It’s straightforward to use too, with a clear thermostat and well-placed switches that keep your hands at a safe distance from the heater. Once the heating had been off for a few hours post-school run, we cranked up a portable heater to the top and timed how long it took to heat up the room, setting a stopwatch on our phone to record an accurate measurement. It feels robust, and whilst it's not quite as sleek in design as the Dreo and Duux fan heaters I tested, I loved that it’s so compact, which also made storage a dream. This design simply plugs directly into an electrical socket which means it requires no floor or table space, making it perfect for a small room, plus there are no unsightly cables to navigate.

Finally, they measure how loud each heater is, to ensure that it won’t prove too disruptive if it’s running in the background. of some fan heaters – and even the ones that use 2-3kW have the advantage that they’ll carry on warming your space even after they’re turned off. Wheels are a handy design feature, but you’ll need to wait until it’s cooled to move it safely as it doesn’t have a handle. It can be hung on the wall or moved around: it’s very light and the ends don’t get hot, so you can pick it up. These space heaters are ideal for heating up rooms in the home and in commercial spaces, that are less frequently used - such as bedrooms, studies, conservatories and loft conversions.However, if you have a larger space to heat, or are planning on running the heater for long periods of time, the Duux Edge 1000 Smart Convector Heater was a close runner up. Inside the 20-litre oven compartment it reaches up to 200C, hot enough to bake a potato or slow-cook a casserole. The perfect use is in a draughty room with high ceilings, where most of the heat from convection heaters would be wasted. They’re light and portable and cost around 50p per hour to run (based on a 1500W heater on maximum setting). If using a fan heater, consider whether anything nearby can be blown over (it’s also worth noting that fan heaters should be placed in sufficient space to facilitate an airflow from behind).

Our experts rated it highly for its sturdy design, complete with a neat cord storage system and a responsive control panel. Design Whilst it’s not a looker – its plain white gloss exterior feels basic and practical rather than stylish – the Challenge 2kW Convector Heater is functional.

Noise levels The Threesixty 2 Smart Fan Heater can be quite noisy on the high setting, but is far less obtrusive on low, which is more like a background murmur. They can use more energy than the convection heaters above, but the heat can be directed where you want it and, as long as you use the thermostat wisely, they don’t have to be too expensive to run. And our expert found that when sat in front of it, they were suitably warm within just ten minutes, feeling the benefits even from 1. You can use it freestanding, but, ingeniously, you can also wall-mount this heater if you want to free up floor space.

It’s not the most powerful fan we tested, but this does mean its energy consumption is lower – costing 22p on its lowest setting for an hour (the least of all products tested for that power level). A convector heater is slower to emit warmth than a fan heater, but, its operation is silent, and its steady heat can be more economical if you have it running for long periods of time, or if you have a large room to heat. is a credit broker, not the lender and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Design Whilst cheaper fan heaters focus purely on function, the Duux Threesixty 2 Smart Fan Heater adds style to the mix.Tip: If you are between sizes and you are looking for a more supportive fit, choose the smaller size. You’ll definitely need the instruction manual to hand for setting the heater's timer, as it’s not obvious how to do this without it.

I also liked the fact that the Edge enabled me to set my desired temperature down to the exact degree. Due to its weight, this requires some strength, also a screwdriver and navigating some very small and fiddly screws and holes. A fan heater that oscillates or offers 360 degree fan action will do a better job of spreading the heat around the room quickly and evenly, whereas a one-directional fan heater may mean you get hot and cold spots in the room.

The best way to work out how much it costs to run is to look at your electricity bill to find out how much energy costs per kilowatt.