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Panel radiator buying guide

Updated: 22 October 2026

You searched panel radiator and the first page mixed a steel vertical for boiler pipes with a glass heater that only needs a socket. That mix is normal on amazon.co.uk, and it is how people order the wrong heat source. This panel radiator buying guide is the decision order: wet or electric first, then watts and BTU, then depth and fixings, then controls. Named listings are in the [panel radiators comparison](/hub/heating/panel-radiators). Peter F. checked those amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You searched panel radiator and the first page mixed a steel vertical for boiler pipes with a glass heater that only needs a socket. That mix is normal on amazon.co.uk, and it is how people order the wrong heat source.

Our top picks

NRG NRG 1600x408 mm vertical single

Best overall

NRG NRG 1600x408 mm vertical single
9.4/10about £97.95
View offer
Devola Devola DVPW2000B

Rank 2

Devola Devola DVPW2000B
9.2/10about £139.95
View offer
Devola Devola DVS2000W

Best value

Devola Devola DVS2000W
9.0/10about £99.95
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Wet panel or electric panel
  2. 2.Type number, depth, and valves
  3. 3.Controls worth paying for
  4. 4.What to write down before you order

Wet panel or electric panel

A wet panel radiator is a steel emitter on your central-heating circuit. You will see 1/2 inch BSP tappings, a BTU or watt figure tied to water temperature, and no three-pin plug. The NRG gloss white vertical single is the only wet listing here: brackets are in the box, valves are not, and the page prints 2484–3139 BTU without naming Delta T. Do not treat that band as a certified ΔT50 and ΔT30 pair. An electric panel heater has a watt input, a thermostat and usually a UK plug. The electric shelves run from about £70 to £245, mostly at 1500 W or 2000 W. If pipes and a heat source already exist, default to wet unless the room is a one-off zone you heat with electricity. In England, a new or fully replaced wet system is sized for a 55°C flow where practicable, from 15 June 2022. Ofgem’s Direct Debit cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 averages 26.32 pence per kWh for electricity and 7.97 pence per kWh for gas. One room on a plug can still beat heating every radiator for an evening. That condition is on electric panel heater vs central heating.

Type number, depth, and valves

On a wet system, retailers describe panels as type 11, 21, 22 or 33: panel count, then convector fin sets. Type 22 is deeper and higher output than type 11 at the same height and width, so a tall single in place of an old double can leave a kitchen cold. Measure height, width and projection from the finished wall. The NRG listing is 1600 mm by 408 mm, with 52 mm depth. Brackets are included. Thermostatic radiator valves are not. BS EN 442-1 and BS EN 442-2 cover test methods for water radiators. HHIC says a Declaration of Performance should quote watts at ΔT50 and at ΔT30. When a listing gives a BTU range and no Delta T, use what size panel radiator you need. Electric panels skip the type code. A 22 m² or 250 square foot line is not a BS EN 442 output.
NRG NRG 1600x408 mm vertical single

Testsieger

NRG NRG 1600x408 mm vertical single
9.4/10about £97.95
View offer

Controls worth paying for

A thermostat and a timer you will actually set beat Wi-Fi you never pair. The Devola DVS2000W has a 24/7 digital timer and no app. The glass Devola and TCP models add Tuya or TCP Smart. UK reviews often say pairing needs 2.4 GHz. The Adam Solis and the ceramic MYLEK panels use an LCD instead. Listings cite Regulation (EU) 2015/1188, often called Lot 20, for fixed electric heaters above 250 W from 2018. The seasonal-efficiency table is not in these listing files, so Lot 20 stays a seller claim. It does not cut the unit rate. On a wet system, control sits at the room TRV and the programmer, not on the radiator body.

What to write down before you order

Copy five lines before you filter listings. Heat source: wet circuit or socket. Maximum width, height and depth. Target output from a calculator at the right Delta T, or a watt figure for electric, not from a heats-22-m² bullet. Fixings: brackets, feet, and a valve pack if the box has none. Location: a dry room, or a bathroom where zones matter on panel heater in a bathroom. Sort by system type. A 4.9 line from 13 reviews is not stronger evidence than 4.3 from 1,322.

Common questions

Is a panel radiator the same as a panel heater?
On amazon.co.uk the phrase covers both. Water panels have BSP threads and no plug. Electric panels have watts, a thermostat and a flex. The NRG entry is wet. The Devola, TCP, MYLEK, Adam and DMD entries are electric. If the photo is unclear, read the connection line before you buy.
What is the difference between type 11 and type 22?
Both are wet steel formats. Type 11 is a single panel with one fin set. Type 22 is two panels with two fin sets, so it is thicker and usually stronger output at the same face size. Replacing a type 22 with a tall type 11 single without resizing is a common underheat mistake.
Do I need valves with a new steel panel?
Usually yes for a replacement on a living-room circuit. The NRG listing includes wall brackets and explicitly excludes valves. Reuse good TRVs if they fit, or buy a pair matched to your pipe centres.
What does Lot 20 change about the purchase?
It sets minimum control efficiency for fixed electric heaters in the framework UK listings still cite. It does not cut your electricity unit rate. You still pay 26.32 pence per kWh on the cap window when the element runs.
Should I buy Wi-Fi on the first heater?
Only if your home network still exposes 2.4 GHz and you will schedule from the app. Several UK reviews on the glass panels here failed pairing on 5 GHz-only phones. A reliable timer often beats an app you abandon after a week.
Which listings in this set are wet, and which are plug-in?
One wet vertical NRG panel, and nine electric panels from Devola, TCP, MYLEK, Adam and DMD. The comparison table labels system type on each row.
What should I measure on the wall before I order?
Finished width and height, depth clearance, and pipe centres if you are reusing valves. For electric, note the socket position relative to bathroom zones. For wet, note whether flow temperature will sit at a traditional design or a 55°C heat-pump-oriented design, because the catalogue column changes.

Related pages

Best panel radiator

Panel radiators

Bathroom panel heater: UK zones, IP24 and the plug

Electric panel heater vs central heating for one room

What size panel radiator do I need: Delta T and watts

Sources

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

  1. Screwfix radiator buying guide (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  2. HHIC on BS EN 442 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  3. BSI, BS EN 442-2:2014 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  4. legislation.gov.uk, Regulation (EU) 2015/1188 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  5. BEAMA Part L heating controls note (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  6. SELECT bathroom zones pocket guide (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  7. Electrical Safety First, bathrooms (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  8. Ofgem price cap unit rates (retrieved 20 October 2026)