Is It Cheaper to Heat One Room With an Electric Heater?

The Cost Comparison: Electric vs Gas

Gas is roughly four times cheaper per kWh than electricity, but electric heating only one room can still be cost-effective in the right circumstances.

The fundamental comparison is between the cost per kWh of electricity and gas. At the current UK rates, electricity costs approximately 26.32p per kWh while gas costs approximately 6.5p per kWh [S2]. This means gas provides heat at roughly one-quarter the cost per unit.

However, gas central heating heats the entire house, while an electric heater only heats the room you are in. If you only need to heat one room, the total energy consumed by a 2kW electric heater may be less than the energy consumed by a gas boiler heating every room [S1].

• Electricity rate: approximately 26.32p per kWh [S2]
• Gas rate: approximately 6.5p per kWh [S2]
• Gas is roughly four times cheaper per unit of energy
• Electric heating one room can use less total energy than gas heating the whole house
• The comparison depends on room size, insulation, and heating duration

When Electric Heating One Room IS Cheaper

Electric heating is cheaper when the room is small, well-insulated, and you only need it for a few hours.

If you live in a well-insulated flat or house and only spend time in one or two rooms, heating the entire property with gas central heating may waste energy heating unused rooms [S1]. A 2kW electric heater focused on the room you occupy can use less total energy.

This is particularly true for people who work from home and spend most of the day in a single room. Rather than heating the whole house to 21°C from 8am to 6pm, a small electric heater maintaining 18-20°C in one room uses significantly less energy [S1]. The savings are greatest in well-insulated properties with good draught-proofing.

• Small, well-insulated rooms: electric heating is most cost-effective
• Work-from-home scenarios: heat only the occupied room
• Properties with good insulation retain heat longer
• Short heating periods (2-4 hours) favour electric
• If gas boiler is old and inefficient, electric may be competitive

When Electric Heating One Room IS NOT Cheaper

Electric heating is not cheaper for large rooms, poor insulation, long heating periods, or when multiple rooms need heating.

If the room is large or poorly insulated, a 2kW heater may not be sufficient to maintain a comfortable temperature [S2]. The heater will run continuously at maximum power, consuming 8kWh over 4 hours at a cost of £2.11. In a poorly insulated room, heat escapes quickly and the heater struggles to maintain temperature.

If you need to heat more than one room, the cost advantage disappears quickly. Two rooms with 2kW heaters costs £4.22 for 4 hours, compared to approximately £1.56-2.60 for gas central heating the whole house [S2]. Similarly, if you need heating for extended periods (8+ hours), gas central heating is almost always cheaper.

• Large rooms require more than 2kW, increasing cost
• Poor insulation means heat escapes quickly, heater runs continuously
• Multiple rooms with electric heaters cost more than gas heating the whole house
• Extended heating periods (8+ hours) favour gas central heating
• Old, inefficient gas boilers reduce the cost advantage of gas

The Role of Insulation

Good insulation is the single biggest factor in whether electric room heating is cost-effective.

Insulation determines how quickly heat escapes from a room. A well-insulated room retains heat from a 2kW electric heater far longer than a poorly insulated one [S4]. This means the heater cycles off more often, reducing average consumption and running costs.

Key areas to insulate include the loft, cavity walls, floor, windows, and doors [S4]. Draught-proofing around windows, doors, and floorboards is a low-cost improvement that can reduce heat loss by 15-25%. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that draught-proofing a typical semi-detached house saves £45-65 per year.

• Loft insulation: top up to 270mm for maximum benefit
• Cavity wall insulation: suitable for most post-1920 homes
• Draught-proofing: £45-65/year savings for a semi-detached house [S4]
• Double glazing: reduces heat loss through windows by 50%
• Rugs on hard floors: reduces heat loss through the floor

Practical Example: Working From Home

A person working from home in one room may save money by using an electric heater instead of heating the whole house with gas.

Consider a person living alone in a 3-bedroom semi-detached house who works from home 5 days per week. Without working from home, they might run gas central heating for 6 hours daily. With an electric heater, they could heat only their home office for 8 hours.

Gas central heating for 6 hours: approximately 12kWh × 6.5p = 78p per day. Electric heater for 8 hours: 2kW × 8 hours × 26.32p = £4.21 per day at maximum [S1]. However, with thermostat cycling, the electric heater may only average 1.2-1.5kW, reducing the cost to £2.53-3.16 per day.

• Gas 6 hours: approximately 78p per day
• Electric 8 hours (continuous): approximately £4.21 per day
• Electric 8 hours (thermostat cycling): approximately £2.53-3.16 per day
• Weekly saving (5 days): potentially £1-8 per week depending on actual consumption
• Annual saving over winter: potentially £20-160

How to Make the Decision

Calculate your specific costs based on room size, insulation, and heating needs to determine which option is cheaper for you.

There is no universal answer to whether electric room heating is cheaper. The right approach is to calculate costs for your specific situation [S1]. Use our electric heater running cost calculator to estimate hourly costs, then compare against your gas central heating costs.

Consider the following factors: room size and insulation quality, how many hours you need heating, how many rooms need heating, your electricity and gas rates, and whether you are home alone or with a family [S2]. For most people in well-insulated homes, heating one room with electric during daytime hours can be cost-effective.

• Calculate costs using our electric heater running cost calculator
• Compare electric cost for one room against gas cost for whole house
• Factor in room size, insulation, and heating duration
• Check your actual electricity and gas rates on your bills
• Consider improving insulation before relying on electric heating

Frequently asked questions

Bottom line

Heating one room with an electric heater can be cheaper than running gas central heating for the whole house, but only in specific circumstances. The room must be small, well-insulated, and you must only need it for a limited number of hours. For larger rooms, poor insulation, or extended heating periods, gas central heating is almost always more economical. Use our calculators to compare costs for your specific situation.