Conservatories are great when you get a bit of sun, but they don’t retain heat as well as other rooms in your house do, especially in cold UK weather.
Their glass walls and ceilings mean that heat can quickly escape. But you can get heaters that are quite well suited for use in conservatories, thanks to their high energy efficiency.
And that can make all the difference in your enjoyment of your conservatory all year round.
Coming up we have some product reviews of the best conservatory heaters out on the market today. We’ve handpicked our Top 5 for you to look through.
We’ve also got a buying guide for you which explains the different types of heaters available for conservatories, and we go through a few things you might like to think about before making your purchase.
This is then followed by a brief question whereby we attempt to answer some of your most frequently asked questions.
In a hurry? This is our winner!
- Features a 2 KW heat output
- Choice of two heat settings - via twin panel technology
- Thermostat with frost setting
Best Conservatory Heaters – Comparison Table
Best Conservatory Heaters – Reviews
Dimplex CDE2Ti 2KW Electric Oil Free Radiator
This electric radiator has earned the much coveted title of “Amazon’s Choice for conservatory heaters”, and after over 500 customer ratings, the average rating still comes in at above 4 stars out of 5 – that’s really good going!
It’s 30% more energy efficient than an oil-filled radiator, throwing out 2 kilowatts of heat output, and heats the room 30% faster. This is due in part to having heat panels on two sides rather than just the one. You can have both sides outputting heat at the same time, or just the one side if that’s all you need.
Not only does it have a thermostat for you to adjust to the temperature required, but it has a timer on it too. It’s easy to program on the heater itself, which shows the temperature via its backlit LCD display.
You can buy it with or without a handheld remote control which lets you set the temperature as you want it without having to get up out of your seat.
It’s quite the compact little radiator, very lightweight and it comes on castors and with integrated carry handles, so you can just wheel it into the conservatory when you need it, and pack it away in the warmer months.
We also love how there’s a special little compartment within which to roll up and keep the electrical cord. It’s quite a long cord too – you may not need an extension cable if the socket is in the adjoining room.
The radiator comes with a 5-year guarantee, so you know you’re going to get a decent lifespan out of it.
- Amazon’s Choice for conservatory heaters
- Really good customer feedback
- 30% more energy efficient than an oil-filled radiator
- Heats the room 30% faster than an oil-filled radiator
- 2 independently operable heat panels
- Thermostat and timer
- Compact, for easy storage
- Very easy to maneuver
- Little compartment for the electrical cord
- 5-year guarantee
- Premium product at a premium price
Pro Breeze 2000W Mini Ceramic Fan Heater - 3 Heat Settings & Fan Only Mode with Built-in Overheat and Tip Over Protection, Electric Heater for Home, Office and Bedroom
Talk about best seller – this fan heater from Pro Breeze has over 1500 ratings on it’s Amazon page (well closer to 2000 actually) and it comes in at a whopping average rating of 4 and a half stars!
The stand out feature of this heater, is that despite being a fan heater which usually offer a blast of heat in just one direction, this particular heater will spread its heat a full 60 degree angle in front of it, so you don’t have to keep moving it to heat different areas of the conservatory, simply set it in the corner and heat up the whole room.
However if you did just want a blast of heat in one direction, you can switch off the oscillation mode. Having the oscillation mode enables the heater to have a total of 4 settings altogether. You can have it on low power, 1200 watts (not that low if you ask us) with or without it oscillating, or you can have it on high power, a cosy 2000 watts, with or without it oscillating.
It’s advanced ceramic heating elements mean it can provide faster and more efficient heating than more traditional counterparts. Just what you need come midwinter.
It has an adjustable thermostat, so it will stop producing heat when the desired temperature is reached.
It has such small dimensions, you’ll have no problem finding a space for it in your conservatory. And it’s lightweight and portable too, so you can simply pack it away when not needed.
Not only are you protected from overheating, but you’re also protected from it tipping over, thanks to it’s anti tip-over which will instantly switch off in any unsafe situation.
- Flies off the shelves
- Great customer rating on Amazon
- Can heat up at a full 60 degree angle
- Throws out 1200 watts of heat on low power
- Throws out 2000 watts of heat on high power
- Fast and energy efficient
- Adjustable thermostat
- Compact and lightweight
- Protected from overheating
- Protected from it tipping over
- You can’t set it at a particular temperature, only at high or low power, with or without oscillation
Duronic Heater Oil Free Electric HV101, Mica Panels 2.5kW, Radiant and Convection Convector Heating with Thermostat, Heats up in 1 Minute - Black
This convector heater from Duronic uses micathermic technology that is designed differently to convector and gas heaters due to mica panel components inside.
It heats up considerably quicker than their oil-filled counterparts and has a built-in thermostat, to ensure your desired temperature is both met and sustained.
There are 3 different settings for the heat output, you can set it from 1000 watts, 1500 watts or a whopping 2500 watts.
And it has an anti-frost function that allows the heater to keep the room temperature above freezing point.
What we really love about this heater is how it can double up as a cooling fan in the summer! How handy is that for a conservatory?!
It’s lightweight, at just 8.2kg, and has integrated carry handles, so moving it from room to room is no problem.
The heater has passed all its safety requirements, so you don’t have to worry about there being any nasty accidents with the heater, like overheating.
You can choose whether to keep it placed on the floor, or mount it to the wall – all the wall fittings and feet are included in the price.
- Customers love it
- 3 settings for heat output, up to 1800 watts
- Anti-Frost function
- Protective grills and insulation
- Overheat protection
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Passed all it’s safety requirements
- Can mount it to the wall if wanted
- Although you can set different heat outputs, you cannot set the thermostat to a specific temperature
Warmlite WL43003YTW 7 Fin Oil Filled Radiator with Adjustable Thermostat and a 24 Hour Timer, White
This oil filled radiator from Warmlite flies off the shelves and is well loved by customers.
It’s stand out feature is it’s small size, which is a big plus for a conservatory heater where space is generally a premium.
As the oil heats up within the radiator, heat is transferred into the conservatory. It’s designed to be energy efficient.
There are 2 buttons which allow you to set up to 3 different heat outputs, you’ve got a button for 600 watts, a button for 900 watts, or you can have both buttons switched on to achieve a heat output reaching a total of 1500 watts.
With it’s thermostat in place, once the desired temperature is reached the heater will stop producing heat until the thermostat is turned up again.
It’s very portable, the lightweight heater can simply be slid between rooms, thanks to its easy glide castors, ensuring it can always be placed where it’s most needed.
You’re protected from the machine overheating, so you can be assured of your safety.
Warmlite are confident in their product, and this is evidenced by their 1 year guarantee, which can be extended to 2 years if you register online.
- Sells really well
- Loved by customers
- Small dimensions
- Energy efficient
- 3 different heat outputs
- Has a thermostat
- Slide between rooms
- Protected from overheating
- 2 year guarantee available
- Although you can set the heat output, you can’t set it to a specific temperature in degrees centigrade or fahrenheit
Bitorquatos Portable Convective Indoor Space Heater, 750W / 1250W / 2000W, Thermostat, Wall Mounted Safety Electric Heater, Low Noise(White)
This convector radiator heater from Donyer Power is one of Amazon’s best sellers, and even after 500 ratings, has maintained its 4 star out of 5 rating.
When cool air crosses the heating components once passed through the bottom of the heater, it’s released as warmer air through the top of the heater, and this process continues until the thermostat temperature is reached.
It has a high heating efficiency which makes it cheap to run.
The instructions given are to turn the thermostat up to the maximum temperature, and only decrease the temperature if you get too warm.
In addition to the thermostat, there’s also 2 buttons for a range of 3 heat settings. There’s one button for a heat output of 750 watts, one for 1250 watts, or you can have both on which gives you a heat output of a whopping 2000 watts.
It works quietly, you could comfortably nod off in your conservatory and the noise won’t disturb you.
We like that there’s integrated handles on either side of the heater so you can move it as you please, or pack away in the warmer months.
The heater is protected from overheating, which is always good to know.
- Best selling heating
- Hit with customers
- High heating efficiency
- Range of 3 heat settings
- It’s quiet
- Handles on either side
- Protected from overheating
- You can’t set a specific temperature, only a specific power output
Best Conservatory Heaters – Buyer’s Guide
Types of conservatory heater
There are 4 main types of heaters available for conservatories, electric radiators, convector heaters, oil filled radiators, and portable fan heaters or fan tower heaters.
Electric radiator
If you have an electrical socket in your conservatory, you might like to consider getting an electric radiator for your conservatory. You get all the benefits of a gas radiator without having to call a plumber in to re-lay any pipework.
Electric radiators heat up and cool down quite quickly, and all the energy generated by them is transformed into heat, making them very efficient.
If you don’t have an electrical socket in your conservatory, you could consider whether you’d be able to use a socket in an adjoining room, perhaps using an extension lead.
If you want to go for an electric radiator, we would strongly recommend our Number 1 conservatory heater, the Dimplex CDE3ECC.
Convector Heaters
A convector heater works by circulating air through it’s inside, across its heating element. The heating element then warms the air, which then rises and is replaced in the heater by cooler air which then goes through the same process, which continues until the heater is switched off, or until the thermostat tells it to stop.
If you want to go for a convector radiator, we would strongly recommend our Number 3 conservatory heater, the Duronic Convector Heater HV120, or alternatively our Number 5, the Donyer Power Convector Radiator Heater.
Oil Filled Radiators
Oil filled radiators are generally a much less popular option for a conservatory heater, as it means that a plumber will have to be called out to extend the existing heating pipework in the house.
That said, they are very effective heaters that can warm a conservatory very quickly, thanks to they’re large heating output, and once heated, the conservatory will remain comfortable for several hours afterward.
If you want to go for an oil filled radiator, we would recommend our Number 4 conservatory heater, the Warmlite WL43003YW.
Portable Fan Heaters
If you’re after a quick blast of heat, you could opt for a portable fan heater. These types of heaters generally generate and shoot heat in one direction, as opposed to providing an even heat throughout the room. They don’t generally have timers or thermostats either, so you could easily end up leaving them on too long and generate high energy bills.
That said, fan heaters are considerably cheaper to buy than their radiator counterparts.
If you wanted to go for a fan heater, then we have to recommend our Number 2, the Pro Breeze® 2000W Mini Ceramic Fan Heater. It’s one of the best fan heaters out there on the market today.
Other Things to Consider
Cost
The thing to remember when you’re buying a conservatory heater is that, you’re not just buying the heater itself, you also may have to pay for installation (depending on the heater you get) and you have to pay for any charges incurred from using it, such as an increase in your electricity bill.
Thermostat or Temperature Control
A thermostat can be a much loved feature of a conservatory heater, allowing you to set the temperature exactly where you like it. Once the thermostat has detected that the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat tells the heater to stop producing any more heat. When the temperature then goes down, as the heat dissipates, this is picked up by the thermostat, and the heat comes back on.
If your heater doesn’t have a thermostat, the next best alternative is being able to control the temperature by way of a timer. You could for example simply set the heater to only come on in the evening, or late afternoon when the sun starts to shy away.
With many conservatory heaters, rather than set the thermostat at a particular temperature, you can set the heat output instead. You would typically set the thermostat to maximum, and the heater will then work to reach the maximum temperature that can be reached for the heat output you have set.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most economical heater for a conservatory?
The most economical heater for a conservatory would be a ceramic fan heater, as they spread warmth faster and more energy efficiently than their more traditional counterparts. This is all thanks to their ceramic heating elements.
Our Number 2 conservatory heater, the Pro Breeze® 2000W Mini Ceramic Fan Heater, is a particularly economic heater for a conservatory because of the 60 degree oscillation of the heat, allowing the whole room to heat up, as opposed to simply blasting heat in one direction.