How much does a fan heater cost to run?

One day costs about £1.05

A typical fan heater costs about £1.05 per day to run. At 5 days a week that is £5.26 a week, or £273.73 a year, based on 2,000 W for 2 hours (4.00 kWh) at 26.32p per kWh.

Adjust for your fan heater

Power2,000 W

Most fan heaters have a 1 kW and a 2 kW setting. The thermostat switches the element off once the room is warm, so the real average can be lower than the rating.

Time per day2 hours

Days per week5

Electricity rate (pence per kWh)

Set to the Ofgem price cap average. Use the rate on your own bill if it differs.

Energy per day4.00 kWh

Cost per day£1.05

Cost per week£5.26

Cost per year£273.73

Worked example

2,000 W is 2 kW. Running for 2 hours uses 2 × 2 = 4.00 kWh. At 26.32p per kWh that costs £1.05.

Running it two hours on five days a week comes to £273.73 a year. Cutting each session by half an hour would save roughly £68.43 of that.

How to cut the cost

A fan heater warms the air fast but loses the warmth as soon as it stops, so it suits short bursts in a small room. Close the door, use the timer, and keep it for the hour you need it instead of leaving it on in the background.

Questions

Is a fan heater cheap to run?

It is cheap to buy but not cheap to run: at 26.32p per kWh a 2 kW heater costs 52.6p for every hour it runs flat out.

Does the thermostat really save money?

Yes. Once the room reaches the set temperature the element switches off, so the cost per hour falls. Lower the power slider above to see the effect.

Other appliances

Electricity rate: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, Great Britain average, Direct Debit, default tariff: 26.32p per kWh. Your own tariff and region may differ, so change the rate above to match your bill. Appliance figures are typical estimates; your appliance's energy label or manual is more accurate. Last checked 2026-11-03. Next review: January 2027, when Ofgem announces the next quarter's cap.