How to Choose the Best Infrared Heater
With rising energy bills and a growing focus on efficiency, infrared heating is becoming popular in UK homes. It’s low maintenance, stylish, and remarkably effective, offering warmth that feels natural and costs less to run.
But what makes an infrared heater the “best”?
In this guide, we’ll break down the decision into four key, distinct areas:
- Performance & Efficiency
- Safety & Durability
- Sizing & Application, and
- Control & Usability
By evaluating these areas, you’ll be in a better position to choose the best infrared heater for you,
1. Performance & Efficiency
This covers the heater’s core technology. As in, how well it converts electricity into comfortable heat.
The Heating Element
The heart of the panel is its heating element. The industry standard for high-quality panels is Carbon Crystal. It provides
- More even heat distribution
- Lower energy consumption
- Better temperature control, and
- Longer-lasting performance
Than other materials,
Surface Material
The material on the front of the panel determines how well it radiates heat and how it looks in your home.
- Aluminium/Steel: These are excellent conductors, lightweight, and versatile. White panels can blend into a wall or ceiling. Or, you can also print your own artwork on them to make them completely unique to your home.
- Glass & Mirror: These offer a premium, elegant finish. They’re easy to clean and, in the case of mirror heaters, provide dual functionality, making them perfect for bathrooms and hallways.
- Panel Insulation: This is a critical but often overlooked feature. A high-quality infrared panel has a specialised layer of insulation on the back. This projects close to 100% of the heat forward into the room where you want it. Not lost into the wall behind it. Cheaper panels lack this insulation and can waste significant energy.
2. Safety & Durability
When installing an electrical appliance in your home, safety and longevity are non-negotiable.
Essential Safety Certifications
Never buy a panel without them. Look for these key markings:
- CE Mark: A mandatory marking that confirms the product meets EU safety, health, and environmental protection requirements.
- RoHS: This confirms the restriction of specific hazardous materials in the panel’s construction.
- IP (Ingress Protection) Rating: This rating is crucial for installations in damp or wet environments. An IP rating consists of two numbers; for heating, the second digit (water protection) is most important. For a bathroom, you must choose a panel with a rating of IP44 or higher. This means it’s protected against splashes of water from all directions.
- Lifespan & Warranty: A manufacturer’s warranty is a direct reflection of its confidence in the product’s quality. Look for a substantial warranty period, such as 5 years. A well-made infrared panel has no moving parts and should be built to last for decades (often 20+ years). At Warm4Less, many of our infrared heaters have 10 year warranties.
3. Sizing & Application
Even the best-made infrared heater will fail if it’s the wrong size for the room. The word “Best” means correctly sized.
The Fundamental Calculation: Watts per Square Metre (W/m²)
To heat a room effectively, you need a certain amount of power (measured in watts) relative to its size. The amount you need depends on the room’s insulation level. As a general rule of thumb:
- Modern, well-insulated property: 60 W/m²
- Older, less-insulated property: 75 W/m²
For example, a 12m² bedroom in a modern house would need a panel of around 12 x 60 = 720W. IF you feel the cold, choosing the next size up (e.g., an 800W panel) is always a safe bet.
Use our infrared heating calculator to see what size panels you need for each room.
Matching Panel Type to Room Function:
- Living Areas: Aesthetics are key. A discreet white panel mounted on the ceiling can disappear. On the other hand, a custom picture heater can double as a piece of art.
- Bathrooms: Safety and function are paramount. An IP44-rated mirror infrared heater is the perfect choice. It provides heat, serves as a functional mirror, and stays steam-free when turned on.
- Bedrooms & Offices: Silent operation is essential for concentration and sleep. All high-quality infrared panels are 100% silent.
4. Control & Usability
A great heater should be simple to install and easy to control, allowing you to maximise comfort and minimise costs.
Thermostat Integration:
Your heater needs a thermostat to regulate the temperature and turn it on and off automatically. This is essential for efficiency.
- Plug-in Thermostats: A simple and flexible option for controlling a single panel.
- Wireless & Smart Thermostats: These offer the ultimate control, allowing you to set detailed schedules for every day of the week, often from an app on your phone.
- Installation: Most panels are designed for simple DIY wall or ceiling mounting. Some also come with optional feet for freestanding, portable use, giving you flexibility.
- Maintenance: One of the best features of infrared heating is that it is almost maintenance-free. With no moving parts, boilers, or filters, all they need is a wipe with a soft cloth from time to time.
Types of Infrared Heaters: Which Are Best?
Once you understand what makes a high-quality heater, the next step is choosing the right type of heater for your space. The best far infrared heater isn’t just about wattage. It’s about how it integrates into your room for the most efficiency and aesthetic appeal.
Here’s a breakdown of the different infrared panel forms and where they perform best.
Wall-Mounted Heaters
This is the most popular and flexible type of panel, often seen in a simple white finish or as a customisable picture heater. They’re perfect for freeing up valuable floor space and eliminating the clutter of traditional radiators.
- Best For: Living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and hallways.
Ceiling-Mounted Heaters
By taking the heat source overhead, you achieve the most unobtrusive heating possible. This uses the same lightweight panels as wall-mounting but installs them on the ceiling.
- Best For: Rooms with limited wall space, minimalist interiors, or homes with small children and pets where keeping the heater out of reach is a priority.
Shop Ceiling-Mounted Infrared Heaters >
Mirror Heaters
A brilliant example of dual-purpose design. Mirror heaters are both a high-quality mirror and an efficient heat source.
Shop Mirror Infrared Heaters >
Glass Panels
Offering a high-end, contemporary aesthetic, glass panels combine top performance with sleek design. These panels feature a hardened glass surface, typically in polished black or white.
- Best For: Modern interiors, stylish kitchens, and sophisticated office spaces.
Freestanding / Portable Heaters
For flexibility and “spot” heating, a portable panel is an excellent choice. This is typically a standard panel fitted with a set of feet, allowing it to stand on the floor.
- Best For: Supplemental heating aimed at a desk or sofa, renters who cannot drill into walls, or for occasional use in workshops or conservatories.
Shop Portable Infrared Heaters >
Bar Heaters
These are heavy-duty heaters designed for demanding environments where you need intense, instant heat.
- Best For: Outdoor spaces like patios, or large, poorly insulated indoor areas like garages, workshops, and sheds.
Conclusion:
The “best” infrared heater isn’t a specific brand or model. It’s a heater that meets a high standard across all four of these essential criteria. It is:
- Efficiently Powerful: Built with a quality carbon fibre element and proper insulation.
- Certified Safe: Carries TÜV and CE markings and has the right IP rating for its location.
- Correctly Sized: Matches the heating requirements of your specific room.
- Easy to Control: Paired with a suitable thermostat for optimal comfort and efficiency.
At Warm4less, this framework is the blueprint for our entire product range.
We use high-grade carbon fibre elements, ensure every panel meets rigorous TÜV and CE safety standards, and provide the too
