Best oil-filled radiators: tried and tested in real homes

Known for their impressive heat output, impeccable heat retention, and steady distribution of warmth, the best oil-filled radiators are a must-have appliance for the colder months. However, I know that choosing the right oil-filled radiator for your home (and heating requirements) can be challenging.

With so many different makes and models out there, ranging from smaller models with lower heat outputs to larger, more powerful alternatives, it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. That’s why I, along with a team of Ideal Home reviewers, haven’t just tested these oil-filled radiators in our homes. We’ve also compared them to see which ones come out on top, and whether they can rival 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 – plus five runners-up that will suit various wants, needs and budgets. 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 detailed information on each oil-filled radiator and why we recommend it if you keep 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 caster 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 cosy. 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 the highest wattage radiators in our round-up, using 2500W of power on its highest of three temperature settings. This certainly affects how much it costs to run an oil-filled radiator. However, you can switch down to the 1500W or 1000W settings to save on energy if you need less heat. As the current average electricity costs (as of the October 2025 price cap) of 27p per unit, that means on its highest temperature setting, this model costs roughly 68p 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 mean 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 it’s 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.

Best budget oil-filled radiator

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 it 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 22p 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 dexterous 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.

Most powerful oil-filled radiator

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 needed to be turned upside down so the wheels could 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, its 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 68p 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’s warranty, which could mean it represents the better long-term value if you can afford its initial investment.

Most stylish oil-filled radiator

Design: While not the heaviest oil-filled radiator we’ve tested (that honour goes to the De’Longhi 2500W Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator, this Duux model is still hefty at just over 15kg. However, what it lacks in terms of manoeuvrability, it certainly makes up for in terms of its design. This oil-filled radiator is definitely the sleekest, most stylish oil-filled radiator we’ve come across. This is all thanks to the convector-heater-like appearance, which hides the fins within. So, it won’t look like an eyesore in your house.

Assembly: It took our tester just two minutes to assemble this oil-filled radiator, and Duux provided screws, an Allen key and a mini spanner to attach the wheels to the bottom of the appliance. And while the wheels certainly aid manoeuvrability if you plan on wheeling it from room to room, this particular model also comes with static legs, so you can choose which ones you want to use.

Ease of use: The Duux Edge 2000W Oil-Filled Radiator is the only model we’ve tested that can be controlled via an app, making it the perfect option for those who prefer smarter appliances. Of course, you can still control it via the onboard controls or the remote control if you’d prefer, but the wide array of special features on the app make it invaluable. You can set schedules, adjust your desired temperature, turn on the child lock setting, turn on night mode, or just monitor your energy usage.

Performance: While it offers 500W less than the Pro Breeze 2500W or the De’Longhi Dragon 4, the 2000W heat output of the Duux Edge 2000W Oil-Filled Radiator still impressed our tester. This is largely thanks to the fans within the appliance, which allow heat to be distributed quickly. The cherry on top of the cake was the heat retention, as she noted that the oil-filled radiator retained its heat for an hour after she turned it off.

Energy use: At 2000W, this Duux oil-filled radiator isn’t the most expensive to run, but it’s also not the cheapest. At the current price cap, it’ll set you back around 54p an hour to run – but that’s only if you use it on the highest setting. Its Eco mode runs at half that, meaning it’ll also cut the price in half. It’s also worth noting that you can buy this model in 1500W, which not only makes it cheaper to run but also cheaper to buy, as it’s £199 at Amazon.

Overall: In terms of performance, heat output and general quietness, our tester really couldn’t find much to criticise the Duux Edge 2000W Oil-Filled Radiator for. Its three settings allow for customisation and energy-saving options, and the stylish design is perfect for people who don’t like the traditional fin design of other models. She did find the app to be a little glitchy at some points, but with onboard controls and a remote control as backup, that’s certainly not a dealbreaker. It’s an investment, but one that’s worth it.

Best oil-filled radiator for 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 the 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 whether 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 14p 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, it offers the lowest running costs of all the oil-filled radiators in our round-up.

Bestselling alternative oil-filled radiator

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 to. 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 that 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 68p 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

Best of the rest

While the options above are what we consider to be the best oil-filled radiators out there, there are other models that didn’t quite make it into out top six. And we think they’re still worth considering.

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 the cost to run each radiator to compile our recommendations for the best oil-filled radiator to buy.

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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.

How to choose the best oil filled radiator

There are so many things you should know before buying an oil-filled radiator. And when starting your research, you’ll firstly want to consider the size of the room you’re looking to heat. This will help you 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 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.

Generally, you should expect a 2000-2500W oil-filled radiator to easily heat rooms and spaces up to 30m², but heat output and efficiency can also vary depending on how well (or poorly) your home is insulated and where you place it.

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 this case, you may need to be able to lift and manoeuvre the heater upstairs comfortably. After all, oil-filled radiators can be dangerous.

Another key consideration is how easy the heater is to use. If you struggle with technology, a digital control panel may not be ideal. Additionally, if vision or mobility is an issue, 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, you can set a preferred temperature, and it works to maintain your room at this desired 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.

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