How much does it cost to run an indoor heater at home?

How much does it cost to run an indoor heater and is it a cost-effective way to stay warm? These are important questions to ask right now as families continue to worry about how much their energy bills will cost as energy prices remain high.

Despite the energy price cap dropping in October, struggling families are continuing to learn how to save energy at home to keep costs down. As a result, you might be thinking about using an indoor heater instead of whacking up the thermostat.

Goodto.com's Money Editor Sarah Handley says: "Millions of families will be worried about the cost of staying warm this winter so it helps to understand exactly how much different heating options cost to run so you can make sure you opt for the cheapest yet most effective option in order to keep your energy bills as low as they can be."

How much does it cost to run an indoor heater?

It costs around 54p an hour to run a typical 2kW indoor heater. If you used your heater for four hours a day, that would cost you £2.16 per day, or £65.66 per month. Assuming you ran your heater daily for four months of the year, your overall annual cost would be £262.64. 

However, exact running costs will depend on the type of heater you’re using, how frequently you use it, and how much you pay for your energy. The price you pay per kWh of electricity changed on 1 October when the energy price cap dropped. This means households now pay 27p per kWh for electricity they use. Before October, households paid 30p for each kWh of electricity used. 

Types of indoor heater

There are four main types of indoor heater that use electricity:

• Halogen heaters - lightweight and portable, these use halogen elements rather than electrical coils to provide heat. Heat outputs typically range from 0.5kW to 2kW
• Fan heaters - easily portable, these work by running a current through a heating coil. Air is drawn over the heated coil and the warm air is blown out into the room. Heat outputs typically range from 0.5kW to 3kW
• Oil filled radiators - these work by using an electrical element to heat a reservoir of thermal oil inside. Heat outputs can be between 1kW and 3kW
• Convector heaters - these use a heating coil that produces hot air and the air is then distributed into the room. Heat outputs can be between 2kW and 3kW. 

For comparison, we’ve looked at the four different heater types and used different power outputs for each to give you an idea of different running costs. In each example, we’ve assumed the heater will be used for four hours a day for four months of the year.  

How much do your other appliances cost to run?

• How much does it cost to boil a kettle?
• How much does it cost to run an air fryer?
• How much does it cost to run a microwave?
• How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
• How much does it cost to run a slow cooker?
• How much does it cost to run a dishwasher?
• How much does a tumble dryer cost to run?
• How much does it cost to run an heated clothes dryer?
• How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?
• How much electricity does a TV use?

You can also use our comparison tool to compare how much your appliances cost to run:

 Which type of indoor heater is cheapest to run? 

The type of indoor heater that’s cheapest to run will ultimately depend on how powerful it is and how often you use it. All wattages and run time being even, halogen, fan, oil filled, and convector heaters will cost the same to run.

However, Ryan Collier, director of Heat Pump Source, adds: “Generally, halogen heaters can be the cheapest to run due to their lower power output and the fact they can be used intermittently for blasts of heat. 

“For longer periods, oil filled radiators are considered one of the most energy efficient types of heaters. Once they're at the desired temperature, they use low power to maintain the warmth. Compared to other heaters, they also retain heat better, so they will still radiate heat for a while after you've switched them off.”

 How can I cut the cost of running an indoor heater? 

Below are some tips to help you cut the cost of running your indoor heater: 

Use your heater wisely

Carefully consider where in the home you want to use your indoor heater. If it’s an open-plan room or one with high ceilings, it’ll cost you a lot more to heat the room to the desired temperature.

Jennifer Warren, spokesperson for Energy Guide UK, explains: “Electric heating should only be used for limited periods of time and to heat a small space, for example, a single room and for an hour or two.”

Make sure you keep windows and door closed while the heater is in use to keep the warmth you are creating in, rather than letting it escape into other rooms or out the window. 

Find out more about the cheapest way to heat a room. 

Set a timer or use a thermostat

Using an indoor heater that comes with a timer or thermostat can also help reduce costs. This will enable you to regulate the power output and how long the heater is switched on for, saving you money. 

If you have a heater without a timer, you can add a smart plug to enable you to decide when the heater needs to be on and off. 

Get insulated

A quarter of heat is lost through the roof of an uninsulated home, and a third is lost through the walls, according to the Energy Saving Trust. To stop hot air escaping and reduce the length of time you need your heater to be on, block draughts around doors and windows and hang thicker curtains. 

It could also be worth investing in better loft insulation as well as cavity wall insulation if you don't already have it. 

What features should you look for when buying an indoor heater?  

Different types of heaters are better for different purposes, so you'll need to consider what best matches your needs. 

Heating expert Ryan Collier advises: “If you want instant heat, go for a halogen heater. Convector heaters are good for heating up small to medium rooms evenly. Oil-filled radiators give long-lasting heat, and fan heaters can warm up a room quickly.”

Once you know which type of heater you would like, you need to consider the wattage. “The wattage tells you how much power the heater uses and is a good indicator of how powerful the heater will be. You will want to choose a heater with a wattage that suits the room's size. As a general rule of thumb, you want 60-70 watts per square metre,” says Ryan Collier. 

Another great feature to have is a variable heat option. “This is so you can change the amount of heating depending on whether it is a warmer or colder day,” explains Paul Gibbens, marketing manager at housebuyers4u. This will prevent you from generating more heat than you need, and therefore save you money.

Finally, remember it’s best to buy a heater with a built-in thermostat and/or timer that can be controlled automatically. Energy Guide’s Jennifer Warren told us: “This will ensure you limit its use to just a few hours and don't forget about it and risk leaving it on all day, which can soon add up. In addition, safety mechanisms such as automatic cut-off features are useful as these will automatically turn the heater off if it falls over.” 

You might also be interested in our article on how many hours a day should heating be on in the UK.