A 1,500W wall-mounted electric radiator costs roughly 39p an hour to run at full power under the current Ofgem price cap, though a decent thermostat cuts that by cycling the element on and off once the room reaches temperature. This guide covers what the different wattages actually cost, how to size one to a room, three radiators worth considering, and the safety rules that apply if you’re mounting one in a bathroom.
What it costs to run a wall-mounted electric radiator
At the Ofgem price cap rate of 26.11p per kWh for 1 July to 30 September 2026, running cost scales directly with wattage. A 1,000W radiator run flat out for an hour costs 26.11p. A 2,000W unit costs double that.
| Wattage | Cost per hour at full power | Cost for 6 hours a day | Typical room size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000W | 26.1p | £1.57 | Up to 10m² |
| 1,500W | 39.2p | £2.35 | 10 to 15m² |
| 2,000W | 52.2p | £3.13 | 15 to 20m² |
Worth knowing: these figures assume the element is drawing full power for the whole period, which overstates real-world cost for anything with a working thermostat. Once a room reaches the set temperature, a 1,000W radiator with a decent thermostat cycles on and off rather than running continuously, so Checkatrade’s cost breakdown puts a typical 1,000W radiator run for 8 hours a day at closer to £2 rather than the £2.09 flat-rate maths would suggest, and considerably less on a mild day. Cheaper radiators with basic on/off thermostats (rather than the ±0.5°C precision type) tend to overshoot the target temperature before switching off, which is where the real-world gap between “rated wattage” and “actual bill” comes from. If minimising that gap matters more to you than the wall-mounted format itself, our best energy-efficient electric radiators guide covers ceramic and panel models built specifically around thermostat precision. If you already own a 2,000W unit and want the exact running figures for that wattage, see our Fellie 2000W running cost breakdown.
Three wall-mounted electric radiators worth considering
We have not tested these radiators ourselves. This comparison is built from manufacturer specifications, UK retailer listings, and warranty terms, all linked below. These three are panel and column-style electric models specifically. If you’d rather compare against German-made electric radiators or an oil-filled alternative, those are covered separately.
Devola 1,500W Wi-Fi glass panel heater (DVPW1500B)
Best for: a bedroom or home office where you want app control without paying for a dedicated smart thermostat.
A 650 x 470 x 70mm glass panel unit rated IP24, with a 5°C to 50°C thermostat, 24-hour/7-day timer, and eco, comfort, and anti-frost modes. It is Lot 20 compliant with open-window detection built in, and pairs with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or the Tuya app. Devola’s own spec sheet rates it for rooms up to 20m² and lists it at £101.96, cheaper than the £119.99 it’s listed at elsewhere. Worth knowing before you rely on the app control: the remote’s usage range is only 2m, so it’s a backup for the wall unit’s own buttons rather than a true whole-room remote.
Available from Amazon or directly from Devola.
Futura 2,000W bathroom-safe panel heater
Best for: a bathroom or ensuite, where most radiators on this list aren’t rated to go.
This one is built specifically for wet rooms: IP24 rated, with a precision thermostat accurate to ±0.5°C, eco open-window detection, and a choice of wall-mounted or floor-standing fitting. Futura’s own listing covers rooms up to 23m² and currently prices it at £99.99, and notes installation should be carried out by a qualified electrician, which lines up with what Part P actually requires for fixed bathroom wiring (see the safety section below). The manufacturer doesn’t state Lot 20 compliance directly on this listing, which is worth checking yourself if that specifically matters to you.
Available from Amazon or directly from Futura Direct.
Greenedhouse Wi-Fi vertical column radiator
Best for: a narrow hallway or landing where a standard panel radiator won’t fit the wall space.
A vertical oval-tube column radiator sold in four sizes from 1,600 x 420mm to 1,800 x 480mm, rated IPX4 and controlled through a Wi-Fi app with 7-day scheduling and a 30°C to 70°C range. Greenedhouse’s spec sheet lists it from £221.99, with a 5-year guarantee on the radiator body and 2 years on the heating element. It’s the pricier pick here, and that’s the trade-off for a column shape that fits where a wide panel heater physically can’t.
Available directly from Greenedhouse.
Sizing your radiator to the room
There’s no single wattage that suits every room the same size. Electrorad’s sizing guide puts the rule of thumb at 80 watts per square metre for a well-insulated new build, 100 watts per square metre for an average double-glazed room, and 130 watts per square metre for an older property with poor insulation or higher ceilings.
| Room size | New build (80W/m²) | Average insulation (100W/m²) | Older or poorly insulated (130W/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10m² | 800W | 1,000W | 1,300W |
| 15m² | 1,200W | 1,500W | 1,950W |
| 20m² | 1,600W | 2,000W | 2,600W |
Common mistake: sizing to floor area alone and ignoring ceiling height. A 10m² room with a 3m ceiling has a third more air to heat than the same footprint at 2.4m, and none of the tables above account for that. If your room has noticeably higher ceilings than standard, round up to the next wattage band.
Is a wall-mounted electric radiator safe in a bathroom?
Only if it carries at least an IP24 rating and is installed as fixed wiring rather than plugged into a socket. UK bathrooms are divided into zones under BS 7671 based on distance from water, and a heater that’s fine in a bedroom can be a genuine hazard mounted the wrong distance from a bath or shower.
Safety note: Fixed electrical work in a bathroom is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, meaning it has to be certified either by a registered electrician on a competent person scheme like NICEIC or NAPIT, or signed off by your local building control. This applies even when the same job in another room wouldn’t need it. Don’t treat a bathroom radiator as a DIY plug-and-go job. Source: SparkCerts’ Part P guide.
Both the Devola and Futura panel heaters above are IP24 rated, which covers protection against water splashed from any direction, generally accepted as the minimum for a bathroom outside the zones closest to the bath or shower itself. If you’re not sure which zone your wall space falls into, that’s a question for the electrician doing the installation, not a guess to make yourself. Oil-filled radiators are the other common bathroom-safe option, and our best wall-mounted oil-filled radiators guide covers those directly if you’d rather not go electric panel.
Installing one safely
Most wall-mounted electric radiators arrive with brackets, fixing screws, and wall plugs in the box, and plug-in models in a dry room like a bedroom or living room are within DIY territory for anyone comfortable putting up a shelf. Where it stops being a DIY job:
- Any bathroom installation, for the Part P reasons above.
- Anything that needs hardwiring into the mains rather than plugging into an existing socket.
- Solid brick or reinforced stud walls for heavier units, like vertical column radiators, where the fixing needs to hold real weight rather than just a panel heater’s few kilograms.
Checkatrade’s cost data puts the average electrician cost for this kind of job at around £100, which is cheap insurance against a fixing that fails or wiring that doesn’t meet regs.
FAQs
Are wall-mounted electric radiators expensive to run?
A 1,500W radiator costs around 39p an hour at full power under the current price cap, though a working thermostat means it won’t run at full power continuously once the room is warm.
Can I fit a wall-mounted electric radiator myself?
Plug-in models in a dry room are generally within DIY reach if you’re comfortable with basic wall fixings. Anything hardwired, or anything going in a bathroom, is notifiable electrical work under Part P and needs a registered electrician.
What IP rating do I need for a bathroom radiator?
At least IP24, which protects against water splashed from any direction. Confirm the exact bathroom zone with your electrician, since some zones need a higher rating still.
Are all wall-mounted electric radiators Lot 20 compliant?
New units sold in the UK have had to meet Lot 20 minimum efficiency standards since 1 January 2018, but check the specific listing. Not every manufacturer states it clearly, and older stock can still be on sale.
Do I need a specific wattage for every room?
No single figure fits every room. Use 80 to 130 watts per square metre depending on insulation and ceiling height as a starting point, then round up for higher ceilings or older, draughtier properties.
