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What is the Cheapest Way to Heat a Room in 2025?

It's a fair question and one we're hearing more and more.

Whether you're working from home, upgrading a single room, or trying to make a garden office usable all year-round, it's understandable to want comfort without blowing the budget.

But as ever, the answer depends on your space, your habits and what "cheap" really means to you.

First: What do we mean by cheapest?

Are we talking about:

Cheapest to install upfront?

Cheapest to run month-to-month?

Cheapest over the life of the system?

A basic fan heater might cost £20 from your local DIY store, but could cost several hundred pounds per year to run. In contrast, an efficient electric system may cost more upfront, but use far less electricity long-term.

At ARC, we focus on solutions that strike a sensible balance between:

Upfront cost

Ongoing efficiency

Long-term value

Comfort and convenience

Every room is different and so is every solution

There's no single "cheapest' answer that suits everyone. Sometimes a hybrid approach works best. For example, retaining your main heating system and using infrared panels or personal infrared heaters for efficient zoned control.

That's why we look at:

Room size and use

Is it a home office you use throughout the day, a hallway, a bathroom?

Insulation and windows

Draughty or well-sealed? High ceilings or compact?

Existing systems

Will this room be isolated or part of a wider heating upgrade?

Aesthetic and practical preferences

Wall space, ceiling mounting, speed of heat-up?

The Top Contenders for 2025

Infrared Heating Panels

Best for: all-day comfort in rooms like bedrooms, bathrooms, garden studios

Running cost: ~9-14p/ hour

Pros: Direct warmth, no air circulation, no maintenance

Cons: Best results with some insulation in place

Infrared warms people and surfaces directly, avoiding the energy loss common with traditional convection heating systems. Modern panels are discreet, stylish and easy to zone. Ideal for permanent use where comfort, cost and efficiency matter most.

Personal Infrared Heaters

Best for: home workers, task specific heat

Running cost: ~3p/ hour

Pros: Plug-in, portable, ultra-low energy

Cons: Heats you, not the room

Our LAVA Desk Zone is a great example. Perfect for your desk area if you're the only one home or just want to avoid heating a whole room (or house) unnecessarily.

Heat Pumps (like FIRE + ICE)

Best for: full room temperature control, especially in garden buildings

Running cost: up to 4x more efficient than convection heating

Pros: Heating and cooling; consistent year-round comfort

Cons: Higher upfront costs and installation versus a plug in solution

FIRE + ICE uses smart inverter technology with a COP of up to 3.28. Meaning for every unit of electricity used, you get over 3 back in heat or cooling. 

So what's really cheapest?

Want lowest bills for one person?

Go for personal infrared

Need comfort, looks and savings for multi-use living areas?

Infrared wall or ceiling panels

Looking for all-season control in a garden office or extension?

FIRE+ICE could be an excellent option

And in some cases, your existing set up might still do the job. If you've already invested in a central system, or your room is well-served with traditional radiators, layering smart controls or adding infrared for targeted warmth in a tough to heat area you may have that could be the bathroom, a kitchen extension, loft conversion or conservatory could make more sense than starting over.

What about sustainability?

At ARC Thermal, we believe in taking active steps towards a more sustainable future. We continuously strive to innovate and improve our heating solutions to make them as energy-efficient and eco-friendly as possible. Our systems use no combustion, no gas and offer up to 98% radiant efficiency (infrared) and over 300% output efficiency (FIRE + ICE heat pump).

Start with your room, not the product.

The right solution should feel simple, sustainable and satisfyingly effective. We're here to help you get there. 

Electric systems like infrared and heat pumps are ideal if you:

Want to cut emissions

Plan to go solar or switch to a green energy tariff

Prefer future proofed, PFAS-free technology

Curious what would work best in your space? 

We'll help you figure it out. No pressure and no jargon.

Tap the button below or give us a call

Find Your Smartest Heating Option

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