How much does it cost to run a panel heater in the UK?
Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)
A typical panel heater (1,000 W) used 4 hours a day, every day costs about £31.77 a month (£381.21 a year) at 26.11p/kWh.
Panel and convector heaters are slim, wall-mountable electric heaters common in flats, conservatories and offices. Running cost is set entirely by wattage and thermostat control — a modern panel heater with an accurate electronic thermostat and timer will cycle off once the room reaches temperature, keeping costs down, whereas a basic model with a simple dial can run closer to full power. Like all electric heating they are best used to warm one occupied room rather than a whole home.
Work out your own cost
About £31.77 a month · £381.21 a year
Uses about 1,460 kWh a year. Prefilled with the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh — edit any box for your own figures.
Cost by model power
The same panel heater can vary a lot between models, so here is the range from a low-power to a high-power example.
| Model | Power | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-power model | 400 W | 10p | 42p | £12.71 | £152.48 |
| Typical model | 1,000 W | 26p | £1.04 | £31.77 | £381.21 |
| High-power model | 2,000 W | 52p | £2.09 | £63.53 | £762.41 |
What changes the cost
- Rated power (400W–2kW)
- Quality of the thermostat and whether it has a timer
- Room insulation and draughts
- How many rooms you heat
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