How much does it cost to run a halogen heater? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a halogen heater rated at 1.2kW costs 32p an hour to run and around £231 a year assuming 2 hours a day, aimed at one spot.
Per hour
32p
Per typical use
63p
Per day
63p
Per week
£4.43
Per year
£231
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 1.2kW for a halogen heater; published figures for this appliance range from 400W to 1.5kW. Halogen (radiant bar) heaters warm objects and people directly in their line of sight rather than the air in a room, so they respond instantly but do little for anyone outside their direct radiant field. Commonly sold with 1, 2 or 3 bar settings between 400W and 1,500W. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 2 hours a day, aimed at one spot, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 33p | £244 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 32p | £235 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 32p | £233 |
| London | 26.60 | 32p | £233 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 32p | £233 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 32p | £233 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 32p | £232 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 32p | £232 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 32p | £231 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 31p | £229 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 31p | £224 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 31p | £224 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 31p | £223 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 30p | £222 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 32p | £231 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £222 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £244 a year — a gap of £21.90 for identical use.
How a halogen heater compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- halogen heater — £231 a year (this page)
- infrared heating panel — £269 a year
- immersion heater — £288 a year
- dehumidifier — £173 a year
- electric shower (10.5kW) — £134 a year
- electric shower (9.5kW) — £122 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Point it directly at where you're sitting rather than trying to heat the whole room
- Use the lowest bar setting that keeps you comfortable
- Switch off as soon as you leave — radiant heaters give no useful residual warmth
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a halogen heater for an hour?
- 32p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 1.2kW). One typical use — 2 hours a day, aimed at one spot — costs closer to 63p.
- How much does a halogen heater cost to run per year?
- Around £231 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 2 hours a day, aimed at one spot — about £4.43 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a halogen heater in?
- East Midlands, at £222 a year, against £244 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £21.90 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my halogen heater change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 400W–1.5kW, so the top of that range costs about 3.8x the bottom. This page uses 1.2kW; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Heatable — how much energy do household appliances use — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
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