Top 9 Best Oil Filled Radiator Models on the Market in 2023 (Reviews)
They’re efficient, attractive, and safe — but selecting the best oil filled radiators for your home takes careful consideration. We’re here to help.
Today, we review 9 of the best electric oil filled radiators in the UK, each selected for their unique features and intended uses. Near the end of the page, we also provide a handy buyer’s guide to help you make an informed purchase.
Short on time? Here’s a preview of our featured oil filled radiator reviews:
- VonHaus 1,500W Oil Filled Electric Radiator (7 Fin)
- De’Longhi Dragon 4 TRD40820T
- Pro Breeze 2,500W Oil Filled Radiator (11 Fin)
- PureMate 2,500W Oil Filled Radiator (11 Fin)
- VonHaus 2,500W Oil-Filled Radiator (11 Fin)
- AMOS 3,000W Oil Filled Radiator (13 Fin)
- Celsius 1,000W Wall Mounted Oil Filled Radiator
- Electriq Ultraslim 800W (Wall Mountable/Freestanding)
- Warmehaus Slimline Fluid Inertia Wall Mounted Oil Filled Radiator
About Oil Filled Radiators
Despite the name, oil filled radiators do not actually burn oil as fuel. Instead, they store oil in a reservoir, where it retains heat and diffuses it into the room.
Compared to other heating appliances, oil filled radiators convert nearly all of the energy they consume to heat, meaning they’re incredibly efficient. What’s more, even after you turn the unit off, the oil stores heat and continues to radiate warmth for some time afterwards.
We also love oil filled radiators because they don’t dry out your air like blower-equipped heaters do. And crucially, these appliances are dead-silent, meaning they’re ideal for bedrooms, where quiet nights are necessary for restful sleep.
While you should be cautious not to touch the hot radiator fins, or place the unit next to flammable objects, oil filled heaters don’t have an exposed heating element and present a reduced fire hazard compared to other heater types.
Top 9 Best Oil Filled Radiator Models of 2021
So, which is the best oil filled radiator?
Below, we review 9 contenders for the top oil filled electric radiator in the UK. We’ve selected the models below to fit various criteria, including room size, efficiency, budget, and other variables. Of course, beyond heating ability, every entry on our list boasts superior safety features – because ultimately, a heater must protect your family, not endanger them.
Heads up: if you’re looking for the best wall-mounted oil filled radiators, skip to the last 3 listings.
1. VonHaus 1,500W Oil Filled Electric Radiator (7 Fin)
Price: £ | Dimensions: 33 cm x 24 cm x 60 cm | Heat modes: 3 | Power: 600/900/1,500 watts | Material: Steel | Finish: White
VonHaus has a stellar reputation for high-quality components and stringent manufacturing techniques. And, their 1,500W Oil Filled Radiator is no exception, coming in as our top recommendation for the best oil filled radiator. Offering 3 power settings and the all-important safety cut-off feature, VonHaus offers a top tier oil heater that won’t break the bank.
VonHaus has included a 2-year warranty with this heater, and at 1,500 Watts, this model can heat rooms up to 25 square metres, which is quite solid for a heater of this type and price range. It’s also lightweight but sturdy, with a plug that never gets hot.
What’s more, the 4 castor wheels and carry handle offer excellent portability and stability. And, thanks to an adjustable thermostat, you can easily dial in the desired temperature.
Like with all space heaters, it’s best to use the VonHaus 1,500W oil filled radiator in well-insulated rooms. Keep in mind, too, that this heater is designed for occasional use.
All-in-all, though, VonHaus has delivered a compact heater at a compact price.
2. De’Longhi Dragon 4 TRD40820T
Price: ££ | Dimensions: 44 cm x 16.0 cm x 65 cm | Heat modes: 3 | Power: 2,000 watts | Material: Metal | Finish: White
The De’Longhi Dragon 4 TRD40820T electric oil radiator is ideal for spaces that are usually cooler than normal. That’s because this heater comes with a unique anti-frost feature and finless design; the latter creates an enhanced chimney effect which rushes hot air through the heater’s vents. Combined with a 24-hour mechanical timer, you’ve got yourself an ideal all-winter product that’s built for efficiency.
Artfully designed and manufactured, De’Longhi offers an unprecedented 10-year warranty on this oil filled electric radiator. This incredible warranty length shows that De’Longhi have complete confidence in the longevity of this product.
In fact, one buyer’s review claimed their De’Longhi heater lasted 23 years before giving up the ghost. It’s not surprising though — the venerable Italian appliance company has been around since 1902, so they’ve got plenty of expertise at their disposal.
Despite the price jump from the first heater on this list, this oil filled electric radiator is actually very well costed considering the quality it offers. In terms of sheer output, the De’Longhi Dragon 4 TRD40820T can heat a room that’s 60 metres cubed, and the model has won plenty of praise from people using it in conservatories.
3. Pro Breeze 2,500W Oil Filled Radiator (11 Fin)
Price: £ | Dimensions: 50 cm x 24 cm x 62 cm | Heat modes: 3 | Power: 1,000/1,500/2,000 watts | Material: Metal | Finish: White
In terms of value, the Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator is arguably the overall best oil filled electric radiator on the market. Its surprisingly reasonable price point stems from the fact that this model’s been around for a while. But that’s not a bad thing — it simply means that this radiator has withstood the test of time.
Bear in mind, too, that unlike smartphones, radiators don’t undergo improvements on a regular basis. That means a solid older oil filled electric radiator, like the Pro Breeze 2500W, can stay effective for many years before becoming obsolete.
The Pro Breeze 2500W features 11 oil-filled fins, ensuring that radiant heat permeates your room swiftly once you switch it on. The built-in thermostat lets you regulate the temperature with straightforward controls, so it’s easy to maintain the room temperature at the desired level any time of year.
This model is quite efficient, too — one happy user reported a power bill of just 45p per day when using the Pro Breeze 2500W to heat in intermittent, 5-minute bursts 12 times a day. At such a low cost, buying 2 of these heaters makes good financial sense. (Of course, your heating costs may vary depending on room size, quality of insulation, and your supplier’s electricity rates).
For your safety, the heater’s features include a secure tip-over switch, overheat protection, and automatic thermal cut-off.
4. PureMate 2,500W Oil Filled Radiator (11 Fin)
Price: £ | Dimensions: 50 cm x 24 cm x 62 cm | Heat modes: 3 | Power: 1,000/1,500/2,000 watts | Material: Metal | Finish: White
With a slim, portable design, the PureMate 2,500W Oil Filled Radiator is an exercise in engineering efficiency, cramming 2,500 Watts into a satisfyingly compact, high-performance heater. Suitable for use in the home, office, or garage, this small oil filled radiator from PureMate proves its versatility at a very attractive price point.
This PureMate radiator heats up a room quickly and efficiently, ensuring comfort at a relatively low operating cost. Some inferior heaters skew towards high efficiency at the cost of effectiveness (or vice versa), but this heater masters both metrics with ease.
Like all truly great heaters, PureMate doesn’t cut corners with safety, either. It includes a housing for the power cord, and gets shipped complete with overheat protection, auto-shutoff, and tip-over safety protection.
Customer reactions to this heater are overwhelmingly positive — an impressive 77% of customers gave the PureMate 2500W a 5-star rating.
5. VonHaus 2,500W Oil-Filled Radiator (11 Fin)
Price: £ | Dimensions: 40 cm x 24 cm x 63 cm | Heat modes: 3 | Watts: 1,000/1,500/2,500 watts | Material: Steel | Finish: White
If you were impressed by our 7-fin VonHaus pick but were hoping for a heater with a little more oomph, you may have met your match. In comparison, the 11-fin variant is a large oil filled radiator that uses the same quality materials as its smaller counterpart. The primary difference: it’s got more power.
In our experience, the heater fills a room with warmth surprisingly quickly. You’ll be glad to know that it’s efficient, too, costing a paltry 10p per operational hour to run.
Since the radiator has 3 power settings — 1,000W, 1,500W, and 2,500W — you may be content with the lowest heat setting on most days. That said, it you don’t have central heating, simply crank this 11-fin wonder to full power and it will keep you warm even on the coldest of winter nights.
Like the 7-fin variant, the VonHaus 2,500W Oil Filled Radiator is also quite portable thanks to its 4 castor wheels.
You’ll also be happy to hear that this model is extremely popular; it has received around 1,200 reviews, two-thirds of which gave it a perfect rating.
6. AMOS 3,000W Oil Filled Radiator (13 Fin)
Price: £ | Dimensions: Overall – 61.5 cm x 62 cm x 25 cm; Fin size – 57 cm x 12.5 cm; Cable – 150 cm (L) | Heat modes: 3 | Power: 1,000/2,000/3,000 watts | Material: Metal | Finish: Grey
AMOS is another brand whose radiators score consistently well, and this 3,000W oil filled electric radiator is a prime example of their engineering prowess. Sporting a curved exterior flank and 13 perfectly machined fins, this beastly radiator offers up to 3,000 Watts of unmitigated heat, so you needn’t worry about getting literal cold feet in your bedroom or office ever again.
Now, the heating capacity afforded by a 3,000W heater is self-evident. But what makes this model particularly appealing is the blistering speed with which it can heat up a relatively large space, like a lounge.
Naturally, this AMOS heater also includes all the safety features you could need — all at an extremely aggressive price point.
While it does cut the heat at your desired temperature to save power and keep you comfortable, this heater regrettably doesn’t include a timer. If this is something that is important to you, we recommend you select another heater on this list; if not, then this radiator is a great pick for comfort, efficiency, and value.
7. Celsius 1,000W Wall Mounted Oil Filled Radiator
Price: ££ | Dimensions: 55 cm x 120 cm x 2 cm; Mounted depth – 6 cm | Heat modes: Thermostat only | Power: 1,000 watts | Finish: White
Though it was never meant to fight among the heavy weights, this 1,000W model from Celsius is still one of the best wall mounted oil filled radiators out there.
At just 1,000 watts, this small oil filled radiator can still keep you toasty in an office, bedroom, dining room, lounge room, or conservatory — as long as you stay nearby. If you’re looking to heat up a large room, this heater won’t have the horsepower to provide optimum coverage; however, it’s well-suited for small- to-medium-sized spaces.
Celsius has included a lot of features in this heater, including brackets, anti-asthma function, 4 timer modes, overheat protection, anti-frost, and a bevy of other functions. It does this all at a reasonable price point, thus earning its spot on a list that’s dominated by freestanding heaters.
Note that despite its IP-20 rating, this radiator is not waterproof, and therefore not suitable for bathrooms or the outdoors.
8. Electriq Ultraslim 800W (Wall Mountable/Freestanding)
Price: £ | Dimensions: 55 cm x 95 cm x 6 cm | Heat modes: Thermostat | Power: 800 watts | Finish: White
We absolutely love the Electriq Ultraslim oil filled electric radiator. At only 800 watts, this heater is designed with your power bill in mind. (Trust us—when your bill arrives, you’ll be really glad you selected this unit.)
Where to start? For one thing, the clue is in the title. At just six centimetres thick, you’d be hard pressed to find another heater this thin. Its lightweight build works as a free-standing or wall-mounted unit, making it the most flexible heater on this list.
What’s more, though, is that this heater has an IP22 rating, meaning its water-resistant design makes it an ideal addition to your bathroom. If you’re looking for a bathroom heater that simply does a reliable job without getting in the way, stop reading and add this item to your cart right now!
9. Warmehaus Slimline Fluid Inertia Wall Mounted Oil Filled Radiator
Price: £££ | Dimensions: 57.7 cm x 8 cm x 93.7 cm | Heat modes: 5 | Power: 1800 watts | Material: Aluminium | Finish: White
If your bank account runs deep, take a look at this Warmehaus-designed wall mounted oil filled radiator. This thing has 5 heat settings, more features than a Swiss Army knife, and its stylised design makes it perfect for any modern home or apartment. (This is especially true if you have wooden floorboards to complement its tasteful, striped visage.)
This radiator’s fast and efficient heating capability, along with its 2-year “fit and forget” guarantee, ensure that you needn’t slum out another cold winter morning or night again. This unit also features a dead-simple LCD thermostat and robust construction, especially considering it’s only 8 cm thick.
The Warmehaus Slimline Fluid Inertia includes a 7-day, 24-hour timer, frost-protection, and a sturdy aluminium exterior. It features 11 fins with a whopping 1,800 watts, which is quite intense for a slim, wall-mounted heater. Although the installation is straightforward, I’ll urge you to have a qualified electrician install this item for maximum safety and peace of mind.
How to Choose the Best Oil Filled Electric Radiator
When gauging value, you should look past the upfront cost. A cheap oil heater might look good on the surface, but unfortunately, all cheap things tend to cost more in the long run. This is especially true for oil filled radiators.
The size of the radiator, the power source, and the heat output are the primary — but not the only — efficiency determinants.
1. Size of the Radiator
It’s common sense that bigger heaters consume more energy. Therefore, it’s wise to settle for smaller heaters where they suffice. Larger radiators typically require more power than space heaters designed for the home or office, so you should bear this in mind when budgeting for your next heater.
Larger oil heaters tend towards more basic, robust, and efficient designs, while smaller heaters pack more advanced features in order to remain efficient. Think about it this way: large heaters naturally diffuse more heat from greater surface area, while small oil filled radiators have clever tricks up their sleeves to achieve similar results.
2. Heating Output
An electric radiator with a sizeable output and high energy consumption may be more efficient than one using less energy to produce less heat. At any rate, ensure you choose a heater that’s not wasteful.
For oil-filled radiators especially, try to keep your heater on the lowest comfortable setting. Overheating is wasteful, expensive, and potentially dangerous. As a rule of thumb, the more wattage your heater has, the more you can get away with using lower settings.
3. Safety Features
Just like any other electrical appliance, an oil filled electric radiator may become defective with time — this is why some safety features are essential to protecting you should a fault occur.
The more safety features a radiator has, the better. Auto shut-off in case of extreme temperatures is one of the important functions to look out for. Freestanding heaters are particularly susceptible to falling over, and thus a tip-over switch is of particular importance with these kinds of heaters. Tip-over switches only make sense if you decide not to mount your radiator on the wall, so keep this in mind when choosing your model.
Having the power to control your device’s output also minimises the chances of accidents occurring. That’s why remote controls and other advanced features (such as timers) are equally important to consider.
4. Adjustability and Energy-saving Features
The best oil filled radiators offer an array of settings to help you operate the heater safely and efficiently. When choosing your model, look for simple energy-saving features, like remote control, a timer, thermostat, programmability, and others.
For instance, a programmable heater will allow you to control the temperature to the precise degree — this way, your radiator won’t consume more energy than it must.
It’s equally imperative that your heater can turn off automatically when you don’t need it, and a timer is particularly useful for ensuring your radiator does not consume an excessive amount of energy.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Oil Heater
Heater companies do their best to offer turnkey warming solutions, but it’s up to you to use them properly. Otherwise, you run the risk of poor heating, high power bills, or even fire hazards. Follow these tips to improve the efficiency and safety of your oil-filled heater.
Read Your Manual
The user manual isn’t just a modern Rosetta stone, it’s there to teach you how to operate your new heater. Make sure you understand the safety functions first and foremost, then dig into the advanced programme settings. You’ll learn how to run the heater when — and only when — you need it, enhancing your comfort while reducing your bill. Your manual will also give you crucial maintenance tips, letting you avoid preventable repairs.
Learn the Heating Controls
Heating controls are made to improve your user overall experience. You owe it to yourself to make the most of your investment by learning the controls. Here are a few of the most common:
- Remote control — As with a TV set, a radiator’s remote control allows you to switch the heater into a setting of your preference.
- Timer — With a timer, you can arrange for your heater to go off or turn on at specific times. This will save you a considerable amount of energy in the long run.
- Thermostat — Manual thermostats are a no-brainer, but their programmable peers may take you some time to learn and comprehend. Trust us — it’s worth your time; an efficient heating programme will help you achieve considerable energy savings over time.
Position Your Oil Radiator Correctly
Heater positioning is critical, especially if you have children. If you decide to mount your heater low to the ground, make sure your model has a child lock. If you’re not sure it has one, it’s best to contact the manufacturer to check.
All new purchases come with a manual, and the best thing to do is to follow the step-by-step instructions. Doing so will ensure you have a safe and comfortable experience. Plus, you won’t rack up a large electricity bill from suboptimal use.
The Bottom Line on Oil Filled Radiators
Oil-filled heaters are a fantastic choice for the home or office, and I hope that our list of the best oil filled radiators will help you make an informed decision.
When choosing an oil-filled radiator, make sure you pick out the right size and colour (if applicable). Don’t just consider price and power, as design and features are sometimes just as important. As I mentioned earlier, safety is of utmost importance with these appliances.
Once you’ve bought your radiator, ensure that you follow all instructions carefully, as improper use may lead to a fire hazard. And although all oil-filled heaters on this list come with overheat protection, I’ll still urge you to remain vigilant when the appliance is switched on.
Have you used any of the models we’ve listed above? Or any other, for that matter? If you’d like to share your experience with an oil filled radiator, leave our readers a comment below!