Compare Infrared Heating vs Other Options
Thinking about infrared heating and how it stacks up against heat pumps or traditional systems? Start here. Below you’ll find quick comparisons and next steps to size your rooms, learn how infrared works, and browse our full range.
Popular comparisons
Infrared vs Ground-Source Heat Pumps
Real-world use cases, SCOP vs COP explained, costs and comfort trade-offs.
Infrared vs Air-Source Heat Pumps
Seasonal efficiency vs run-hours and zoning.
Infrared vs Electric Convection
Radiant comfort, quicker “felt heat”, and reduced stratification vs air heating.
Infrared vs Air-Source Heat Pumps (quick take)
Air-source heat pumps can deliver 2.5–3.5 kWh of heat per kWh of electricity across a season, but they’re best for steady, whole-home heating with well-sized emitters. Infrared shines when you heat intermittently or zone-by-zone—bathrooms, extensions, studios, garden rooms and high-ceilinged spaces—cutting total run-hours and wasted warm air.
Infrared vs Traditional Heating (gas boilers & storage heaters)
Infrared panels give fast, radiant comfort with minimal disruption—no pipework, no radiators and very low maintenance. Compared with gas boilers and radiators, IR avoids stratification and cold spots, and it’s ideal for retrofits or single-room upgrades. Versus electric storage or convection heaters, IR targets people and surfaces directly for quicker “felt heat” and zoned control.
How to choose in 2 steps
1) Size each room with our Wattage Calculator to estimate heat loss and panel wattage. 2) Match usage: if you run all-day, whole-home heating, a heat pump may be more efficient per kWh of heat; if you heat a few rooms for shorter periods, infrared often wins on total running cost.
Helpful next steps: How infrared works • Shop all heaters • Talk to a specialist
Next steps
- Work out wattage: Use our Wattage Calculator for each room.
- Learn the basics: Read the Infrared Heating Guide.
- Browse panels & bars: See Shop All or Infrared Heating Panels.