The best halogen radiant heaters, compared.
Top pick: SONBION LSG13 quartz radiant heater – Highest star rating with at least 100 reviews. The 4.2 from 511 reviews beats the other 4.2 on count. Tip-over and overheat cut-outs are stated. Best value: Not awarded – A best-value badge would need at least 4.4 stars. No listing in this set reaches 4.4, so the badge is not used. Updated October 2026.
A filament in a halogen-filled tube throws infra-red at you and at nearby surfaces, rather than warming the air with a fan. In the UK it is a silent top-up for one person in a small room, a home office, a caravan or a conservatory, usually at 400 W, 800 W and, on three-bar models, 1,200 W. No listing reaches 4.4 stars, so there is no best-value badge. Reviews turn on tube life, the tip-over pin on carpet, and spare-tube length. The saving is lower power and shorter use. At Direct Debit average of 26.32 pence per kWh for 1 October to 31, a full hour is about 10.5p at 400 W, 21.1p at 800 W and 31.6p at 1,200 W. The [running cost guide](/hub/portable-heaters/halogen-radiant-heater/sub/halogen-radiant-heater-running-cost) sets that arithmetic out on its own page. It does not warm the room by blowing air. It is not a replacement for central heating in a large room. Two-bar quartz or quartz-halogen heaters usually stop at 800 W. A twin pack is the same heater twice, not a different technology. The listing has to say which element it is.
A filament in a halogen-filled tube throws infra-red at you and at nearby surfaces, rather than warming the air with a fan.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will you use it?
The SONBION LSG13 is an 800 W radiant heater at about £39.95, listed with two settings, a tip-over switch and overheat protection, and a weight of 1.57 kg. Across 511 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.2, the joint highest score in this set and the higher count of the two 4.2 listings. Reviewers praise the lack of fan noise and heat on one bar at a desk. They also say the switches sit low, beside the elements, and that a top bar can die within months. A seller line about 95 per cent conversion is not a cited test. One review describes a blanket at the grill catching fire. No IP rating is stated. It is the top pick when silence at a desk matters more than a third bar.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk or small room where silence matters more than a third bar.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs stated spare tubes, a timer, or bathroom use.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the SONBION LSG13 have a timer?
A timer is not stated. The listing states two heat settings, overheat protection and a tip-over switch.
Is an IP rating stated for bathroom use?
No IP rating is stated. The listing recommends indoor rooms, including a garage, and does not state a bathroom zone.
How heavy is it?
The listing weight is 1.57 kg. It is freestanding, and the included list is the heater, a box and a user manual.
The Geepas GQH9106_3 is a single white quartz halogen heater at about £14.99, rated 800 W with 400 W and 800 W settings, a tip-over switch, overheat protection and a stated two-year warranty. The listing weight is 1 kg and the voltage is 240 V. It shares a 4.2 score from 323 reviews with the Geepas two-pack, and the review text overlaps, so that count is not a second independent sample. Reviewers use it in small rooms, caravans and on a boat, and several prefer the glow to a bright three-bar halogen. Legs, a short lead and early tube failure are the repeated complaints. The minimum and maximum temperature lines are 40 °F and 200 °F as listed. No IP rating is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small space or caravan where 800 W and a low price are enough.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a stated 1,200 W third bar or published tube dimensions.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this one heater or two?
This ASIN is one heater, model GQH9106_3, at about £14.99. The two-pack is a different ASIN.
Does the listing state oscillation in degrees?
Oscillating appears in the special-feature line. The bullets do not state an angle.
Can the tubes be replaced?
Replacement tubes are not stated. Reviewers describe sealed units and tubes that cannot be bought.
The Geepas COQH9106-2 is a pack of two white quartz halogen heaters at about £28.99. Each is listed at 800 W with 400 W and 800 W settings, a tip-over switch, overheat protection and a two-year warranty. Voltage is 240 V, and oscillation is not stated on this pack. The star line is 4.2 from 323 reviews, the same line as the single Geepas heater, with overlapping stories about buying two units for a boat, a caravan or two rooms. Reviewers like instant heat on one bar and the lack of fan noise. They also report short leads, flimsy legs and tubes that spark and die, with replacements described as unavailable. The listed size is 18 x 38 x 24 cm and the listed weight is 1 kg, and no IP rating is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two small spaces, such as both ends of a caravan, at 800 W each.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants one 1,200 W heater or a separate review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
How many heaters are in the box?
The listing says two, model COQH9106-2, at about £28.99.
Does this pack state oscillation?
Oscillation is not stated. The single Geepas listing puts oscillating in its special features. This pack does not.
Is the 4.2 score separate from the single heater?
The file carries the same 4.2 from 323 reviews and overlapping review text as the single. Treat it as one shared sample.
The Warmlite WL42005 is a 1.5 kg three-bar halogen heater at about £21.45, with 400 W, 800 W and 1,200 W, 120° oscillation, a tip-over switch and overheat protection. It has the largest review count in this set, 4.1 from 2,153 amazon.co.uk reviews. Reviewers say one bar is felt at once and that the base screws on easily. They also call it bright, light enough to knock, and awkward on carpet when the tip pin does not close. Tube failures within weeks are a repeated complaint. Cable length and a spare tube are not stated on this listing. Voltage is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Someone who wants a widely reviewed 1,200 W three-bar heater near a chair.
Less suitable: A dark living room where glare is the main objection, or a thick carpet.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Warmlite WL42005 oscillate?
The listing states automatic oscillation across 120 degrees, plus three heat settings up to 1,200 W.
Is a room thermostat stated?
A thermostat is not stated. Heat is chosen as one, two or three bars.
Are replacement tubes stated?
The listing does not state that the tubes are user-replaceable. Reviewers report tubes failing and being hard to find.
The Elex listing is a pair of halogen heaters at about £36.95, each with three elements at 400 W, 800 W and 1,200 W and 70° oscillation. The title states overheat protection and a cut-off if the unit is knocked over. The star line is 4.0 from 736 reviews. Reviewers like the instant glow and the fact that two heaters can sit in two rooms. They also call the plastic thin, the light harsh, and the lead short. Bars failing within weeks, a switch that later will not turn the heater off, and a base pin that needs force are repeated faults. The listed weight is 5.06 kg for the listing, while voltage, cable length, a warranty and an IP rating are not stated. The model string AT-80344 also appears on the Trendi single. That is a listing fact, not proof the heaters are identical.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two rooms that each need a three-bar heater, if you accept a short life in the reviews.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants one heater with a stated spare-tube size.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Elex listing one heater or two?
The listing is a set of two, at about £36.95, each with three settings up to 1,200 W.
Does it state a timer?
A timer is not stated. The bullets state 70 degree oscillation and a cut-off if the heater is knocked over.
Is model AT-80344 unique to Elex?
The same model string appears on the Trendi single in this set. That is a listing fact, not proof the heaters are identical.
The Supawarm deluxe is the dearest heater in this set at about £44.23. The title states 1,200 W and a 1.3 m cable, and the specification states three speeds, radiant heat, indoor use and the United Kingdom as country of origin. Tip-over protection, overheat protection, oscillation, voltage, weight and a model number are not stated, and the dimension line includes a height of 178.8 cm. The score is 4.0 from 168 reviews. Reviewers say it heats quickly and that the light is blinding. Bulbs failing within weeks, a 170 mm tube that was hard to buy, a warm slipping control knob, and a melted rear casing are in the review text. A remote is not stated, one reviewer expected one, and no IP rating is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A buyer who specifically wants the stated 1.3 m lead and accepts a thin safety specification.
Less suitable: Anyone comparing tip-over switches from the listing text alone.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Supawarm listing state a tip-over switch?
Not in the specification. One reviewer says it switches off if it is moved or knocked. That is a review, not a listing line.
How long is the cable?
The title states 1.3 m. Some reviewers still wanted a longer lead.
How tall is it?
The listing dimensions are 41.7 x 78.7 x 178.8 cm. That height is far above the other heaters in this set and is shown as listed.
The Trendi heater is a 1.48 kg halogen tube model at about £19.95, with 400 W, 800 W and 1,200 W, 230 V, tip-over protection and overheat protection. Oscillation is listed without an angle, and it is the only listing here whose title states replaceable tubes. The score is 3.9 from 440 reviews. Owners who like it talk about silent heat on one bar and side covers that come off with a screw or two. A large set of reviews describes bulbs dying inside a month, melted plastic around a fitting, and a fight to fit 208 mm tubes. The tip pin on carpet and a short lead are separate complaints. The maximum temperature line of 1,200 °F is what the listing prints, and no warranty line or IP rating is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A buyer who will measure a failed tube and is willing to change it.
Less suitable: Someone who wants a heater they will not open, or a dark room.
Specifications
Common questions
Does Trendi state replaceable tubes?
Yes. The title says replaceable halogen tubes. Reviewers say the glass length is 208 mm, not 225 mm.
Is a timer stated?
A timer is not stated. A customer question asks about one, and the specification does not answer it.
Will it stand on carpet?
The listing states a tip-over switch. Reviewers say that switch needs a hard floor and will not close on short-pile carpet.
The Status QH-800W1PKB is a white quartz radiant heater at about £14.99. The title and bullets say 800 W, with 400 W and 800 W, a tip-over switch, a carry handle and a fold-away stand. The technical table also says 3,000 W and 6.67 A at 240 V, which does not match 800 W, and weight is 950 g in the table and about 900 g in the bullets. The score is 3.7 from 160 reviews, the second-lowest in this set. Reviewers like one-bar heat in a small room and the lack of a fan. They also say it will not stay on unless the safety button is pressed into a hard floor, and that tubes fail within weeks. Overheat protection, oscillation, a thermostat and an IP rating are not stated. Treat 800 W as the title rating. Do not take the 3,000 W cell, or a bathroom mention, at face value.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A hard floor and a small spot, if you treat 800 W as the title rating.
Less suitable: Anyone who would take the 3,000 W cell, or a bathroom, at face value.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Status heater 800 W or 3,000 W?
The title and bullets say 800 W, with 400 W and 800 W settings. The technical table also says 3,000 W. Both figures are on the listing. The table current is 6.67 A. Treat 800 W as the title rating.
Does it state a thermostat?
No. A customer question asks. The bullets do not describe a thermostat.
Can it be used in a bathroom?
A bullet mentions bathrooms. No IP rating is stated. A UK review says the instructions say not to use it in a bathroom.
The Almineez AHH870 is a grey halogen heater at about £19.98. The bullets state 400 W, 800 W and 1,200 W, oscillation up to 75 degrees, a carry handle, a tip-over switch and a thermal cut-out. Voltage, weight, cable length, a timer and replaceable tubes are not stated. The score is 3.6 from 19 reviews, the lowest in this set, and the file only includes three review texts. Those three say it worked at first, then a middle element failed after two weeks, or only one element still lit, and that the base is not sturdy. That is a thin and already negative sample. The size is 35 x 24 x 48 cm, and no IP rating is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only if the specification lines are enough and you will use the 30-day returns window.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a large review sample before buying a glowing-tube heater.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Almineez heater have a timer?
A timer is not stated. The bullets state three settings, oscillation up to 75 degrees, a carry handle and a tip-over switch.
How many reviews are on the listing?
The star line is 3.6 from 19 reviews. The file includes three UK review texts, and those three describe early element failure.
Is the weight stated?
Weight is not stated. The listed size is 35 x 24 x 48 cm.
Nine amazon.co.uk listings were compared from the UK star line, the review count, and whether the page states the wattage, the cut-outs and a spare tube. There was no laboratory heat test. The top pick is the highest star rating with at least 100 reviews. A tie goes to the higher review count. A best-value badge would need at least 4.4 stars, and no listing in this set reaches that, so it is not used. The five weights below sum to 100.
Amazon evidence
30%Star rating on amazon.co.uk, with more weight on a count you can read. A shared review line between two ASINs is one sample, not two.
Safety hardware
25%A tip-over switch, an overheat cut-out and a stable base that the listing actually states. A bathroom word with no IP rating does not score as bathroom-safe.
Output and settings
20%Whether the page states 400 W, 800 W or 1,200 W, and whether a second figure in the table fights the title.
Tubes, element and lead
15%A named element, a replaceable-tube line, and a lead or oscillation angle that is printed rather than assumed.
Price
10%Shelf price in GBP against the review file. A low price with tubes failing in weeks is not treated as a low cost.
A halogen radiant heater is a glowing-tube spot heater, not a fan and not central heating. On these nine amazon.co.uk listings the shelf runs from about £14.99 to about £44.23, with steps of 400 W, 800 W and, on three-bar models, 1,200 W. Start with the job, then the element and the glare, then the cut-outs you can see on the page, then whether a spare tube is even stated.
A halogen radiant heater glows. A filament in a halogen-filled tube throws infra-red at you and at nearby surfaces. It does not warm the room by blowing air. In this UK set the usual steps are 400 W, 800 W and, on three-bar models, 1,200 W. One bar is for a person close by. Two or three bars widen the beam. A 1,200 W halogen heater is still a spot heater. It is not a replacement for central heating in a large room. Two patterns sit on these amazon.co.uk pages.
These heaters warm a person and nearby surfaces. Leaving three bars on all evening and calling it cheap is the same mistake. A 1,200 W tube is still a spot heater.
UK buyers argue about 170 mm, 208 mm and 225 mm. Trendi reviewers say 208 mm, not 225 mm. Measure the failed tube. Do not move the heater while the glass is hot.
No listing here states an IP rating. A coiled extension reel, thick carpet under the tip pin, and clothes dried on the grill are the other faults the public guidance is written to stop.
Before you plug a halogen radiant heater in, the listing should show a tip-over switch, an overheat cut-out, a stable base and a UK 13 A plug. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35, require a correctly fitted BS 1363 plug, or a compliant conversion plug with a BS 1362 fuse. None of the nine amazon.co.uk listings states an IP rating. A bathroom word on the Status page is not a zone rating, and a UK review says the instructions forbid bathroom use.
A low shelf price is not a low cost if the tube dies in weeks. Trendi is the only listing here whose title states replaceable tubes, at about £19.95, and the score is 3.9 from 440 reviews. Reviewers say the glass is 208 mm, not the 225 mm part people search for first. Supawarm reviews mention a 170 mm tube that was hard to buy. Geepas reviewers describe sealed units. Warmlite, with 4.1 from 2,153 reviews, still has tube failures within weeks as a repeated complaint.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You heat one person close by and want silence rather than a fan. The SONBION LSG13 at about £39.95 is 800 W with two settings, and reviewers praise the lack of fan noise at a desk. The switches sit low, beside the elements.
You want instant heat at 400 W or 800 W, not a third bar. The Geepas GQH9106 at about £14.99 is the lowest single-heater price here. Reviewers use that pattern in small rooms, caravans and on a boat. The review text overlaps the two-pack.
You already own a glowing-tube heater and you will measure the old glass. Trendi is the only listing here whose title states replaceable tubes, at about £19.95. Reviewers say the length is 208 mm, not 225 mm. Measure before you order.
The SONBION LSG13 is the top pick in this set, at about £39.95. It is an 800 W radiant heater with two settings, a tip-over switch and overheat protection, and 4.2 from 511 amazon.co.uk reviews, the higher count of the two 4.2 scores. Reviewers praise silent heat on one bar at a desk. They also say the switches sit low and that a top bar can die within months. No listing reaches 4.4 stars, so there is no best-value badge. A low shelf price does not repair a short tube life.
SONBION LSG13 quartz radiant heater
Highest star rating with at least 100 reviews. The 4.2 from 511 reviews beats the other 4.2 on count. Tip-over and overheat cut-outs are stated.
Not awarded
A best-value badge would need at least 4.4 stars. No listing in this set reaches 4.4, so the badge is not used.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources for the unit rate, plug rules, placement and the 30-day right to reject. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines stored for this comparison.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines for these nine listings. We did not run a lab test.
