RapidHeat
Quick answer
For a home office, choose a quiet heater sized to the room (about 100W per square metre), with a thermostat and timer. An infrared panel warms you directly at your desk; a low-power ceramic heater warms a box room. At 27p per kWh, a 600W heater running eight hours costs about £1.30 a day at full power.
What we checked: We checked the seller's website, UK safety and energy guidance, and published heater specifications. We did not test the product hands-on. Last reviewed 11 October 2026. How we research.
Key takeaways
- A quiet, thermostatic heater sized to the room — an infrared panel for desk warmth or a low-power ceramic heater for a small room.
- At 27p per kWh, a 600W heater costs about £1.30 for eight hours at full power, often less with a thermostat.
- Usually yes, if the rest of the house is kept cooler while you work.
- It warms quickly but can be noisy on calls. Quieter options include oil radiators and infrared panels.
- It may suit a small office for topping up warmth. It is low-power, so it will struggle in larger or draughty rooms.
If you work from home, heating the whole house all day just to keep one desk warm is expensive. A small heater in your office can keep you comfortable while the rest of the home stays cooler. Here is how to choose one and what it will cost.
Cost per working day
| Heater power | Per day | Per 5-day week | Per month (21 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400W | 86p | £4.32 | £18.14 |
| 600W | £1.30 | £6.48 | £27.22 |
| 1kW | £2.16 | £10.80 | £45.36 |
| 2kW | £4.32 | £21.60 | £90.72 |
What makes a good home office heater
- Quiet operation for video calls
- Thermostat so it cycles off once warm
- Timer to warm the room before you start
- Compact or wall-mounted, keeping floor space clear
- Overheat protection and a UKCA or CE mark
Tips for a warmer, cheaper home office
Close the door, use a draught excluder and draw blinds on cold days. A warm layer and slippers allow a lower thermostat setting. Measure your heater's real use with a smart plug for a week — thermostats usually bring the real cost below the full-power figures above.
If you are self-employed, HMRC allows a flat-rate or proportional claim for home working costs; check the GOV.UK guidance for what applies to you.
A compact option for small offices
Which heater type suits your office?
| Type | Noise | Warms | Typical power | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared panel | Silent | You and the desk | 300–700W | Sitting still for hours |
| Wall-plug ceramic | Low fan noise | Air in a small room | Low, under 1kW | Box rooms, no floor space |
| Oil-filled radiator | Silent | Whole room, slowly | 1–2kW | Larger offices, steady heat |
| Fan heater | Noticeable | Air, quickly | 2kW | Quick warm-up before work |
| Under-desk heater | Varies | Feet and legs | 100–300W | Cold feet at a desk |
Heating the office vs heating the house
If you heat the whole house with gas from 9am to 5pm just for yourself, you pay to heat rooms nobody uses. Turning the central heating down a few degrees during working hours and warming only your office can lower total energy use. Use your smart meter for a week each way to see which works better in your home.
Safety at your desk
Keep heaters away from paper, bins and under-desk clutter. Plug directly into a wall socket rather than a desk extension lead shared with your computer and monitor, which can overload it. Switch the heater off at lunch and when you finish work.
Is RapidHeat right for you?
Likely a good fit if you…
- Want to warm one small room or desk area
- Want to keep central heating off while you sit in one room
- Have no floor space for a radiator
- Value a 30-day money-back guarantee (per seller)
Probably not for you if you…
- Need to heat a large, open-plan or draughty room
- Expect it to replace central heating or cut bills dramatically
- Need a heater for a bathroom
- Need published wattage and certificates before buying
Frequently asked questions
What is the best heater for a home office?
A quiet, thermostatic heater sized to the room — an infrared panel for desk warmth or a low-power ceramic heater for a small room.
How much does it cost to heat a home office?
At 27p per kWh, a 600W heater costs about £1.30 for eight hours at full power, often less with a thermostat.
Is it cheaper to heat one room than the whole house?
Usually yes, if the rest of the house is kept cooler while you work.
Is a fan heater good for a home office?
It warms quickly but can be noisy on calls. Quieter options include oil radiators and infrared panels.
Is RapidHeat suitable for a home office?
It may suit a small office for topping up warmth. It is low-power, so it will struggle in larger or draughty rooms.
Can I plug a heater into the same extension lead as my computer?
Electrical Safety First advises plugging heaters directly into a wall socket to avoid overloading leads.
What is the quietest heater for video calls?
Infrared panels and oil-filled radiators are usually silent; fan heaters are noisier.
Can I claim the cost of a heater for working from home?
Some people can claim working-from-home expenses. Check HMRC guidance on GOV.UK for your situation.
Sources and further reading
Read our full RapidHeat Heater review for specifications, pros and cons and our verdict.