APPLIANCE RUNNING COSTS · OCT–DEC 2026
How much does a convector heater cost to run?
Convector heaters warm the air that rises past an element. At 2 kW, they cost the same per hour as a 2 kW fan heater or radiator. At the GB average price-cap electricity rate of 26.32p per kWh for October–December 2026, a convector heater costs about 53p an hour at full power, or £1.05 for a typical 2-hour evening.
PER HOUR
53pat 2,000 W, full powerPER EVENING
£1.054.00 kWh over 2 hoursPER WEEK
£7.377 evenings a week (assumed)PER YEAR
£3841,460 kWh at the assumed useWork out your own cost
Choose your region or type in your own unit rate, then change the wattage and hours to match your appliance and how you use it. It starts with a week at our assumed use, averaged to hours a day.
28 kWh over 7 days · about £1.05 a day
How much electricity it uses
- The Dimplex HeatLite is a 2 kW convector with three heat settings; the Igenix IG5200 offers 750 W, 1,250 W and 2,000 W.
- The Energy Saving Trust says portable electric heaters can be expensive to run because electricity costs more per unit of heat than main heating systems.
| Example | Rated power | Per hour | Per evening | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | 750 W | 20p | 39p | £144 |
| Typical | 2,000 W | 53p | £1.05 | £384 |
Usage assumption: Two hours a day on the 2 kW setting. This is our illustration, not a measured average; change it in the calculator.
What drives the cost
- Heat setting and hours of use.
- Thermostat: once the room is warm the element cycles.
How it compares
| Appliance | Typical use | Energy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convector heater | 1 evening, 2 hours | 4.00 kWh | £1.05 |
| Electric fan heater | 1 evening, 2 hours | 4.00 kWh | £1.05 |
| Oil-filled radiator | 1 evening, 3 hours | 6.00 kWh | £1.58 |
| Electric blanket | 1 night, 1 hour | 0.15 kWh | 3.9p |
Ways to spend less
- Choose the lowest setting that keeps the room comfortable and use the thermostat rather than leaving it on full.
Unit rates vary by region: this period they run from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. See every region’s rate →
Questions
How much does a convector heater cost to run per hour?
At 26.32p per kWh (the GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT), a convector heater rated at 2,000 W costs about 53p an hour at full power. Models from 750 W to 2,000 W cost 20p to 53p an hour.
How much does a convector heater cost to run a year?
It depends on how much you use it. Our assumption is two hours a day on the 2 kW setting. At 26.32p per kWh that comes to about £384 a year (1,460 kWh). Change the hours or uses in the calculator to match your own.
Does the cost depend on where I live?
Yes, a little. Price-cap electricity unit rates for October–December 2026 range from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Pick your region in the calculator, or enter the unit rate from your bill if you are on a fixed or time-of-use tariff.
About these figures
Running costs are energy used × unit rate. They exclude the daily standing charge, which you pay whether or not the appliance runs. Costs per hour assume the appliance draws its full rated power the whole time; many appliances cycle on and off, so real use is often lower. Power ratings and energy figures are examples from the sources below, not a measured UK average.
Other appliances
Sources
- Dimplex HeatLite convector heater 2kW ↗2,000 W, three heat settings.
- Igenix IG5200 convector heater user manual (PDF) ↗Heat settings 750 W, 1,250 W and 2,000 W.
- Energy Saving Trust: electric heating ↗Running costs of portable electric heaters compared with main heating.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average electricity unit rate and VAT basis, October–December 2026.
Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →