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.
Quick List - Top Energy-Efficient Heaters
Stiebel Eltron
A Permanent Solution to a Cold Chill With a Wall-Mounting Design
Vortex
Cool-Touch and Compact Heater With 3 Heat Setting, Perfect for a Portable Solution
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Table of Contents
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.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | De'Longhi Oil Radiator |RD04 0820 | ![]() | Cosy up Quicker With a 25% More Radiant Surface | |
2 | Lasko Space Heaters|AW300 | ![]() | The Modern Dyson-Like Style at Half the Price With Multiple Settings | |
3 | Stiebel Eltron Wall Mounted Electric Fan Heater |CK 20 | ![]() | A Permanent Solution to a Cold Chill With a Wall-Mounting Design | |
4 | Vortex MVH Whole Room Vortex Heater | ![]() | Cool-Touch and Compact Heater With 3 Heat Setting, Perfect for a Portable Solution | |
5 | Dyson Fan Heater|AM09 | ![]() | A Modern, Stylish Option With Plenty of Customisation Options | |
6 | John Lewis & Partners Oil Filled Radiator | ![]() | An Efficient, Oil-Filled, Portable Option With a High-Level of Power | |
7 | John Lewis & Partners Tower Electric Heater | ![]() | A Modern Heater With a Lengthy Timer to Keep You Warm While You Drift Off to Sleep | |
8 | Warmlite Oil-Filled Radiator|WL43002YDT | ![]() | Oil-Filled Option With Multiple Safety Features, Perfect for Warming Small Spaces | |
9 | Russell Hobbs 2kW Oscillating Ceramic Heater|RHFH1008 | ![]() | Small but Mighty With 2000 W of Power and an 80-Degree Oscillating Feature | |
10 | Mr. Heater Hunting Buddy Portable Space Heater|MH12B | ![]() | A Portable Heater for Both Indoors and Outdoors That Can Heat up to 300 Sq Meters |
Taking the energy-efficient space heater crown is this offering from the ever-reliable brand, De'Longhi. We opted for the oil-filled type due to the essential qualities we spoke about in the buying guide; however, this offers plenty more.
The multiple heat settings (1500 - 2500 W) allow it to work in many different sized rooms, plus, it's easy to get around thanks to the wheels, cable storage and handle. Not only that, but the 25% more radiant surface ensures faster heat emission, meaning it'll heat your space much quicker! What more could you need?
This energy-efficient space heater follows a similar contemporary, bladeless design to the Dyson AM09 heater (further down in the ranking) at about half the price. Not only is it stylish, but it also comes with many family-safe features that make it perfect for building your home, including a cool-touch casing.
In addition to the safety, there are multiple heat settings, an eight-hour timer and even a nifty remote so you can control it from the comfort of the couch. Furthermore, the design incorporates patent-pending blower technology which creates powerful ceramic heat but with a low noise output.
Here we have a space heater that offers something a little different to the rest of those in the ranking as it is more of a permanent feature due to its wall-mounting design. This is, therefore, a great choice for those who wish to permanently heat outdoor spaces, such as a garage.
Another feature which lends itself to permanency is the 7-day timer feature, meaning that you can arrange the heater to turn on and off around your work or hobby schedule.
This option from Vortex is excellent if you plan on moving your space heater from room to room due to its compact size and meagre 1.8 kg weight. Plus, there are three different heat settings from 750 - 1500 W, meaning you'll be able to customise the heat to fit your needs.
Add to that some impressive safety features, like the auto shut-off, a cool-touch casing and the finger-safe fan shielding, and you can be sure it'll be a good piece of kit for anyone in the family.
This offering from Dyson is one of the most stylish heaters in our ranking, housed in a handsome modernist aluminium and white casing. Furthermore, it takes up relatively little room, so you don't have to worry about it being difficult to move around the home.
It also has some interesting features, such as being able to opt for a wide range or more narrow heating depending on your needs, as well as some of the more classic options. It's pricey compared to some of the other models, but you get a lot of customisation options which allows you to really dial in your desired preferences.
Here we have John Lewis' take on the classic oil-filled heater. Sure, it might not be as contemporary-looking as their convection heater, but it offers plenty in terms of features, efficiency (due to being oil-filled) and, most importantly, warmth.
If you're looking to heat larger spaces, this will do you well as it has the most power out of all of our options. However, while it boasts plenty of power, it's also relatively easy to transport around the home due to the wheels and a cable wrap, which is a welcome combination.
This modern-looking heater from John Lewis has plenty to offer for a relatively modest price tag. It comes with plenty of power to heat spaces, multiple heat settings and an adjustable thermostat for those who want a precise temperature.
This offering also has a timer which can run up to 8 hours, meaning you could set it to either turn off after you're asleep or before you wake up in the morning. Sadly, even though it's a convection heater, some buyers have found it to be a little too loud, particularly when working from home.
Next up, we have an oil-filled option for those either short on space or who are only heating modest rooms. This heater from Warmlite offers plenty of features, such as auto shut-off, overheat protection, a programmable thermostat and a portable carry handle.
That said, it does have its limitations. Not only is this machine the smallest in our ranking, but it also has the lowest amount of watts, so don't be expecting it to heat an entire room. Instead, think of it as a device that will take the edge off when you're particularly cold.
Although this offering from the ubiquitous Russell Hobbs would be considered small, it isn't half mighty due to its impressive 2000 W of power. Therefore, don't be surprised if this heats smaller rooms in a short space of time. Plus, it's come with a nifty 80-degree oscillating feature, ensuring the heat is spread well around the room.
However, there are a couple of things to consider. Firstly, it's not going to be too great in large spaces. Secondly, it is known to be rather loud, measuring at over 50 dB when in full flow, so it's not ideal for those trying to get cosy and relax.
If you're looking to take the heat with you anywhere, any time, then the Mr Heater MH12B would be an excellent choice. The device works indoors (provided there is ventilation) and outdoors and can heat a space up to 300 sq metres. Furthermore, it also comes equipped with a carry handle to make the portability more convenient.
However, as we mentioned in the buying guide, there are some downfalls to the gas-styled heaters. You need to think about the required ventilation, necessary gas cylinders top up, and the machines being typically less energy-efficient.
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: De'Longhi|Oil Radiator |RD04 0820
No. 2: Lasko|Space Heaters|AW300
No. 3: Stiebel Eltron |Wall Mounted Electric Fan Heater |CK 20
No. 4: Vortex|MVH Whole Room Vortex Heater
No. 5: Dyson|Fan Heater|AM09
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