Our verdict
For warming one room you're sitting in, Varmo costs the least to run.
It uses 600 W, about 15.8p an hour at full power, against about 52.6p for a 2 kW heater. For big or open-plan rooms, a bigger heater or central heating is the better choice.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Heater | Typical power | Cost per hour* | Best for | Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varmo | 600 W | 15.8p | One normal room you're sitting in | ThermoLock 15–32°C, remote, 6–12h timer |
| Fan heater | 2,000 W | 52.6p | Quick blast in a bigger room | Varies by model |
| Oil radiator | 1,500–2,500 W | 39.5p–65.8p | Steady background heat, larger rooms | Usually a thermostat dial |
| Convector | 2,000 W | 52.6p | Whole-room heat, bigger rooms | Usually a thermostat dial |
| Halogen | 1,200 W | 31.6p | Warming a person, not a room | Usually power settings only |
*At full power, Ofgem price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh (1 Oct–31 Dec 2026). Heaters with a thermostat cost less once the room is warm.
Cost of an evening and a winter
5-hour evening at full power
Over a 20-week winter of 5-hour evenings: Varmo about £110.54, a 2 kW heater about £368.48 at full power.
Running cost calculator
| Per day | Per week | Winter (26 wks) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varmo 600 W* | £0.26 | £1.82 | £47.32 |
| 2,000 W fan heater | £2.60 | £18.20 | £473.20 |
*Estimate: one hour at full power to warm the room, then ThermoLock topping up about 10 minutes an hour. Real costs depend on room size, insulation and outside temperature.
Get Varmo for £59Which heater is right for me?
Living room in the evening
Best pick: Varmo
Warms the room you're in for about 15.8p an hour. Turn the main heating down.
Bedroom before bed
Best pick: Varmo
Warm the room for 30–60 minutes, then switch off or let the timer do it.
Home office
Best pick: Varmo
Quiet, small and cheap to run through a working day.
Big open-plan room or conservatory
Best pick: A bigger heater
A 600 W heater will only take the chill off. Choose a 2 kW heater, two Varmos or central heating.
Varmo vs fan heater
- Choose Varmo if you want one room warm for less: 15.8p vs 52.6p an hour at full power, quieter, with a thermostat and remote.
- Choose a fan heater if you need a big room warm fast and don't mind the higher cost and noise.
Varmo vs oil-filled radiator
- Choose Varmo if you want quick, cheap heat in one normal room without a heavy unit on the floor.
- Choose an oil radiator if you want steady heat in a larger room for hours and have the space for it.
Varmo vs convector heater
- Choose Varmo for one room at about a third of the power of a 2 kW convector. if
- Choose a convector for bigger rooms that need more heat output. if
Varmo vs halogen heater
- Choose Varmo if you want the whole room warm with a thermostat that switches off once it's cosy.
- Choose halogen only if you want instant glow on one spot, like your legs, for short spells.
Varmo vs infrared panel
- Choose Varmo if you want something that plugs straight in with no fitting, and costs less per hour.
- Choose an infrared panel if you're happy to wall-mount a permanent heater, often 350–700 W or more.
Varmo vs gas central heating
- Choose Varmo if you spend most evenings in one room: heat just that room and turn the main thermostat down.
- Choose central heating when you use most of the house. Gas is cheaper per kWh (about 7.97p vs 26.32p). if
Why lower wattage costs less
Almost every plug-in electric heater turns the electricity it uses into heat, so 1 kWh gives about the same warmth from any of them. What changes your bill is how many watts the heater draws, how long it runs, and how many rooms you heat.
Varmo saves money by drawing only 600 W, heating just the room you're in, and switching off with its thermostat once that room is warm. The honest trade-off: less power means less heat, so it suits normal rooms, not large draughty spaces.
- Close the door and draw the curtains
- Set the thermostat to a comfortable 18–21°C
- Use the timer so it never runs longer than needed
Are some electric heaters more efficient than others?
Not really. Fan, oil-filled, convector and ceramic heaters all turn nearly all the electricity they use into heat. A 2 kW heater makes 2 kW of heat whatever its type.
The real differences are how much power they draw, how quickly they spread warmth, and how well their thermostat stops them using more than you need. That is where Varmo's 600 W design and ThermoLock thermostat help.
More questions answered
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these independent sources. Energy prices use the Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026.
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