With winter on the horizon, and temperatures suddenly dropping in quite an alarming fashion given the summer heat this year, thoughts turn to keeping warm at home. The temptation is always there to just put on all of your jumpers over the top of each other until you turn into a comedy ball of wool and cotton, but there is another way. Your thoughts may turn toward a fireplace of some description, or maybe a log burner (if you’re considering a burner, why not check out our list of the best electric log burners), but sometimes they’re not the most practical options.

A halogen heater might be the solution – generally pretty small and portable, these can chuck out a significant amount of heat from tubes containing halogen, which is a compound of non-metallic elements. These heat up rapidly, and have the heat radiated out by internal fans. They’re a great choice for portable heat, so here’s a breakdown of the best halogen heaters available to buy.

1. Elex Tool-Genius Halogen Heater

Coming in a package with two individual heaters, the Tool-Genius series by Elex is an efficient and powerful heater. Each heater counts on three heating elements which can produce heat on three different temperature settings; 400W, 800W or 1200W. Combined with the oscillation function, with an oscillation angle of 70°, it’s sure to reach into the far corners of even bigger rooms.

One neat feature is an automatic shut-off designed with safety in mind – if, for any reason, the heater falls over, the shut-off kicks in to immediately turn the unit off and prevent any dangerous results. Operation is via buttons on the top, with a button for each power level, making an easy to use and smart-looking package.

2. Status Premium Oscillating Halogen Heater

This oscillating halogen heater by Status comes housed in a smart white body, which also serves the secondary purpose of helping prevent any heat escape. While the grill in front of the halogen bulbs is naturally prone to heating up, the white exterior serves dual purpose of style and function. 3 heat settings are available to choose from, at 400, 800 and 1200W. 4 buttons on top take care of controls, with a button for each power setting and a fourth to set oscillation on or off.

Added safety features include an automatic shut-off switch in the event that the unit falls over, and overheat protection is built-in on top of the heat reflective colour. Weighing only a little more than a kilo, it’s also very portable.

3. Igenix IG9514 Upright Halogen Heater

Igenix’ IP9514 is a great portable option for halogen heaters. This portability comes courtesy of an integrated carry handle on the top of the unit, which is heat-resistant to make picking it up and moving it around a breeze. It weighs a little under 2 and a half kilos, making it easy to pick up as well.

3 power settings are available to choose from, each offering different intensities and temperatures – you can choose from 400, 800 or 1200W with a button on the top for each power level. An oscillating function is also included, with a fourth button to control that. The unit also features an automatic cut-out switch which turns the heater off if it falls over.

4. Highlands Oscillating Halogen Heater

This oscillating halogen heater by Highlands clearly takes inspiration from the chilly Scottish hills that the brand shares its name with. Offering great value and solid build quality, the stylish blue and grey exterior houses 3 halogen bulbs. These correspond with the 3 different heat settings at 400, 800 and 1200W. Each setting has a button on the top of the machine, with a fourth button to turn the oscillating function on and off. It also has a nice wide-angle oscillation of 90° which allows it to spread heat over a much wider space.

Highlands supply their halogen heater with detailed instructions to make changing bulbs, in the event of a blowout, super straightforward. There is also a built-in safety feature which automatically shuts off the heater in the event that it falls over. All of this comes in a lightweight heater of around 1.5kg.

5. Warmlite Wide-Angle Oscillating Halogen Heater

Warmlite’s 3-bar wide angle oscillating halogen heater offers good heat and functions at a decent price. The smart exterior, finished mostly in light grey with a darker blue top, looks tidy and would be at home in most living rooms. The oscillating function has a wide angle of rotation, giving it good enough of a spread to make it useful for larger rooms. This is controlled via one of the four buttons on top of the unit.

The other three buttons on the top are in charge of temperature. There are 3 power settings in total; 400, 800 and 1200W. These ensure that you have plenty of control over getting the right temperature. A recessed handle at the top of the heater also makes it an easy thing to carry between rooms, with the whole thing less than 1.5 kilos. An automatic shut-off feature in the event of the unit falling over is a good addition.

6. Babz Media Oscillating Halogen Heater

This oscillating halogen heater by Babz Media comes in a twin pack, which offers pretty good value for money compared to an individual heater. The heaters themselves are each 1200W maximum powered units, with 3 different power (and therefore temperature) settings of 400, 800 and 1200W. These are operated by a series of buttons on top of the unit, with one button for each temperature setting.

A fourth button controls the oscillating function, and an added safety feature is an automatic shut-off function. In the event that the heater falls over, this mechanic acts to automatically turn the unit off to prevent any further danger. They also heat up very quickly, so if you’re in the depths of winter why not try both at the same time?

7. Kingavon BB-HH201 Oscillating Halogen Heater

Kingavon’s oscillating halogen heater comes with a handful of very useful features to make it an essential part of any chilly household. With three power and temperature levels, at 400, 800 and 1200W, you’re given a fair level of control over the temperature that it produces. A series of buttons on the lower portion of the heater’s front control temperatures, as well as the oscillation function.

One great added feature is the inclusion of a remote control, which allows you to set a timer as well as remotely set the temperature. Perfect if you’re looking to keep the heater usage as efficient as possible, or just looking to doze in front of it without overheating. A safety shut-off is included in case of falls, and a thermo fuse is also built-in to prevent overheating.

8. Pifco Portable Halogen Heater

Pifco’s portable halogen heater comes in a stylish, industrial-looking white finish. This also has the secondary purpose, as well as aesthetics, of lending it slightly more heat efficiency with the heat reflective properties of the colour. 3 temperature options can be chosen from via the 3 power levels of 400, 800 and 1200W. These are operated via several buttons on top, with one button for each power setting. The fourth button controls oscillation, which it does through a fairly wide-angle 70°.

The portability comes courtesy of a recessed carry handle on the top section of the unit at the back, and at around 2kg it’s easily lifted. A safety switch is also included for extra protection in the event that the unit tips over at any point. Pifco also offer the heater with a 1-year guarantee as well as an extendable 1-year warranty.

9. Beldray EH0197S2STK Portable Halogen Heater

This compact and portable heater from home electronics mainstay Beldray is a good value, well-made heater. Available as a single or double pack, the heaters count on a maximum of 1200W of power. This is split between 3 bulbs of 400W each, giving you 3 different power levels. These are controlled by several solid and high quality on/off switches on the top of the machine. A fourth button controls the wide-angle oscillation feature, which ensures heat is pushed into every corner of a room.

A recessed carry handle at the top of the unit on the back side makes it an easy option to move around, only weighing in at 1.2kg. The tubes themselves are accessible via side panels for easy replacement, and a thermal cut-out switch ensures that the unit doesn’t overheat while a tip-over switch stops the unit should it fall over.

Which Halogen Heater to Go for?

Best quality & features – The Kingavon Oscillating Halogen Heater takes the top spot for a mixture of quality and features. While many halogen heaters are similarly made, the presence of remote control and timer features are what set the Kingavon apart. This allows you an extra level of control over this heater not found in similar models. A number of safety feature, including a thermal cut-out and a tip-over protection complete the package.

Best value – The twin-pack Tool-Genius heaters by Elex are the best value option on our list. This is thanks to great, reliable build quality that performs well without breaking the bank. Getting two decently-made heaters for not much more than a standard heater, let alone buying two individually, sets this choice apart as being best for value.

Best for camping and caravans – The Igenix IG9514 Upright Halogen Heater should be part of your itinerary the next time you go camping or caravanning. While it puts out a good amount of heat, it has a good compact design, but most notably a sturdy and heat-resistant carry handle. More substantial than just a recessed handle, it makes the unit easy to move around and pack out of the way should you need to.

Best for large areas – The wide angles of Highland’s Oscillating Heater is the best choice if you have a larger room to keep warm. Using an industry-standard 3-setting heater, at 400, 800 and 1200W, it’s got all the power you need, but the real difference comes in the oscillation. With a specifically wide 90 °angle of oscillation, it guarantees to reach more into even the further corners of any room, making it an especially good choice for big rooms.

Most efficient heater – The Kingavon Oscillating Halogen Heater is a good choice for being more efficient with your halogen heater. This is thanks to the remote-controlled timer function, which means you can easily set the heater to go on for only as long as you want. While halogen heaters can be a more efficient heating system in the short term compared to central heating, this extra level of control clinches it for the Kingavon.

For elderly users – Beldray’s Portable Oscillating Halogen Heater is a good choice for any elderly users out there, thanks to its light weight and simple functionality. Unfortunately, the elderly community can often be at risk during colder weather, and so a halogen heater can be incredibly useful in this regard. Beldray’s offering makes for a good choice through being portable and powerful; at just over a kilo and with a recessed carry handle it is therefore easy to move around, and wide angles of oscillation make sure the whole room stays warm.

Halogen Heater Buying Guide

Halogen heaters are a practical, portable solution to getting things warm on the double. They heat up a lot more quickly than other portable varieties of heater, and especially central heating systems. Not all halogen heaters are built the same though, and it’s important that you know what things to look out for so that you can buy what’s best for your situation and needs. Read on to check out our buying guide on the key features you need to bear in mind when shopping for a halogen heater.

Size

While different models of this type of heater are generally quite similar in size, there are nonetheless subtle differences in their dimensions. So, it’s important that you measure the space where you plan to put your new halogen heater to make sure that it’s not too wide, too tall and so on. Given the range that’s out there, you’re certain to find one that fits your exact special needs.

Oscillation

Or, more simply, to move back and forth in a regular rhythm – many fans have this feature to promote a more active airflow around a room, instead of just projecting the airflow in a single direction. The same mechanics exist for halogen heaters, with many models utilising an oscillation function to maximise their effectiveness. Whether you’ll need one that oscillates or not depends on the size of the area you need to keep warm. It is worth pointing out that oscillating fans do have an off switch, so you’re not stuck with the fan moving.

Controls

While the most straightforward models are simple on-off units, more advanced heaters will have varying controls. These will allow you to adjust the temperature, the fan speed and even set timers. It’s up to you how many bells and whistles you think is necessary.

Energy efficiency

While halogen heaters are, by and large, cheaper to run minute-by-minute than other heating systems, their only major downside is that they tend to cool down very quickly, meaning that you have to keep them on for longer to get the same effect as other heating systems. Therefore, while having a halogen heater will save you money in the long run, they come in different standards of energy efficiency that it’s worth keeping an eye out for.

Halogen heaters are a good bet to reduce your gas and electric bills, as they are usually cheaper to run than having gas central heating on. So, now that you’ve got a selection to choose from and the know-how to make the right choice, get ahead of the game before winter comes – your toasty fingers and toes will thank you later!