Heating systems: your home heating options explained

Electric heating

What are the different types?
What are the benefits?
How much does it cost to install?
Which system is right for me?
Do I need to insulate my home?
Is electric heating cheaper than gas?
How do I get electric heating?

RTS meters will be switched off after 30 June 2025

If you have electric heating, you may also have a Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter. The RTS system will stop after 30 June 2025, so you need to arrange a replacement meter before that date.

For more information, read our blog on the RTS meter switch off.

Electric heating is any system that uses electricity as the main energy source to heat your home. For most people, it typically means one of the following:

electric storage heaters
electric boilers
electric underfloor heating

Although heat pumps use electricity, they’re not normally thought of as electric heating systems. This is because they don’t use electricity to provide heating directly.

Electricity is an increasingly low carbon form of heating as more renewable energy sources like wind and solar are used to power the nation. In the future, we expect CO₂ emissions from electricity to continue to drop, and for electricity to become a low carbon source of energy and heat.

However, even though electricity is the lowest-carbon energy option for most homes, it’s still around four times more expensive than gas. This can make it an expensive way to heat your home, especially if your home’s not well insulated.

What are the different types of electric heating?

There are a few common types of electric heating systems and appliances. Which one is best suited for your home will depend on your circumstances.

Electric boilers use electricity to heat water before sending it through radiators or underfloor heating pipes. Usually, these systems include a large hot water tank to store the heat. They’re generally paired with special electric meters that provide cheaper electricity at certain times of day.

The most common electric meters for electric boiler are Economy 10 meters. Economy 10 provides three periods of cheaper rate electricity during the day.

It’s important that you understand when those times are and try to use your electric boiler at these times as much as possible. Outside these times, it’s more expensive to use your electric boiler.
Other electric systems (except heat pumps) are commonly referred to as ‘direct’ acting electric heating. This refers to:
- panel heaters
- infrared heaters
- wall-mounted electric radiators
Direct electric heating is sometimes used as the main heating system. This is often when there’s no storage heating, heat pump or mains gas supply to the property.
Some direct electric heaters support a main heating system and are commonly known as ‘secondary heating’. Secondary electric heating also includes:
- portable electric heaters
- electric towel rails
When you want to warm up just one room for a little while, or need extra heat during cold snaps, secondary heating can be useful. For example, you might use a portable heater in a room that’s hard to keep warm.

While these heaters only warm a single room rather than your whole home, they can be expensive to run. This is because the electricity they use costs more per unit of heat compared to main heating systems. This includes:
- gas and oil heating
- heat pumps
- main heating systems that take advantage of cheaper electricity rates
Electric underfloor heating uses electric wires installed beneath or within your floor. You often see it in bathrooms or shower rooms for occasional use, although it can be anywhere in your home.

By comparison, traditional ‘wet’ underfloor heating passes heated water through a series of pipes laid under your floor. This heated water often comes from a boiler or a heat pump.

Like other secondary heaters, electric underfloor heating is typically expensive to run since it uses standard-rate electricity. However, it can be a practical choice where you want short bursts of warmth at specific times, like when getting out of the shower.

For heating larger areas or rooms you use more often, wet underfloor heating usually costs less to run. This is because it can use more efficient or cheaper heat sources like a gas boiler or a heat pump. While wet systems cost more to install, their lower running costs often make them a better long-term choice for heating the whole house

What are the benefits of electric heating?

Low initial cost to install.
Very little maintenance needed. You should only need to make safety checks every five years.
They systems don’t need a ‘wet’ central heating system to deliver heat (except for electric boilers).
You can be flexible, delivering heat to one room at a time if needed, or ‘topping up’ other heating systems.

How much does electric heating cost to install?

It depends largely on what kind of heating system you go for. Here are the typical costs per room:

£750 – 1000 for electric storage heaters
£300 – £500 for electric panel heaters

Which electric heating system is right for me?

The best heating system will be the one that matches your home and budget.

Direct electric heating, like panel heaters, can be simple and cheap to install since it doesn’t need pipes, radiators, or underfloor systems (‘wet’ central heating).

However, it typically has high running costs because standard rate electricity is more expensive than gas or oil. These high costs are especially noticeable if you’re using these systems to heat your entire home or if it has poor insulation. If you live in a very well insulated or small property, the higher running costs might not matter as much to you.

Storage heaters offer a middle-ground solution. They take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity rates, making them less expensive to run than direct electric heaters. They work by storing heat during off-peak hours and releasing it when needed.

Heat pumps are often the most cost-effective electric option in the long run. While they use electricity, they work differently from other electric heating. They take heat from the air or ground, making them about three times more efficient than standard electric heaters.

If you’re planning to upgrade your heating system, they’re worth considering despite higher upfront costs. Some heat pumps are suitable for homes that don’t have radiators or a wet underfloor heating system.

Do I need to insulate my home for electric heating?

Your home doesn’t have to be insulated to use electric heating.

However, an insulated home with a well-controlled heating system will help reduce your heating bills, whatever form of heating you have. For more information, read our advice on home insulation and draught proofing.

Is electric heating cheaper than gas?

At the moment, no. Electricity is around four times more expensive than gas per unit.

So, even though electric heating is more efficient than using a boiler, the higher cost of electricity more than offsets this.

However, given their lower installation costs compared to boilers, they may be a suitable alternative if you live in a small flat, for example.

How do I get electric heating?

We recommend you get quotes from at least three installers for any new electric heating system. Make sure the installer is aware of your current electricity meter and tariff. We recommend finding an installer registered with a trade association, such as: