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5kW fan heater buying guide

Updated: October 2026

You have searched for a 5kW fan heater because a small plug-in heater does not take the chill off the bench. In the UK this class is a 400 V three-phase workshop tool, not a heater for a BS 1363 13 A socket. This 5kW fan heater buying guide is the supply, the heat steps, the IP line, and the unit on the coverage claim. The four kept listings sit on the [5kW fan heater comparison](/hub/portable-heaters/5kw-fan-heater). Products Compared used the amazon.co.uk files and public UK sources, checked 19 October 2026. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

You have searched for a 5kW fan heater because a small plug-in heater does not take the chill off the bench. In the UK this class is a 400 V three-phase workshop tool, not a heater for a BS 1363 13 A socket.

Our top picks

Bimson Power Bimson Power BP-EC5

Best overall

Bimson Power Bimson Power BP-EC5
7.6/10about £112.10
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DAHTEC DAHTEC BGP1506-05

Best value

DAHTEC DAHTEC BGP1506-05
6.4/10about £58.00
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DAHTEC DAHTEC IFHO2-50H silver

Alternative

DAHTEC DAHTEC IFHO2-50H silver
5.8/10about £101.15
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On this page
  1. 1.The socket comes before the wattage
  2. 2.Listing amps are not the design current
  3. 3.Heat steps you can read on the page
  4. 4.IP codes and coverage claims that do not share a unit

The socket comes before the wattage

At 230 V, 5,000 W is about 21.7 A. A BS 1363 plug is fused at 13 A, and 13 A times 230 V is 2,990 W. Electrical Safety First lists a typical fan heater at up to 3,000 W. Every heater kept here needs 380–415 V or 400 V three-phase and will not run from a household socket. The matching connector is a red five-pin BS EN 60309 plug, commonly 16 A. Tombling’s notes put a square 13 A pin on household gear up to about 3 kW, and red on 400 V. If the garage has only square pins, read 5kW vs 3kW heater.

Listing amps are not the design current

The Bimson file shows 13.16 A, which is 5,000 divided by 380. The silver IFHO2 shows 12.5 A, which is 5,000 divided by 400. A balanced 5 kW load at 400 V is about 7.2 A per phase, and Activair prints 7.4 A per phase for its own 5 kW BX5. Do not treat those listing amps as the design current.
Bimson Power Bimson Power BP-EC5

Testsieger

Bimson Power Bimson Power BP-EC5
7.6/10about £112.10
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Heat steps you can read on the page

The yellow DAHTEC BGP1506-05 prints 50 W fan only, 3,300 W and 5,000 W. The IFHO2-50H prints 40 W, 2,500 W and 5,000 W. The Bimson states two heat settings and does not print the lower wattage. A fan-only step at 40–50 W moves air. It does not heat the room. The Bimson prints 5–75 °C and the yellow DAHTEC prints 5–85 °C. The silver file alone prints a maximum of 25 °C beside a 70 °C heat-output field.

IP codes and coverage claims that do not share a unit

The black and silver IFHO2 state IP24. BEAMA’s guide reads that as a splash mark, not a bathroom rating, and both files still say indoor. The yellow DAHTEC and the Bimson print no IP code. The Bimson claims 100 m³. The DAHTEC files claim 516 sq ft, about 48 m² of floor, not a volume. We have not tested those claims.

Common questions

Will a 5 kW fan heater run on a normal 13 A plug?
No. All four listings kept here say they need 380–415 V or 400 V three-phase and are not for a 220–240 V household socket. At 230 V, 5 kW is about 21.7 A, and a BS 1363 plug is a 13 A fuse, about 2,990 W. Electrical Safety First puts a typical fan heater at up to 3,000 W. An adaptor does not make a three-phase heater into a domestic one.
What socket does a 400 V heater actually need?
A red five-pin connector to BS EN 60309, commonly rated 16 A, on a 400 V three-phase supply. The Bimson file says 380–415 V and 16 A. The DAHTEC files say 380–400 V or 400 V. Blue industrial plugs and square 13 A pins are different systems. If that red outlet is not already on the wall, fitting one is an electrician’s job, not a step in the product page.
Is 516 sq ft the same as 48 m³?
No. 516 sq ft is about 48 square metres of floor. A cubic metre is volume. Sealey’s EH5001 claim of 48 m³ and the Bimson claim of 100 m³ are volume figures, and they are not the same claim as the DAHTEC floor area. None of those numbers has been tested by us. Read each listing in the unit it printed, and remember an open door changes the room more than the carton does.
Why does one listing say about 13 A if it is three-phase?
The Bimson spec block shows 13.16 A, and the silver IFHO2 shows 12.5 A. Those match 5,000 W divided by 380 V and by 400 V. They are not the current on each phase of a balanced 400 V load, which is about 7.2 A at unity power factor. Activair prints 7.4 A per phase for a different 5 kW unit. Use the voltage line to decide the plug, and let an electrician size the circuit.
Does IP24 mean I can use it in a damp garage?
IP24 is a stated splash rating on the black and silver IFHO2 only. Both of those pages still say indoor. The yellow DAHTEC has no IP code and says not to use it in damp areas. The Bimson has no IP code. IP24 is not a bathroom mark, and it is not a reason to leave the heater in standing water or in the rain. If the garage is wet, this category is a poor match.

Related pages

5kW garage heater

Best 5kW fan heater

5kW fan heater

How to use a 5kW fan heater before you switch it on

5kW vs 3kW heater: the wall socket decides the class

Sources

Public UK sources for the supply limit, clearance, marking, and the unit rate. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in this set, checked 19 October 2026.

  1. Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. Electrical Safety First — Ratings of electrical appliances (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. Electrical Safety First — Portable heaters (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. GOV.UK — Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Tombling — Electricity supply for heaters (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. HSE — Fire safety (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. RC15 — Recommendations for portable heaters in the workplace (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. BEAMA — IP ratings guide (retrieved 19 October 2026)