Part of our Winter Essentials edit →

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An oil filled radiator beside an armchair in a cosy living room at dusk

At a glance: the top 5 radiators

ImagePickRadiatorRatingPrice
De'Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator with Timer#1 Best OverallDe'Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator with Timer4.5 stars£171Check price
NETTA 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24H Timer#2 Best ValueNETTA 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24H Timer4.4 stars£69.99Check price
Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24 Hour Timer#3 Best Slim DesignPro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24 Hour Timer4.3 stars£79.99Check price
Devola 2.5kW Oil Filled Radiator#4 Best Award WinnerDevola 2.5kW Oil Filled Radiator4.6 stars£99.99Check price
Russell Hobbs 1500W Oil Filled Radiator#5 Best for Small RoomsRussell Hobbs 1500W Oil Filled Radiator4.3 stars£42.95Check price
  1. De'Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator with Timer
  2. NETTA 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24H Timer
    #2 Best ValueNETTA 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24H Timer
    4.4 stars · From £69.99
    Check price
  3. Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24 Hour Timer
    #3 Best Slim DesignPro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24 Hour Timer
    4.3 stars · From £79.99
    Check price
  4. Devola 2.5kW Oil Filled Radiator
    #4 Best Award WinnerDevola 2.5kW Oil Filled Radiator
    4.6 stars · From £99.99
    Check price
  5. Russell Hobbs 1500W Oil Filled Radiator
    #5 Best for Small RoomsRussell Hobbs 1500W Oil Filled Radiator
    4.3 stars · From £42.95
    Check price

With energy prices still high, more UK households are heating the room they are in rather than the whole house. An oil filled radiator is one of the most popular ways to do it. The oil inside warms up and holds its heat, giving a steady, gentle warmth that keeps going for a while after the element switches off, without the dry air and fan noise of a fan heater.

We compared the best oil filled radiators on Amazon UK on wattage, heat output, thermostat control and safety features, using verified UK buyer reviews and current prices. Whether you need a small unit for a home office or a powerful radiator for a cold living room, here are the picks worth buying this winter.

Quick answer: our top pick

De'Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator with Timer

The De'Longhi Dragon 4 is the best oil filled radiator for most UK homes. Its chimney fin design heats a room faster than standard models, the electronic timer lets you schedule warmth around your day, and castors make it easy to move between rooms.

Check price on Amazon

Best Oil Filled Radiators UK 2026

TOP PICK
De'Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator with Timer
#1 · Best Overall

De'Longhi Dragon 4 Oil Filled Radiator with Timer

4.5 stars · 634 reviews · TOP PICK

The De'Longhi Dragon 4 is the premium oil filled radiator to buy if you want fast, even heat and reliable controls. Its distinctive chimney design and specially shaped fins draw air through the radiator, so it warms a room faster than a standard flat-fin model.

An electronic timer lets you warm a room before you get up or come home, and castors make it easy to move. It suits spaces up to around 60 cubic metres, which covers most UK living rooms and larger bedrooms, and it is the most refined radiator on this list.

PROS
  • Chimney design for faster heat
  • Electronic timer
  • Castors for easy moving
  • Trusted De’Longhi build quality
CONS
  • Highest price on this list
  • Heavier than budget models
Starting from £171Check on Amazon
NETTA 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24H Timer
#2 · Best Value

NETTA 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24H Timer

4.4 stars · 1,728 reviews

The NETTA delivers 2500W of heat from 11 fins for well under £100, which makes it the best value radiator for medium to large rooms. It is silent in use, so it suits bedrooms and home offices as well as living rooms.

A 24 hour timer lets you schedule warmth around your day, and with over 1,700 reviews it is one of the most popular oil radiators on Amazon UK. For heating the room you are in rather than the whole house, it is hard to beat at this price.

PROS
  • 2500W for medium to large rooms
  • 24 hour timer
  • Silent operation
  • Excellent value
CONS
  • Basic dial controls
  • Takes time to warm up like all oil radiators
Starting from £69.99Check on Amazon
Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24 Hour Timer
#3 · Best Slim Design

Pro Breeze 2500W Oil Filled Radiator with 24 Hour Timer

4.3 stars · 985 reviews

The Pro Breeze packs 2500W and 11 fins into a slim body that tucks against a wall without dominating the room. Three heat settings and an adjustable thermostat let you match output to the space, and a built-in 24 hour timer handles scheduling.

It is designed for rooms that need heating over longer periods, where the oil’s heat retention keeps running costs down. A strong choice for anyone who wants full power in a neater footprint.

PROS
  • Slim profile
  • 2500W with three heat settings
  • 24 hour timer
  • Adjustable thermostat
CONS
  • Slightly lower rating than the NETTA
  • Timer is a mechanical dial
Starting from £79.99Check on Amazon
Devola 2.5kW Oil Filled Radiator
#4 · Best Award Winner

Devola 2.5kW Oil Filled Radiator

4.6 stars · 69 reviews

The Devola is approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute and uses 11 M-shaped fins designed to spread heat efficiently. Three settings, 1000W, 1500W and 2500W, let you choose gentle background warmth or full power for a cold room.

It has the highest rating on this list at 4.6 stars, though from a smaller number of reviews as a newer model. For buyers who value an independent quality endorsement, it is a reassuring choice.

PROS
  • Good Housekeeping Institute approved
  • Three heat settings up to 2500W
  • M-shaped fins for even heat
  • Highest rating on this list
CONS
  • Small review base so far
  • Higher price than similar 2500W models
Starting from £99.99Check on Amazon
Russell Hobbs 1500W Oil Filled Radiator
#5 · Best for Small Rooms

Russell Hobbs 1500W Oil Filled Radiator

4.3 stars · 1,366 reviews

The Russell Hobbs is the sensible choice for a bedroom, study or home office. Its 1500W output from seven fins suits rooms of around 15 square metres, and three heat settings with a variable thermostat keep it from overheating a small space.

Overheat and tip over protection add peace of mind, and at under £45 it is the most affordable way to keep one small room warm without switching on the central heating for the whole house.

PROS
  • Lowest price on this list
  • Ideal for rooms around 15m²
  • Overheat and tip over protection
  • Variable thermostat
CONS
  • 1500W is too low for large rooms
  • No timer
Starting from £42.95Check on Amazon

What to look for

Choosing the right wattage
Wattage decides how big a room the radiator can heat. As a rough guide, 1500W suits a small bedroom or home office, 2000W suits an average bedroom or small living room, and 2500W suits a larger living room or a poorly insulated space. A higher wattage radiator on a lower setting is quieter and more even than a small one running flat out.
Thermostat, timer and eco modes
A good thermostat is what makes an oil radiator economical. Once the room reaches the set temperature, the element switches off and the oil keeps radiating heat. Digital thermostats hold temperature more accurately than simple dials, and a timer or app control lets you warm a room before you get up or come home rather than running it all day.
Running costs explained
A radiator only draws its full wattage while the element is on. A 2000W model running continuously uses 2kWh per hour, but with a thermostat cycling on and off in a reasonably insulated room the real figure is often around half that. Heating one room this way is usually cheaper than running central heating for the whole house when only one or two rooms are in use.
Safety features to look for
Look for overheat protection, which cuts the power if the unit gets too hot, and tip over protection, which switches it off if knocked over. Castors make it easy to move between rooms. Keep oil radiators at least a metre from curtains and bedding, and never dry clothes directly on them.

Frequently asked questions

Are oil filled radiators cheap to run?
They cost the same per kWh as any electric heater, but their thermostat and heat retention mean the element runs less often to hold a room at temperature. For heating a single room for a few hours, they are one of the more economical electric options.
Is it safe to leave an oil filled radiator on overnight?
Most modern models with overheat protection, tip over protection and a thermostat are designed for extended use. Follow the manufacturer guidance, keep the area around the radiator clear and plug it directly into a wall socket rather than an extension lead.
How long does an oil filled radiator take to heat up?
Expect around 15 to 20 minutes before it gives off noticeable warmth, as the oil has to heat first. The trade off is that it keeps radiating heat for some time after it switches off.
Do oil filled radiators need refilling?
No. The oil is sealed inside for the life of the radiator and never needs topping up or replacing.
Our verdict

For the best overall oil filled radiator, the De'Longhi Dragon 4 at £171 combines faster heating with a proper electronic timer. On a tighter budget, the NETTA 2500W at £69.99 is the best value for medium to large rooms, and the Pro Breeze at £79.99 offers the same power in a slimmer body. The Devola 2.5kW at £99.99 is the pick for an independently approved heater, while the Russell Hobbs 1500W at £42.95 is all you need for a bedroom or home office.

See the top pick on Amazon