01.Introduction
Test results for 32 electric heaters from $29 to $561
An electric heater may not be the most efficient or cost-effective way to heat a room - especially when compared with a reverse-cycle air conditioner or gas heater. However, if those aren't options or you only need occasional heating, a convection or column heater can take the chill out of a small living area or bedroom.
A heater with a fan is best for rapidly warming a room, but fanless operation is very quiet so it has its advantages too. If you want the best of both worlds, some of the heaters we tested operate with the fan on to reach optimum temperature and then allow you to turn the fan off and let the element keep the room at a stable temperature. If portability is important, most convection models are significantly lighter than their column counterparts. We also included one fan heater, some radiant-and-convection models and a ceramic fan heater, for comparison.
This test includes 14 newly tested models (see below).
For more information on heaters, see our heating options buying guide. Or, for more heating and cooling test reports go to Heating and Cooling.
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How we test
Our tester looked at:
- How long the heaters take to raise the room temperature by 5°C and 10°C, and how evenly the heat is distributed. Several heaters didn't manage a 10° temperature rise.
- Ease of use: including controls, stability, moving around, storing the power cord and cleaning.
- Our tester conducted electrical safety and surface temperature tests including those required by the Australian standard. We also include a towel test, in which a towel is draped over the heater while it's on full power. We check that the heater doesn't overheat and shuts down before it damages the towel or itself. This is a tough test that simulates what might happen if something is draped over the heater (deliberately or accidentally). While most heaters pass this test, always put your clothes on a rack nearby rather than put anything in direct contact with a heater.
Brands tested
Newly tested models:
- Atlantic Artisan 519627
- Atlantic Rio 521824
- DeLonghi Dragon 3 TRD2400T
- DeLonghi HCM2030
- Dimplex Comet 2NC3-242-LT
- Dimplex OFRC21TIB
- Dyson AM04
- Everdure HPE221W
- Hotpoint HPC200TF*
- Nobo E4E20
- Noirot 7358-7T
- Noirot 7358-8T
- Omega Altise OMC24E1
- Sunbeam HE4100
Previously tested models:
- Abode 11-fin Oil Column 8126795
- Abode Convection 2000W 8126801
- Atlantic Artisan 519622
- DeLonghi DL2401TF
- Delonghi HCS2552FTS
- Delonghi HS25F
- DeLonghi RAP2401T
- Dimplex OFC2000TI
- Dimplex OFC2400TIF
- Eurolux RC241
- Heller OH-11T
- Homemaker CH2001D
- Kambrook KOH111
- Kambrook KPH200
- Omega Altise AE2400
- Omega Altise OC2411
- Omega Altise OPM20E
- Omega Altise OPM24M
Some of these previously tested models are discontinued - see the table for details.
*Hotpoint has recently gone into voluntary administration. We’ve included results for the recently tested HPC200TF convector model, but ongoing availability of this and other Hotpoint models is uncertain. At the time of writing, there was no news about company status on the Hotpoint website.
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