The best heater for a bedroom: silent, safe and cheap to run
Which heater to choose for a bedroom, what size you need and what it costs to run each night at the Ofgem price cap.
What size heater for your bedroom?
| Room | Size | Heater | Per hour | 2 hours a night, a month* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box room | about 6 m² (65 sq ft) | 650 W | 17.1p | £6.16 |
| Single bedroom | about 9 m² (97 sq ft) | 1,000 W | 26.3p | £9.48 |
| Double bedroom | about 13 m² (140 sq ft) | 1,500 W | 39.5p | £14.21 |
| Large main bedroom | about 18 m² (194 sq ft) | 2,000 W | 52.6p | £18.95 |
About 100 W per m² in a reasonably insulated room, at the Ofgem price cap (26.32p/kWh). * On a thermostat, heating about 60 % of the time.
The best type of heater for a bedroom
- Oil filled radiator: silent (no fan), steady heat that lasts after it switches off. The usual best choice.
- Panel heater: silent too, slim, and with a weekly timer it warms the room before bedtime and before you get up.
- Fan or ceramic heater: fast but noisy; fine to take the chill off before bed, not for sleeping.
- Electric blanket: warms the bed, not the room, for a penny or two a night: the cheapest of all.
Our picks for a bedroom
Russell Hobbs RHOFR5001 1500W 7 Fin Oil Filled Radiator
- Oil filled radiator · 1,500 W
- Best-selling budget oil radiator: 1.5 kW with three settings (600, 900 and 1,500 W) and an adjustable thermostat, for rooms up to 15 m².
- Costs 39.5p an hour at full power.
Russell Hobbs RHOFR3001W 650W 5 Fin Oil Filled Radiator
- Oil filled radiator · 650 W
- Small 650 W oil radiator with adjustable thermostat for rooms up to 10 m²: one of the cheapest ways to keep a small room or office warm for hours.
- Costs 17.1p an hour at full power.
Devola Smart Glass Panel Heater 1000W
- Panel heater · 1,000 W
- 1 kW Wi-Fi glass panel heater for bedrooms and home offices, with weekly programming.
- Costs 26.3p an hour at full power.
Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket, Double
- Electric blanket
- Heated underblanket with several heat settings, overheat protection, easy-fit straps and machine washable: warms the bed for a fraction of the cost of heating the bedroom.
- Costs 1.6p an hour (typical) at full power.
If you buy through our links, Amazon pays us a small commission. The price is the same for you.
Safe heating at night
- Use the timer to warm the room before bed and switch off once you are under the covers.
- Keep it at least a metre from the bed, curtains and clothes; never dry washing on it.
- Plug it straight into the wall, never an extension lead.
- Choose tip-over and overheat protection, especially with children or pets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best heater for a bedroom?
A silent oil filled radiator or panel heater with a thermostat and timer, sized at about 100 W per m². Fan heaters are too noisy for sleeping.
Is it safe to leave a heater on overnight?
Oil filled radiators and panel heaters are designed for long periods, but it is cheaper and safer to use the timer: warm the room before bed and switch off once you are in bed. Never leave a fan heater running while you sleep.
What is the cheapest way to heat a bedroom?
An electric blanket (a penny or two a night) plus a small radiator on a timer. A 650 W oil filled radiator costs 17.1p an hour at full power.
Running costs use the Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026: average unit rate for electricity paid by Direct Debit (26.32p/kWh, standing charge 54.83p/day) and gas (7.97p/kWh). National averages; your region and tariff may differ. Prices on Amazon change: check the live price before you buy.