Convector heater buying guide
Updated: 22 October 2026
You open the electric heater aisle on amazon.co.uk and see convectors, panel heaters, fan heaters and oil-filled radiators in the same results. A convector heater buying guide for the UK starts with a simple split: warm air from a plug-in element, usually without a fan, for one room and a few hours rather than replacing central heating. The [convector comparison](/hub/heating/convector) ranks nine listings on timers, mounting and review volume. Peter F. checked those listings and public UK sources. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
You open the electric heater aisle on amazon.co.uk and see convectors, panel heaters, fan heaters and oil-filled radiators in the same results.
You open the electric heater aisle on amazon.co.uk and see convectors, panel heaters, fan heaters and oil-filled radiators in the same results. A convector heater buying guide for the UK starts with a simple split: warm air from a plug-in element, usually without a fan, for one room and a few hours rather than replacing central heating. The convector comparison ranks nine listings on timers, mounting and review volume. Peter F. checked those listings and public UK sources. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Output | Timer | Mounting | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Ballu Ballu NCA1-4.3EF-20 (2 kW) | 2 kW | App schedule | Wall or wheels | 9.1 | about £149.99 | View offer |
 Dimplex Dimplex ML2TSTie7 (2 kW) | 2 kW | 7-day electronic | Floor or wall | 8.4 | about £75.99 | View offer | |
| Best value |  BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER BXCV41001GB (2.2 kW) | 2.2 kW | Not in the bullets | Portable floor | 8.8 | about £36.89 | View offer |
On this page
What counts as a convector
A convector warms air over an electric element and lets that air rise. Most models here are fanless: HeatLite, BLACK+DECKER, Status, Russell Hobbs, and the Dimplex ML2 and ML3. Devola and Ballu are panel-shaped and still heat by convection. The Daewoo HEA1137 adds a turbo fan, so it is noisier even though the listing still calls it a convector. Oil-filled radiators store heat in sealed oil. Fan heaters push air for a short blast. If you are unsure which type fits an evening, read convector vs oil-filled radiator. At the same wattage and full output, any resistive heater costs the same per hour. Those sums are on convector running cost.
Wattage and the room label
Listings cluster around 2 kW for about 20 m², 2.4 kW for 26 m² on the Devola, and 3 kW for 25 m² on the Dimplex ML3. Those are seller guides, not building regulations. A rule of thumb for a normally insulated room is roughly 100 W per square metre. A cold conservatory, a high ceiling or a draughty room can still feel cold on 2 kW. The ML3 lists 13 A on a 220 V line, at the UK plug limit. In a small closed room a 2 kW convector with a thermostat often cycles off. Ballu says 25 m² in one bullet and 30 m² in the coverage field. Treat both as claims. A coverage line does not switch the heater off when you leave.
Timer, thermostat and heat steps
A thermostat turns the element off near the set temperature, which is why a bill is often below a full-power hour. Still budget full power the first time you plug in. A timer is the switch-off you do not have to remember, which matters for occasional-use portables under UK ecodesign information rules. Dimplex ML2 and ML3 state a 7-day electronic timer. Devola offers up to four periods a day and a half-wattage eco mode. Russell Hobbs states a 1–24 hour timer. Status mentions a timer without a 24-hour or 7-day length. HeatLite and BLACK+DECKER do not describe a timer. BLACK+DECKER lists 840 W, 1,250 W and 2,200 W. Russell Hobbs lists 800 W, 1,200 W and 2,000 W. UK reviews on the ML pair often say the floor-level display is hard to read and the auto timer takes patience.
Wall, feet and bathroom wording
ML2 and ML3 include wall brackets and can stand on feet. Devola ships a fixing kit and feet. Ballu offers wheels or a wall mount. HeatLite, BLACK+DECKER, Status, Russell Hobbs and Daewoo are floor portables in the listing text. Daewoo’s brackets are disputed in at least one UK review. If the heater must move between rooms, feet and carry handles beat a fixed bracket. Reviews mention loose foot screws after you move a unit. Tighten them on first setup. Only Devola states IP24 and repeats legacy Zone 3 wording. That is not permission to stand a plug-in heater beside a bath. A bathroom room-type with no IP code is not an install instruction. Use a visible wall socket and about a metre of clearance. Devola’s file lists 1 A beside 2.4 kW, which is not a credible running current. Named picks are on best convector heater.
Common questions
What wattage for a normal bedroom?
For a typical insulated bedroom around 12–16 m², 2 kW is the size sellers usually quote, and most models here sit at that output. If the room is open to a landing, has a single-glazed bay, or you keep the door wide open, treat 2 kW as a starting point. Expect the thermostat to run longer cycles rather than a warm room in ten minutes.
Is a panel heater the same purchase as a convector?
For shopping in this set, yes. Devola and Ballu are panel-shaped convection heaters without the open grille of a floor convector, but they still heat air across a surface rather than blowing ceramic heat like a fan heater. You buy them for the same jobs: a timer, wall mounting and quiet fanless heat, with a different footprint.
Do I need a 7-day timer?
You need a switch-off you will respect. A 7-day timer suits a room you heat on a repeating schedule, such as a home office on weekdays. A 24-hour countdown suits an evening in the living room. If you are present every time and switch off when you leave, a dial model without a timer can be enough, provided you are not planning overnight or unattended use.
Can I wall-mount every model in the set?
No. Confirm brackets or a fixing kit in the listing before you buy for a wall. Several budget portables are floor-only, and missing brackets have appeared in UK reviews at least once. Ballu and Devola target wall or wheeled use. HeatLite does not state wall brackets.
What does Lot 20 change on the bill?
Lot 20, under retained EU Regulation 2015/1188, sets efficiency and information rules for portable local space heaters, including control features and wording that they suit well insulated spaces or occasional use. It does not lower your unit rate. The Dimplex 3 kW listing includes occasional-use information in the amazon.co.uk text. That line matters if you plan all-day heating from a plug-in convector.
Is IP24 enough for a bathroom?
Not for a plug-in heater next to water. IP24 on Devola describes splash resistance in lab terms, but UK bathroom wiring zones still restrict where sockets and appliances go. Use plug-in convectors in dry rooms unless a qualified installer has fixed a suitable heater on the correct circuit.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources named below. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts on these nine listings were taken from the listing files, not a live check on 20 October 2026. Page updated October 2026.
- Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy, room heaters (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Regulation 2015/1188 Annex II (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- GOV.UK ecodesign guidance (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- BEIS off-gas-grid electric heating (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Electrical Safety First, portable heaters (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- SELECT, BS 7671 Section 701 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- AMDEA, appliances in bathrooms (retrieved 20 October 2026)