With energy costs set to rise again this autumn, finding cost-effective ways to heat your home without the eye-watering expense of central heating is essential. This is why electric heaters, sometimes known as portable or space heaters, are such a good solution.
Electric heaters will heat a singular room or space, so you don’t have to heat the whole house. Plus, unlike a fixed radiator, you can move it from room to room, giving you full flexibility over when and where you heat your space. There are several types of electric heaters available, from oil-filled radiators to ceramic and fan heaters.
Modern electric heaters don’t just promise flexibility and a way to reduce your energy consumption, lowering your bills, but they are also jam-packed with safety features like tip-over switches and automatic shut-off functions, so they are incredibly safe to use.
Plus, some models also come with built-in fans so you can use them for cooler air in the summer months and air purifiers, making them a good choice for anyone who suffers from allergies. From home offices to spare bedrooms, an electric heater can turn any room into a warm, cosy space in minutes. My favourite is the Dreamland pure air fan heater, but I’ve tested plenty of electric heaters to suit all spaces and budgets.
How I tested
I put a range of electric heaters through their paces to assess both performance and practicality. Each unit was tested in a variety of rooms, from a large carpeted bedroom to an unheated, tiled floor kitchen. When testing, I took the following into consideration:
- 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.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The Independent’s reviews section, IndyBest’s testers examine a range of products 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 microwaves to 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.
The best electric heaters for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Dreamland pure air fan heater: £119.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Beldray 2,000W fan heater: £19.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best premium heater: Dyson purifier hot + cool HP1: £549.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best smart heater: Duux threesixty2 electric smart heater: £80, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for a cosy atmosphere: VonHaus glass front house heater: £94.99, Amazon.co.uk
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Dreamland silent power pure air fan heater
Best: Electric heater overall
Type: Fan
Dimensions: 22cm x 32cm x 21cm
Weight: 2.25kg
Extra features: Timer, ioniser, dust-proof lid, cooling fan, silent power technology
Why we love it
- Built-in air purifier
- Cooling function
- Handy plug storage area
Take note
- You have to use it with the timer
The Dreamland silent power pure air fan heater won’t just heat the air in your space, but it will also purify it. It comes with 4 functions, including ventilation, hot air, rapid heating and cool air.
The rapid heating function works incredibly well, blasting out hot air in seconds. It has a programmable timer for 1, 3 and 9 hours. It needs to have a time limit set, so you can’t just leave it running indefinitely, which some might find frustrating but is actually is a very good safety feature.
I was incredibly impressed with the silence of this fan. It was barely audible even on the highest fan setting, so it’s definitely one you could have on whilst you’re trying to relax or even sleep.
Perhaps the feature that impressed me the most was the built-in ioniser, which purifies the air as it heats. This means that it can reduce dust, pollen and other particles in the air, making it ideal for those with allergies.
Whilst I can’t say whether it helped my hay fever, the air felt fresher. The controls sit under a lid, which is a little fiddly as there’s no way of keeping it open whilst you operate the machine; however, it has been certified to be used in a humid environment, so this lid will protect the dials if it’s used in the kitchen or garage.
It also looks good; it comes in a stylish teal colour, so it won’t look like another boring appliance sitting in the middle of your room. It has a recess to the back, so it’s easy enough to carry from room to room. For the price, this is a fantastic heater.
Buy now £59.99, Dreamlanduk.co.uk
Beldray 2000W fan heater
Best: Budget electric heater
Type: Fan
Dimensions: 27cm x 14cm x 24cm
Weight: 1.15kg
Extra features: Cool air function
Why we love it
- Easy to carry
- Auto-switch off
- Quiet when in use
Take note
- A strong off-gassing smell on the first few uses
This little fan heater is the perfect size for small spaces. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, thanks to not only its compact stature but also a built-in handle, and it’s super easy to use.
It features an adjustable thermostat with three settings, including two heating options and a cool fan setting, making it ideal for use in a caravan or small space.
To be honest, the settings are a little pointless; I didn’t feel much difference between the two heat settings or the different fan levels. However, this omni-setting got to work instantly, quickly and effectively heating a small room.
The only thing I would say is if you’re using it in a large room, then you may notice the heat doesn’t hang around once it's been turned off. It’s better for instant heat rather than long-lasting cosiness.
It has plenty of safety features, including a safety tip-over switch, which is featured on the bottom of the heater, and a thermal cut-out device that will prevent overheating. Beldray claims that it is quiet in operation, and whilst it’s not too loud, it is above whisper level, so you’d definitely have to turn the TV up if you were using it.
In the end, it’s far from perfect. But for its size and price, it’s a really effective heater that’s ideal for smaller rooms or anyone on a budget.
Buy now £19.99, Beldray.com
Dyson purifier hot + cool HP1
Best: Air-purifier electric heater
Type: Fan
Dimensions: 24.8cm x 22cm x 77cm
Weight: 5.26kg
Extra features: Fan, air purifier, app with air quality stats
Why we love it
- Purifies the air
- Bladeless so more hygienic
- Can be controlled via app or remote control
Take note
- It’s expensive
Ideal for use all year round, the Dyson hot+cold HP1 is not only a heater but also a fan and air purifier. It can be operated via a remote control, which magnetically attaches to the fan so you won’t ever lose it, or via the mobile app.
The app gives you a full rundown of air stats, which includes temperature and air quality, and checking this becomes oddly addictive. Plus, the app connects quickly, so it takes minutes to set up an account and see how your fan is working.
It has a bladeless design, which hugely reduces the risk of injury if you have young children or pets running around, and it’s much more hygienic, as there are no blades for dust to settle. Dyson claims it will cover up to 81m cubed. When I tested it in a large room, I found that it heated up quickly and stayed warm.
I loved the automatic mode too. Set a temperature and this heater will heat the room to match it, then switch off once it hits the right warmth. It will switch itself on and off throughout the day to keep the room toasty. It’s a perfect way to keep a comfy ambient temperature at all times without having to keep this heater on full blast. It also has a fan setting, which also works well, although it doesn’t cool the area as fast as it heats it up.
The purifying mode needs a special mention; this stays active at all times while the fan is switched on. During testing, I noticed the air felt noticeably fresher after an hour. But it was the first thing in the morning that this appliance made a real difference. Instead of waking up in a warm, stuffy room, the air felt light and fresh, but never cold.
I also found that I woke up breathing easier and without a blocked nose or the sniffles; this was really noticeable when the pollen was high outside. The app gives real-time insights into the air quality, too, so you can see when the air quality decreases, and at that point, you can set your Dyson to automatically get to work to bring the air quality back to normal levels.
Of course, as a Dyson, this machine is very expensive, and it’s overkill for small rooms; you could almost treat an entire flat with this. However, if you want a machine you can use all year round that can also purify the air, which is ideal for allergy sufferers, then it’s a perfect choice.
Buy now £549.99, Amazon.co.uk
Duux threesixty 2 electric smart heater
Best: Ceramic electric heater
Type: Ceramic
Dimensions: 21.5 x 21.5 x 29.5cm
Weight: 2.25kg
Extra features: Full thermostat functionality (18-30⁰C), smartphone access, cooling function
Why we love it
- Pairs with Google or Alexa
- Boost mode for fast heating
- Energy efficient
Take note
- Fiddly to set up at first
The Duux threesixty 2 electric smart heater has a sleek and stylish cylindrical shape. All the controls are at the front of the machine, including the power button and the fan speed, but to really get the most out of it, you need to download the app and connect it to the wifi.
The setup was a little frustrating, with the wifi connecting straight away, but then the app struggled to find the machine, and then when it did, it couldn’t retrieve any of the data, meaning you had to control it manually anyway. But that issue righted itself within the first hour of using it, so this could just be part of the process or an issue with my wifi.
Once connected to the app, you can access the remote control, which lets you turn the heater on or off, adjust the temperature from another room - this is really handy if you want to heat a space before going to use it and even set a schedule for it to come on at certain times.
It has two fan settings (eco and boost) and what the brand grandly calls “360 air distribution”. This 360 setting is the most effective – it fills the entire room with heat, and you can really feel it fast. In fact, it heats up so quickly that it reaches its maximum temperature of 30C in about a minute. As a ceramic heater, it maintains heat well.
It also runs quietly, even when on full speed, so it’s ideal if you’re using it in the bedroom. I loved that you can control this heater remotely, too, so it’s ideal for warming up the bedroom or kitchen.
However, it suffers from a small but important flaw – it doesn’t have any carry handles. Some may find that the cylindrical shape is a little difficult to move around, but you can lift it by the top cover, so I found that moving it between two rooms isn’t too much of an issue.
Buy now £80.00, Amazon.co.uk
Vortex Air pro plus bladeless hot & cool fan (2025 upgrade)
Best: Electric heaters and fan
Type: Fan
Dimensions: 27cm x 64cm
Weight: 3.9kg
Extra features: Timer, cool air function, remote control
Why we love it
- Bladeless fan
- Compact design
Take note
- Is a little noisy even on the low setting
The Vortex Air pro may look a little familiar because it shares a similar design to the Dyson Hot+Cool, however, this is more compact, lighter and a fraction of the price.
This appliance doesn’t just heat a room, it also cools it (and does a great job, too – it sounds counterintuitive, but the older version of this heater is actually one of The Independent’s picks for best fans). It comes with a handy remote so you can change the temperature, fan speed and oscillation from the comfort of your own sofa.
It has a timer function, which is ideal if you like to have it running just long enough until you fall asleep; this runs from one to nine hours. The head rotates 180 degrees so you can direct the hot airflow wherever you want. I found that this was great for the bedroom, as I could angle the heater away from my face as I tried to sleep but still keep the room toasty.
As a heater, this works incredibly well, and fast too. The brand says that it heats up to 10 square meters, and I found that while it did an excellent job at reaching all corners of my smaller test room, it also did a good job at warming up the larger space.
Because it uses bladeless technology, the heat feels more like a breeze than direct heat that can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. It is a 2-in-1 unit, so it also cools, but it didn’t seem to cool down the area as well as it heated. It’s also really easy to clean, because it has no blades to pick up dust. You can just give it a wipe over with a damp cloth.
Buy now £149.99, Vortexair.co.uk
VonHaus glass front house heater
Best: Fireplace electric heater
Type: Fan
Dimensions: 25cm x 34.3cm x 46.7cm
Weight: 10kg
Extra features: Smart features, timer, remote control
Why we love it
- Cosy design
- Heats up quickly
- Can be used without heat
Take note
- It’s heavy, so difficult to move around
The VonHaus glass front stove heater is perfect if you’re looking for a heater that will also add a touch of cosy comfort to your room. This heater looks like a real fire with a cosy, shimmering backlight, whilst the heat pumps out from below. The great thing about this heater is you can use it with just the light if you’re warm enough, but still want the cosy effect of a real fire roaring in the background.
It has 8 heat settings, which can be operated via a dial at the back, and there are two fan settings too. It’s not too noisy, which is good because this is definitely a heater that you’ll want to use in your main living space. It heats up quickly; even on the lowest setting, you can instantly feel the heat. It also gets up to the maximum temperature in quick time and holds its heat well, especially if used in a room with the doors closed.
The biggest drawback I found is that it’s heavy. It’s not too heavy to lift, but it’s not quite as easy to move from room to room as some other models I’ve featured in this guide. That said, this is a heater that you’ll probably want to leave and use in just one room anyway. I
It has good safety features, including automatic shut-off in case of overheating. However, while I love the homely design, the metal exterior of this heater can get quite hot.
Buy now £94.99, Amazon.co.uk
Daewoo 2000W convector heater
Best: Convector electric heater
Type: Convector
Dimensions: 47cm x 72.5cm x 13.5cm
Weight: 4kg
Extra features: 24-hour timer, turbo function
Why we love it
- Ideal for larger rooms
- 24-hour timer
- Boost mode
Take note
- The outside gets hot
The Daewoo convection heater is a brilliant choice for larger rooms. It’s really lightweight and has a slim design, so it won’t take up too much floor space. It comes with feet, so you can just stand it on the floor, but it can also be wall-mounted.
The controls are easy to use, with two dials to operate fan speed and heat. It has three heat settings in total, and when on the top heat, it gets hot fast. When I used it in my smaller test room, it warmed the entire space in less than 10 minutes; with the larger room, it did it in 20 minutes.
The lower setting is great, too, and it kept a lovely ambient temperature. It also has a boost function, but this is the weakest feature. It helped to circulate some air throughout the room, but it isn’t that powerful and makes almost no difference compared to just having the fans on full.
One function I really loved was the 24-hour timer. I tested it out by setting it to come on first thing in the morning, so the room was toasty when I had to stumble out of bed to let the dogs out. During the very cold winter months, this will be ideal for helping make dark, cold mornings a lot more manageable.
Buy now £39.99, Daewooelectricals.com
Draper 2kW electric space heater
Best: Compact electric heater
Type: Fan
Dimensions: 18.5cm x 17cm x 24cm
Weight: 1.5kg
Extra features: Cool air fan
Why we love it
- Fast heating
- Covers a large area
- Simple to use
Take note
- Very short cable
The Draper 2kW electric space heater is ideal for heating up small rooms fast. It is super compact, so it can be carried from room to room, and it also comes on a stand that can be tilted so you can direct the main source of heat. For a heater so small, it covers up to 20 square meters. I tested it in a large space (with the doors closed) and found it really did warm up the whole of the room.
It’s really easy to use, with just two dials for operation. There are two heat settings plus a fan setting, so it’ll even keep you cool in summer.
I found that this generated heat instantly. On max, it got hot quickly, but as soon as the heater was turned off, that heat disappeared too, so this isn’t one that is going to provide long-lasting warmth. However, it’s good for quickly heating up a super cold room or even an outbuilding like a shed or a garage gym.
It has a thermal cut-off function, but there’s no dead man switch to automatically cut out if it falls over; however, you can tighten the adjustable stand so it shouldn’t flip forward, but just something to be mindful of if you have pets or kids running about.
However, no matter the setting, this heater is loud, so it isn’t one that you’ll want running whilst you’re watching television or working.
You should also bear in mind that this heater is made from metal, which does get hot on the outside, and it also has a very short power cord. In short, this is great for attics or for DIY jobs in a shed or garage, but it might be a little too utilitarian for the rest of your home.
Buy now £36.80, Amazon.co.uk
Your questions on 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.
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.
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