If you’re looking to stay warm without spending a lot of money, buying one of the most energy-efficient heaters is a great way to achieve your goal. These energy-saving heating machines will allow you to crank up the heat without touching the thermostat in your home, helping you save money in the long run.
This article explores the various types of heaters, from fan and convection to oil heaters and even low-cost portable space heaters. From there, we’ll provide a list of the 10 best energy-efficient heaters in the UK from popular brands such as Dyson, Lasko and De’longhi, all from trusted eCommerce sites like Amazon and John Lewis.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of energy-efficient heaters available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() De'Longhi | 2 ![]() Lasko | 3 ![]() Stiebel Eltron | 4 ![]() Vortex | 5 ![]() Dyson | 6 ![]() John Lewis & Partners | 7 ![]() John Lewis & Partners | 8 ![]() Warmlite | 9 ![]() Russell Hobbs | 10 ![]() Mr. Heater |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Oil Radiator | Space Heaters | Wall Mounted Electric Fan Heater | MVH Whole Room Vortex Heater | Fan Heater | Oil Filled Radiator | Tower Electric Heater | Oil-Filled Radiator | 2kW Oscillating Ceramic Heater | Hunting Buddy Portable Space Heater |
Features | Cosy up Quicker With a 25% More Radiant Surface | The Modern Dyson-Like Style at Half the Price With Multiple Settings | A Permanent Solution to a Cold Chill With a Wall-Mounting Design | Cool-Touch and Compact Heater With 3 Heat Setting, Perfect for a Portable Solution | A Modern, Stylish Option With Plenty of Customisation Options | An Efficient, Oil-Filled, Portable Option With a High-Level of Power | A Modern Heater With a Lengthy Timer to Keep You Warm While You Drift Off to Sleep | Oil-Filled Option With Multiple Safety Features, Perfect for Warming Small Spaces | Small but Mighty With 2000 W of Power and an 80-Degree Oscillating Feature | A Portable Heater for Both Indoors and Outdoors That Can Heat up to 300 Sq Meters |
Price | £168.89 | £222.44 | £197.59 | £180.68 | £399.99 | £90.00 | £55.00 | £27.49 | £29.99 | £241.36 |
Type | Oil-filled | Convection | Fan | Fan | Fan | Oil-filled | Convection | Oil-filled | Fan | Gas |
Heating Speed | Fast | Medium | Fast | Fast | Medium | Fast | Fast | Medium | Fast | Fast |
Noise Level | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet | Medium | Quiet | Medium | Quiet | Medium | Loud |
Watts | 2500 W | 1500 W | 2000 W | 1500 W | 2000 W | 2500 W | 2000 W | 650 W | 2000 W | N/a |
Safety Features | Frost protection | Auto shut-off, overheating protection | Overheat protection, frost protection | Auto shut-off | Auto shut-off | Auto shut-off, overheat protection | Auto shut-off, overheat protection | Auto shut-off, overheat protection | Auto shut-off, overheat protection | Auto shut-off |
Other Features | Heat settings, programmable thermostat, portable | Heat settings, timer | Programmable thermostat, timer | Heat settings | Programmable thermostat, timer | Heat settings, programmable thermostat | Heat settings, programmable thermostat, timer, portable | Programmable thermostat, portable | Heat settings, portable | Portable |
Dimensions | 16 x 44 x 65 cm | 27.4 x 69 x 23.3 cm | 34.5 x 12.6 x 46.9 cm | 23.4 x 26.4 x 26.9 cm | 20.4 x 15.3 59.4 cm | 67 x 63.5 x 28 cm | 58.3 x 21.5 x 21.5 cm | 13 x 23 x 38 cm | 26.3 x 20.2 x 17.3 cm | 48.1 x 30.4 x 40.6 cm |
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Fan forced convection units are easily one of the most popular, affordable and common options available. They heat up quickly and simultaneously pump out warm air while pushing cooler air down. The downside is that they consume more energy than other types, and some models are known for being noisy.
Convection heaters are another popular option. They work by drawing in cold air, heating it, then expelling warmer air. Due to the lack of a fan, these models operate much quieter, however, they tend to work much slower than others are don’t offer the same distribution qualities.
Infrared (sometimes called radiant) heaters are excellent at providing warmth and light to small areas, both indoors and outdoors, hence why you will often see them used as hanging patio heaters. They produce heat quickly, and although they might seem prone to overheating, their safety record is pretty good. They aren't, however, great at heating large spaces.
Looking for more outside options? Check out our list of the best patio heaters.
There are two main positives for gas heaters. Firstly, they’re generally quite portable, so if you would like a heater to move around the home or outside, these are a great choice. Secondly, gas is much cheaper to run than electric. The downsides are that they’re typically less energy-efficient, require venting due to the fumes, and you'll need to make regular trips to the store to replace the gas cylinders.
Take a look at our dedicated list of the 10 best portable heaters if this is something you value.
While the name for these might be somewhat misleading, oil-filled heaters don’t use oil to produce heat. They work much like a convection heater, the only difference being that their warmth will hang around for a considerably longer time. They are the most efficient option, don’t make noise and are safe. As with convection heaters, though, they can take time to warm up and are better suited in small-to-medium-sized spaces.
This style of heater uses a combination of both convection and infrared technology. The devices use infrared technology to create the heat, and the convection moves it. These are also highly energy-efficient, waste no electricity, and are great for heating larger spaces. Therefore, the flipside is that they could be a bit of an overkill for smaller rooms.
The next question is - how much power do you need to warm up your space? Thankfully, there is a straightforward calculation to help you arrive at the correct answer.
You can also use this information to determine how much it will roughly cost you to heat. Check the kWh rate on your electricity bill, calculate how often you leave the item on during a day, and multiply that answer by the number of days in the month.
Another factor to consider with space heaters is the safety features. Generally, the best practice is to use these under supervision at all times. Realistically, though, this isn't always possible, so most modern devices come with in-built safety features. Here are the main ones to consider:
Furthermore, some features are worth contemplating that will make your device more practical and efficient. For example, those with programmable thermostats will provide more flexibility when choosing the perfect temperature for your room. Failing that, you can also opt for those that have multiple heat settings. While these won’t offer the same flexibility, they do provide a few different options.
Alongside these, features like timers and portability options – such as carry handles or wheels – can also make the device much easier to use, easier to move and eventually make the experience much more reliable and enjoyable.
mybest UK product recommendations are reviewed and curated by our writers in-house. We focus on in-depth research and analysis of product reviews to carefully select the best products available for the best prices.
RD04 0820
£168.89
Type | Oil-filled |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Fast |
Noise Level | Quiet |
Watts | 2500 W |
Safety Features | Frost protection |
Other Features | Heat settings, programmable thermostat, portable |
Dimensions | 16 x 44 x 65 cm |
AW300
£222.44
Type | Convection |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Medium |
Noise Level | Quiet |
Watts | 1500 W |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off, overheating protection |
Other Features | Heat settings, timer |
Dimensions | 27.4 x 69 x 23.3 cm |
CK 20
£197.59
Type | Fan |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Fast |
Noise Level | Quiet |
Watts | 2000 W |
Safety Features | Overheat protection, frost protection |
Other Features | Programmable thermostat, timer |
Dimensions | 34.5 x 12.6 x 46.9 cm |
£180.68
Type | Fan |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Fast |
Noise Level | Quiet |
Watts | 1500 W |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off |
Other Features | Heat settings |
Dimensions | 23.4 x 26.4 x 26.9 cm |
AM09
£399.99
Type | Fan |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Medium |
Noise Level | Medium |
Watts | 2000 W |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off |
Other Features | Programmable thermostat, timer |
Dimensions | 20.4 x 15.3 59.4 cm |
£90.00
Type | Oil-filled |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Fast |
Noise Level | Quiet |
Watts | 2500 W |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off, overheat protection |
Other Features | Heat settings, programmable thermostat |
Dimensions | 67 x 63.5 x 28 cm |
£55.00
Type | Convection |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Fast |
Noise Level | Medium |
Watts | 2000 W |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off, overheat protection |
Other Features | Heat settings, programmable thermostat, timer, portable |
Dimensions | 58.3 x 21.5 x 21.5 cm |
WL43002YDT
£27.49
Type | Oil-filled |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Medium |
Noise Level | Quiet |
Watts | 650 W |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off, overheat protection |
Other Features | Programmable thermostat, portable |
Dimensions | 13 x 23 x 38 cm |
RHFH1008
£29.99
Type | Fan |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Fast |
Noise Level | Medium |
Watts | 2000 W |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off, overheat protection |
Other Features | Heat settings, portable |
Dimensions | 26.3 x 20.2 x 17.3 cm |
MH12B
£241.36
Type | Gas |
---|---|
Heating Speed | Fast |
Noise Level | Loud |
Watts | N/a |
Safety Features | Auto shut-off |
Other Features | Portable |
Dimensions | 48.1 x 30.4 x 40.6 cm |
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