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800 W infrared panel heater running cost

Updated: 22 October 2026

The next question is what an 800 W infrared panel adds to the bill through a cold evening. Running cost comes down to 0.8 kWh every hour the element is actually on, and to how long a thermostat keeps it there. This page uses Ofgem’s October to December 2026 price cap, sets that draw against a 2 kW fan heater and whole-house gas, and separates duty cycle from a 60% saving line. The [800W infrared panel heater comparison](/hub/heating/800w-infrared-panel-heater) holds the product rows. Peter F. used the stored amazon.co.uk listings and public UK tariff guidance. There was no metered lab run. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The next question is what an 800 W infrared panel adds to the bill through a cold evening. Running cost comes down to 0.8 kWh every hour the element is actually on, and to how long a thermostat keeps it there.

Our top picks

Hocosyme Hocosyme thermostat

Best overall

Hocosyme Hocosyme thermostat
8.8/10about £129.99
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Hocosyme Hocosyme UK-T-800W

Rank 2

Hocosyme Hocosyme UK-T-800W
5.8/10about £109.99
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Könighaus Könighaus Smart Dual 800 W

Rank 3

Könighaus Könighaus Smart Dual 800 W
7.4/10about £169.90
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On this page
  1. 1.The 0.8 kWh calculation
  2. 2.Thermostats and duty cycle
  3. 3.Versus gas and heat pumps
  4. 4.Reviewer savings claims

The 0.8 kWh calculation

At full output an 800 W panel draws 0.8 kWh for every hour the element runs. Ofgem’s Direct Debit cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026 averages 26.32p per kWh in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland uses a separate tariff, so treat this as a Great Britain example. One hour at full output is 0.8 × 26.32p, about 21p, whether the face says graphene or energy saving. Eight hours at full output is 6.4 kWh, about £1.68. Thirty such days land near £50 in unit cost. Real rooms rarely stay at full output for every minute. At 30p/kWh the same hour is about 24p; at 22p/kWh, about 18p. The standing charge applies whether the panel runs or not.

Thermostats and duty cycle

A thermostat does not turn 800 W into a smaller heater while the element is on. It cuts how many minutes per hour the panel draws full power. Energy Saving Trust treats infrared as direct electric heat, about one unit of heat per unit of electricity. A bare panel that only recommends a thermostat sits at full output until you switch it off. That is why two households with the same 800 W model can report different bills. A panel aimed at an empty wall may run longer while you still feel cold. Aim and clearance are on the how to use an 800 W infrared panel heater page. Compare control tiers in the buying guide before you treat the lowest shelf price as the cheapest winter.
Hocosyme Hocosyme thermostat

Testsieger

Hocosyme Hocosyme thermostat
8.8/10about £129.99
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Versus gas and heat pumps

For one room you occupy for a few hours, 0.8 kWh an hour of direct electric heat can be a rational choice even when gas is cheaper for the whole house. For heating most of the home through winter, Energy Saving Trust still points to gas central heating and a well-installed heat pump, because they deliver more heat per pound than resistive panels room by room. An 800 W panel is a zonal supplement, not that system. Against a 2 kW fan heater at 26.32p/kWh, two hours at 2 kW full output is about £1.05 (4 kWh). Two hours at 800 W full output is about 42p (1.6 kWh). A fan can feel faster because it heats the air. Neither breaks the one-to-one electric rule. A bank of 800 W panels is not a whole-house gas replacement.

Reviewer savings claims

A claim that infrared saves 60% rarely states 60% of what, measured how, in which room. Without that, treat it as advertising. You can check the 800 W nameplate, your pence per kWh, and whether the panel actually cycles off. A graphene bullet does not reduce the 0.8 kWh draw while the element is on. A review that says cheaper than my old heater sometimes compares a thermostatic 800 W panel with a 2 kW fan left on high. The lesson is the setup, not an efficiency class. IP ratings and install rules sit on the bathroom page. Listing health bullets are not running-cost evidence.

Common questions

How much per hour at 800 W on the price cap?
About 21p for each hour the element runs at full output, using Ofgem’s 26.32p/kWh Direct Debit average for 1 October to 31 December 2026 in Great Britain. Partial hours scale linearly: half an hour at full output is roughly 10.5p. Your bill’s exact unit rate may differ.
What if it is on eight hours a day?
If it drew full 800 W for all eight hours, that is 6.4 kWh, or about £1.68 at 26.32p/kWh. Most setups with a working thermostat use fewer than eight full-load hours in that period. Track your meter or a smart plug if you need your home’s real figure.
Is infrared cheaper than a 2 kW fan heater?
Per hour at full output, yes: 800 W uses 0.8 kWh where 2 kW uses 2 kWh. Infrared is not more efficient than other resistive electric heat. It is a lower draw. A fan on low or a shorter run time can narrow the gap. Compare kilowatt-hours, not technology labels.
Will a thermostat cut the bill?
Yes, by cutting run time, not by changing 800 W into 400 W while on. Built-in remotes, weekly schedules and plug-in room stats all work if they actually switch the load off. Panels sold without a controller need one added, or you pay for every minute at full output.
How does 800 W compare to gas for one room?
Gas central heating is usually cheaper for warming most of the house. For one occupied room for part of the day, switching on 0.8 kWh an hour of electric heat can beat leaving the whole system on high. You trade system efficiency for zone control. It does not make electric cheaper than gas at whole-home scale.
Does the standing charge matter for a panel?
You pay the standing charge to be connected, whether or not the panel runs. It does not add extra pence per hour when you turn the heater on. Budget the standing charge separately from the 21p-per-full-hour unit maths above.
Can infrared replace gas across the house?
Not as a cost strategy on UK tariffs. Filling every room with 800 W electric panels would stack unit costs and often comfort problems against gas or a heat pump serving the whole property. Use a single panel where central heat does not reach, not as a whole-home swap.

Related pages

Best 800 W infrared panel heater

800W infrared panel heater

800W infrared panel heater bathroom: zones and IP44

800W infrared panel heater buying guide for one room

How to use an 800W infrared panel heater in the UK

Sources

Public UK sources named below. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts on these five listings were taken from the listing files read on 20 October 2026. Page updated October 2026.

  1. Ofgem, 1 October–31 December 2026 price cap (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  2. Energy Saving Trust, Infrared heating explained (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  3. DESNZ infrared heating report (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  4. Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  5. Approved Document P (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  6. IET Section 701 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  7. SELECT bathroom pocket guide (retrieved 20 October 2026)