Best Electric Heating for a Flat: Which Option Should You Choose?
Choosing electric heating for a flat isn't simply about finding the heater with the lowest purchase price.
Space, insulation, existing heating, room usage, electrical supply and installation restrictions can all affect which system makes the most sense.
What Is the Best Electric Heating for a Flat?
There is no single electric heating system that is best for every flat.
Infrared panels can be particularly useful where you want radiant heating, individual room control and the option to use suitable ceiling positions rather than occupying valuable lower wall space.
Electric radiators provide a familiar radiator-style solution, while storage heaters can suit properties where their charging arrangement and electricity tariff work well.
Heat pumps can offer a different level of electrical efficiency because they transfer heat rather than operating as direct electric resistance heaters, but installing one in a flat can involve additional practical considerations.
The right choice depends on the individual apartment rather than the property type alone.
Heating a Flat Isn't Quite the Same as Heating a House
Flats often present a different set of heating decisions from detached or semi-detached houses.
You may have:
- No mains-gas connection
- An existing all-electric heating system
- Limited lower wall space
- No private garden or suitable outdoor area
- Neighbours above, below or alongside the property
- Leasehold or building-management restrictions
- Limited scope for major plumbing alterations
Flats can also vary enormously.
A modern well-insulated apartment surrounded by other heated properties has a very different heating requirement from an older top-floor flat with more exposed external surfaces.
Don't size heating simply because the property is described as a “one-bedroom” or “two-bedroom” flat. Heating requirements depend on the actual rooms and building characteristics.
Electric Heating Options for Flats at a Glance
| Heating Type | How It Works | Space Considerations | Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared panels | Direct electric radiant heating | Wall or suitable ceiling positions depending on product | Room-by-room control can be designed into the system |
| Electric radiators | Direct electric heating, generally more convection-led | Usually require suitable wall positions | Individual room control available with suitable models |
| Storage heaters | Store electrically generated heat for later release | Generally occupy lower wall/floor-level space | Depends on charging and output controls |
| Heat pump | Transfers heat from an external source into the property | Requires a suitable system design and installation arrangement | Depends on system configuration |
Infrared Heating for Flats
Why Infrared Can Work Well in an Apartment
Infrared heaters use electricity to heat an emitting surface, which releases radiant energy towards people and solid surfaces within its effective area.
For flats, one practical advantage is the ability to design a system around the available wall and ceiling positions rather than automatically placing a radiator at lower wall level.
Depending on the specific product, infrared heaters may be suitable for wall or ceiling mounting.
Ceiling-mounted infrared heating can be particularly useful in compact rooms where lower wall space is needed for furniture, desks, storage or kitchen units.
Infrared may suit a flat where you want:
- Direct electric space heating
- Greater emphasis on radiant heat
- Individual room or zone control
- Wall or suitable ceiling-mounted options
- To preserve valuable lower wall space
- No wet space-heating pipework
However, infrared still needs to be correctly sized and positioned.
Read our Infrared Heating Pros & Cons and Is Infrared Heating Worth It? guides for a broader assessment.
Electric Radiators for Flats
Electric radiators are another common option where a flat does not use gas central heating.
They use electrical resistance to generate heat and generally transfer a significant proportion of that heat to the surrounding air through convection, while also providing radiant heat.
They may appeal if you want a familiar radiator-style system and already have suitable wall positions available.
Modern electric radiators can also provide individual temperature and scheduling controls depending on the model.
The key point is that both electric radiators and infrared panels are direct electric heating systems.
Infrared should therefore not be presented as somehow producing dramatically more heat from the same electrical input.
Their main differences concern heat delivery, positioning, controls and how the system fits the property.
See our Infrared Heating vs Electric Radiators comparison.
Storage Heaters in Flats
Many all-electric flats already have storage heaters installed.
Storage heaters use electricity to heat an internal thermal storage material before releasing the stored energy into the room later.
This means their economics can be closely connected to the electricity tariff used during the charging period.
If your existing storage heaters already suit your routine and tariff, replacing them simply because another technology appears newer may not automatically make financial sense.
On the other hand, you may want to consider alternatives if you're looking for a different heating schedule, different room control or a different use of wall space.
If you're considering replacement, read Infrared Heating vs Storage Heaters.
What About a Heat Pump in a Flat?
Heat pumps work differently from direct electric heaters.
Rather than using electrical resistance as the primary means of producing heat at the point of use, they use electricity to transfer heat from an external source into the property.
This allows a suitably designed heat-pump system to deliver more heat energy into the building than the electrical energy it consumes.
For a flat, however, the practical installation needs careful consideration.
Depending on the building and proposed system, issues can include:
- Suitable location for external equipment
- Building configuration
- Internal heat-distribution system
- Existing pipework
- Domestic hot-water requirements
- Permissions applicable to the property
If a heat pump is a realistic option for your apartment, compare the two approaches on our Infrared Heating vs Air Source Heat Pumps page.
What Is the Cheapest Electric Heating to Run in a Flat?
Be cautious with simple claims that one electric heater is always a fixed percentage cheaper than another.
For direct electric resistance heating, the electrical input gives you a straightforward maximum consumption calculation.
A 1kW direct electric heater drawing full power continuously for one hour consumes 1kWh of electricity.
The actual heating bill over a day, month or winter depends on:
- The heating output required by the flat
- How long heaters operate
- Thermostat settings
- Electricity tariff
- Room-by-room schedules
- Insulation and glazing
- External exposure
- Occupancy
Storage heaters introduce charging tariffs and timing into the comparison.
Heat pumps operate differently because they can transfer multiple units of heat for each unit of electricity consumed under suitable operating conditions.
For infrared specifically, read our Infrared Heating Running Costs guide.
In a Small Flat, Heater Position Can Matter as Much as Appearance
Space is often at a premium in an apartment.
A conventional wall-mounted radiator or storage heater occupies an area that cannot then easily be used for a sofa, desk, wardrobe or storage.
This is one reason suitable ceiling-mounted infrared heaters can be useful.
Moving the heating equipment to the ceiling can leave more of the room available for furniture and storage.
But positioning isn't simply an interior-design decision.
Infrared is radiant heating, so you also need to think about how the heater's radiant output reaches the intended area.
See Ceiling vs Wall-Mounted Infrared Panels before deciding which format suits a room.
A Flat Doesn't Necessarily Need Every Room Heated Identically
One of the useful features of electric heating is the potential to control rooms according to how they are actually used.
A typical flat might include:
Evening Use
A living room may need its main comfort period during the afternoon and evening rather than throughout the whole day.
Different Schedule
A bedroom can have a very different temperature schedule from the main living area.
Working Hours
Someone working from home may want one room heated during the day without following the same schedule elsewhere.
Occasional Use
A room that is rarely occupied may have very different heating requirements from the main living space.
For infrared heating, this needs to be reflected in the control design.
If rooms need genuinely independent temperatures and schedules, they need an appropriate independent control arrangement. Do not assume one thermostat provides separate control of multiple rooms.
Read Do Infrared Heaters Need a Thermostat? for the full explanation.
How Much Electric Heating Does a Flat Need?
There isn't a reliable universal answer based only on floor area.
Two flats with identical internal dimensions can have different heat requirements.
Consider the difference between:
- A middle-floor apartment with heated properties above and below
- A top-floor flat beneath an exposed roof
- A corner apartment with several external walls
- A modern highly insulated flat
- An older converted property
For infrared heating, calculate the heating requirement first rather than choosing panels based on a fixed square-metre claim.
Our What Size Infrared Heater Do I Need? guide explains wattage, while How Many Infrared Panels Do I Need? explains how that output can be distributed across heaters.
Don't Replace Them One-for-One Without Recalculating the Flat
If you're removing old storage heaters, it can be tempting to put a new heater wherever each old unit was positioned.
That isn't necessarily the best way to design the replacement system.
Instead:
- Calculate each room's heating requirement
- Determine the output required
- Choose the appropriate number of heaters
- Reconsider heater positioning
- Plan room controls
- Assess the electrical requirements
If infrared is being considered, the old storage-heater position may not be the optimum radiant position for the new system.
Check What You're Allowed to Install
If you don't own the freehold of the building, the heating decision may involve more than technical suitability.
Depending on the property, proposed work and your agreement, you may need to check what alterations are permitted before making changes.
This can be particularly relevant where work affects:
- Fixed electrical installations
- External walls
- Building exteriors
- Shared parts of the building
- External heat-pump equipment
Tenants should obtain the appropriate permission before making permanent alterations to a rented property.
Is Infrared Heating Easy to Install in a Flat?
Infrared can avoid the need to install a water-filled space-heating circuit, but that does not mean every fixed installation is simply a DIY job.
The requirements depend on the particular heaters, controls, electrical arrangement and mounting positions.
A whole-flat system may involve several heaters and independently controlled rooms, so it should be planned as a complete heating installation rather than as a collection of unrelated appliances.
Read our Infrared Heater Installation Guide and our upcoming Infrared Heating Installation Cost guide.
Remember That Room Heating and Hot Water Are Separate Decisions
If your flat is entirely electric, you also need to consider how domestic hot water is produced.
Infrared panels, electric radiators and storage heaters provide space heating. They do not themselves provide the domestic hot water needed for showers, baths and taps.
Your property therefore needs an appropriate separate hot-water solution.
IHS also supplies Sunamp Thermino heat batteries for suitable hot-water applications.
See What Is a Sunamp Thermino Heat Battery? for more information.
Which Electric Heating System Might Suit Your Flat?
You Want...
- Radiant electric heating
- Wall or suitable ceiling options
- To preserve lower wall space
- Independent room control with the right setup
- No wet space-heating circuit
You Want...
- A familiar radiator format
- Direct electric heating
- Convection-led room heating
- Individual room heaters
- To use suitable existing wall positions
You Want...
- To store electrically generated heat
- A charging arrangement that suits your tariff
- To retain an existing system that already suits the flat
- Heat release that matches your daily routine
The Property Allows...
- A suitable installation arrangement
- Appropriate external equipment where required
- A suitable internal heat-distribution system
- The required permissions and building alterations
6 Things to Check Before Replacing the Heating in a Flat
Calculate the Heating Requirement
Work room by room rather than relying only on the total floor area of the apartment.
Check the Existing Electrical Installation
The electrical requirements should be assessed for the heating system you intend to install.
Plan the Heater Positions
Consider furniture, storage, usable wall space and — for infrared — appropriate radiant positioning.
Decide How Rooms Will Be Controlled
Think about whether each room needs its own temperature and schedule.
Check Permissions
Make sure any permanent alterations are permitted before installation work begins.
Consider the Whole Cost
Compare the heaters, installation, controls and expected electricity use rather than purchase price alone.
Electric Heating for Flats FAQs
What is the best electric heating for a flat?
It depends on the individual flat. Infrared panels, electric radiators, storage heaters and heat pumps have different installation, heat-delivery and control characteristics. Consider heat loss, available space, existing heating, electrical supply, occupancy and installation restrictions.
Is infrared heating good for a flat?
Infrared can be well suited to flats where correctly sized and positioned. It can provide direct electric radiant heating, room-by-room control and, with suitable products, ceiling mounting that preserves lower wall space.
Is infrared heating cheaper than electric radiators?
Not automatically. Both are direct electric heating systems. Actual running costs depend on the output required, operating time, tariff, thermostat settings, zoning and building heat loss.
Can I replace storage heaters with infrared panels in a flat?
Potentially, yes. The new system should be designed around the flat's actual heating requirements rather than simply replacing each storage heater one-for-one. Electrical requirements and any applicable permissions should also be considered.
Can infrared panels heat an entire flat?
Yes, where the system is correctly designed with sufficient output, appropriate heater positions and suitable controls for the individual rooms.
Are ceiling heaters useful in a small flat?
Suitable ceiling-mounted infrared heaters can be useful where lower wall space is limited because they can leave more room available for furniture and storage. The heater must still be appropriately sized and positioned.
Do I need permission to change the heating in a flat?
That depends on the property, tenure, agreement and work involved. Tenants and leaseholders should check the permissions applicable to their property before making permanent alterations.
Considering Infrared Heating for Your Flat?
Start by looking at each room individually rather than choosing heaters solely from the total floor area of the apartment.
The required output, number of heaters, mounting positions and control arrangement should work together as one heating design.
Read our Complete Infrared Heating Guide, explore our infrared heating ranges, compare infrared with electric radiators or speak to the IHS team about heating your flat →