An electric heater is usually not more energy-efficient than central heating. Milieu Centraal does not consider a plug-in heater to be an energy-efficient measure because it uses a lot of electricity. A heater can only be worthwhile if you use it in a single room where you are sitting, while lowering the thermostat in the rest of the house.
Is an electric heater more energy-efficient than central heating?
The short answer is no, unless you use it wisely. An electric heater converts almost all the electricity it uses into heat, but electricity is expensive per kWh. On the energy-efficient heating page, Milieu Centraal states that a heater you plug into an outlet uses a lot of electricity and is not an energy-efficient measure. You cannot therefore give a direct price comparison with your central heating boiler in a single figure: that depends on your gas price, your electricity price, and the insulation of your house.
According to the KNMI forecast for October 31, it will remain dry and sunny in the coming days, with light night frost possible from Thursday, November 5. Then many people think: I'll just turn on a heater instead of the whole central heating. First, do the math on what that costs.
How much does an electric heater cost per hour?
The costs are easy to calculate: power in kilowatts multiplied by your electricity price. We use 21 cents per kWh, the average electricity price used by Milieu Centraal. That is an assumption; your rate may differ. The power ratings come from the Dynter product pages.
| Option | Power | Cost per hour (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Heating pad or electric blanket | 30 W | 1 cent (Milieu Centraal) |
| Dynter Aerva HT18C, low setting | 900 W | 19 cents |
| Dynter Aerva HT18C, high setting | 1800 W | 38 cents |
| Dynter HW2002, low setting | 1500 W | 32 cents |
| Dynter HW2002, high setting | 2000 W | 42 cents |
A heater with a thermostat or temperature setting switches off the heating as soon as the set temperature is reached, so it does not run continuously at full power. You can find more calculation examples in our article how much an electric heater costs per hour.
When is an electric heater a good idea?
An electric heater can be useful if you only need heat in one room. Think of a home office or a room that you normally do not heat. Milieu Centraal advises maintaining 19 °C during the day when you are at home and 15 °C when you are away, and setting the thermostat to 15 °C one hour before going to bed with a central heating boiler and radiators. If you use a heater to lower the thermostat in the rest of the house by a few degrees, that can reduce the total costs. If you only turn on the heater because it feels cold somewhere, while the central heating is also still on, you are paying twice.
Milieu Centraal lists a heating pad, an electric blanket, and an infrared panel as more energy-efficient examples of targeted supplementary heating. Also read our article about the difference between an electric heater and an infrared panel, and our tips on heating a home office without heating the entire house.
How to use an electric heater as energy-efficiently as possible
Use the timer and the temperature setting so that the heater does not run unnecessarily. Keep the door of the room you are heating closed so that the heat does not escape. Choose the power that suits the room: for a small room, a low setting is often enough. How much space a heater can heat is explained in how many m² an electric heater heats. Always ensure there is enough free space around the device and do not leave a heater unattended.
The Dynter heaters at a glance
Dynter HW2002 is an electric heater with adjustable power for rooms up to 40 m².
Power: 1500 to 2000 W
Temperature: adjustable from 15 °C to 45 °C
Features: rotating function, LCD touchscreen, remote control, and timer
Safety: overheating protection and fall detection
Dynter Aerva HT18C is a ceramic PTC heater with two heat settings.
Power: 900 W or 1800 W, plus a fan-only setting without heat
Temperature: six settings from 10 °C to 30 °C
Features: oscillation, digital touchscreen, timer up to 9 hours, and a dimmable display
Safety: overheating protection and tip-over protection
Direct answer: an electric heater is usually not more energy-efficient than central heating. It is only worthwhile if you heat one room specifically and lower the thermostat in the rest of the house. A 2000 W heater costs approximately 42 cents per hour at 21 cents per kWh.
Do you want targeted supplementary heating? Check out the Dynter electric heater HW2002, the Dynter Aerva HT18C electric heater, or the full heater collection.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 2000-watt electric heater cost per hour?
A 2000-watt heater uses 2 kWh per hour. At 21 cents per kWh, that is approximately 42 cents. If it has a thermostat, it will not run at full power all the time.
Would it be better to lower the central heating and use a heater?
Only if you use the heater in the room where you are sitting and really lower the thermostat in the rest of the house. Milieu Centraal indicates that targeted supplementary heating can then help, but does not itself consider a plug-in heater to be an energy-efficient measure.
What temperature is sensible in the house?
Milieu Centraal recommends 19 °C during the day when you are at home and 15 °C when you are away. At night, you can turn it back to 15 °C one hour before going to bed.
Is an electric heater safe?
That depends on the device and its use. Choose a heater with overheating and tip-over protection, do not leave it unattended, and ensure there is free space around it. For specific rooms, read whether an electric heater is safe in a children's room.