Best Space Heaters to Make Your Home Cosy in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update November 19, 2024
Portable space heaters are used all over the world where the weather is not warm enough. They are used to create a comfortable atmosphere ...Read more
PROS

The appliance features a tilting mechanism that enables directing the flow of the hot air as you see fit. Owing to this, you will be able to warm up the room quicker or to pinpoint the hot airflow to the spots that need warming up the most.

CONS

The power cable is rather short.

OUR VERDICT

Benross industrial fan space heater can boast the output power of 3000 W, which is quite a lot for a house heater. With this in mind, it will be a perfect pick for heating medium and large-sized rooms. As a bonus, the housing of the device is reinforced with a splash-resistant (IPX4) casing.

detailed parameters
Designated Heating Area

3000 W, Stainless steel heating element, Large areas

Safety

Dual overheat protection, IPX4 water-proof housing

Ease of Use

2 heat settings, Fan mode, Adjustable thermostat, Adjustable heat angle, Carrying handle

Warranty

2 years

PROS

The appliance features 2 heating settings with an additional heat output dial. On top of that, the built-in thermostat will prevent the unit from the overheating. Moreover, you can use the heater as a regular fan, owing to the idle fan mode.

CONS

The housing stains quite easily.

OUR VERDICT

This model from Pro Breeze is one of the best ceramic heaters and, thanks to its compact size, will be an excellent pick for a medium-sized flat or house. Good for personal use and as an additional source of heat, the model is fairly powerful despite its portability and small size.

detailed parameters
Designated Heating Area

2000 W, Ceramic element, Medium to large rooms

Safety

Overheat protection, Tip-over protection

Ease of Use

2 heat settings, Fan mode, Adjustable thermostat, Carrying handle

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The built-in timer enables setting the thermostat to automatically turn off the heater after 1-, 2-, or 3-hour intervals. Likewise, the standard heating mode features a 6-hour timer, which will come in handy in case you forget to turn off the appliance.

CONS

The carry handle could be a bit more convenient.

OUR VERDICT

Aside from being quite effective in warming up small and medium-sized rooms, this heater model includes high-quality protection systems. So, even if you accidentally tip over the appliance, it won't get damaged or cause an accident, turning itself off automatically.

detailed parameters
Designated Heating Area

1200 W, Ceramic heating element, Small to medium rooms

Safety

Overheat protection, Tip-over protection, 6-hour auto power-off protection

Ease of Use

2 heat settings, 3-hour timer, Carrying handle

Warranty

2 years

PROS

You can put the heater flat or upright. The LED indicator will tell you whether the unit's working or not without scooching next to it. The heating element provides rapid yet even air circulation.

CONS

The appliance has an unpleasant odour to it, but it goes away rather quickly.

OUR VERDICT

Measuring 12.5 x 24.5 x 25 centimetres and weighing a bit above 1.1 kilogrammes, the unit draws and outputs 2000 watts, covering small- or medium-sized premises with relative ease. Considering the fact that the model also costs below 20 pounds, this is easily the most attractive low-low-end fan heater.

detailed parameters
Designated Heating Area

2000 W, Glowing filament, Medium to large rooms

Safety

Overheat protection, Tip-over protection

Ease of Use

2 heat settings, Fan mode, Adjustable thermostat, Carrying handle, Can be used upright or flat

Warranty

2 years (product registration required)

PROS

An advanced ceramic heating element implemented in this device will serve you for years to come. What is more, the appliance's housing is made of flame-retardant plastic that negates any risks stemming from overheating.

CONS

Can get quite noisy at the maximum heat setting.

OUR VERDICT

If you want to heat up the air inside the room quickly, then this model will be the right pick. Despite its small size and relatively low weight, it can deliver a stream of hot air in under 2-3 seconds and warm up a small room in just 10 minutes.

detailed parameters
Designated Heating Area

1500 W, Ceramic heating element, Medium to large rooms

Safety

Overheat protection, Tip-over protection

Ease of Use

2 heat settings, Fan mode, Adjustable thermostat, Carrying handle

Warranty

1 year

An Industrial-Grade Model for Home Use

This electric space heater model from Benross is an industrial-grade model that can serve as an excellent household appliance.

The heater included in the package comes already assembled, so you won’t have to put it together on your own. If we get into more detail about its build, the housing of the appliance features an IPX4 protection rating, which makes most of the heater’s body water-resistant. To be more precise, the appliance is resistant to liquid splashes of all sorts, which ensures safe operation of the heater when used indoors.

Likewise, the durable metal casing combined with a carry handle on top makes it easier to carry the unit when you need it the most. This enables for simple transportation from room to room as well as for situations when you need a powerful heatwave in the form of a handheld heater device. On top of that, the total weight of the heater is just 3.6 kg, which also makes it easy to carry around.

When it comes to heating settings, this Benross heater features only two heating settings with 1500 kW and 3000 kW of output power respectively. As a bonus, the appliance can be used as a regular air fan, thanks to the additional fan mode that is also implemented into the heater aside from the regular heating settings. The 40-watt fan can process huge volumes of air, making this heater model a good option for use in summer.

Powerful and Well-Protected

The protection means, on the other hand, include a double heating protection system that won’t let the appliance overheat in case the fan is turned off. Moreover, this model comes with a thermostat that will automatically disengage the heating element once the desired temperature is reached.

Although it is a great heater, there is one thing that we didn’t really appreciate and it is the length of the power cable. With only 1.5 metres of length, the cable is hardly convenient, meaning you'll probably have to use an extension cord. But other than this small quirk, there are no outright negative aspects of this model that may affect its performance. Moreover, the combination of a potent heating element and a powerful fan in the back of the appliance makes the heater good for home use since it’s capable of warming up large indoor areas pretty quickly.

All things considered, this model from Benross is one of the best space heaters based on its power and sheer heat output it can produce in a matter of seconds. Fairly light and easy to use, it proves that industrial-grade heaters can be used in home conditions to great effect.

Last updated price £54.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B07FQS3DTZ

Tiny yet Effective

The Pro Breeze Mini is a heating appliance that embodies everything a good ceramic heater needs to be. But what exactly makes it stand out? Let’s take a quick glance over its core features and find out.

To start off, the dimensions of just 17.7 x 13.5 x 22.8 cm make the heater almost unnoticeable in the room if you put it on the floor or on a table. What also makes it appealing is the fact that it doesn’t make any annoying clicks or clacks like oil radiators do. The only caveat with the white housing of the appliance is that it gets stained fairly quickly, which will require brushing it off with a cloth or microfibre towel to get the dust off. Just remember to clean the heater once it is off and cooled to prevent potential malfunctions. On the bright side, the Pro Breeze features a convenient built-in carry handle that makes it quite portable and handy to carry around in case you need a heater in another room.

Furthermore, it’s the simple design of the appliance that only has two dials on the top cover. That’s it, no more switches or clunky levers. In order to turn on the unit, simply turn the heating dial and it will automatically turn on. To heat up the room faster, you might want to crank up the heat setting. To do so, keep turning the dial to select one of the two heating settings. Likewise, you can select the additional heat settings using the second mode selection dial.

Simple Controls, Decent Protection

Just like other modern ceramic heaters, the Pro Breeze features a fan function that can be used together with the heating modes as well as separately to produce a flow of cool breeze during the hotter months of the year. To turn on the fan function, use the second dial located right next to the heat intensity dial.

Moving down the list of features, let’s talk safety. Since this is a heating appliance first and a cooling one second, it needs decent protection against extreme temperatures, which it does have under its belt. Firstly, the model has an overheating protection thanks to the built-in thermostat that will automatically turn off the heating element once the desired temperature is reached. Secondly, the appliance has a tip-over protection system that will also cut off the power in case the heater rolls over or falls on the side.

To wrap things up, the Pro Breeze features a good power to heat output ratio compared to other products of the same size and so, will be a good addition to your flat or house, especially if you need to heat up a medium- to large-sized rooms and simple central heating just doesn’t cut it.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £34.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B089M8R6ZJ

A Great Alternative to Bulky Oil Heaters

What makes this heater model from BASEIN great is its high portability, which allows using it virtually anywhere in your house or a flat. That said, portability is not the only thing that makes it worthy of your attention, especially if you were searching for an efficient space heater.

First things first, let’s inspect the specifications of the device. Similarly to other products in our review, this one has only a few heating modes (two, to be precise). While the first one will be only useful at keeping the ambient temperature within the room stable due to its 600-watt power output, the second, more powerful one can deliver up to 1200 watts to the heating element. On top of that, this particular heater has a special 3-second warm-up function that produces a strong wave of heat almost instantly.

With an overall weight that barely reaches 1 kg, we can safely say that the appliance is lightweight. Moreover, it is equipped with a built-in plastic carry strap that makes carrying it around fairly easy, even with one hand.

For added convenience, the heater can produce a strong flow of hot air in the range of 0-70° in front of the main heating element, which will come in handy in case you need to warm up a larger area.

Great for Personal Use

Owing to a double protection system, the appliance won’t overheat or catch fire in case you leave it unattended. To add more, on top of the regular short-circuit and overheating protective functions, the heater features a special tip-over protection mechanism that will automatically turn off the device in case it falls on the side or rolls over. Thanks to this, you won’t have to worry about pets or children accidentally tipping the heater on the ground. To let you know that the appliance has been knocked over, it will emit a loud signal, which is rather handy.

As for other convenient features, this heating device features a special timer that allows setting a time-out period for the appliance. With three settings to pick from, you can set the heater to operate for 1, 2, or 3 hours straight. Once the time is up, it will automatically shut itself off. We should also mention that the basic heating mode features a timer as well, which is set to 6 hours by default. This is implemented as a secondary safety mechanism that works in conjunction with main overheating protection switches.

Finally, if a portable electric heater with a thermostat is what you were looking for, then this model from BASEIN will be right up your alley. Lightweight and extremely easy to use, it still boasts a significant power output, which ultimately makes it an optimal choice for small-to-medium rooms where every inch of free space matters.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07XXY1GRR

FLAT OR UPRIGHT

The Warmlite Portable Fan Heater costs almost nothing. Right now, you can buy this model for less than 15 quid. Considering the price, what this heater's offering is nothing to sneeze at. But let's start with the form factor first. The fan looks alright, nothing especially awkward or elegant. We're not saying that this unit will elevate upscale settings but we're also not saying that it will stick like a sore thumb. The most interesting part that pertains to its profile is that you can use this model both flat and upright, an interesting change from the usual approach. Besides that, we're not dealing with anything fundamentally different from the usual mould here.

First off, the unit comes equipped with two heat settings: 1000 and 2000 watts. As you can imagine, the first setting will enable covering small rooms, whilst the second setting will provide a powerful output that ensures rapid and even air distribution across medium spaces. Apart from switching between these two, you can also use the thermostat dial and adjust the temperature manually. The dial includes cool, warm, and hot options, with the first option making the unit useful even come summer.

Circling back towards its construction, the model measures 12.5 x 24.5 x 25 centimetres and weighs a little more than 1.1 kilogrammes, meaning that, aside from bedrooms and such, this portable unit will also fit conservatories and mobile homes. The one issue with the second option though is that the supplied power cable is short, so you'll be tied to the mains quite close.

LED INDICATORS

Despite the fact that the model can be used both flat and upright, you'll find the same safety features here that traditional fan heaters are usually using. These include the integrated overheat protection mechanism, automatically cutting the unit off when its heating element reaches dangerous temperatures. The LED indicators are more than visible, so you can tell when the heater's on or off from quite afar. Once tipped over, the unit will automatically turn off as well, meaning that you can use this one without fearing some accident causing a fire.

What else is there to add? Small- and medium-sized spaces will benefit wonders from Warmlite Portable Fan Heater. Mobile homes, assuming they come with at least one socket, will work with this unit as well. Taking the price that's almost too easy on the pocketbook into account, this product is the easiest choice you'll make.

Last updated price £17.49
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B008XF8HBS

Top Bargain

In case you have been browsing in hopes to find a good fan heater that is light, compact, yet still holds a punch, chances are, there are not a lot of good options to choose from. Fortunately, this Brightown fan heater combines all 3 qualities in one appliance, and at a reasonable price too.

Just like many other heaters that implement a fan alongside the heating element, this one features a regular fan function that will definitely come in handy in moving stale air inside the room during heatwaves and in the summer. The thing that makes it easier to carry around, aside from its relatively low weight, is the carry handle that is built into the housing.

We were surprised to find out that the maximum output power of this heater can reach 1500 watts, which is rather unusual for a fan model. The controls of the heater allow picking the desired power output using the dials on the top panel of the housing located underneath the carry handle. To be more specific, the first dial enables picking the heat output of 750 or 1500 watts as well as turning on the fan mode. The second dial, on the other hand, enables adjusting the fan’s speed, allowing you to both warm up a cold room and keep the ambient temperature in it stable once it reaches a comfortable level.

Simple and Reliable

In order to keep the ceramic heating element up and running, the adjustable thermostat will automatically turn the appliance off and back on as it operates. While it’s nothing really special, especially for a household heater, it will make a slight clicking noise when it turns off. Other than that and the sound of the fan blades spinning, the appliance operates in almost complete silence, which makes it an ideal pick for bedrooms and home offices.

Other safety aspects of the heater include tip-over protection and overheating safety features that ensure that the internal elements won’t get damaged. Conversely, the housing of this model is not splashproof, so we don’t advise using the appliance in bathrooms or close to water sources.

In the end, this small electric heater from Brightown proved to be an excellent appliance that can easily compete with more expensive heaters when it comes to heating effectiveness. Although it doesn’t have many bells and whistles to it, it is still easy to use and it provides exactly what you would expect from a heater, which makes it a good budget-friendly option in our book.

Last updated price £28.79
Stock In stock
ASIN B07H8BNF2S

What Is a Space Heater?

As cold weather's coming, people start huddling up near fireplaces, in their beds or in electric blankets (if they have it, of course). Unfortunately, central heating is not always sufficient to effectively warm up big premises. Which is why if you live in a big flat or house, investing in a space heater can be the best solution. Being fitted with a powerful heating element, space heaters are able to warm up quite big living areas in a very short amount of time, bringing the maximum comfort to you and your family during the colder months. Of course, these heaters can be used not only at home. Due to their rather compact dimensions, you can set one in your office, garage, small store or workshop. In fact, you can place it anywhere if there's a power socket nearby. That being said, we'd recommend against placing a space heater in areas that leak air; otherwise, you run a risk of ending up with an elevated electricity bill and huge heat losses.

While on the note of energy consumption, we recommend using a thermostat that can help reduce electricity waste by automatically adjusting the heat in accordance with the ambient temperature. While if you're looking to upgrade your old blanket, make sure to take a look at this comparison of duvets.

What Features to Compare

When you are about to choose a space heater, you need to consider some important features. There are many room heater reviews available online, and they are so different. However, we've tried round up the most important characteristics that are worth paying attention to when selecting one.

Heating Area

The first thing to consider when buying a space heater is how big of an area it can actually heat. This parameter is determined by the heating element, precisely its power, and the particular type of a heater you choose. Regarding the heating element, you'll need at least 10 Watts of power to effectively warm up an area of 1 square meter in size. The higher this value, the better. As for the types, space heaters fall into the following 5 types: oil radiators, fan heaters, radiant heaters, gas heaters (or catalytic combustion heaters), and infrared heaters. Which of these five to choose totally depends on your needs. For instance, if you want to buy a heater that could be used not only indoors but outdoors as well, consider infrared heater models. In case you need only a small thing to warm up your bedroom, look towards fan heaters. Big fan heaters, as it's easy to infer from the very name, are designed to heat bigger spaces like workshops, garages, warehouses, etc. The power of a space heater is directly linked with its type.

Safety

Another thing you should certainly pay attention to is the safety features. You don't want to incur trouble, especially if you have kids and pets, so it's vital to check if a model has tip-over protection which powers the heater down in case someone accidentally walks into it and an auto shut-off feature which turns the whole thing off if it starts to overheat.

Usability

Usability features are also quite important. Though you don't buy a heater (we hope) to take with you on your trips, you need to make sure that it offers you a convenient way of moving it. With that in mind, consider if the chosen space heater has a carry handle and wheels, allowing you to move it around your living area without burning your hands. Also, you may want to look at the appearance of a heater. Obviously, nice looks aren't what we usually buy a heater for, but given that it's going to be highly visible in a room, it'd still be more sensible to go for a nicer-looking option.

Did you know?

How to Make Your House More Energy Efficient

It is well known that space heaters cannot replace the main heat source and should be used only as an addition to the centralized heating system. Still, it's possible to maximize their heating effect without raising the electricity bill, following these simple steps.

  • First of all, you might consider insulating all doors and windows in your house to prevent the heat from escaping your rooms.
  • Secondly, you can use natural sources of heat such as sunlight. On sunny winter days, leave blinders and curtains open in the morning and afternoon and keep them closed at night. Additionally, you can put a carpet or a rug on the floor. You will be surprised to find out how much heat you'll be able to save!
  • In addition, you can enhance the effectiveness of your heater by removing furniture that stays in the way of the device and placing a sheet of tinfoil on the wall behind it so that it will reflect the heat towards you instead of heating the wall.
  • Also, don’t forget that space heaters are used to heat up rooms individually, so be sure to close all doors to the rooms you are not using often. Consider buying a fixed space heater dedicated for the room you use most of the time and portable heaters for other rooms such as bedrooms and living rooms.

Following these easy tips, you will be able to make your heating system more cost-effective.

How to Use Space Heaters Safely

More than 20,000 fires occur each year due to improper use of portable heaters. Moreover, if you use a heater too often it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. If you don’t want to become a statistic be sure to always read the manufacturer’s installation instructions, manual and safety precautions thoroughly to avoid malfunction of the device. Always make sure to pull the actual plug instead of the cord when you want to unplug the heater. Do not overload the power socket and do not use other electrical devices in combination with a space heater. Never leave the device unattended and turn it off when you leave the house or go to bed. Do not neglect to check twice if the heater is turned off. Remember: safety should always come first!

Convection Heater vs. Oil Radiator Heater

There are many different types of electric space heaters that serve the same purpose - which is keeping your house warm in winter. They all do it differently, however. Before picking a particular heater you need to ask yourself a question, “What do I need a heater for?”. It is important to understand that your lifestyle will determine if a particular type of heater suits you (or not).

Convection heaters, for example, are best used as stationary sources of heat that keep a constant warm atmosphere in your room. The convection works in such a way that it circulates the cold breeze through the bottom and emits the warm air through the top. As a rule, they come without fans so there is no way for a heater to move the hot air. Ceiling fans are best suited for active people who rarely sit still and tend to move a lot around the house doing different household work.

Oil radiators work in a slightly different way. They contain a coil that heats the oil inside the heater and turns off automatically when it reaches the maximum temperature. This allows the heater to slowly cool off after it has already been turned off. This feature makes them one of the most economical and practical solutions for people who seek a heater capable of providing extended warmth.

FAQ:

Q: Does the top of the heater get hot?

A: Yes, it does. You should never touch the heater when it is on with your bare hands or you might get them burned. Same goes for any other objects that are placed in proximity to the device. Try not to place flammable objects near it. That includes furniture, curtains, beddings. Keep them at least 1 meter away from the heater.

Q: Does the oil heater smell when in use?

A: When you turn the oil heater on for the first time it might emit a chemical smell. It's a normal reaction that comes from the process of the oil being heated inside the radiator. Which is exactly why manufacturers of oil heaters recommend running heaters for a couple hours with opened windows and doors so that this smell goes away. You might need to repeat this several times. To remove the smell completely, it's important to read and follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer. And when in use, make sure to always air the room to prevent carbon monoxide from concentrating.

Q: Can I place the fan heater on my desk?

A: We do not recommend placing any kind of heaters on tables, desks, drawers, and anything that is above the ground level. In terms of safety measures, it is recommended to place the device on the floor. Since some parts of the heater can get hot, they can damage the surface of the desk or even burn it and leave unsightly stains.

Q: I have small children in my house, Is it safe for them to use the heater when I am not at home?

A: As it goes with any electrical devices you should not let kids use them without supervision. In case it's not possible, make sure to instruct them how to use the heater in a safe way. Fortunately, many heaters today have several security features like a tip-over switch, overheating protection, etc. Thanks to these, even if your child tips the heater over accidentally, it will not cause a fire.

Q: Air filter in my ceramic heater got dirty and it does not work properly anymore. Is there any way I can clean it?

A: Yes, you can actually clean the filter on your own! To do this, you will need to unplug the heater and let it cool. Then you will need to clean the air intake and the grille. Next, you'll need to remove the grille by gently pulling it outwards. Now you can put the filter back inside the heater. The cleaning is done.

Q: Can I put the heater on the floor and use it to dry my clothes?

A: No, you can’t. The heater emits strong heat that can damage clothes and even set it on fire. To prevent that from happening, never put anything on top of the heater.

Q: Does the heater work quietly?

A: It depends on the type of heater you use. The oil heaters tend to make somewhat loud clicks when they reach a maximum temperature. This sound means that a thermostat inside the heater is working properly and turns the device off automatically to save electricity. Not only oil heaters emit noises. Any type of heater that has a metal construction may produce some noise during operation which is explained by the fact that metal tends to change its shape under the effect of heat.

Sources:

1. Gary Foreman Choosing a Space Heater, Power to Change.

2. Space Heater Buying Guide, ConsumerReports. August 2016.

3. Space Heater Buying Guide, Wayfair.

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