Best halogen heater UK

Has the change of seasons left you feeling the chill? With their comforting orange glow, the best halogen heaters are both an affordable and energy-efficient way to boost the temperature in your home – in fact, they're one of the best electric heaters for heating a small room or around your desk.

While their hot surface requires sensible use in homes with children and pets, these compact heaters run almost silently – a refreshing change from the constant drone of a fan heater. The halogen-filled tubes warm up rapidly and directly reflect infrared heat, making your toes feel toasty warm in seconds.

Best halogen heaters, at a glance

Jump to products

Best for	Product	Heater output	Dimensions
Best overall	Beldray EH0197SSTK Portable Halogen Heater	Up to 1.2 KW	51.5 x 31 x 10cm
Best budget	Belaco Halogen Heater	Up to 1.2KW	50 x 30 x 21cm
Best heatproof/cool-touch	Igenix Heater Halogen IG9514	Up to 1.2KW	59 x 40.5 x 29.5cm
Best stylish	Supawarm Deluxe Halogen Heater	Up to 1.2KW	H70.5 x W30 x D30cm

While the differences are subtle, we’ve worked hard to bring you our pick of the best halogen heaters for every home and budget.

Read next: Best electric blankets

How we chose the best halogen heaters

We combined Mumsnet users’ recommendations with Mumsnet’s hands-on reviews, current product specifications and verified buyer feedback to find reliable halogen heaters for different rooms, needs and budgets.

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users	We searched recent Mumsnet Talk discussions for first-hand experiences of halogen heaters, focusing on feedback about heat output, how quickly rooms feel warmer, ease of use, running costs, portability, reliability and suitability for bedrooms, home offices and other small spaces. Where users recommended a particular brand rather than the exact model, we’ve made this clear.
Expert input and desk research	We compared each halogen heater’s power output, number of heat settings, dimensions, portability, and energy use. Because halogen heaters provide more directional, radiant heat than fan heaters, we’ve considered how effectively they warm people and small areas in everyday use, rather than relying solely on advertised room-size claims. We’ve also looked at practical features such as adjustable heat levels, oscillation and tip-over protection.
Verified-buyer feedback	We checked verified customer feedback from major UK retailers and manufacturer websites, looking for recurring comments about heat output, how quickly the heater provides noticeable warmth, build quality, controls, portability, reliability and running costs. We also considered negative reviews to identify common drawbacks, including bulb longevity, stability, overheating, and overall durability.

💙 Why you can trust us

We haven’t tested every halogen heater in this guide in-house, but we recommend only models that consistently perform well across these sources. Where we have run hands-on tests, we clearly say so in the review. For more details on how we choose and test products on Mumsnet, see our how we test page.

How Mumsnet content works

Find the best halogen heater for you

1

Best overall halogen heater

BELDRAY EH0197SSTK Portable Halogen Heater

Check price at Argos

What we like

3 heat settings and oscillating design
Good safety features
Lightweight and easy to move between rooms
Replaceable bulbs

What we don't like

Some reviewers found the halogen glow to be quite bright
Only a 1-year guarantee

Key specs

Our verdict

Reviewed by Mumsnet editor Poppy O’Neill: Read our in-depth Beldray Halogen Heater review

With three replaceable halogen bulbs, this lightweight and portable halogen heater makes a great all-rounder for most homes. With simple, easy-to-use switches, you can select each bar individually to suit your needs.

Our tester Poppy was impressed by how quickly it heated up, providing a welcome boost of focused, directional heat. Alternatively, she could set it to oscillate, which made her space feel cosy and toasty warm in no time.

Ideal for small spaces, this lightweight, portable heater is easy to take with you as you move around the home. It’s cheap to run too – from 10p per hour on the lowest setting to 36p per hour on high, which is cheaper than most fan heaters.

While some reviewers found the halogen bulbs quite bright, Poppy found the warm glow comforting. The excellent safety credentials were great for peace of mind, from the sturdy oval base to tip-over protection and a thermal cut-out that turns the heat off automatically if the heater is knocked or starts to overheat.

The drawbacks of this heater? It's a budget option with a no-frills design that feels a little flimsy. The power cord is also quite short, which can restrict where you place it in your home.

Related: Best electric fireplaces

2

Best budget halogen heater

Belaco Halogen Heater

Check price at Amazon Check price at B&Q

What we like

90-degree oscillation
Carry handle
Stable base

What we don't like

Some reviewers found it too bright
Bulbs are difficult to replace

Key specs

Our verdict

While it's slightly heavier than the Beldray model above, this budget-friendly halogen heater is still lightweight and portable, making it easy to move between rooms thanks to an integrated carry handle at the rear.

With a slim design suitable for small spaces and a broad oval base for stability, it can rapidly heat small spaces quickly without disturbing the peace.

You’ll find three heat settings (including a high setting ideal for the coldest of days). It also oscillates 90 degrees to spread warmth in multiple directions, with built-in tip-over protection for safety.

Read next: Best oil-filled radiators

3

Best halogen heater with cool touch cabinet

Igenix Heater Halogen IG9514

Check price at Amazon Check price at Robert Dyas

What we like

Portable carry handle
Cool touch cabinet
Three heat settings

What we don't like

Heavier than some models

Key specs

Our verdict

It may be a heavier model, but thanks to the accessible grab handle, you can easily position the Igenix Halogen Heater where you need heat the most. Powerful enough for small to medium rooms, it makes a welcome addition to your living room, home office, conservatory, garage, or outbuilding.

With three 400-watt halogen bars, it quickly creates silent, comforting warmth, making your surroundings feel cosier.

While it should be positioned at least 50cm away from walls and upholstery, we love the cool-touch cabinet and cut-out tip-over switch – welcome safety features if you have children or lively pets at home.

Read next: Best fan heaters

4

Best stylish halogen heater

Supawarm Deluxe Halogen Heater

Check price at Amazon Buy now from B&Q

What we like

3-year guarantee
Stable yet compact base
Stylish, slimline design

What we don't like

Lights can feel very bright when looking at them directly
Some reviewers found replacement bulbs tricky to source

Key specs

Our verdict

While silent and portable, halogen heaters aren’t the most attractive appliances; however, this modern choice from Supawarm is quite the exception. With a taller, slimline design in stylish black and silver, it provides an instant boost of heat without the industrial look.

The stable yet compact base has a small footprint so that it won’t take up valuable floor space. You can choose from three fixed or oscillating heat settings to suit your surroundings, while the reliable cut-out feature ensures safety remains top of the agenda.

Are halogen heaters energy-efficient?

Halogen heaters are ideal for short periods of targeted heating, such as warming a home office, conservatory or living area while you're using it.

They use infrared to deliver heat to the people and areas directly in front of them. As such, they tend to be more efficient than fan heaters, which need to run for longer to heat an entire room.

However, halogen heaters are not recommended to heat larger rooms or for use over longer periods - infrared panel heating or oil-filled radiators may be more energy efficient if you intend to run them over longer periods.

How much does a halogen heater cost to run?

When temperatures aren’t super cold, you can also run a halogen heater on a low setting – using just one halogen bar run at just 400 watts - which will significantly lower running costs.

For example, a heater operating at 400W uses 0.4kWh of electricity per hour, costing around 10.5p per hour at an electricity rate of 26.32p/kWh. Higher settings will cost proportionally more – around 21p per hour at 800W, 32p at 1,200W and 53p at 2,000W, with the exact cost dependent on your electricity tariff.

Are halogen heaters safe to use at night?

Halogen heaters are not recommended for use overnight due to the safety risks.

Most halogen heaters don’t have thermostats or timers, so unlike many fan heaters, they’ll keep running until you turn them off. As a result, your room could quickly become too hot.

The halogen bulbs get extremely hot, so keep them well away from curtains, bedding, furniture, and other flammable materials. While features such as tip-over protection and overheat cut-offs can provide an additional layer of safety, they should never be left unattended due to the risk of fire.

About the author

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in home and kitchen product reviews and roundups. Having written reviews on her own blog, Real Mum Reviews, for over a decade, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising expert opinions and consumer feedback to help parents make informed purchases that benefit their families.

Someone who feels the cold and works from home, Lucy knows only too well how hard it can be to stay warm in winter. She’s also written several Mumsnet articles to help families stay cosy, including the best thermals and the best heated gloves.