms. How the electric heaters are used can also impact their safety, explains Giuseppe Capanna, Product Safety Engineer at the charity Electrical Safety First. “Some simple steps people can take to use their heaters safely are to avoid powering from an extension lead, as this can overload and cause fires, and to ensure they are at least a metre away from combustible materials such as clothes,” he says. Doing so will reduce the kWh you use, but you still have the option of getting that heat boost by cranking it to the full 3kW output.

Best Electric Heater: Conclusion

You’ve probably come across storage heaters if you’re on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff. They resemble electric radiators, and can store heat while you’re on your evening tariff, then let you use it in the day. As everyone’s homes and electricity usage are different, this is a hard question to answer definitively. So, we turned to Joanna O’Loan, the Energy Saving Trust’s Knowledge Manager, for an expert opinion. Electric appliances of all kinds measure power in watts: Higher wattage means more power. Of course, wattage isn't everything, as the burner's design also affects how efficiently it heats. Minimum power also matters; some burners can supply a small amount of power consistently to maintain a simmer, while others have to cycle on and off and can't hold a temperature as consistently. No matter which portable electric burner you choose, it won't be as powerful as a full-size electric range, which uses a special high-powered outlet instead of a normal 110-volt wall plug. The cheapest plug in heater to run is either a fan heater or a halogen heater. That’s why we’re buying the Dimplex DXFF30TSN (fan heater) or the Warmlite WL42005N (halogen heater). Best Electric Heater: Conclusion

Typically, these heaters are quite large. So, not only do they take up space, but they can be more cumbersome to move than a small fan or halogen heater. That said, a typical convection space heater only weighs around 4-5kg. Halogen heaters: These are the descendants of the old two-bar electrics, radiating heat directly on the objects in front of the glowing element. They’re good for warming one or two people at fairly close proximity, but not so ideal for heating the whole room with an even heat. Some people may also find the amount of light given off annoying. Halogen heaters seem to be falling out of favour, with good models from major brands increasingly hard to come by. Remember, the cheapest electric heater for one person might not be economical for another. And that’s because a space heater’s efficiency depends on the type of space you’re trying to heat. There are other variables, too — like the quality of your home’s insulation and its airtightness.

Keep yourself warm as the cold creeps in with the best electric heaters and radiators

They tend to be cheap to run, but some can be really slow to heat up. Most oil-filled heaters are also fairly heavy and cumbersome, so look out for models that come with wheels. Although the comparison might make your electric heater look cheaper to run, bear in mind that it will only be heating a much smaller area, whereas your central heating will be aiming to heat your whole home. In our tests, we set every heater to run at full blast so you can see the maximum amount it cost to heat our medium-sized test room. If you have the thermostat of your heater set to a desired temperature, the heater will toggle on and off once it reaches that temperature – depending on what's needed to maintain it. The heater won't operate continuously, so won't cost you as much to run. Are electric heaters cheaper to use than central heating?