Running cost depends on watts, not on the type
Any plug-in electric heater turns nearly all the electricity it uses into heat. A 1 kW fan heater and a 1 kW oil radiator cost the same per hour at full power. The real differences are how quickly you feel the warmth, how it spreads and how long you need to run it. Work out the figures with the calculator.
When a plug-in heater makes sense
A small plug-in unit is useful when you only need warmth in one spot for a short time. Think of a home-office corner, a spare room or an evening on the sofa. It saves floor space and moves easily between rooms.
When another type is better
- Long, steady heat in a medium room: an oil-filled radiator or convector usually gives more even warmth.
- A large or draughty space: a higher-output heater or your central heating is likely to cope better.
- Silence matters most: oil-filled and convector heaters without fans tend to be quieter.
- Whole-home heating: central heating with thermostatic radiator valves lets you lower rooms you don't use.
