Your questions about electric heaters answered
What is the best electric heater?
All of the heaters I’ve featured on this list are fantastic, and I was honestly torn between them for the best overall choice. I’ve opted for the Dreamland Pure Air Fan Heater because this does everything you need it to do: it heats up quickly, holds the heat and purifies the air. It’s fairly priced, and you can use it as a fan too, saving you from buying two appliances.
However, if you have a bit more of a budget, the Dyson Hot+Cool HP1 performs exceptionally well. It heats a room quickly, has a remote and smart app access and just like the Dreamland, it purifies the air, so it’s ideal for allergy sufferers.
That said, if you have a small space or you’re on a budget, then I fully recommend the Beldray 2000W fan heater. It’s not as fancy as the others, but it’s cheap, compact, and it blasts out heat, perfect for those cold winter evenings.
How were the best electric heaters selected?
To find the top electric heater, I tested each model in different rooms throughout my house using the following criteria:
- Performance: I tested each unit to see how quickly it could raise the temperature, whether the heat was distributed evenly and whether it maintained the temperature once the unit was turned off.
- Set-up: I also looked at how easy it was to use each unit and, if applicable, how easy it was to set up apps and other bonus features.
- Safety and practicality: I also paid special attention to safety features and whether each heater was easy to move from room to room.
- Value for money: As well as the list price, I calculated my energy costs to make sure these heaters are economical.
Are electric heaters cheap to run?
The cost of running an electric heater depends on its size, power output, and local rates. The best way to work out how much it costs to run is to look at your electricity bill to find out how much energy costs per kilowatt. For the sake of easy maths, if this is 25p per kilowatt, just under the 26.35p Ofgem price cap, then a heater with a 2000 watt power output will cost 50p per hour to run, because it costs 25p per kilowatt.
What is the cheapest electric heater to run?
Out of all of the heaters I’ve tested, the Vortex Air pro plus bladeless hot & cool fan has the lowest max kW power output at 1650kW. If you run it on high, it costs 41p per hour. On fan mode, it runs at 35W, which is just 0.1p an hour, so the lower modes are much less costly. Ultimately, it depends on your rates and usage.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest’s testers examine a range of products for The Independent’s reviews section in an unbiased process to find the very best. IndyBest experts assess whether or not these products actually live up to their marketing.
Rachael Penn has been testing products and writing reviews for IndyBest since 2021. With her specialist expertise in tech, gadgets and appliances, she’s written about everything from the best microwaves to the best toasters. When it comes to electric heaters, she put her tech knowledge to use when thoroughly testing each model for power, efficiency and extra features. Rachael’s reviews are honest and realistic to help you make the best purchase for your home.
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