Be wary of so-called 'eco' settings because these are often just a lower kW settings This is good to have, but a heater with four adjustable outputs is better than a heater with two where one is called 'eco'. It's better to look beyond the marketing hype here.

Noise levels The Dreo Space Heater has a noise level of just 37.5dB (the oscillation raises this to 40dB). I found it to be equivalent to the level of noise of the Beldray fan heater I tested – quiet enough to talk over but still noticeable. One other thoughtful feature is being able to switch off its electronic beeps. They are versatile. You can use a plug-in heater in any room of your home, as long as there is an electrical outlet nearby. Infrared heating can suit some homes, for instance where people spend a lot of time sitting rather than moving around, or where the building is draughty or poorly insulated – as warm air is not being lost out of the building. If you want to use an electric room heater, use it only when necessary and consider the following:RETAINS MOISTURE: Unlike most electric wall heaters and portable space heaters, HeatStyle helps retain more moisture in the air, making it among the top, most comfortable electric wall heaters. As well as two heat settings, the Beldray also offers a cool air setting, meaning it could be a versatile year-round appliance. In practice, I didn't find the cool fan setting that effective as the breeze it delivers is quite gentle. It certainly can't compete with the best fans on the market, but I suppose it could be a useful additional feature. It has two downsides. It’s pretty noisy, putting out over 50dB while it’s running, and as it can use over 2.3kW when running at full power it’s not the cheapest option for running over longer periods. However, the thermostat does a decent job of powering down once the room has warmed up and it’s very portable at under 1.5kg. It also has safety features, including a tip-over switch. If you’re looking for fast distribution of warmth, a fan heater can’t be beaten. They’re ideal for chasing the cold away instantly, and, if you choose one with a ceramic element rather than metal, it’ll heat up faster, requiring less energy initially to get hot. Gas heaters are not as energy efficient as electric heaters because as not all the gas is converted into heat output into the room (some is lost as exhaust gases, moisture and the creation of light). However, mains gas is usually cheaper than electricity, so the running cost is often comparable.

First, consider the size of the room you need to heat. A small plug-in wall heater may be enough to warm up a small bathroom or bedroom, but it's not going to do much for a large living room or kitchen. If you're not sure how much heat you need, it's always best to err on the side of caution and choose a larger model. To calculate the running cost, you need to look at the power rating of the heater, shown in kilowatts (kW). The higher the power rating the more heat will be produced, but also the cost will be proportionally higher. Adjustable Thermostat: Unlike most portable heaters, our plug in heater features an adjustable thermostat, allowing you to customize the temperature to your preference. You can set this thermostatic heater temp from 60°F to 90°F, enough to support warmth for you in the cold winter. You can easily control the heat output for optimal comfort. It’s easy to use: just set the required temperature with the digital controls, then leave it to work. However, it still crams in some useful features, including a timer and an eco mode, weighs less than 1.4kg and, with a carrying handle built into the top of the tower, is particularly portable. What’s more, De’Longhi throws in a compact remote control. Unobtrusive and effective, this is one of the best compact heaters around. But while the electricity you draw from a power outlet can be generated using renewable energy sources, electricity generation can still put a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere.To find the best electric heater for your needs, it's important to consider how you will be using it. The thermostat is the key one, as it’s crucial for keeping the room at a decent heat – not too hot, not too cold – and saving energy (and money) by turning the heater off when that level’s reached. Frost protection can be a useful feature for conservatories or utility rooms, as it means you can use the heater there and it will run at a minimal level, dishing out just enough heat to keep the temperature north of zero. WALL MOUNTED HEATER: Slim, compact 120 volt wall heater with thermostat mounts 24” above the floor to maximize space. For a portable heater, use retractable legs for a secure, freestanding position. Remote control is included for your convenience. Portable electric heaters use electricity, which costs 27.35p/kWh under the current energy price cap. Depending on how effective the heater is, they can take anything from 30 minutes to an hour to notably raise the temperature of a medium-sized room, so if you're only planning on using it until the room gets up to temperature, it will likely cost you between 28 and 55p.

Small and compact, the plug-in heater's space-saving modern design is easily portable and great for travel. A whisper-quiet operation and long term reliability make this the ideal mini heater for use in kitchens, bedrooms, and caravans. It's easy to operate as well, thanks to the simple, four-button control scheme positioned around the LED display. Unlike convector heaters, radiant heaters don’t achieve an even level of heat throughout the room so they might not give you the same level of comfort over time. They rarely have thermostats or timers, which can make their running costs more expensive over long periods. SIMPLE TO INSTALL IN MINUTES (NO DRILL OR CONTRACTOR REQUIRED). Easy to operate and clean with no moving parts so it is 100% maintenance free. Zero lifetime repair costs compared to expensive central heating system. Slim, sleek and stylish space saving design, reduces floor clutter! Only 2 inches thin!

Highest Rated in Electric Heaters

It depends where you live, but the electricity you use in your home is generated from a variety of sources, including renewables (around 41%, on average), gas (38%) and nuclear (21%). You can't guarantee that you're using renewable power when you switch on your heater because electricity from all sources is mixed-up in the grid. Most electric heaters have a maximum rated output – usually 2,000 watts (2kW) or 3,000 watts (3kW). Most heaters also have settings where you can adjust heat output – the more choices, the more control you have over getting the correct temperature without using too much energy. After testing all the electric heaters in this round up, the Dreo Space Heater came out as my overall favourite. Whilst it’s a fan heater, so possibly costly to run for long periods of time, it had a good balance of versatility, heat distribution, style and affordability. Overall, I think that makes it the best electric heater for winter when measured against the competition. They tend to be cheap to run, but some can be really slow to heat up. Most oil-filled heaters are also fairly heavy and cumbersome, so look out for models that come with wheels. A thermostat will reduce running costs, but by how much depends on lots of factors, such as room size, insulation levels and making sure the thermostat is not turned up too high.