Heater types
Heaters with a thermostat and timer
The short answer
Two heaters of identical wattage can differ enormously in what they cost you across a winter. The difference is almost never the element — it is whether the heater knows when to stop.
Written and checked by the RapidHeat UK team · Last updated September 2026 · how we work out running costs
Key takeaways
- A thermostat stops the element running once your room is warm — this is the single biggest saving on a heater.
- A timer means you only heat the hour you are actually in the room.
- Together they usually matter more to your bill than the heater's wattage.
What a thermostat actually does
You set a target temperature. The heater runs at full power until the room reaches it, then cuts the element and only brings it back when the temperature drifts down. Over five hours, continuous full power at 1.2 kW would use 6 kWh and cost about £1.62 at 27p/kWh. A thermostat may reduce that total, but the room, weather, insulation and temperature setting determine how often the element switches back on.
A rotary dial marked "min to max" with no temperature scale is not a thermostat in the useful sense; it just sets output. Look for a numeric target in degrees.
What a timer adds
A timer removes the most expensive habit in home heating: leaving something on because you forgot it. Two patterns work well:
- Pre-heat. One hour before bed, or twenty minutes before you start work in a cold study.
- Auto-off. Two or three hours in the evening, so falling asleep in front of the television does not mean nine hours of heating.
How the two work together
| Setup | Illustrative evening use | Approximate cost at 27p/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 kW, no controls, on for 5 hours | 6.0 kWh | About £1.62 |
| 1.2 kW, thermostat, 60% element run time over 5 hours | 3.6 kWh | About 97p |
| 1.2 kW, 2-hour timer, continuous full power | Up to 2.4 kWh | Up to about 65p |
The 60% row is a scenario, not a forecast. Your result can be higher or lower; the reliable point is that a thermostat and timer can prevent unnecessary run time. See running costs for the method.
Other controls worth having
- Remote control — the difference between adjusting the temperature and putting up with it.
- Oscillation — spreads warmth rather than cooking one side of you.
- Eco or low mode — useful for long, gentle background heat.
- Overheat cut-off — a safety feature, not a comfort one, but never buy without it.
Setting a sensible temperature
Most people are comfortable between 19°C and 21°C in a living room and slightly cooler in a bedroom. Every degree you add costs real money, and turning the dial to maximum does not warm the room faster — it just overshoots your target.
RapidHeat's controls
RapidHeat has an adjustable thermostat with a digital display, a timer, a remote control and an overheat cut-off that shuts the heater down on its own. In practice that means you set a temperature and a window of time, and then stop thinking about the heater — which is exactly how a room heater should behave. See bundle pricing.
RapidHeat ceramic heater
4.8/5 · 1,247 UK customers£49.95· £89.91 for two · £110.89 for three (about £36.96 each)
- Thermostat, timer and remote
- Warm room in about 5 minutes
- Free tracked UK delivery
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Perfect for my cold office
I have a small office with a door that gets really cold because the building management keeps the winter temperature far too low for comfort. I plugged this into the socket above my desk and now I am warm without anyone even knowing it is there. I love it.
Great in the bathroom
We use it to take the chill off the bathroom before the kids' bath time. Warms up fast and the timer is handy. Four stars only because I wish the display were a little dimmer at night.
Worth being straight about: RapidHeat is built for rooms up to about 12 m². It is not a replacement for central heating and it will not transform an open-plan lounge or an uninsulated garage. If it is not right for your room, send it back within 30 days.
Questions people ask
- Does a thermostat on a heater actually save money?
- A thermostat can reduce unnecessary run time by switching the element off after the room reaches its set temperature. There is no universal percentage saving: room size, insulation, weather, draughts and the chosen temperature determine how often it cycles.
- What temperature should I set an electric heater to?
- 18°C to 20°C suits most living spaces and 16°C to 18°C suits bedrooms. Every degree higher costs noticeably more, so set it to comfortable rather than warm.
- What is a timer useful for?
- Pre-heating. Set the heater to run for the 45 minutes before you get up, sit down or get into bed, and let it stop on its own instead of running all evening.
- Is a remote control worth having?
- It sounds like a gimmick and turns out to be the feature people use most — mainly because adjusting the temperature from the sofa or bed means the heater gets turned down instead of left on.
Ready to warm your room in about 5 minutes?
Order RapidHeat today with free tracked UK delivery and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Sold direct by RapidHeat UK. Secure checkout, free tracked UK delivery.