How much does it cost to run a infrared heating panel? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a infrared heating panel rated at 700W costs 18p an hour to run and around £269 a year assuming 4 hours a day as zonal heating.
Per hour
18p
Per typical use
74p
Per day
74p
Per week
£5.17
Per year
£269
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 700W for a infrared heating panel; published figures for this appliance range from 350W to 1.2kW. Infrared panels are typically sold in fixed wattages — commonly 350W, 580W, 700W, 900W and 1,200W — and, like halogen heaters, warm surfaces and people directly rather than the air, so a room can feel comfortable at a lower air temperature. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 4 hours a day as zonal heating, 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 | 20p | £285 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 19p | £275 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 19p | £272 |
| London | 26.60 | 19p | £272 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 19p | £272 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 19p | £271 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 19p | £271 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 19p | £271 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 18p | £269 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 18p | £267 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 18p | £262 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 18p | £262 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 18p | £260 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 18p | £259 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 18p | £269 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £259 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £285 a year — a gap of £25.55 for identical use.
How a infrared heating panel compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in heating & cooling, GB average:
- infrared heating panel — £269 a year (this page)
- immersion heater — £288 a year
- halogen heater — £231 a year
- electric fireplace — £346 a year
- dehumidifier — £173 a year
- electric fan heater (2kW) — £384 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Size the panel to the room using a manufacturer's watts-per-square-metre guide rather than buying oversized
- Run on a thermostat or timer — panels have very little thermal lag so respond quickly to being switched down
- Mount at the recommended height and angle — radiant heat needs a clear line of sight to where you sit
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a infrared heating panel for an hour?
- 18p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 700W). One typical use — 4 hours a day as zonal heating — costs closer to 74p.
- How much does a infrared heating panel cost to run per year?
- Around £269 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 4 hours a day as zonal heating — about £5.17 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a infrared heating panel in?
- East Midlands, at £259 a year, against £285 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £25.55 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my infrared heating panel change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 350W–1.2kW, so the top of that range costs about 3.4x the bottom. This page uses 700W; 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
- Surya Heating — infrared heating panel product guide — 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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