The Best Bathroom Heaters For Quick Efficient Warmth
Splash-safe panel and downflow heaters that take the chill off a cold bathroom without any plumbing.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best bathroom heater is the Purus Eco Bathroom Heater, an IP24 panel that can sit closer to the bath than the IP22 heaters here, with a timer that has the room warm before anyone's up. For heat matched to the room, the FUTURA Eco Electric Bathroom Heater comes in six outputs from 600 to 2000 watts to suit anything from a tiny en-suite to a family bathroom.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Purus Eco Bathroom Heater
- Check price of FUTURA Eco Electric Bathroom Heater
Best All Rounder
FUTURA Eco Electric Bathroom HeaterMatching the heat output closely to the size of the bathroom
- Check price of Wärme Designer Electric Heater
- Check price of Dimplex FX20VE Downflow Bathroom Heater
- Check price of Winterwarm Bathroom Downflow Heater
Best Value Fan
Winterwarm Bathroom Downflow HeaterSmall bathrooms where a cheap blast of heat is enough
Where a heater can safely go matters as much as how warm it gets the room. The IP rating sets how close to the bath and shower it's allowed and is worth checking against your wall space before you choose on looks. A panel on a timer takes the chill off ahead of the morning rush, while a downflow fan high on the wall gives a quick blast of heat as you dry off. Either way, the connection is best left to an electrician.
We've fitted both types in our rentals, and the five below include both.
How We Tested These Bathroom Heaters
Across the rentals and Airbnbs we manage, we've fitted several electric heaters to take the chill out of bathrooms that never quite warmed up. Some are slim designer panels and others are downflow fan heaters fixed high on the wall, and both types have made a real difference to how those bathrooms feel in winter.
The photos below show two heaters we put to the test recently. On the left is a black glass designer panel heater, wall mounted and running from a plug, and on the right is a Dimplex downflow heater fixed high on a tiled wall with its power light on.
Each heater was judged on the same things:
- Heat: How fast it warmed the room and the outputs on offer
- Safety: The IP rating and whether it's made for bathroom use
- Controls: Heat settings, timers and how easy they are to programme
- Fitting: Plug-in or hardwired, wall or freestanding, and the fixings needed
- Build: How solid the casing and controls feel in use
- Value: The warranty and what each heater gives you for the money
Specs such as heat outputs, weights and IP ratings come from the manufacturers. Where we found a quirk in use, like a fiddly timer or a flimsy casing, it's noted in the product write-up.
Our Pick Of The Best Bathroom Heaters
The first three are panel heaters that sit flat on the wall, and the last two are downflow fan heaters for small bathrooms. Check the IP rating against where you plan to fit each one.
Best Electric
Purus Eco Bathroom Heater
Best for: Most bathrooms needing steady heat on a programmable timer
Check Price On AmazonThe Purus Eco is built for bathrooms from the start, with an IP24 rating that copes with splashes, and Purus sells it in several outputs, starting at 600 watts, to suit the size of the room. What puts it top is the timer, which has the bathroom warm before the morning rush once it's set, and the controls sit on the front where you can see them.
Purus describes it as a plug in and go heater, and the 1.45 metre cable reaches most sockets. Three heating modes and a 24/7 digital timer give you plenty of control, though in our testing the schedules took more fiddling to set up than on the other heaters we've used. Once the timer is programmed, you can leave it alone. A 2 year guarantee comes with it.
What we like
- IP24 rated for bathroom use
- Several heat outputs starting at 600 watts
- Three heating modes
- 24/7 digital timer
- 1.45 metre power cable
- Backed by a 2 year guarantee
What to know
- Programming the schedules was more fiddly than on the alternatives in our testing
Our verdict
For most bathrooms the Purus Eco gets the balance right. It's happy near the bath, it comes in sizes to suit the room, and the timer is the one part that tests your patience. Set it once, though, and the bathroom is warm before anyone gets up, which is the whole point of a panel heater. If you need a more exact output, the FUTURA Eco Electric Bathroom Heater has a wider spread of sizes.
Best All Rounder
FUTURA Eco Electric Bathroom Heater
Best for: Matching the heat output closely to the size of the bathroom
Check Price On AmazonThe Futura Eco is the heater to pick if you want it sized to the room instead of buying more heat than you need. It comes in 600, 1000, 1200, 1500, 1800 and 2000 watt models, the widest choice in this roundup, and like the Purus it carries an IP24 rating for bathroom use.
It's a little smaller than the Purus, and its display doesn't face outwards, which keeps the front clean but makes the settings harder to read at a glance. At 5.8 kg it's light enough to wall mount easily, or you can stand it on its feet if you'd rather not drill. Futura says its automatic functions keep the heater running efficiently.
What we like
- Six heat outputs from 600 to 2000 watts
- IP24 rated for bathroom use
- Lightweight at 5.8 kg
- Wall mounted or freestanding
- Automatic eco functions according to Futura
What to know
- Display doesn't face outwards, so it's harder to read at a glance
Our verdict
Sizing is where the Futura Eco wins, since a tiny en-suite and a big family bathroom can both get a heater that suits them, and the option to stand it on the floor helps if you're renting or would rather not drill. The sideways-facing display is a small niggle, and the Purus Eco keeps its controls on the front if that bothers you.
Best Smart
Wärme Designer Electric Heater
Best for: Controlling the heating from your phone or by voice
Check Price On AmazonThe Wärme is the premium heater here. This Generation X model is WiFi enabled, so you can schedule and adjust it through Wärme's app or with Alexa, and we found the app convenient and easy to use. It's splashproof to IP22, needs no maintenance and is just 8 cm deep, so it doesn't stick out far into a narrow room.
With 2,000 watts and a programmable thermostat, it puts out plenty of heat. We've used it in conservatories as well as bathrooms, and it heated both well, which makes it a flexible buy if you move it around the house. The catch is the limited choice of sizes and outputs, and the lower IP rating than the Purus and Futura means checking where it can go in the bathroom.
What we like
- WiFi app control and scheduling
- Works with Alexa
- Slim 8 cm profile
- 2,000 watt output
- Programmable thermostat
- Heated conservatories well in our use too
What to know
- Limited choice of sizes and outputs
- IP22 rating is lower than the Purus and Futura
- Expensive for a bathroom heater
Our verdict
Phone control is what you're paying for with the Wärme, and for anyone who likes setting the heating from bed it's worth it. The 2,000 watt output warms a bathroom properly, and we've also used it as a conservatory heater with good results. The IP22 rating limits where it can go in the bathroom, so check the zones before you buy.
Best Fan
Dimplex FX20VE Downflow Bathroom Heater
Best for: Small bathrooms with no room for a panel heater
Check Price On AmazonThe FX20VE is Dimplex's downflow heater, fixed high on the wall and switched on with a simple pull cord. Its 2,000 watt fan pushes warm air down into the room, and in our testing it heated the bathroom very quickly. It runs on a 30 minute timer, so it switches itself off if someone forgets.
Fitting is simple, with three screws holding it to the wall and an earth wire among the connections. There's no plug, so it's hardwired to a fused spur, which is a job for an electrician if you're not confident with bathroom wiring. It runs quietly for a fan heater and comes with a two year guarantee. Of the two downflow heaters here, it's the dearer one.
What we like
- Heated our test bathroom very quickly
- Simple pull cord operation
- 30 minute timer switches it off
- 2,000 watt output
- Fixes to the wall with three screws
- Quiet running for a fan heater
What to know
- Costs more than the Winterwarm downflow heater
- Hardwired, so it needs a fused spur rather than a plug
Our verdict
Small bathrooms with no clear wall are where the FX20VE comes into its own. It tucks up high, heated our test bathroom very quickly and turns itself off after 30 minutes, so nobody leaves it running. The build feels a step above the cheaper Winterwarm, which matters on a heater pulled on and off every day. Budget for an electrician, since it's hardwired.
Best Value Fan
Winterwarm Bathroom Downflow Heater
Best for: Small bathrooms where a cheap blast of heat is enough
Check Price On AmazonThe Winterwarm WWDF20E follows the same idea as the Dimplex, with a pull cord and a fan that blows warm air down from high on the wall. It gives 2,000 watts with two heat settings, so you can turn it down once the room has warmed through, and it's a good fit for a small bathroom or en-suite.
It's IP22 rated and made from flame-resistant materials, and wiring it in takes just three connections. In our testing, the plastic casing didn't feel as solid as the Dimplex, which is where the lower price shows. For a heater that's only on for a few minutes at a time, that's a fair trade.
What we like
- 2,000 watt output
- Two heat settings
- Pull cord for instant heat
- Three wire installation
- Flame resistant construction
- IP22 rated
What to know
- Plastic casing felt less solid than the Dimplex in our testing
Our verdict
If the budget is tight and the bathroom small, the Winterwarm does the same basic job as the Dimplex for less. Two heat settings let you knock it back once the room is warm. The casing felt less solid in our hands, so in a busy household where the pull cord gets yanked several times a day, the Dimplex FX20VE is the safer long-term buy.
Choosing A Heater That's Safe For Your Bathroom
A bathroom heater has to be safe near water, warm the room in the time you have and fit the space you've got. These are the things to weigh up before you buy.
Panel Heater Or Downflow Heater
Panel heaters sit flat against the wall and give steady heat, which suits a bathroom you want warm before a morning shower. They need a fair stretch of clear wall away from the bath and shower. Downflow heaters fix high up, take very little space and blow hot air straight down at you, so they warm a small room in minutes and are switched off just as quickly.
If you'd rather have something that warms towels as well, a heated towel radiator is worth comparing, though a plumbed one needs pipework. For whole-floor warmth in a bathroom refit, electric underfloor heating kits sit under the tiles.
IP Ratings And Bathroom Zones
The IP rating tells you how well a heater resists water, and in a bathroom it decides where the heater can go. The second number is the one to watch, as a 4 means the heater is protected against splashes from any direction. That's why the IP24 Purus and Futura are more flexible to place than IP22 models like the Wärme and Winterwarm, which need to sit further from the bath and shower.
Bathrooms are split into zones around the water, and every heater's instructions say which zones it's allowed in. Follow them to the letter, as electricity and water are a dangerous mix.
Plug-In Or Hardwired
Most UK bathrooms don't have sockets near the bath, so even a plug-in heater like the Purus or Wärme is best fitted by an electrician on a switched fused spur outside the zones. Downflow heaters like the Dimplex and Winterwarm are hardwired from the start. Bathroom electrics come under Building Regulations, so if you're not qualified, get the connection done professionally.
Heat Output And Room Size
A small en-suite needs far less heat than a large family bathroom, and an oversized heater just costs more to run. Heaters with a range of outputs, such as the Futura, let you match the wattage to the room. Our guide to working out what size radiator you need covers the same thinking about room size and heat loss.
Timers And Controls
A timer stops a heater running all day by mistake and can warm the room before you get up. The Purus and Wärme both have programmable controls, and the Wärme adds app and voice control. Downflow heaters keep it simple with a pull cord, and the Dimplex adds a 30 minute timer that switches it off. Pair any heater with a working bathroom extractor fan so the warmer air doesn't leave more condensation on cold walls.
Bathroom Heater Questions From Our Readers
Can you use a normal electric heater in a bathroom?
No, you shouldn't use a normal portable heater in a bathroom. Ordinary heaters aren't protected against water and steam, which makes them a shock and fire risk near a bath or shower. Choose a heater made for bathrooms with a suitable IP rating, such as IP22 or IP24, and fit it in the zone its instructions allow.
What IP rating does a bathroom heater need?
A bathroom heater needs an IP rating that suits the zone it's fitted in, and the instructions for each heater say where it can go. IP24 heaters are protected from splashes from any direction and can be placed closer to the bath or shower. IP22 heaters need to sit further from the water, outside the wettest zones.
Is a downflow heater better than a panel heater for a bathroom?
A downflow heater is better for a small bathroom where you want fast heat and have little wall space, as it mounts high up and blows warm air down. A panel heater suits larger bathrooms where steady background warmth on a timer matters more. Downflow heaters are switched on for short bursts, while panel heaters can run on a schedule.
Do you need an electrician to fit a bathroom heater?
You need an electrician to fit a hardwired bathroom heater, such as a downflow heater, unless you're qualified, because bathroom wiring comes under Building Regulations. Plug-in heaters still need a safe power supply outside the bathroom zones, and most UK bathrooms don't have one. An electrician can fit a switched fused spur in the right place.
Is the Dimplex FX20VE worth paying more for than the Winterwarm downflow heater?
If the heater gets pulled on and off every day, yes. The Dimplex FX20VE heated our test bathroom very quickly, runs quietly for a fan heater and switches itself off after 30 minutes. The Winterwarm does the same basic job for less, with two heat settings, but its plastic casing felt less solid than the Dimplex in our testing.
Is the Wärme Designer heater worth the extra money for app control?
It's worth it if you like setting the heating from bed. The WiFi app and Alexa control are the reason to buy, and we found the app convenient and easy to use. The 2,000 watt output heats a bathroom properly, but the IP22 rating limits where it can sit, and it's expensive for a bathroom heater.
Which of these heaters would you choose for a tiny en-suite?
For a tiny en-suite with no spare wall, the Dimplex FX20VE downflow heater is our choice, as it tucks up high and heats quickly. The Futura Eco suits a small room that has wall space, because its outputs start at 600 watts, so you don't buy more heater than the room needs.
Can I use the Purus Eco or Wärme heater without an electrician if I rent?
Most UK bathrooms don't have sockets near the bath, so even a plug-in heater like the Purus Eco or Wärme is best fitted by an electrician on a switched fused spur outside the zones. The Futura Eco can stand on its feet instead of being wall mounted, which helps if you'd rather not drill.
Our Top Bathroom Heater Pick
The Purus Eco is the bathroom heater we'd choose for most homes, with an IP24 rating, a choice of outputs and a timer that warms the room on schedule once it's set up. For a small bathroom with no clear wall, the Dimplex FX20VE downflow heater gives fast, powerful heat from a simple pull cord.
None of these heaters needs any pipework, unlike a plumbed towel radiator, so any of them is a quick way to sort out a bathroom that's always cold.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.