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The price of a heater is only part of what you will spend on heating your home.

There is also the cost of electricity, installation and maintenance to think about, so it is worth looking at the bigger picture rather than just the price of the heater.

Here, we look at IR panels, plug-in convection heaters and storage heaters to see how their costs can differ.

Upfront Costs

The cost of getting your heating set up can vary too, depending on the type of heater you choose and your home.

For example, a 580W Surya Classic infrared heating panel is currently available from £167.47. How much you pay for installation will depend on where and how the panel is fitted.

Storage heaters can cost more to buy and install. The Energy Saving Trust puts the typical cost of an electric storage heater at around £900–£1,400 per room, including installation.

Plug-in convection heaters are usually cheaper to buy and can simply be plugged into a standard socket. The amount of heat they give out and how much electricity they use will depend on the size and type of heater.

Running Costs

Once your heating is installed, the amount you pay to run it will depend on your electricity tariff and how much power the heater uses.

Using Ofgem's average electricity rate of 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026, a 580W infrared panel costs around 15.3p per hour to run at full power. If you ran it for four hours a day, that would work out at around 61p a day, or approximately £223 a year.

A 2kW plug-in convection heater would use around 52.6p per hour at the same rate. Four hours a day would be around £2.11 a day, or approximately £769 a year.

Of course, most people will not use their heating at full power for exactly four hours every day. How much you actually spend will depend on the room, insulation, temperature and how often your heating needs to run.

These two examples also use different power levels, so they should not be taken as a direct comparison of how much heat each heater would provide to the same room.

Storage Heaters

Storage heaters work a little differently from the other two options.

They heat up and store warmth, which can then be released later. They can also make use of tariffs where electricity is cheaper at certain times.

This can help keep running costs down, but how much you save will depend on your electricity tariff, when the heater charges and how much heat your home needs.

So, there is no one running cost that will apply to every storage heater or every home.

What About Maintenance?

The good news is that all three types of electric heating are generally quite simple to look after.

IR panels have no moving parts, so there is very little routine maintenance to worry about.

Plug-in convection heaters are simple too. Portable models may need a quick clean now and again to get rid of dust, but they do not usually need regular servicing.

Storage heaters are larger and more complex, so they can be more involved when it comes to installation or replacement, especially if electrical work is needed.

It is also worth checking the warranty and expected lifespan before choosing a heating system. If a system lasts for many years, you may have fewer replacement costs to think about further down the line.

The Cost Depends On More Than The Heater

There is no single price you can put on heating a room.

The size of the space, how well it is insulated, the temperature you want and how long you have the heating on each day can all change what you pay.

That is why it is worth looking at the overall cost rather than just how much the heater costs to buy. A cheaper heater might cost more to run over time, while paying more upfront could mean lower maintenance costs or different running costs, depending on the system.

Need Help Choosing Your Heating?

If you're not sure which option could work best for your home, our team can talk you through the choices and help you find something that suits your space.

Call us on 0116 321 4124 or email sales@suryaheating.co.uk for advice.