Best Panel Heaters for Local Warmth in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 23, 2024
In the sea of options, it is sometimes a challenge to find the right heater. Panel heaters are mostly designed for heating small ...Read more
PROS

Thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi module and compatibility with the proprietary application, you can control this heater remotely through the free mobile app. The model is perfect for large areas, capable of heating up to 22 square metres with ease. 

CONS

Fingerprints are noticeable on the glossy surface.

OUR VERDICT

A stylish heater, which at high performance, has low power consumption. It is able to not only warm any room, but also to become an interior decoration. The model is recommended by the publication 'Architecture Art Design'.

detailed parameters
POWER

2000 W

CONTROL

LCD-screen with digital control panel, control via Smart life app (available on iOS and Android)

PLACING

Floor (legs included) or wall-mount (mounting kit included)

EXTRAS

IP22 class protection, Safety thermal cut-out

DIMENSIONS

78 x 47 x 8 cm 

9.3 kg

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

Safety thermal cut-out feature allows keeping the heater running for a long time with no worries of fire hazards. It can also be left powered on while you're sleeping or when you're away from home. 

CONS

The cable is relatively short.

OUR VERDICT

Compact yet powerful and smart, the ADAX NEO Electric Panel Heater will be a great choice for anyone who appreciates both functionality and practicality and wants their home appliances to look stylish and contemporary.

detailed parameters
POWER

2000 W

CONTROL

LCD-screen with digital control panel

PLACING

Wall-mount (mounting kit included)

EXTRAS

IP20 class protection, Safety thermal cut-out

DIMENSIONS

139.4 x 37 x 9 cm

8.5 kg


WARRANTY

5 years

PROS

The heater has IP20 protection which allows using it anywhere in the house. The child lock feature lets you block the controls to prevent accidental changes to the settings. The overheat protection prevents fire hazards.

CONS

The timer setup is a bit overly complicated.

OUR VERDICT

This is a sleek black heater that will fit in any interior and warm up several rooms at once easily. It does consume quite a bit of energy but the above-average expenses bring you excellent heating after all.

detailed parameters
POWER

2000 W

CONTROL

LCD-screen with digital control panel

PLACING

Floor (legs included) or wall-mount (mounting kit included)

EXTRAS

IP22 class protection, safety thermal cut-out

DIMENSIONS

82 x 47 x 8 cm

9.3 kg

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

Thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi module, the device can be controlled remotely using the Tuya application on a smartphone, as well as using voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

CONS

LED light can't be turned off.

OUR VERDICT

The stylish Devola Designer panel heater is designed for rooms up to 22 sq.m. Equipped with a thermostat, which will clearly monitor the microclimate in the room. Generates heat instantly, and a timer for 24 hours will make it possible to shut off automatically.

detailed parameters
POWER

2000 W

CONTROL

LCD-screen with digital control panel, control via Smart life app (available on iOS and Android)

PLACING

Floor (legs included) or wall-mount (mounting kit included)

EXTRAS

IP24 class protection, Anti Frost protection, double overheat protection

DIMENSIONS

47 x 78 x 8 cm

8.45 kg

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The wall mounting process is quite simple and does not require the additional purchase of mounting brackets or other hardware. If you need to mount the heater on wheels for convenient movement, they are also included in the kit.

CONS

It is noisy (with lots of clicks and bumps).

OUR VERDICT

This model can easily be used in small bedrooms (up to 10 square metres), and the room will heat up as quickly as possible. The device also has a splash-proof housing with IP24 class protection and can be operated in the bathroom.

detailed parameters
POWER

2000 W

CONTROL

LCD-screen with digital control panel

PLACING

Floor (legs included) or wall-mount (mounting kit included)

EXTRAS

IP24 class protection, Safety thermal cut-out

DIMENSIONS

83 x 40 x 10.7 cm

~ 6.5 kg

WARRANTY

2 years

Control Remotely

Electric radiators can be great appliances to have whenever your home's heating system isn't able to effectively warm every part of the house. With an electric radiator, you are often able to not just heat areas that otherwise wouldn't get heated, but with most models you can also adjust the temperature at which the room should be heated, allowing for the most comfortable atmosphere possible. However, adjusting the thermostat on many radiators can be tricky, as they often don't have settings for showing the exact temperature, which often leaves it to be a guessing game as to which settings will provide the ideal temperature.

The Wärme WH-24P WiFi Electric Wall Heater is a high-tech electric radiator that gives you full control over your own comfort. This radiator lets you set the exact temperature that you wish to heat the room to, and you can be assured that the room will be heated to that exact temperature, with little variation. Furthermore, thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi module and compatibility with the proprietary application, you can control this heater remotely through the free mobile app. This gives you a great amount of control over the heater, letting you turn it off when not in the room and turn it back on before entering, letting you enjoy the comfort of the heat without stressing your electricity bill.

Stylish Design

Although many electric radiators tend to be very functional devices, they also tend to be rather ugly. Very few manufacturers seem to pay attention to their design, which results in them often being an eyesore in whichever room they are placed. Thankfully, this is not the case with the Wärme WH-24P WiFi Electric Wall Heater. This device is a stylish heater, which at high performance, has a low power consumption in comparison to many other models, which doesn't diminish its effectiveness. It is able not only to warm, but also to become an interior decoration, thanks to its stylish black body that looks more like a work of art rather than an appliance. The model is recommended by the publication 'Architecture Art Design', which should show you just how nice it looks.

The unit works just as a simple wall heater, letting you mount it on the wall in a way that keeps it from taking up precious space in your room. It also includes two standing feet that let it act as a freestanding heater as well, which gives you plenty of flexibility in where to place it. Overall, this stylish and highly convenient Wi-Fi controlled model is one of the best electric radiators on the market, and will quickly become your favourite home appliance during the coldest times of the year.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £149.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B07NPT3GSH

Norwegian quality

Right off the bat, the ADAX NEO Panel heater isn't the cheapest. However, this doesn't stop it from being one of the most popular panel heaters across Europe and the UK.

Why wouldn't it be though, given that this heater is also very energy-efficient and can save you quite a lot on the heating bills? Besides, it also has a very modern and attractive design; in fact, as of now, it's one of the most attractive heaters you can come across on the market. But let's take a closer look at its specs.

It's enough to cast a quick glance at the ADAX NEO Panel heater to recognise the spectacular Norwegian quality. From external design to the internal components and controls, everything in this heater is made with attention to detail and with the user's comfort in mind. What is particularly impressive about it that, while featuring such a slimline design and lightweight construction, this heater boasts incredibly fast warm-up performance and won't take longer than a couple of minutes to heat up your whole place (that is, if it isn't a huge mansion, of course).

Another advantage of the ADAX NEO Panel heater is that, unlike more basic models, it doesn't tend to dry the air. This makes it a perfect fit for nurseries, crowded places like offices and households with allergy sufferers, to say nothing of all other locations where a regular heater can be mounted too.

Very Smart

The ADAX NEO Wall Electric Panel Heater is also very smart. On top of the standard protection features such as overheat safety cut out and auto shut-off, the heater's been fitted with two additional modes: open window detection and adaptive start. The former makes sure the heater temporarily shuts off if the window in the room where it's placed is left open while the latter allows it to learn the space and adapt to its size, turning on only at times when it is best to start heating. This helps avoid energy waste and keep your electricity bills adequate on the coldest of days.

One other feature that isn't coherent to most other panel heaters is an integrated 24 hour, 7-day timer. Using this timer, you can programme it to run in a "comfort" or "anti-frost" mode depending on how cold it is outside, whether you're at home or at work, or some other factors.

Programming it is quite easy. The heater features straightforward controls that can be easily adjusted by simply pressing the needed button. Plus, you get an LCD screen that will show you the current settings and save guesswork.

The installation of the heater is no hassle either. The purchase comes with a mounting kit and UK adapter included, so you can quickly mount it to a wall without using a hammer or screwdriver.

Overall, the ADAX NEO Wall Electric Panel Heater is easily one of the best panel heaters on the market. Despite its quite high price, it offers plenty of benefits that make it a worthy purchase. We're a bit surprised that some users niggle over its cable saying that it is not as long as they would love it to be, but if you aren't planning to mount it far from the socket, this won't be an issue at all.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £198.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B009YRTBX2

Safe and Cosy

Keeping your household warm is vital, especially if you have young kids, who are much more susceptible to colds and other illnesses. However, there’s also the issue of keeping tots safe from the heater or, rather, the heater safe from the tots. That’s one of the reasons why we like the Wärme WH-20P, a modern heating appliance complete with parental lock settings.

We wouldn’t be surprised if little kids wanted to fiddle with the colourful touch controls as this model looks just like a flat screen TV, all black and smooth. Besides, the controls are all digital and colourful and all information is displayed via an LCD screen. Thankfully, the area with the buttons doesn’t heat up and, if you’re worried about the tot changing the temperature or turning the heat off altogether, you can engage the child lock.

When the lock isn’t on, though, you have access to plenty of controls, including several heating modes, temperature adjustment, a chance to set a clock with timer to make sure the heater doesn’t run long into the night if you doze off on the couch. We do have to say that setting the timer is a bit more complicated than it needs to be. Still, a few tries will help you figure things out and it’s not like the timer is something you’d be setting every single day.

Decoration and Utility

Turning to the subject of placement, while you can leave this model free-standing on your floor, we do recommend going for the wall-mounted option. Not only does the slick black body fit in neatly with any interior design but the slim profile makes this model a compact and non-intrusive choice. Admittedly, this does take away the portable capabilities so you can’t move the heater into different rooms. But the 2000 W power guarantees that you will feel the warmth in adjacent spaces anyway, though it does end up running a pretty hefty electricity bill. Still, it works fast and you’ll feel the heat in less than an hour after launching the device.

Last but not least, the Wärme WH-20P has all the standard and time-tested safety features such as the IP22 protection and the thermal cut-out. They’re nothing too fancy but you can sleep soundly knowing they have your back.

All things considered, the Wärme WH-20P panel heater takes the basics that you see in the competitors but refines them, creating a slick and powerful model. The design is modern and appealing, the controls are easy, and the heater itself is as safe as it can be. This is a great pick for a cosy home with small kids running around.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £129.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B01GQ8OHDA

Stylish and Powerful

Adding a heating unit to a room can cause a number of inconveniences, not the least of which is that it can take up a good amount of space as well as stick out like a sore thumb. While neither of these things are the most important aspects of any heater, this panel heater from Devola proves that heaters can meet these criteria as well as being quite effective. Featuring a whopping 2000 W of power, this panel heater can heat up a room of up to 22 sq. m. without breaking a sweat. This makes it one of the most powerful models on our list, so those who want a powerful heater will definitely want to pay close attention to it.

Moving on to the actual functions of the heater, this model comes with a built-in thermostat that lets you easily monitor the microclimate of the room that it is placed in, so you can always be assured of the heater providing a comfortable environment instead of being either too hot or not warm enough. On top of that, the heater has a built-in timer that works up to 7 days and 24 hours, so you can have the heater run at very specific times, ensuring that your room is always comfortable without having to keep it on during times that you aren't there. Needless to say, this can help immensely with your electric bill.

Ultimate Convenience

As if the features mentioned above weren't enough to get your attention, this unit has plenty more to offer that makes it one of the most convenient panel heaters out there. This model comes with built-in WiFi capability and can be controlled remotely through the Tuya app for your favourite smartphone. This lets you fully program the heater's operation from wherever you are, so you don't have to fiddle with the settings on the unit. To add even more convenience, this heater is fully compatible with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can control it with voice commands without having to leave your chair.

To go along with the great features of this panel heater, the overall design of the unit is superb. The body has a sleek, stylish design that will make it look great in any room, and the small footprint makes it quite easy to put it out of the way if using it as a freestanding model. Since this is a panel heater, though, we imagine that most people will take advantage of the fact that it can be easily mounted onto the wall, so it won't get in your way at all. If you're looking for one of the best panel heaters on the market and simply won't mess with an inferior model, then the Devola Designer 2000W WiFi Enabled Electric Glass Panel Heater is the way to go.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £124.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B08613YYTF

Put it Anywhere

One of the problems that people often encounter with heating units is in where exactly they should put it. Although panel heaters are made to help solve this issue, unfortunately, it still persists. Not everyone has free space on their walls that would accommodate such a heater, and furthermore, most units that are made for wall mounting have few other options in regard to where to put them. Even then, when free space is found, it often is not in an optimal location that allows for the generated heat to be evenly radiated throughout the room. This takes away some of the flexibility that such heaters are made to offer.

The Devola LOT 20 Electric Panel Heater gives its users a bit more flexibility than what many other panel heaters are able to offer. The wall mounting process is quite simple and does not require the additional purchase of mounting brackets or other hardware, and allows for easy mounting on virtually any part of the wall in any given room. Additionally, if you need to mount the heater on wheels for convenient movement, they are also included in the kit. This lets you use this unit as either a freestanding, mobile, or wall-mounted heater, letting you choose which method will work best for any given room.

Great for Small to Medium-Sized Rooms

The flexibility offered by this panel heater isn't simply limited to where in a room it can be placed. This model can easily be used in small and mid-sized bedrooms (up to 17 square metres), and the room will heat up as quickly as possible. The device also has a splash-proof housing with IP24 class protection and can be operated in the bathroom. Basically, any room in a house will greatly benefit from this heater, and its design won't prevent its use anywhere.

Speaking of its design, this unit is actually quite thin, which means that wall-mounting won't take up much space on a wall, nor will the heater tend to stick out and get in the way, unlike some other models. Even as a free-standing heater, it has a small footprint, making it easy to place almost anywhere.

Another great thing about this model is that it won't run up your energy bills. The unit contains an integral precision thermostat that keeps the heat in the room at the exact temperature you desire, which can easily be set with the digital display. The unit even has a built-in timer that lets you set the amount of time for the unit to run. All told, this excellent flat panel heater from Devola will be the perfect option for heating small and medium-sized rooms with ease.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £84.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07ZHJTJJ4

What Is a Panel Heater?

To an untrained eye, the first thing you notice about panel heaters is that many of them are significantly cheaper than, say, column ones or other analogs. There is a catch to that, of course.

Panel heaters are, commonly, designed to warm the spaces that are not too big. Small bedrooms, studies, nurseries, etc. will benefit from a panel heater better than from any other, bulkier model. Panel heaters are usually quite thin to take up as little space as possible, therefore, they will hardly get in the way as you walk. They are also rarely used for continuous heating during long hours; more frequently, it's to warm up the room for when you need to spend an hour or two there. However, they do heat up pretty quickly and offer a nice cozy feeling, so there's that.

Another benefit is that most "panels" do not get hot to the touch so they are safe to use even with kids and pets in the room. It is not uncommon to find a panel heater under the person's desk—in the case when you work or play on your computer and your feet get cold after some time, a small thin heater with no exposed heating elements is the best.

In the end, it all comes to your intended use. Check out our review to find out if a panel heater is what you need and if yes, which one. You can also see our reviews on oil and infrared heaters for comparison.

What Features to Compare

Type

When panel heaters were first introduced, they were strictly of convection type but today, almost any heater type can be made in (or close to) a panel form-factor. There are differences in the types we recommend you to consider before making the purchase.

Convection panel heaters emit warmth quite fast but the heat might settle in layers, unevenly, that's why it is usually advised to accompany one with a slowly working fan (a desk or a ceiling one). Micathermic models are in a way convection heaters but thanks to the mineral mica surrounding the heating element they offer more even heating of the room. Oil-filled models take longer to heat up and also may need an additional fan but they can also be left unsupervised and used for longer times, some even overnight. Radiant heaters warm the objects in the room and not the air so they are perfect for rooms with draughts; however, their housings do have the tendency to get somewhat hot. There are mixed types as well, they combine the good sides of two types.

Power

The power of the heater means how big a room it can warm up—the more power, the bigger the room. There are several ways to calculate the power you need for a room of a specific size, the most used one for electric heaters being to multiply your room area (in sq.ft) by 10 (as in 10 W of power per 1 sq.ft of a room). So, if you have a room that is 10 ft by, say, 15 ft, its a 150 sq.ft room, therefore, you will need a 1500W heater to properly warm it. However, as already stated above, panel heaters are generally only made for small to medium-sized rooms and to place under your desk to warm your feet and not the whole room so seeing a 500~750 W model is not that rare. Although more powerful heaters do exist today, they might be quite costly sometimes.

Features and Safety

Panel heaters are not usually rich on bells and whistles since they were created as budget models for a fairly narrow use but there are still features you would most likely appreciate, like a thermostat, for example. A thermostat will allow you to adjust the temperature whereas the cheapest models only have the on/off switch without the possibility to set a completely comfortable temperature. The lack of thermostat is not much of a problem if you do not plan on prolonged sessions near your panel heater but if we're talking at least a couple hours, it will definitely be better to have the adjustment possibility.

Speaking of safety, the guidelines are pretty much the same for every device that heats up—you will need it to have an automatic shut-off in the case the heater tips over. Even if its surface does not heat up too much and you can usually touch the device when it is working, the tip-over auto shut-off might save your house from a fire. It is especially important if you have either kids or pets who can wander into the room.

Another useful feature of a heater is an overheating shut-off. This one will turn off your panel heater after its temperature exceeds the optimal temperature. This one works for fire safety as well as when you might accidentally touch the heater's body. You don't want to get burned, do you?

Design

Panel heaters generally come in two types: freestanding and wall-mountable. Wall-mountable models are the best choice for the smallest rooms where a standing model will get in the way and become an obstruction. But wall-mountable models are harder to move, for obvious reasons, so if you plan to use the heater in different rooms, a free-standing option is what you've been looking for. Luckily, they are not too bulky either. They are also often equipped with casters and sometimes handles to make moving them easier.

Did you know?

How ceramic heaters work

When talking about room heating, ceramic heaters are the most widespread today: they are more or less affordable, quite safe, and offer decent warming. How so?

Ceramic heaters are sort of an upgrade from older electric coil heaters we used to have in our houses some years ago. Those electric heaters had (and still have since they are available on the market) metal coils that the electricity went through; the electricity heated the metal which, in its turn, distributed that heat around. The major problem with that was that exposed heating elements were extremely hot, you could not touch them lest you be severely burned. For the same reason, there was always a danger of starting a fire if the heater happened to topple over. Also, since the glowing metal is obviously rather fascinating, little kids and pets were to be shooed from the room while the heater is on or they had to be constantly supervised.

Then came ceramic heaters. Basically, ceramic heaters also use coils to transfer the electricity-based heat to the room. However, the coils in these heaters are covered by ceramic plates that offer a number of benefits. First of all, ceramics transfer heat without getting scorching hot, so it is safe to touch the heater in most cases. Secondly, the plates have openings to let the heat out in a certain direction, which, in turn, meant no more need for blowers, an integral part of electric coil heaters, and no blower meant more silent operation and less maintenance. Finally, ceramics heat up fast so the time needed to warm the area around the ceramic heater is noticeably less than that for a coil model. With the addition of thermostats and overheating/tip-over shutoff features, these heaters became pretty harmless, too, and that's why, despite being a little on the expensive side compared to coil devices, ceramic ones are now a general choice.

How to install a wall heater

Wall panel heaters are quite easy to install, generally, and rarely need the help of an electrician. However, if you are uncertain as to where the wires and pipes are located in the walls, or simply not sure in your skills with the drill, we do recommend you to call in a specialist. If DIY is your forte, though, there are just a couple things to keep in mind during a wall panel heater mounting.

  • Most wall-mounted models come with a mounting kit—brackets, screws, etc. If there are none, check the manual for what sizes and types to buy.
  • Also, check the manual regarding the height at which to mount a bracket. Some models ask for 4" and some for 8", there are options there. The height needs to be considered to avoid overheating.
  • Do not mount electric panel heaters too close to an outlet since there are wires inside that can be damaged during and after the installation. However, the outlet should not be too far either—connecting heaters via extension cords or power strips is highly advised against.
  • When mounting a wall panel heater, see to it that nothing blocks the heat distribution. Curtains should end several inches over the device, remove any furniture from directly near it. Do not dry your laundry on the heater and do not place the cord on it before it is fully cooled down.

Wall panel heaters are not installed inside the wall like smaller electric heaters. Instead, you simply install the mounting bracket and hang the heater on it. If your heater comes with a mounting kit, you will only need a drill.

  1. Mark the point on the wall where the bracket is to be mounted. Use a template or a bracket itself. Usually, the manual sets the height of the holes. A spirit level can help with equal height.
  2. Drill the holes where marked and affix the brackets with screws.
  3. Hang the heater on the bracket and mark the lower points for brackets. Remove the heater.
  4. Drill the lower holes, insert the anchors into the wall.
  5. Hang the heater back onto the bracket. Check that the top side is in fact at the top since panel heaters might be confusing in this regard. Then fix the remaining screws to the lower part of the appliance.
  6. Turn on the heater to see if everything works.

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