Electric Heating Systems: Types, Costs & Efficiency

Electric heating options for homes without gas: storage heaters, panel radiators, infrared panels, and oil-filled radiators.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-27 • Reading time: 8 minutes • Verified against: 6 sources

Electric heating costs 2–3× more to run than gas central heating in the UK (2026 rates: electricity 24p/kWh vs gas 6p/kWh). A 3-bedroom home costs £900–£2,200/year to heat electrically depending on system type: storage heaters (£900–£1,400 with Economy 7), panel heaters (£1,500–£2,200), infrared (£1,200–£1,800), vs £720/year for gas. Electric heating suits homes without gas connection, well-insulated properties, or supplemental zone heating. All electric systems are ~100% efficient at point of use.

Electric Heating Types: Quick Comparison

System Type	Annual Cost (3-bed)	Installation Cost	Best For
Storage heaters	£900–£1,400 Cheapest (Economy 7 tariff)	£1,800–£3,000 Whole house	Flats, predictable heating needs, overnight charging
Electric panel heaters	£1,500–£2,200 Standard electricity rate	£900–£2,100 £150–£350 per heater	Instant heat, room-by-room control, easy install
Infrared panels	£1,200–£1,800 20–30% more efficient than convection	£1,200–£2,400 £200–£400 per panel	Well-insulated homes, zoned heating, low ceilings
Oil-filled radiators	£1,500–£2,200 Similar to panel heaters	£300–£900 Portable, plug-in	Supplemental heating, rental properties
Gas central heating (for comparison)	£720 Cheapest option	£2,500–£4,000 New boiler + radiators	Homes with gas connection

Why Electric Heating Costs More Than Gas

All electric heating systems are ~100% efficient at converting electricity to heat. Gas boilers are 90–94% efficient. So why is electric heating more expensive?

The answer is fuel cost per kWh. In June 2026, UK energy prices are:

Electricity (standard tariff): 24p/kWh
Gas (mains supply): 6p/kWh
Electricity (Economy 7 off-peak): 9p/kWh (00:30–07:30)

To deliver 1 kWh of heat to your home:

Electric heater: 1 kWh electricity × 24p = 24p
Gas boiler: 1.1 kWh gas × 6p = 6.6p (accounting for 90% efficiency)
Storage heater (Economy 7): 1 kWh electricity × 9p = 9p (off-peak)

Electric heating on a standard tariff costs 3.6× more than gas per kWh of heat delivered. Even with Economy 7, it's 1.4× more expensive than gas.

Storage Heaters

Storage heaters charge ceramic bricks overnight during off-peak hours (Economy 7 tariff) and release heat during the day. They're the cheapest electric heating option for whole-house heating.

Running cost: £900–£1,400/year (3-bed home, 12,000 kWh/year heat demand)

Pros: Low running costs (for electric), no ongoing maintenance, suitable for flats

Cons: Limited control (heat all day or not at all), requires Economy 7 tariff, expensive daytime peak rates

Full guide: Storage Heaters →

Electric Panel Heaters

Panel heaters (also called convector heaters or slim-line radiators) heat the air via convection. They're wall-mounted, plug into a 13A socket or hard-wired, and give instant heat with individual thermostats.

Running cost: £1,500–£2,200/year (3-bed home, standard electricity tariff)

Installation: £150–£350 per heater (6 heaters = £900–£2,100 whole house)

Pros: Instant heat, room-by-room control, easy to install, no boiler or pipework

Cons: Expensive to run on standard tariffs, slow to heat large rooms, air circulation can feel draughty

Panel heaters are popular for extensions, converted garages, or properties where running gas pipes isn't feasible.

Full guide: Electric Panel Heaters →

Infrared Heating Panels

Infrared panels heat objects and people directly (radiant heat) rather than heating the air. They're typically mounted on walls or ceilings. Infrared feels warmer at lower air temperatures, which can reduce energy use by 20–30% compared to convection heaters.

Running cost: £1,200–£1,800/year (3-bed home, assuming 25% efficiency gain vs convection)

Installation: £200–£400 per panel (6 panels = £1,200–£2,400 whole house)

Pros: More efficient than convection, instant heat, no air circulation (better for allergies), silent operation

Cons: Objects/furniture in the way block heat, higher upfront cost than panel heaters, less effective in draughty homes

Infrared heating works best in well-insulated homes with low air leakage. In poorly insulated homes, convection heaters warm the air more evenly.

Oil-Filled Radiators

Oil-filled radiators are portable plug-in heaters that look like traditional radiators. An electric element heats oil inside the radiator, which then radiates heat into the room. They're slower to warm up than panel heaters but retain heat longer after switching off.

Running cost: £1,500–£2,200/year (same as panel heaters, but typically used for supplemental heating not whole-house)

Purchase cost: £50–£150 per radiator (portable, no installation needed)

Pros: Portable, no installation, gentle heat, safer (no exposed elements)

Cons: Slow to heat, bulky, still expensive to run, trailing cables

Oil-filled radiators suit rental properties or short-term use where you can't install fixed heating.

Is Electric Heating Right for You?

Electric heating makes sense if:

You have no gas connection (common in flats, rural areas, or new developments)
Installing gas would be expensive (e.g. properties far from gas main)
You're heating a small well-insulated space (home office, studio, extension)
You only need supplemental heating (one cold room in an otherwise-heated house)
You can use off-peak electricity (storage heaters with Economy 7)
You're pairing electric heating with solar panels (reduce grid electricity use)

Consider gas or heat pumps if:

You have a gas connection available
You're heating a whole house year-round
Your property is poorly insulated (electric running costs will be very high)
You can afford a heat pump (£7,000–£14,000 installed, but £7,500 government grant available)

Electric Heating and Carbon Emissions

The UK electricity grid in 2026 is ~60% renewable/nuclear, giving grid electricity a carbon intensity of 0.19 kg CO₂e/kWh. Gas is 0.18 kg CO₂e/kWh of fuel, but you burn more gas than the heat you get out (90% efficiency), so gas central heating emits ~0.20 kg CO₂e per kWh of heat delivered.

Electric heating (at 100% efficiency) emits 0.19 kg CO₂e per kWh of heat, fractionally lower than gas. As the grid decarbonises further, electric heating's carbon footprint will fall. By 2030, grid electricity is projected to be 0.10 kg CO₂e/kWh, making electric heating significantly cleaner than gas.

Related Guides

Sources

Ofgem, "Default Tariff Cap" (June 2026: 24p/kWh electricity, 6p/kWh gas).
Energy Saving Trust, "Electric Heating" guidance (running cost calculations, 2026).
Which?, "Electric Heaters: Which Type Is Best?" (cost and performance comparison, 2025).
UK BEIS, "Greenhouse Gas Reporting: Conversion Factors 2026" (grid electricity 0.19 kg CO₂e/kWh).
BEAMA, "Guide to Electric Heating" (product categories and efficiency claims, 2024).
National Grid ESO, "Future Energy Scenarios 2025" (grid decarbonisation projections to 2030).

Last reviewed: 2026-06-27