There's no doubt the occasional use of a good electric heater can be a quick and easy way to take the edge off a cold night, particularly if you're sitting reasonably close to the heater and the room isn't too large. From safety advice to average running costs, here's what you need to know before hitting the shops.

On this page:

• How much space do you need to heat?
• How much does it cost to run an electric heater?
• Types of electric heaters: Pros and cons
• Which heaters are the safest?
• Features to look for in an electric heater
• What's the most energy-efficient electric heater?
• How ceiling fans can make your electric heater more effective

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How much space do you need to heat?

First things first: if you have a big space to heat, you may want to look at our reverse-cycle split-system air conditioner reviews or gas heater reviews instead. But if you're only looking to heat a small, enclosed space like a bedroom or study, an electric heater will do the job – particularly one with a fan and a thermostat if you're planning to have it on for long periods.

Our lab test results have found that the type of heater isn't necessarily a factor when it comes to efficiency. As with all appliances, it's the overall design that makes for a good heater.

Of course, any portable electric heater will be much more effective if you have an insulated room with no draughts. Our home heating guide has some good tips on proofing your home against the winter chill and summer haze.

How much does it cost to run an electric heater?

The unfortunate news is that electric heaters are not cost-efficient compared to other forms of heating. On average, they tend to be the least cost-efficient form of heating in Australia. The most cost-efficient are reverse-cycle air conditioners, followed by gas heaters, then slow combustion wood heaters.

Whether you run it all night or just the times you're getting ready for bed, most costs will be roughly similar – our electric heater reviews (which include average running costs) can help make sure you don't stuck with a dud that costs more in the long run for lower heating performance.

These figures are averages from our tested models. Running costs are based on an electricity price of 40c/kWh. The costs for 3 months' use in winter are based on 500 hours use, or approximately 6 hours per day for three months. Maximum heat output is based on the maximum wattage of the models we've tested (we focus on higher wattage heaters). Even when set to maximum heating, a heater can run at less than its maximum output; for example, if it has a good thermostat, it will reduce its heat output once the room reaches the target temperature.

Your running costs will vary based on your electricity price. To calculate your own running costs, multiply your energy cost per kWh by your heater's hourly energy consumption. To calculate your annual running costs, multiply this figure by the number of hours a day, and then by the number of days per year that you expect to be running your heater. For our calculations we use an estimate of 40c/kWh, and an estimate of 500 hours use in winter.

What's the cheapest type of heater?

This depends on what cost you're looking at – upfront purchase, or running cost? As usual, there are trade-offs with either selection. On average, small fan heaters are less expensive to buy, but can have higher running costs.

Oil column heaters will be the cheapest on the market to run (on average) – but only by a narrow margin ahead of convection heaters (like panel and micathermic panels). There are some comfort trade-offs for that cheap running cost, primarily being slow to heat and ineffective at heating a whole room if they don't have a fan. If you have a reversible ceiling fan, it'll help disperse the heat around the room more evenly.

The models in our electric heaters test range between $29 and $999, but we've found a higher price tag doesn't always mean better performance. A number of pricey heaters have failed to impress our testers, while some cheaper models make for surprisingly good buys. 

Types of electric heaters: Pros and cons

Radiant heaters are personal heaters. As the name suggests, they radiate heat from a red-hot heating element (so the family will have to take turns sitting in front of it).

Pros

• There are floor and wall-mounted models available.
• Radiant heaters are relatively inexpensive.
• They have a cosy glow and personal warming effect, like sitting in front of a fire.

Cons

• They're not going to heat the air in a room very well.
• The relatively exposed heating element can be a fire and safety hazard. For example, a piece of clothing dropped over it may ignite, or small children playing around a floor model may burn themselves, so be careful.

Price

Radiant heaters generally cost between $20 and $200.

Oil-filled column heaters don't actually burn oil – they use electricity to heat the oil that's sealed inside their columns or 'fins'. The heat from the oil is then transferred to the casing and to the air circulating the fins. Some column heaters aren't even oil-filled but instead use other material or heating technology to work the same way.

Can oil heaters catch fire?

The risk of fire with an oil column heater is low compared to other heater types, but never zero. Oil heaters don't have exposed elements like radiant heaters do, and their surface temperature is lower than many other heater types (their large surface area makes up for it). But they're still an electrical appliance filled with hot oil. 

Oil column heaters won't explode, and while they don't burn their oil to generate heat, it's still flammable, so there is a fire risk if the oil leaks, if the heater tips over and leaks, or if flammable objects or fabric are draped over or fall on the heater. 

You should exercise the same degree of caution with oil heaters as for other heater types, and never hang towels or clothes over one to dry them – use a drying rack instead, at least one metre away. If your oil heater is leaking, or showing signs of serious corrosion or damage, then you should replace it.

Pros

• Column heaters are particularly useful in rooms where they'll be switched on for long periods of time or where they'll operate unattended, such as overnight in a bedroom.
• The surfaces you're likely to touch on a column heater don't get as hot as other types of electric heaters.
• You can use a ceiling fan on very low speed to assist the column heater to distribute the heat faster and more evenly.

Cons

• They rely on natural convection so they take longer to heat a room than fan-assisted heaters of similar capacity.
• If there's not much air movement (for example, if you're sitting reading or watching TV), the heat may not be distributed evenly.

Price

Oil-filled column heaters generally cost between $50 and $380.

Convection and panel heaters draw cold air over an electric heating element. The warmed air then leaves the heater and rises towards the ceiling, while cooler air moves in to replace it.

They usually have a fan which enhances the convection effect by forcing the warm air from the heater. When you use the fan, the room will heat up more quickly and evenly. Without it, the air is more likely to form horizontal temperature layers which could leave you with cold feet – particularly if there's not much movement in the room. The fan will break up these layers to a certain extent. 

That being said, it's also noisy – so make sure the fan can be switched off (you don't want the fan drowning out the TV!)

Panel heaters are a type of convection heater that are, as the name suggests, particularly thin and flat, though they can also be quite long. They often come with a wall-mounting kit for permanent attachment, much like an old-style radiator (though some convection heaters are also wall mountable).

Micathermic panel heaters usually have a similar shape to a column heater, but are often thinner. They have panels of the mineral mica around their heating element, and the mica absorbs the heat and radiates it more evenly, or so the marketing material claims. Supposedly this helps the heater warm the room faster and more efficiently than the element alone, but we haven't seen it eventuate in our testing.

Pros

• Convection and panel heaters are more portable than their oil-filled column heater counterparts because they're significantly lighter.
• They'll heat the air in a room evenly and quickly.
• Like a column heater, you can use a ceiling fan on very low speed to distribute the heat faster and more evenly.

Cons

• Some models, particularly panel heaters, are comparatively expensive to buy.
• Those with fans can be noisy.

Price

Convection and panel heaters generally cost between $30 and $700.

You'll see the term 'ceramic' used in conjunction with some fan heaters. This is a safety advantage rather than performance advantage, as the ceramic cools faster than metallic heating elements, reducing a burn risk. Dyson heaters fall into the fan category.

Pros

• Ceramic fan heaters are generally smaller and more portable than other electric heaters.
• They can heat the air in a room more rapidly, evenly and quickly.
• They have a claimed lower risk of burns.

Cons

• They can be quite noisy with the fan on full power, though are usually reasonably quiet at lower fan speeds.

Price

Ceramic fan heaters generally cost between $60 and $900.

A relatively recent entrant into the consumer market, infrared heaters heat the room like the sun heats your face (without the UV rays so no danger of skin cancer). Whereas other heaters heat up the air in a space, infrared heaters will heat up objects. Sometimes these heaters are referred to as 'far infrared' heaters, which simply means that they emit heat radiation at the far end of the infrared spectrum, which is claimed to be the most effective for heating a body.

Our sister organisation, Consumer NZ, has carried out tests on two 450W infrared panel heaters and found they were equivalent to most other forms of heating in both performance and running costs.

Pros

• Infrared heaters can be wall or ceiling mounted – the most unobtrusive form of heating.
• They heat the objects in a room rather than space, so may be good for outdoor entertaining areas or a room you can't draught-proof.
• They can be mounted behind mirrors to heat a bathroom (mirrors let the infrared rays pass through).
• They don't take time to warm up – instant on.
• They're silent and only require minor maintenance.

Cons

• They can be quite expensive.
• They need to be in direct line of sight of the object or person being heated.
• They can't be installed opposite windows, otherwise heat goes straight through.

Price

Infrared heaters generally cost between $300 and $900.

Left to right: Wall-mounted infrared panels, a radiant heater, an oil column heater, and a fan heater. Image courtesy of CNZ.

Which heaters are the safest?

Space heaters are responsible for around 43% of all home heating-related fires and 85% of associated deaths every year, so safety should be high on your list of priorities. The good news is, modern electric heaters are considerably safer than their ancestors, and incredibly safe in comparison to liquid fuel combustion heaters which burn kerosene or other accelerants. Modern heaters also come with built-in safety features, such as thermal cut-outs and tilt switches which are designed to keep you and your family safe.

But we do find some heaters that fail our safety tests. We conduct tests that reflect how heaters are potentially used in people's homes, including what happens when the heater is tipped over, or when a towel is draped over it, and whether electrical cords move too much (from their connection to the heater) when tugged.

Electrical compliance

Like all electrical appliances, electric heaters must comply with Australian electrical safety standards. It's a safe bet that any heater from a major brand or retailer will comply. But be wary if you're tempted by a no-name bargain on an online site – check that the product is stated to comply, and check its label when it arrives. A guide to compliance marks can be found on many regulatory websites, such as the Electrical Equipment Safety System or NSW Fair Trading.

If you're buying a second-hand heater, check that it hasn't been the subject of a recall at recalls.gov.au.

Convection heaters can be a safer option

As a rule, convection heaters such as oil column and panel heaters are the safest heaters to use as they tend to have lower surface temperatures, don't have exposed heating elements, and are more stable due to their greater weight or wall mounting.

But while oil column heaters are relatively safe as far as space heaters go, there's always a risk of fire due to faulty wiring or connection to an unsuitable extension cord, tipping over, oil leaks (particularly if an oil with a low flashpoint was used), or fires caused by items hung over or falling onto the heater. And while they tend not to get as hot on the surface as other heater types, children (and adults) can still sustain a nasty burn if they're not careful.

Which heaters are safe to leave on all night?

Convection heaters, such as oil column or panel heaters, are your best choice for a heater you're going to leave on all night – their gentle convection heating is conducive to an easy night's sleep, and they don't get as hot as other types of heaters so they're safer to touch (they compensate for this with the larger heating surface area). Panel heaters can be a good option for children's rooms, as they can be secured to a wall so they can't fall over, and they usually have a lower temperature contact surface.

Regardless of heater type, if you're looking for a heater to keep you warm and toasty while you go to sleep or when you wake up, you should look for one with a timer so it can turn itself down/off once you're asleep under the doona to save electricity, and then turn itself on to warm the room up again in the morning to make getting out of bed that little bit easier.

You should avoid leaving radiant heaters on all night as their exposed heating elements pose a particular fire risk if anything falls on it, and avoid heaters that can easily tip over. A heater with a fan doesn't pose an elevated risk, but if the fan's noisy then it won't be conducive to getting a good night's sleep.

Do electric heaters need ventilation?

No, because electric heaters don't produce carbon monoxide the way gas, kerosene or other combustion heaters do, so they're safe to use without ventilation – but there are caveats. If the indoor air is humid, the combination of warmth and moisture can lead to mould growth, which can exacerbate respiratory and other problems. 

And while you don't need ventilation, to get the most out of a convection heater you'll need a way to circulate the air in your room, such as a ceiling fan on reverse, or even a pedestal fan, to distribute the heat evenly rather than having it pool directly above the heater.

On the other hand, unflued gas heaters definitely need ventilation, and even flued gas heaters should never be used in bedrooms, bathrooms or confined spaces due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Incidentally, it was the gas lamps and heating, and its subsequent carbon monoxide production, that was responsible for most (but not all) Victorian-era ghost stories – visual and auditory hallucinations are a common symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning from the gas lamps and coal fires that were ubiquitous at the time. 

Gas heating also increases the moisture content in the air, so it can further contribute to mould problems.

Features to look for in an electric heater

Timer

A timer allows you to set the heater to run at set times or periods – useful to heat up the room before you get up in the morning, or at night time to turn your heater off and save electricity while you're asleep under the doona.

A built-in timer feature on the heater itself is a better option than using a smart plug or timer switch on the power point. Those may not be able to cope with your heater's high current draw and could be a fire risk.

Thermostat

The thermostat on your heater is essentially a heat activated mechanical or digital switch which allows you to regulate the temperature in the room by turning on the heater below a minimum temperature, then turning it off again once the maximum set temperature is reached. A good thermostat will maintain a very consistent temperature. Without a thermostat your heater would run constantly – your room may become uncomfortably hot, and your electricity consumption will be correspondingly high.

Importantly, turning the thermostat on your heater up really high won't bring a cold room to temperature any quicker – your heater will still heat at the same rate, you'll just overheat your room if you forget to turn it down. Leave it on your desired setting and your room will warm up just as quickly, but once your target temperature is reached your heater will cycle on and off to maintain a comfortable environment.

Thermal cut-out

An essential safety feature, a thermal cut-out switches the heater off if it overheats – if something's covering your heater for example – reducing the risk of fire. We assess the effectiveness of thermal cut-outs in our electric heater tests. Regardless of the presence of a thermal cut-out, you should never drape towels or other items over any heater to dry.

Some heaters may have a fuse instead of (or as back-up to) a switch. This will do the job, but once the fuse is triggered, it will need to be replaced by a service technician before the heater will work again. The cost of this service could be more than the heater's original price tag. A thermal fuse is not as convenient as a thermal switch. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible for a consumer to know whether a heater has this sort of thermal cut-out device.

Most heaters have a thermal cut-out of some sort, but not all of them say so in their product specifications. If in doubt, choose a heater that clearly identifies that it has this feature.

Tilt switch

A tilt switch turns the heater off almost instantly if it tilts beyond a certain angle or falls over. This helps prevent a potential fire from the hot parts of the heater being in direct contact with the floor or other materials. We've found some heaters don't state whether they have a tilt switch, but still turn off when pushed over in our test.

Not all heaters are required by law to have a tilt switch, but we think it's an important safety feature to look for in any heater. A thermal cut-out safety feature will also often turn off the heater if it falls over, but may take longer to do so.

Cord length

Cord length is an important consideration for heaters from both a usability and safety perspective – you need a cord that's long enough that you can position your heater where it's going to be most effective, but not so long that it's a trip hazard. We've seen heater cord lengths ranging from under a metre up to 2.7 metres, with an average of 1.7 metres in our tests.

Frost watch

Useful for colder climates where the temperature could drop below zero, the frost watch feature is claimed to maintain a temperature of around 5°C, avoiding frost or freezing in the room. This setting generally uses a relatively small amount of energy. It can help protect water pipes from freezing and reduce dampness in the room.

Smart heaters

If you're looking to add another 'connected' appliance to your smart home, we're seeing more and more heaters with Wi-Fi and/or smartphone compatibility. This means you can adjust temperatures and turn them on or off remotely using an app on your smartphone, or control them through your Google Home or Amazon Alexa smart speaker.

Warranty

Heaters usually come with a one- or two-year warranty, but some offer more, or even 'lifetime' cover. Regardless of warranty, don't forget your rights under the Australian Consumer Law – the seasonal nature of heaters means you may have only used your heater for a few months out of a given 12-month period.

What's the most energy-efficient electric heater?

Your electric heater is basically 100% efficient, in that pretty much all of the electricity is being converted to heat (some is also used by built-in fans and electronic controls). But that doesn't mean one 2000W heater will output exactly as much heat as another – for example, one may have a poor-quality thermostat which stops the heater from running at full power when it ought to. 'Efficient' is not always the same as 'effective'!

On the end of the scale, a heater with a good thermostat will reduce its heat output (and energy use) when the room reaches the target temperature, while models with poor thermostats might stay on maximum output for longer, overheating the room and using more electricity than they need to.

You can improve the effectiveness of an electric heater by making sure its heat isn't wasted, and the best way to do that is by insulating your home and stopping draughts. For more about home heating efficiency, check out our home heating guide.

Are electric heaters low in greenhouse gas emissions?

When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, electric heaters are the highest producers out of all heating types due to Australia's mix of energy fuels. This is less of an issue if you have solar panels on your roof, but chances are you'll be using your heater the most at night, when the sun's not out.

How ceiling fans can make your electric heater more effective

If you have a ceiling fan, the reverse feature found on many of them can be a boon in winter when combined with an electric heater. Usually a ceiling fan blows a cooling breeze down towards you, but in reverse or 'winter' mode, the fan instead draws the room's air up. It then mixes with the warm air rising from the heater, and is moved along the ceiling and back down the walls, thus spreading the warm air more evenly around the room. 

Check out our ceiling fan reviews and make your heat work for you.

Without the ceiling fan, warm air collects directly above the heater and cold air pools near the floor.

A ceiling fan circulates the warm air around the room for more even temperatures, and pushes it back down to where you need it.

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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