After weeks of testing I’ve found the 6 best oil-filled radiators you can buy for heat output, efficiency and value for money

Known for their impressive heat output, impeccable heat retention, and steady distribution of warmth, the best oil-filled radiators are a fantastic bit of kit to have under your belt when the temperature drops. However, I know that choosing the right oil-filled radiator for your home can be challenging.

As there are so many different makes, models, sizes, and wattages on the market, myself and a team of Ideal Home reviewers have spent weeks testing the very best oil-filled radiators out there - from high-street heroes to bestsellers from big brands like Pro Breeze, VonHaus, and others to see if they'll rival even the best electric heaters. We looked at everything from running costs, ease of use, design, and, of course, heating performance to crown an overall winner.

With this information in tow, I've compiled this guide of the top 6 oil-filled radiators, catering for those looking for an oil-filled heating solution for large spaces, a compact room, or a budget-friendly option. So, I'm confident you'll find the best oil-filled radiator to suit your home and needs in this guide.

The quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best oil filled radiators I've tried and tested. You'll find more information on each indoor heater and why myself and Ideal Home's team of expert reviewers recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

Best oil filled radiators

Best oil filled radiator overall

Design: As portable heaters go, the Pro Breeze 2500W is probably tied with the Pro Breeze 2000W Digital Oil-Free Radiator and De’Longhi 2500W for most stylish design. Unlike the VonHaus 2500W which is a rather dated looking cream colour, the body of the Pro Breeze 2500W is white, which feels more modern. The black and silver control panel is also smart and looks much more contemporary than most.

Assembly: There is some assembly to do with this radiator, but it's minimal. You just need to turn it upside down to attach the castor wheels using metal arc-shaped brackets and four wing nuts which need to be screwed into place. It took our tester, Rachel, under five minutes, although at 8.3kg in weight you do need a little strength and dexterity.

Ease of use: The large stainless steel-effect control knobs, which operate the temperature and thermostat, are straightforward and very easy to use. However, programming the timer function is considerably more complicated. The timer dial has 96 segments, each representing a 15-minute period. You have to push the segments in for the time period you want the heater turned on which requires good eyesight and decent finger dexterity.

Performance: During testing, Rachel found the Pro Breeze 2500W 11 Fins Oil Filled Radiator with Thermostat Control heated up very quickly. Sitting next to it in her office she could feel the heat radiating onto her legs within minutes, and in less than ten minutes her office (which measures approximately 2m x 3m) felt warm and cozy. It had a real warmth impact on larger rooms too, such as her bedroom measuring 4.5 x 3.5 metres.

Energy use: That powerful performance is perhaps unsurprising given that this is one of highest wattage radiators in our round-up using 2500W of power on its highest of three temperature settings. However, you can switch down to the 1500W or 1000W settings to save on energy if you need less heat. At current average electricity costs of 29p per unit, that means on its highest temperature setting this model costs roughly 73p per hour to run.

Overall: An attractive design, generally easy-to-use controls, minimal assembly, and powerful performance combined with a relatively affordable price point means we rate the Pro Breeze 2500W with 11 Fins the best oil filled radiator you can buy for heating a large space. The De’Longhi 2500W might just pip it to the post on performance, but its nearly twice the investment of the Pro Breeze. That said, if you only have a small area to heat, you could save even more cash by opting for the lower powered VonHaus 6 Fin 800W Oil Filled Radiator or De'Longhi TRNS0505M 500W Oil Filled Radiator further down in this round-up.

Most powerful

Design: This radiator is large, and heavy, weighing in at a whopping 17.52kg, although it immediately felt extremely solid and durable on unboxing. Unlike most of the oil filled radiators on the market, the De’Longhi Dragon 4 has an encased body rather than open fins, which gives it a much more contemporary appearance. And apparently, there’s science behind that design. The manufacturers refer to it as a ‘chimney design’ stating the special coil fins provide rapid hot air flow that quickly warms up a room for even and consistent heat distribution.

Assembly: This was by far the easiest large oil filled radiator of the bunch to assemble because it only needs turning upside down so the wheels can be pulled out. No screwing required. However, at 17.52kg inverting it isn't for the faint-hearted. Turning it over solo was a challenge and definitely more of a two-person job.

Ease of use: Like the Pro Breeze 2500W, the main control dials on the De’Longhi are large and easy to twist clockwise or anti-clockwise. However, again, the timer dial has toothed segments, each representing a 15-minute period, that need pushing in and require good eyesight and dexterity. However, what the De’Longhi does have is the ability to override the timer whenever you wish to, which means you don't need to reset the fiddly timer very frequently.

Performance: Similar to the Pro Breeze 2500W, the De’Longhi Dragon 4 offers three temperature settings, 1000W, 1400W, and 2500W, and on its highest setting it's powerful performance made short work of heating our tester's 2m x 3m office, and likewise her draughty bedroom which measures 3.5m x 4.5m.

Energy use: Like the Pro Breeze 2500W at the top of our round-up, at maximum heat output the De’Longhi Dragon 4 costs roughly 73p per hour to run at current energy prices.

Overall: Our tester couldn't fault the De’Longhi Dragon 4 on performance, its powerful 2500W heat output making short work of warming the largest and most draughty rooms in her home. However, it is large, heavy, and a significant investment, coming in at nearly twice the price of the Pro Breeze 2500W at full RRP. However, in its favour, it does feel very solidly built, and comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty which could mean it represents the better long-term value if you can afford its initial investment.

Best budget buy

Design: The 6 Fin VonHaus Oil Filled Radiator is one of the smallest in our round-up, meaning it's compact, lightweight, and easily portable. That does mean you sacrifice some power, with this radiator offering just one 800W heat setting, but makes the mini heater perfect for smaller spaces. Like most of VonHaus' oil filled radiators, it comes in two colour options; a smart black build and a classic off-white.

Assembly: Assembly of this small radiator took less than a minute and simply involved sliding the two feet into place, one at each end of the radiator. This was considerably easier than some of the other radiators tested which require dexterity of fingers and a good eye in order to screw wing nuts and bolts into place.

Ease of use: There is no timer with this radiator, and only one temperature setting, but that does make it incredibly easy to use. The red on/off button is easy to see and operate and the thermostat dial is large and straightforward, with ‘min’ and ‘max’ clearly indicated – perfect for anyone with less than 20/20 vision or who doesn't want to be overwhelmed by multiple controls.

Performance: This is a small oil filled radiator with a maximum 800W power output, so it can't compete with the 2500W models in terms of the heat it can dish out. However, if you only have a small room to heat then it does the job.

Energy use: Of course, the plus side of that lower 800W power usage is lower running costs of around 23p per hour. If you don't have a large space to heat, that makes the VonHaus 800W one of the most economical heaters to operate in our round-up.

Overall: The VonHaus 800W Oil Filled Radiator lacks power and functionality compared to the larger heaters in this round up, but it is one of the easiest to assemble, and definitely the easiest to use of all the oil filled radiators we've tested making it great for less dextrous users. It's also the cheapest oil filled radiator in our round-up making it a great budget buy, and if you don't need to heat a large space, then its 800W power usage means it's more energy efficient than larger models too.

Best portability

Design: The Dunelm 2000W Contemporary Round 9 Fin Oil Filled Radiator isn't too dissimilar to the other oil-filled radiators in this round-up. But I do think it earns a few style points thanks to its rounded fins and more curved design. The castor wheels also make it incredibly easy to move this model around the home, and it's a lot thinner than some of the other models in this guide. So, you can slot it behind furniture when you're not using it and want to keep it out of the way.

Assembly: I must admit that the assembly of this particular oil-filled radiator was a little tricky. As the rounded design makes it impossible to stand it upright (which is an essential step within the assembly process), it's very much a two-person job. But when you have that extra person to hand, attaching the castors to the wheel plates using the domed nuts was relatively easy. However, it's worth noting that Dunelm doesn't provide all of the tools you need. So, you'll need a spanner to hand if you purchase this one.

Ease of use: The controls of this Dunelm oil-filled radiator are fairly basic, which might not be fancy enough for some people - but they're incredibly easy to master. There are just two dials on this model, the main heat setting switch and the temperature thermostat. You can adjust them however you'd like by simply turning the dials.

Performance: With 2000W of power, this particular oil-filled radiator certainly packs a punch. It heats up incredibly quickly, maintains an effective constant temperature, and retains an impressive amount of heat when you turn it off - which means you can eek out a little bit of free heat. It easily warmed my home office (which measures at around 2.5 m x 2.8 m) in under an hour, but took a little longer when I moved into my slightly bigger bedroom. Nevertheless, for a non-oil-filled-radiator-specific brand, its performance certainly rivaled that of bigger brands.

Energy use: At the time of testing, Dunelm claimed that this oil-filled radiator should cost 45p per hour to run, and I found this to be almost true. It cost me around 50p per hour, and while this puts it at the more expensive end of the spectrum when compared to others in this guide, that's to be expected for such a high wattage.

Overall: The Dunelm 2000W Contemporary Round 9 Fin Oil Filled Radiator is perfect for those looking for a powerful and portable oil-filled radiator from a high-street brand. It's arguably more of an investment than some of the other options in this guide, but it also offers more power.

Read our full Dunelm 2000W Contemporary Round 9 Fin Oil Filled Radiator review for more details.

Low running costs

Design: Just like the VonHaus 6 Fin 800W radiator, the De'Longhi TRNS0505M is super compact. And like the other De'Longhi model in our round-up, it instantly feels sturdy and well-made on unboxing. It may not be the most stylish to look at, but its small build does make it unobtrusive and easy to hide, and although this is the only portable heater on our list that doesn't have wheels, its 5kg body is lightweight and easy to pick up and move around the house.

Assembly: Another plus point of those lack of castor wheels is the fact that this means there's no assembly to do on the De'Longhi TRNS0505M. You can simply get it out of the box, plug it in, and turn it on. This made it a total dream for anyone who is strapped for time or has mobility issues which may make assembly of the other radiators difficult.

Ease of use: Operation is also super straightforward. This heater may lack functionality compared to the competition, but that does mean that it's super simple to use. Simply flick the switch to turn the radiator on and then use the thermostat control knob to scroll through the 6 heat settings. A red light clearly indicates if the unit is on or off.

Performance: The downside of the De'Longhi TRNS0505M's compact size and simple functionality is its heat output. At 500W this small oil-filled radiator offers the lowest heat output of all the radiators we've tested. Whilst you wouldn’t select this radiator for heating a large room, it did a good job of heating our tester's small office (which measures approximately 2m x 3m) and kept it warm whilst she was working. However, in her larger bedroom (measuring 3.5m x 4.5m) it didn’t really make enough of an impact to warm it up or keep it warm.

Energy use: The De’Longhi 500W Nano Oil filled radiator has a wattage of just 500W which means that it costs approximately 15p an hour to run, depending on the cost of your electricity supplier. That makes it by far the cheapest oil filled radiator in our round-up to run, which is obviously a big draw. However, those low running costs obviously need to be weighed up against the lower heat output which means it’s less powerful and not as effective in larger rooms as the other radiators.

Overall: If you only have a small room to heat then the De’Longhi TRNS0505M could be just the ticket. It's more expensive upfront than the comparable VonHaus 6 Fin 800W radiator, but with its 500W energy usage offers the lowest running costs of all the oil filled radiators in our round-up.

Bestselling alternative

Design: The gloss finish of the VonHaus 11 Fin 2500W Oil Filled Radiator combined with the plastic-looking control panel and black plastic-looking castors means that this product doesn’t look particularly stylish. It's by far the most dated-looking of all the heaters in this round-up, and those plasticky controls don't feel particularly nice to interact with. However, it does feature a handy cable holder to keep the cable tidy.

Assembly: Assembly took approximately ten minutes and required the most time and effort out of all of the oil-filled radiators we've tested. Unlike many models which have the castors already attached to a metal plate, and then just require four wing nuts to be screwed into place, this one required our tester to assemble the plate to attach all four of the wheels too. It was quite fiddly to do and required good pincer control and vision, and so some people may find this challenging.

Ease of use: The power button on the VonHaus 11 Fin 2500W Oil Filled Radiator consists of a circle, about the size of a ten pence piece, which is divided into two halves. Pressing in the left half of the button activates minimum heating, pressing in the right half of the circle is medium heating, and both together equal maximum heating. These buttons felt a bit flimsy and whilst our tester had no trouble operating them, she didn't find them particularly easy to use. The heater also has a thermostatic control you simply twist, and a timer that has rather fiddly segments that you need to push in to control when the heater turns on and off.

Performance: Like the Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 11 Fins and De’Longhi 2500W Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator, the VonHaus 11 Fin 2500W is powerful, delivering the maximum heat output of all the oil filled radiators in the VonHaus range. Like the other 2500W models in our round-up, it made quick work of heating our large high-ceilinged bedroom measuring 3.5m x 4.5m.

Energy use: The VonHaus 11 Fin 2500W Oil Filled Radiator has a wattage of 2500 which equates to approximately 73p per hour running costs, depending on the cost of your energy supplier. Whilst this radiator is considerably more expensive to run than smaller alternatives, it’s worth remembering that its ability to heat a larger room is extremely good.

Overall: The heat output on this 2500W radiator is impressive, and it certainly did the job of warming up a large and draughty bedroom quickly. However, its performance was on a par with the similarly priced Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator, and we found the Pro Breeze model more attractive to look at, easier to assemble, and easier to use. However, if you find this VonHaus model available at a cheaper price point (and don't mind its not-so-stylish looks or slightly more flimsy build quality), then it's a powerful heater at a reasonable RRP.

Oil-filled radiator comparison at a glance

How we tested the best oil-filled radiators

We take how we test products extremely seriously. As we only want to recommend the best products to our readers, we ensure we have as much hands-on experience with them as possible. Every Ideal Home tester also follows a strict testing protocol to make sure every review is impartial, honest, and detailed. We even have a team of Certified Experts who have become experts in their specific fields, from furniture to vacuum cleaners.

To compile this guide of the best oil-filled radiators, we assessed how each one performed in real homes - testing them in multiple rooms to see how they fared against cold temperatures and different room sizes.

We also tested them over the course of a few days (and sometimes even a few weeks), rating each one's overall performance, including design, ease of assembly, ease of use, how quickly each portable heater could warm the space and the overall heat distribution, along with any added functionality.

We also compared the cost to purchase and cost to run each radiator to compile our recommendations for the best oil-filled radiator to buy.

With all of this information at our disposal, I’ve been able to assign each oil-filled radiator a dedicated Ideal Home star rating. They are as follows:

5 stars - an impressive oil-filled radiator that does exactly what you expect and cannot be faulted.

4.5 stars - a high-quality and hard-working oil-filled radiator that isn't quite perfect, but is still worth the investment.

4 stars - an amazing oil-filled radiator that is worth purchasing but may need some fine-tuning before it suits every customer and every home.

3 stars - a good oil-filled radiator that works well but doesn't blow us away. In some cases, it may not heat a room as effectively as competitors or may be difficult to use.

2 stars - an affordable oil-filled radiator that will suit all budgets but is under-specced and lacks key heating features.

1 star - we would not recommend this oil-filled radiator, as it is underwhelming and does not work as intended.

Rachel Tompkins

A large portion of the oil-filled radiators you see in this guide were tested by Rachel, a freelance reviewer who tests various products for the Ideal Home team.

Rachel tested these oil-filled radiators in her home in Oxfordshire, using it them to heat her home office and the other rooms she shares with her family.

Lauren Bradbury

Lauren is the Content Editor for House Manual, and it's her job to test all manner of home appliances, from the best air purifiers to the best vacuum cleaners. And, of course, the best oil-filled radiators.

As Lauren works from home in a chilly Victorian house, she has the perfect space to test these oil-filled radiators.

How to choose the best oil filled radiator

When shopping for an oil filled radiator then you'll firstly want to consider the size of the room you’re looking to heat. This will help you to decide if you can manage with a smaller oil-filled radiator which costs less to purchase and is more economical to run, or if you will need to spend more on a more powerful heater in order to adequately warm up the room.

The lowest-powered oil filled radiator in our round-up is the De'Longhi TRNS0505M at just 500W which offers limited heat output, but can be very economical to run in a small space, whilst the most powerful models, like the Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 11 Fins, De’Longhi 2500W Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator and VonHaus 11 Fin 2500W Oil Filled Radiator use 2500W and can dish out far more heat to warm up a much larger space.

It’s also worth considering the weight and size of the oil filled radiator you choose. For a person living on their own or with mobility issues, this is a big consideration, especially if you'll be moving the radiator from one floor to another, in which case you may need to be able to lift and manoeuvre the heater upstairs comfortably.

Another key consideration is how easy the heater is to use. If you struggle with technology, then one with a digital control panel may not be ideal, or indeed, if vision or mobility is an issue, then the control panel's size, visibility and ease of use are essential factors.

You'll also want to consider whether a timer function would be useful for you, and whether you want the option to operate the unit via remote control.

Opting for an oil-filled radiator with different heat settings will allow you more control of the warmth, and a thermostat will ensure that you're not wasting energy. If your heater offers a thermostat, then you can set a preferred temperature, and the thermostat works to keep your room at this desired temperature level. If the room starts to drop in temperature then the thermostat switches the heater into action to maintain the desired temperature, and kicks it off again once the target temperature is reached.

FAQs

What are the benefits of an oil filled radiator over an electric heater?

The main benefit of an oil filled radiator over an electric heater is that whilst oil can take longer to heat up than an electric heater, it will retain that heat for longer periods.

Oil filled radiators rely on diathermic oil to produce heat. The heating element converts electricity into heat, which is transferred into the oil which circulates around the radiator. That means that you’re using electricity to heat up the oil rather than the entire room. This can make an oil filled radiator more energy efficient, as they require less energy to keep emitting warmth.

You can find out more in our guide to oil-filled radiators vs fan heaters.

Do oil filled radiators use a lot of electricity?

Whilst the amount of electricity an oil filled radiator uses will depend on its wattage, oil filled radiators do not typically use a lot of electricity compared to electric heaters.

This is because in an oil-filled radiator the electricity is used to heat up the heat-retaining oil inside the radiator rather than directly heating the air in the room. An oil-filled radiator also retains heat for longer than other oil-free alternatives.

Our explainer on how much it costs to run an oil filled radiator has the full lowdown to help you work out the potential energy usage of your heater before you buy.

What does 'fin' mean on an oil filled radiator?

The ‘fins’ on an oil-filled radiator are the metal sections that are attached to the body of the unit. They play an important part in heating the room so the more fins the radiator has, the larger the surface area of the dispersal of heat.