Best Personal Heaters in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 15, 2024
Feel like the temperature in your working space is lower than what it should be? There's a simple yet effective solution. All you have to do is purchase one of these compact personal heaters and your comfort zone will get much more comfortable. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Power
Settings
Safety
Size
Warranty
 
PROS

The 70-degree auto-oscillation feature allows dissipating the heat around the whole room in a very short time. It will be especially handy for those who use this device as the only heating source in the room. It also has a carry handle.

CONS

It is a bit too loud when working on the highest setting. 

OUR VERDICT

This model boasts a great power of 1800 watts and is able to heat up a room with dimensions of up to 25 square metres. If you don't need such high power, you can select the more energy-saving 900-watt mode.

detailed parameters
Type

Ceramic fan heater

Power

1800 W

Settings

2 heat settings, Fan mode, Auto-oscillation turning on/off

Safety

Tip-over switch, Overheat protection

Size

17 x 11.5 x 20.4 cm
1.5 kg

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The back has a USB port for charging your portable devices. This feature is especially convenient if the heater stands on your work desk.

CONS

The upper insert made of white glossy plastic gets scratched up easily.

OUR VERDICT

Even though this model has relatively low power, it will still do the job well: set the heater about 0.7 - 1.2 meters from you, and it won’t leave your feet cold in the winter. Admittedly, it's not strong enough for a whole room but it's great for personal warming.

detailed parameters
Type

Ceramic fan heater

Power

250 W

Settings

Adjustable thermostat

Safety

Tip-over switch, Overheat protection

Size

12 x 12.6 x 16.4 cm
0.7 kg

Warranty

1 year (2 more years for product registration)

PROS

Even at the max power, the device consumes a relatively small amount of electricity, which will have a positive impact on your bills. And the sensitive thermostat will allow you to adjust the hot air temperature according to your needs.

CONS

The power cord is quite short (only 1 meter).

OUR VERDICT

If you spend long hours in front of the computer, and the central heating in the office leaves much to be desired, then this model will fit you best. Put it nearby, and you’ll feel warm and cosy.

detailed parameters
Type

Ceramic fan heater

Power

500 W

Settings

Adjustable thermostat

Safety

Tip-over switch, Overheat protection

Size

10.5 x 19 x 16.5 cm
0.7 kg

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The tip-over switch and overheat protection mechanism add a lot to the safety aspect - it is especially useful for those people who have kids or pets. And the fan cooling mode will prove handy on hot summer days. 

CONS

It may have a weird smell when you turn it on for the first time. 

OUR VERDICT

This ceramic heater from NEXGADGET is perfect for desktop/tabletop use. It is very quiet, so it won't distract you from your work. It also doesn't dry out the air, so you can leave it on for a long time.

detailed parameters
Type

Ceramic fan heater

Power

500 W

Settings

Fan mode

Safety

Tip-over switch, Overheat protection

Size

11.4 x 17.4 x 13.6 cm
0.9 kg

Warranty

1 year

PROS

An LCD screen and an electric thermostat allow you to choose the temperature in a range between 15 and 30°C, and the device will automatically maintain the chosen temperature in the room. The timer feature will conserve energy even if you fall asleep when the heater is on.

CONS

It can cover the nearest sockets with its large body. 

OUR VERDICT

With the Warmlite WL44014N Personal Plug-in Heater, you will quickly feel warm as it starts spreading warm air only a few seconds after you turn it on. Thanks to its compact dimensions, this model is very easy to carry around.

detailed parameters
Type

Ceramic fan heater

Power

500 W

Settings

LCD screen, Adjustable thermostat, 12-hour timer, Auto-oscillation turning on/off

Safety

Overheat protection

Size

11 x 7 x 18.2 cm
0.56 kg

Warranty

1 year (1 more year for product registration)

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COMLIFE PTC 900W/1800W

Extremely Powerful

The COMLIFE PTC Personal Heater Fan is one of the most powerful mini heaters you can find today. The model boasts great functionality and can compete with big full-size models in its efficiency.

This model offers amazing power, consuming 1800 watts. Since the fan heater is fitted with a ceramic heating element, it quickly becomes hot and evenly distributes warm air around the whole room. The manufacturer states that this model is able to heat up and maintain a room with dimensions of about 25 square metres. It will be especially handy if you don’t have any other heating sources in the room.

Surely, we admit that the consumption of 1800 watts may negatively affect your electricity bills. If you don’t want to overpay, you can use the other mode that consumes only 900 watts. It may not be able to fill the whole room with warmth. Yet, it can still keep you warm, which is the main task of a personal heater after all.

Apart from 2 heating modes that will be of great use in cold seasons, this personal ceramic heater also doubles as a fan and can be used in summer to cool you down.

Review of COMLIFE PTC 900W/1800W Electric Mini Personal Heater Fan

Fitted With Auto-Oscillation Feature

Despite being so powerful, the model is not too big. Of course, it is slightly bigger than its counterparts on our list (17 x 11.5 x 20.4 cm), but this device is still significantly smaller than average floor heaters. Thus, you should be able to fit it on your desk. Plus, if you need to move it around, there is a convenient handle on top that stays cool to the touch even if the device works for long hours.

The other thing that positively affects the performance of this unit is the 70-degree automatic oscillation feature. Not only does it dissipate the heat around the room when working on the highest setting, but it also helps to keep your whole workplace warm enough so that you can move a bit around it even if you’re using an energy-saving mode.

The manufacturer also took proper care of safety. Since it may be easy to accidentally hit the unit with your arm, there is a tip-over switch. If your heater falls down, it will turn off automatically. What is more, there is an overheat protection. Thus, you don’t have to manually check whether the body gets too hot - when it reaches a dangerously high temperature, the heater will shut off to avoid further damage. This helps to significantly prolong the service life of the appliance.

All in all, the COMLIFE PTC Personal Heater Fan is one of the best personal heaters on the market right now owing to its high power and efficiency.

COMLIFE PTC 900W/1800W Electric Mini Personal Heater Fan in the use
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07JP6T9NS

 

Dimplex DDF250

Portable Desk Friend

If you are looking for a heating appliance that won’t take up a lot of your working space, this model is one of the best options for you. The Dimplex personal heater will warm you up and you will not be inconvenienced by any noise. With the overall dimensions of 12 x 12.6 x 16.4 cm, this device will easily fit on a desk, and finding a place for it in your home or office won’t be a problem at all. What's more, the device is very lightweight (only 0.7 kg, to be precise), so you won’t have any trouble moving it around. To make it even more portable, the manufacturer fitted the device with a USB port, with the help of which you can charge both the heater and other gadgets and not be tied to a socket. Even though the full charging process won’t take long, you can also keep it connected to your smartphone or tablet so it will continue working. Hence, you can take your Dimplex Desk Friend wherever you want and it will give you enough heat for you to feel warm and cosy. However, it still has a 1.5-meter power cord in a set if you prefer to use a socket.

We wouldn’t state that this appliance is completely flawless since it has a little drawback in its design: the upper insert made of white glossy plastic can be easily scratched. Yet, we would not consider it a major disadvantage since you won’t face this problem if you use it carefully.
Review of Dimplex DDF250 Personal Desk Heater

Cost-Efficient Heater

With the Dimplex personal desk heater, you won’t have to put on extra clothes when going to work in winter. This little appliance will make sure you feel comfortable enough at your workplace even if the temperature outside the window is far below zero and the central heating in your workplace fails. The working power of this device is quite small (250 Watts), however, it still can tackle the job perfectly. It won’t affect your electricity bills too much, yet will still provide you with enough heat. Just place the device at a distance of about one metre, and you will feel the warmth in a few minutes. In addition to this, the heater is fitted with a standby thermostat, allowing you to adjust the temperature. The device is safe to use since it has an automatic cut-out. Plus, like almost all the other high-quality models on the market, this device has overheat protection.

All in all, if you are looking for a compact, lightweight, and efficient heating appliance, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option. This desk friend from Dimplex will make the working temperature comfortable at any time of the year. Purchase it and make your working space way cosier.

Dimplex DDF250 Personal Desk Heater in the use

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B072MFNRX2

 

Pro Breeze Mini Heater

Tabletop Solution

Even though a ceramic heater is certainly not the most potent type of heater out there, there's a good chance some people may browse through a few of them and end up with an idea that the majority of these heating solutions are more suited towards larger rooms. Nevertheless, there are plenty of different options on the market. If you do not have any major issues with the temperature at home or in your office but you still end up feeling a slight discomfort during the coldest of days, you could always opt for something like Pro Breeze, a mini heater that is simply perfect for the sort of scenarios that we have just described.

Naturally, what we're dealing with here isn't the most powerful heater there is, with the maximum power capping at 500 Watts. But given that this is a model that wasn't designed to warm up an entire room, you really can't hold that against it. With that said, the aforementioned amount of power will prove to be more than enough to warm you up without affecting your colleagues in the office or the family members that may be sitting in the same room with you. Simply put it on your table beside the laptop and you should be good to go. As you'd imagine, the heater is fairly modest in terms of power consumption, so you won't have to worry about your electricity bills skyrocketing once you install it.

Review of Pro Breeze Mini Heater Personal PTC Heater

Bring It With You

Now, what we're talking about here is a mini ceramic heater with thermostat that is designed for use on tables and desks, so it should probably come as no surprise that the model features exactly 16,6 x 11,5 x 19,5 centimetres in overall dimensions, the sort of size that will allow you to find some space for it on just about any working station. Plus, taking into account the heater's measly weight that adds up to less than 900 grams, you could simply put it in your purse or your backpack and take it with you to your office or bring it back home if you feel so inclined.

Of course, just because the model isn't necessarily the most sizable option out there, doesn't mean that it could get by without some of the things that make a ceramic heater what it is. The adjustable thermostat is there, so you will be able to change the temperature around you using a control dial conveniently located on the front of the model. The overheat protection will make sure that the model will never put you in any kind of danger. Other than that, the tip-over safety switch is also there, which is especially important given how much easier it is to tip this heater over given its shape and size. Finally, the eye-catching ice white colour will prove to be a perfect addition to any office environment.

To paraphrase our earlier point, if you are more or less satisfied with the overall temperature at home or in your office but you still end up feeling a slight discomfort during the coldest of days, Pro Breeze may just be exactly the sort of mini heater that will be able to satisfy your needs.

Pro Breeze Mini Heater Personal PTC Heater in the use

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £19.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B0778ZK42G

 

Nexgadget Ultra Quiet

Quiet Operation

Those who seek a quiet yet efficient heater for the workplace may want to take a closer look at the NEXGADGET Ultra Quiet Personal Heater. This model is one of the best choices not only for home but also for office use thanks to its silent operation and decent working power.

Starting off, this heating appliance is fitted with a 500-watt heating element that can make the coldest rooms warm relatively quickly. You can place it not only inside the house but also in the garage. On top of that, this model can produce a powerful cold airflow whilst consuming only 5 watts of electricity. Thus, it will cool you down on a hot summer day. The modes are very easy to change since there is only one control button on top of the body.

As we mentioned before, this personal heater is relatively silent and doesn’t produce too much noise (around 40 dB). So, it shouldn’t bother you while you work and disturb your colleagues or housemates. It can perfectly fit even on a small working desk due to a relatively small size. The model has a minimalistic design and comes in the shape of a block. It is available in black colour only.

Review of Nexgadget Ultra Quiet Personal Heater

Doesn't Make The Air Too Dry

The other thing that we really like about this appliance is that, unlike many space heaters, it doesn’t make the air way too dry and cause breathing issues, skin and eye itchiness, and so on. You can leave it on for hours, and you won’t have to use a humidifier along with it to normalise the level of humidity.

We also consider this fan heater a great choice for people with kids and pets as it is fitted with all the necessary safety features and comes with an FCC certification. It features overheat protection and a tip-over switch in case the heater falls down. Plus, the body is made of flame-retardant material that doesn’t get extremely hot, so there is a lower risk of burns.

Do note, however, that you can feel a rather strange chemical smell the first time you turn the unit on. Luckily, it disappears relatively quickly, so we don’t consider it a huge downside. Last but not least, despite a relatively small price, this model is pretty robust and was built to last. To back its quality, the manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty.

Wrapping up, if you seek a decent appliance for home or office that is safe, silent, and is able to make you feel warm in a matter of seconds, we highly suggest going with the NEXGADGET Personal Heater. This appliance boasts good durability and won’t cost you a fortune.

Nexgadget Ultra Quiet Personal Heater in the use
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07K9JPHXJ

 

Warmlite WL44014N

Compact Plug-In Heater

Do you lack space for a full-on heater at work or are you tired of carrying big and heavy appliances everywhere you go around the house? If so, the Warmlite WL44014N will become a perfect solution for you.

First and foremost, this heater offers great functionality. You can adjust the temperature in the range between 15 and 30°C according to your needs. The chosen one will be shown on the LCD screen on the front part of the unit. After you select the desired temperature, the appliance will maintain it in the room. The controls are clear and intuitive, so you will be able to quickly figure out how to use this mini appliance.

To make heat distribution even more efficient, the manufacturer added a 90° automatic oscillation feature. Thus, the whole area around you will be filled with warm air. Such a device will be perfect for small offices and compact rooms.

What really makes this personal heater stand out from the crowd is that it doesn’t have a power cord. Instead, you can plug the device directly into the socket. This will help you save some space on the desk or bedside stable whilst still feeling warm. But do note that, even despite the small body with the size of 11 x 7 x 18.2 cm, the device still may cover the nearest socket. Thus, it is better to have a big adapter with a few sockets on it.

Review of Warmlite WL44014N Personal PTC Heater

Convenient 12-Hour Timer Feature

The next good thing is that the heater is very lightweight and, hence, easily portable. Thanks to that, if both your home and office get too cold in winter months, you can carry this device in your bag or backpack to work and back home.

Moving on to safety, we believe that this small space heater is actually one of the safest models in its price range. Apart from the standard overheat protection switch, this model also comes with a timer that you can set for up to 12 hours. It will be very handy if you decide to rest on the couch near the working heater and you are not sure if you are going to fall asleep: just set the timer and have your rest. The device will turn off automatically, which helps not only avoid fire hazards but also lowers your electricity bills.

We also want to add a few words about the warranty. From the get-go, you receive a 1-year warranty with your purchase. Plus, you can extend it for one more year after the product registration.

To sum up, even though the Warmlite WL44014N Personal PTC Heater is very budget-friendly, it doesn’t lose in functionality to more advanced expensive models. It is compact, lightweight, and can be adjusted according to your preferences.

Warmlite WL44014N Personal PTC Heater in the use
Last updated price £27.50
Stock In stock
ASIN B07X5WC5RY

 

What Is a Personal Heater?

Winter can definitely be one of the most beautiful seasons of them all, but let's face - it is pretty damn cold. Though there's always an option of hiding from the cold inside your office building, those can get fairly chilly too. Luckily, there's a simple solution to this issue and the one that does not require you to deal with office politics. All you have to do is purchase a personal heater. As the name suggests, a personal heater is simply a smaller and more compact heater that provides just enough warmth for a single person to get cozy and comfortable in a workplace. This kind of device will be the perfect solution if you don't feel like the temperature in your office is exactly where it should be in terms of warmth but you don't have the power to change it or wouldn't want to inconvenience your colleagues. These things are relatively cheap, safe, and easy to operate, so there's little to no reason not to buy a personal heater for yourself the moment you start feeling chilly in your own comfort zone.

Do keep in mind that these heaters will be insufficient if you're looking to warm up an entire room with one of these models. If the latter is the case, you might want to invest in a space heater. And if the temperature is a bit too hot for your liking, a portable air conditioner will do just fine.

What Features to Compare

Personal heaters are compact and seemingly uncomplicated tools but, just like any other source of heat and energy, they still require careful consideration before you end up purchasing one of these things. There isn't really a whole lot of aspects to a device like that but it is paramount you know the difference between them and what to look for in each one of these elements.

Type

The very first thing you ought to decide on before you purchase one of these products is what type it belongs to. There are quite a lot of heaters out there but the majority of personal ones fall under one of these categories: propane, infrared, ceramic, or fan heaters. Propane heaters use a manufactured gas with an identical name. They're fairly similar to orthodox methane gas heaters, with the only real difference being that propane does not emit CO2 or greenhouse gases when it burns. However, these types require propane cylinders that need to be refilled on a regular basis. Infrared heaters, on the other hand, emit higher temperatures through electromagnetic radiation. They're cheap to run, saving you some money on the fuel bills, easy to install, and they do not create air currents. The only real downside is that they tend to be less effective when placed over 10 feet away from the user compared to other types of heaters. Ceramic models deliver heat by transmitting electricity through ceramic plates. The biggest advantage of this type is that they provide a consistent source of heat without ever getting hot enough to pose a fire hazard or burn risk. The majority of them also offer two different temperature settings. Fan heaters, as the name suggests, use fans that move warm air from the heating unit to the user. People often choose fan heaters because of their speed. Fan heaters tend to warm up a room much faster compared to any other type out there. They're also usually smaller and pose next to no risk of overheating due to the technology that immediately moves the heat away from the source.

Heating Capacity

Aside from the type, you should also consider the heating capacity of your potential purchase. If you're looking to warm up nobody but yourself in a fairly enclosed and relatively small space, a device that outputs around 200 watts should be more than enough. However, if you aren't buying one of these models just for yourself or you're searching for the kind of product that could warm up a spacious and cold room, you might want to consider a more powerful option.

Safety

The last thing you ought to keep in mind is the safety precautions that the model comes equipped with. Without going into too many details, some heaters may prove to be rather dangerous if they do not feature the necessary safety measures and if the user doesn't know how to operate one, so consider those before you acquire a personal heater.

Did you know?

The winter season is long upon us and the majority of you either have your heaters on by now or are busy desperately looking for one of these lifesavers to warm you up at work or provide some warmth during a cold winter evening at home. Well, if you haven't already, you should definitely turn your recent acquisition on and enjoy some facts about heaters that we have carefully compiled for your entertainment.

Philadelphia Gas Works

Generally speaking, Philly is not the first place you think of when it comes to modernization and innovations. And while that may often be the case, The City of Brotherly Love was actually home to the very first municipally-owned natural gas company. The company that combined the name of the city with their very intentions, Philadelphia Gas Works began its journey in 1836 and is still the largest and longest-operating public gas system in the country.

Home Heating

In the UK some people still use oil, coal and wood in order to warm up their houses and apartments. Electric devices are popular heating sources as well. However, only 15% of the British houses don’t have access to mains gas. Hence, the rest 85% of the homes are grid connected and use boilers with central heating.

What is That Smell Again?

The majority of people that have smelled natural gas in their houses would probably associate it with the smell of rotten eggs. Nevertheless, natural gas is actually odourless, which is why energy companies add some kind of an odourant to it before the gas is distributed so that people would be able to detect it before any actual threat could occur.

Now That is Hot!

Though you might often feel like it is literally the hottest day ever out there throughout the entirety of the summer season, the absolute hottest temperature on Earth was actually recorded over 100 years ago, on July 10, 1913. Though the place probably wouldn't come as any sort of surprise to the Golden State population. It was on the previously specified day that the Furnace Creek in Death Valley, California reached a scorching temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit.

When in Rome

Those pesky ancient Romans were the very first when it came to a variety of nationwide inventions and modernizations and the process of heating is yet another example of how much their civilization was ahead of its time. All in all, Ancient Rome was the first civilization to introduce central heating, with some buildings utilizing the so-called “hypocaust” system, where the furnace-heated air travelled through empty spaces under floors and out of pipes in the walls.

That Might Just be Enough Heat

Although it is obviously important, at least as far as productivity is concerned, to maintain a temperature that'd be just warm enough for a person to do his job with a certain amount of comfort and convenience, it can be very easy to go overboard with heating. Generally speaking, when the temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius, most people's work output drops by a whopping 45%.

FAQ:

Q: What are some of the other elements that I ought to consider before purchasing a personal heater, aside from the ones that were already mentioned?
A: Though we did already cover the most important aspects that you ought to look out for, it certainly wouldn't hurt to check just how efficient your potential acquisition is in terms of conserving energy. Unless you wish to pay an exorbitant amount of money covering your electric bills, you ought to find a model that would fit your environment and the size of your space. And, speaking of size, you should obviously consider the size of the heater since you wouldn't want a ridiculously enormous device taking up half of your workspace just to boost the temperature a few degrees. Aside from that, some heaters also include certain additional features like different energy saving modes, adjustable thermostats, and programmable timers that will allow you to minimize power usage and contribute to a considerably more economical operation.

Q: How safe are these heaters to use?
A: Now, this is where it gets tricky. The thing is, space heaters are one of the most popular causes of home fires. Other than that, it also highly depends on the model and the type of technology that said model utilises in order to bring up the heat. If portable heaters are left unattended, these things will be able to easily become potential fire hazards. Having said that, there are a few easy precautions you can take in order to minimize the threat and keep the risk of any dangerous situation from ever occurring to an absolute minimum. To start with, you shouldn't even look towards the older models that do not include all of the latest safety features like cool-to-the-touch surfaces and some sort of overheat protection systems, preferably the ones that include an automatic shut-off function whenever the device heats up to a dangerous temperature. You should also make sure that the heater carries the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) label. Other than that, try not to place any objects in the proximity of 3 feet around the device in order to avoid overheating anything in the area. It should probably go without saying but you also mustn't use portable heaters near any kind of water source and avoid placing one of these devices in a humid environment. Last but not least, always turn off and unplug the heater the moment you are done using it and never leave it unattended while the device is turned on.

Q: Can I use a personal heater as my main source of heat?
A: Unless you're stuck in a really small and cramped environment, even the most powerful personal heaters aren't capable of generating enough heat to compete with space heaters or a central heating system.

Q: What about noise though?
A: Not dissimilar to the majority of electrical appliances, most personal heaters tend to generate a certain amount of noise while working. But given that most of these heaters don't produce that much heat to begin with (compared to space heaters and other larger counterparts, of course), the amount of noise they generate is negligible more often than not.

Sources:

1. Portable Heaters, Energy Department.

2. Propane Heater Safety - Information That Could Save Your Life! Air&Water.

3. How your heater can kill you, Health24. April 1, 2015.

4. Laurent Belsie Electric heater: Five safety tips for when you turn it on, CSMonitor. December 15, 2010.

5. Jeff Rossen and Anneke Foster How to use a space heater safely, TODAY. December 2, 2017.

6. Matthew Steen Electric heater buying guide, Choice. May 25, 2017.

7. Heater Buying Guide, Lowes.

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Publish Date: 2018-10-23 09:44:07