The best radiant heaters, compared.
Top pick: Warmlite WL42013 carbon tower – Highest amazon.co.uk rating with at least 100 reviews: 4.4 from 1,197, at about £56.46, with 500 W and 1,000 W stated. A tip-over switch is not stated. Best value: Not awarded – The 4.4 and under £60 rule matches the Warmlite WL42013, the same listing as the top pick, so no second badge is used. Updated October 2026.
A radiant heater warms the person in the beam, not the air with a fan. You use one at a desk or for a short spell off the boiler. The same wattage costs the same per hour as any other electric heater. At Direct Debit average of 26.32p per kWh for 1 October to 31 in England, Scotland and Wales, one hour is about 31.6p at 1,200 W. Judge a listing by a coherent wattage, a stated tip-over switch and a UK three-pin plug. No second best-value badge is used, because that rule selects the same listing. The [radiant heater buying guide](/hub/portable-heaters/radiant-heater/sub/radiant-heater-buying-guide) sets out element, wattage and the safety lines. A portable radiant heater is a plug-in bar or a carbon tower. Halogen and quartz bars weigh about 0.95–1.57 kg. The ceramic bar is the Daewoo HEA1893, at 600 W and 1,200 W, not a fan heater. Fan heaters, convectors, oil-filled radiators, and gas pyramids are a different job. One hour is about 10.5p at 400 W, 13.2p at 500 W, 21.1p at 800 W, 26.3p at 1,000 W, and 31.6p at 1,200 W. A radiant heater is not a cheaper converter than a fan heater of the same power.
A radiant heater warms the person in the beam, not the air with a fan. You use one at a desk or for a short spell off the boiler. The same wattage costs the same per hour as any other electric heater.
26 products checked · 62 hrs invested · +22,800 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you trying to warm?
The Warmlite WL42013 is a 1,000 W carbon-fibre tower at about £56.46, with a 500 W setting, 70° oscillation and a stated weight of 2.2 kg. It is the highest amazon.co.uk score in this set, 4.4 from 1,197 reviews, which is why it carries the top-pick badge on that rule. Reviewers praise heat on the body at 500 W and quiet running. They also call the base floppy and the tower top-heavy. A tip-over switch is not stated. The usage line says indoor and the recommended-uses line also says outdoor. Cable length is the only one stated in this set, at 2 yards. No IP rating is stated, so do not treat the outdoor line as a patio rating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Someone who wants a tall carbon heater at 500 W or 1,000 W and will check that it stands straight.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a stated tip-over switch, a timer, or a confirmed outdoor rating.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Warmlite WL42013 have a tip-over switch?
A tip-over switch is not stated. The listing does state overheat protection, 70° oscillation, and settings of 500 W and 1,000 W.
Is it for outdoor use?
Indoor/outdoor usage is listed as indoor. Recommended uses also include outdoor. No IP rating is stated, so do not treat it as a patio heater.
How long is the cable?
The listing says 2 yards. The included parts are a base, four screws, two cable hooks and a manual.
The Daewoo HEA1893 is a two-bar ceramic heater at about £24.49, listed at 600 W and 1,200 W, 230 V and 2 kg, with a tip-over switch. The element line says radiant and the method line says convection. Reviews describe bars, not a fan. The score is 4.3 from 95 reviews, which is too few for the badge rule used here. Reviewers like the heat and the small size. They also call the casing flimsy, and one says it will not stay on when laid on carpet. Overheat protection, a timer and an IP rating are not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A two-bar ceramic fire for a study or bedroom, if you accept a thin review sample.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs overheat protection, a timer, or a stated IP rating written on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Daewoo HEA1893 a fan heater?
The heating-element line says radiant and the title says a two-bar ceramic heater. The heating-method line says convection. No fan is stated. Reviews describe glowing bars.
Does it have a timer or an IP rating?
A timer is not stated, and no IP rating is stated. The listing does state a tip-over switch and a power indicator.
How many reviews is the 4.3 based on?
The amazon.co.uk line is 4.3 from 95 reviews. That count is under 100, so this listing does not take the top-pick badge.
The SONBION LSG13 is an 800 W radiant heater at about £39.95, with two settings, a tip-over switch, overheat protection and a listed weight of 1.57 kg. The model line says LSG13 and the item-type line says LSG01. Across 511 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.2. 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 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.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk or small room where silence matters and you will keep a metre clear.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a stated spare tube, 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, at 800 W.
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.
Is the 95 per cent claim a test result?
It is a seller bullet, along with a 7,000-hour line and a CE and RoHS sentence. This comparison does not treat those lines as a measured test.
The Geepas GQH9106 is an 800 W quartz halogen heater at about £14.99, with 400 W and 800 W, a tip-over switch, overheat protection and a two-year warranty in the bullets. It weighs 1 kg. The amazon.co.uk score is 4.2 from 323 reviews. Reviewers use it as a personal heater, including on a boat, and several prefer the glow to a bright three-bar halogen. They also say the tip pin struggles on carpet, the lead feels short, and tubes fail with no spare on sale. Oscillation is named in special features without an angle. The temperature lines are in Fahrenheit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small room, desk, or boat where 400 W aimed at one person is enough.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a stated oscillation angle, a long lead, or a spare tube on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Geepas oscillate?
Oscillating appears in the special-features line. The bullets do not state an angle, so the sweep is not stated.
What are the heat settings?
The listing states 400 W and 800 W, with a tip-over switch, overheat protection and a carry handle. Weight is 1 kg.
Are replacement tubes listed?
A spare tube is not stated. Reviews say tubes failed and that replacements were not available.
The Warmlite WL42005 is a three-bar halogen heater at about £21.45 and 1.5 kg, 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. 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. Voltage, cable length and a spare tube are not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A three-bar halogen with a large review sample, if glare is acceptable.
Less suitable: A desk on camera, or anyone who needs a spare-tube size on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
What heat settings does the WL42005 have?
The listing states 400 W, 800 W and 1,200 W, plus automatic oscillation through 120°. Weight is 1.5 kg.
Does it state a voltage or a cable length?
Voltage is not stated and cable length is not stated. Tip-over protection and overheat protection are both in the bullets.
Why do reviews mention carpet?
Reviewers say the safety switch may not press in on a soft carpet, so the heater cuts out unless it stands on something firm.
The Status QH-800 is listed at about £14.99. The title says an 800 W quartz heater with 400 W and 800 W, a tip-over switch, a handle and a fold-away stand. The technical table says 3,000 W, 6.67 A and a maximum of 130°C. At 240 V, 6.67 A is about 1,600 W, which matches neither figure. The score is 3.7 from 160 reviews. Reviewers like one-bar heat in a small room and say the safety button needs a hard floor. Tube failures within weeks are the main complaint, and spares are described as unavailable. Overheat protection is not stated. A bathroom bullet does not add an IP rating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only if you treat the title’s 800 W as the claim to check on the unit, and you accept the 3.7 score.
Less suitable: Anyone buying a 3 kW heater, a bathroom heater, or a model with stated spare tubes.
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 says 3,000 W and 6.67 A at 240 V. Those figures do not agree. Do not buy it as a 3 kW heater.
Can it be used in a bathroom?
A bullet names bathrooms. No IP rating is stated. That is not a bathroom-zone approval.
Does it work on carpet?
Reviews say the safety button needs a hard surface. The listing states a tip-over switch and a fold-away stand. Weight on the table is 950 g.
The Staywarm F2102GR is an 800 W two-bar quartz heater at about £13.99, the lowest shelf price in this set, with 400 W and 800 W, a tip-over switch and overheat protection. The table weight is 950 g. The amazon.co.uk score is 3.6 from 502 reviews. Reviewers like the instant heat and the low weight. The repeated complaint is a bar failing in weeks or a few months. The mounting line says wall mount while the bullets describe a fold-away stand. Coverage is listed as 1000 cm, which is not a room size. A warranty term is not stated. Special features say manual thermostat. The bullets describe a dial for 400 W and 800 W.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cheap 800 W quartz bar if you will return it if a tube dies early.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a stated spare, a clear mounting method, or a score above 4.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Staywarm wall-mounted?
The mounting line says wall mount. The bullets describe a carry handle and a fold-away stand, not a wall bracket. Treat that as a conflict.
Does it have a thermostat?
Special features say manual thermostat. The bullets describe a dial for 400 W and 800 W. A cycling room thermostat is not described.
Can the tubes be replaced?
A spare is not stated on the listing. One review says the bulbs are not replaceable. The score is 3.6 from 502 reviews, with many early tube failures.
Seven amazon.co.uk radiant-heater listings were scored from the UK star line, with the top-pick rule requiring at least 100 reviews, and from whether the listing states a coherent wattage, a tip-over switch, and overheat protection as separate lines. This is not a lab test. A coverage string, a 95 per cent bullet, or a CE line is not a measured result. The value rule (4.4 and under £60) matches the same listing as the top pick, so no second badge is used. The five weights below sum to 100.
Element and glare
25%Halogen, quartz, ceramic bar, or carbon tower, and whether reviews describe glare or a quieter glow.
Stated wattage
25%A coherent output and a lower step you can actually run. Coverage strings such as “200” or “1000 cm” are ignored.
Tip-over and overheat
20%Tip-over and overheat count only when each is stated on its own line. A tip-over switch is not treated as a safety ranking.
Listing conflicts
15%Deductions when power, mounting, oscillation, or heating method disagree inside one listing. The Status 3,000 W table line is not treated as its power.
Amazon rating and count
15%Star points follow the amazon.co.uk rating. A 4.3 from 95 reviews stays under the 100-review floor used for the top pick.
A radiant heater in this comparison is a plug-in bar or a carbon tower, not a fan heater. Shelf prices run from about £13.99 to about £56.46. Start with the element and the wattage you will actually run, then check whether tip-over and overheat are stated as separate lines, then read the conflicts on the listing. Stars are the amazon.co.uk line, not a lab result.
A portable radiant heater in this comparison is a plug-in bar or a carbon tower. It warms the person in the beam. It does not push warm air with a fan. Halogen and quartz bars in this set weigh about 0.95–1.57 kg. The carbon model is one 2.2 kg oscillating tower, the Warmlite WL42013. The ceramic bar is the Daewoo HEA1893, at 600 W and 1,200 W, not a fan heater. Fan heaters, convectors, oil-filled radiators, and gas pyramids are a different job.
These bars warm the person in the beam. The heat stops when you switch off. A coverage line such as “200”, “200 square feet”, “1000 cm”, or “Average Room Size” is not a measured room.
The title and bullets say 800 W. The table says 3,000 W and 6.67 A at 240 V, which is about 1,600 W. Those figures do not agree. Do not buy it as a 3 kW heater.
Do not dry washing on the grill. Norfolk says not to add an external timer. No IP rating is stated. A Status bathroom bullet is not a zone clearance. Unplug the heater when you leave or sleep.
The first split is the element, because it changes glare, weight and how the heat feels. The Warmlite WL42005 is the bright three-bar halogen, at 400 W, 800 W and 1,200 W, about £21.45. Quartz bars are the Geepas, the SONBION, the Status and the Staywarm. The Daewoo HEA1893 is a ceramic two-bar at 600 W and 1,200 W. The Warmlite WL42013 is the only carbon tower, at 500 W and 1,000 W, 2.2 kg, with 70° oscillation. Halogen and quartz bars weigh about 0.95–1.57 kg.
Run the wattage you will actually use, not the coverage string. Ignore “200”, “200 square feet”, “1000 cm”, and “Average Room Size”. Full output in this set is 800 W, 1,000 W or 1,200 W, with lower steps at 400 W, 500 W or 600 W. One hour at the Ofgem Direct Debit average of 26.32p per kWh is about 21.1p at 800 W and about 31.6p at 1,200 W. Tip-over and overheat are separate lines. Six listings state a tip-over switch. The carbon tower states overheat protection only.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want one person warm, without a fan, for about an hour. The Warmlite WL42013 at about £56.46 states 500 W and 1,000 W and 70° oscillation. Reviewers mention quiet running. A tip-over switch is not stated, so check that it stands straight.
You want a bar instead of the heating for a short spell, and you accept that the rest of the room may stay cold. The Warmlite WL42005 at about £21.45 states 400 W, 800 W and 1,200 W, with 4.1 from 2,153 reviews. Reviewers call it bright.
No listing states a spare tube size. Reviews of the quartz and halogen bars describe tubes that failed and spares that were not on sale. The practical choice is often a return. The Geepas at about £14.99 is the 400 W and 800 W bar where reviewers said replacements were not available.
The top pick is the Warmlite WL42013 carbon tower at about £56.46. It has the highest amazon.co.uk rating in this set with at least 100 reviews: 4.4 from 1,197. The listing states 500 W and 1,000 W, 70° oscillation and overheat protection. A tip-over switch is not stated, and reviewers call the base floppy. No separate best-value badge is used. The rule of 4.4 and under £60 would select this same listing. The Daewoo at 4.3 is from 95 reviews, under that floor. The Staywarm is the lowest shelf price, at about £13.99, with 3.6 from 502 reviews and many early tube failures. None of these scores is a lab test. The same wattage costs the same per hour as a fan heater.
Warmlite WL42013 carbon tower
Highest amazon.co.uk rating with at least 100 reviews: 4.4 from 1,197, at about £56.46, with 500 W and 1,000 W stated. A tip-over switch is not stated.
Not awarded
The 4.4 and under £60 rule matches the Warmlite WL42013, the same listing as the top pick, so no second badge is 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 clearance, the hourly arithmetic, and the room-heater standard. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are from amazon.co.uk.
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 UK listing lines used in this comparison. We did not run a lab test.
