12 best electric heaters 2024, tested for winter – UK Times

Temperatures across the UK have dropped, so if you want to keep warm without cranking up the central heating, finding the best electric heater for your space is the ideal solution.

Electric heaters range from convection heaters, which circulate air through the appliance and are often strong and silent, and fan heaters that blow air over a heating element to provide a blissful blast of warmth, to oil-filled options.

Each type of heater varies in energy efficiency and running costs, as well as maximum operating temperatures and additional features such as timers and remote controls. Most of the devices on this list are also highly portable, so can be moved to different rooms in the house, as and when needed.

Turning to devices from popular brands, including Duux, Dyson and Beldray, we assessed whether they really could turn up the heat of our home – read on to find out which ones were capable enough for the job.

How we tested

open image in gallery

Working from home, we put the portable heaters through their paces in a chilly Victorian terrace house during early winter. Once the heating had been off for a few hours post-school run, we turned on the portable heater to the top setting and timed how long it took to heat up the room, setting a stopwatch on our phone to record an accurate measurement. We used a room temperature thermometer to measure how hot the room got. We also took into account size, portability, design and ease of use when choosing our favourites.

Why you can trust us

Zoe Griffin has been an IndyBest tester since 2021, she has reviewed a broad range of energy-saving appliances in a bid to find the best value options for your home. Zoe is thorough in her testing approach and enjoys finding products for every budget. When it comes to these electric heaters, she tested each one at home so as to provide an honest and realistic review of how the heaters will perform when you use one yourself.

The best electric heaters for 2024 are: