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Last updated on January 9th, 2025

Storage heating costs in 2025

Find out everything you need to know about storage heating costs, including installation and running costs and the best ways to use night storage heaters for maximum efficiency.

Fast Facts

  • Storage heaters typically cost between £400 - £700 for a basic model or between £700 - £1,000 for an advanced model
  • Replacement heater installation tends to cost in the region of £70 - £150
  • Installing new storage heaters costs around £200 - £400

Storage heaters remain a popular home heating solution, especially for homes on off-peak electricity tariffs.

In this guide, you’ll find all you need to know about storage heating costs. This includes storage heater installation costs, how to use night-time electricity tariffs for energy-efficient heating, and tips for lowering your heating costs.

What are storage heaters?

Storage heaters are a type of electric heater. They are normally wall-mounted and look a bit like radiators.

Also known as ‘night storage heaters’, they use cheaper electricity at night to generate and then store heat in ceramic or clay bricks, which is released during the day.

The key benefits of storage heaters:

  • They’re a cost-effective heating solution: Using cheaper, night-time electricity tariffs such as Economy 7 heating
  • Energy-efficient: Electric heating systems often achieve 100% efficiency, i.e. every unit of electricity is turned into heat
  • Zero-emissions: Electric storage heaters generate heat without emitting carbon directly, making them a low-carbon source of energy
  • Easy to install and use: Storage heaters require minimal setup once installed and have simple controls to store and release heat

Storage heating costs explained

MaterialsUnitAverage cost
Basic storage heater - supply only1 heater£400 - £700
Advanced storage heater - supply only1 heater£700 - £1,000
Labour Unit Average cost
New storage heating installation0.5-1 day£200 - £400
Replacement heater installation1-2 hours£70 - £150

Last updated: January 2025
Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now

Average cost of storage heaters

  • The cost of an electric storage heater varies, but as a guide, budget between £400 - £700 for a basic model
  • High-end heaters will skew higher at around £700 - £1,000, but these energy-efficient models will save you money on running costs

Storage heater installation costs

The cost of installing a storage heater varies depending on the complexity of the job.

  • New installations cost in the region of £200 - £400 and generally take 0.5-1 day to complete
  • Replacement heater installation starts at around £70 - £150. Expect this job to take 1-2 hours

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Factors that influence storage heating costs

Three key factors will affect the cost of your storage heaters:

  • The size of your property: Larger homes may need multiple units, increasing the cost of the units and the installation
  • Brand and model: Basic storage heaters will be cheaper to buy, however, despite their higher upfront cost, premium models will save you money through superior efficiency and greater control over your heating settings
  • Complexity of installation: As outlined above, installing a new system is more expensive than replacing an existing one. If wiring needs to be added or upgraded, this will add to your costs

Additional storage heating costs to consider

When calculating how much storage heaters cost to install, it’s important to understand all the variables to help budget effectively.

Some of the additional costs to bear in mind include:

  • Electrical upgrades/new wiring: Budget around £100
  • Decorating – to touch up any paintwork around each installation area: Approximately £50
  • The cost of removing storage heaters: If you decide storage heaters are not right for your home, expect to pay £40 per heater for removal and disposal

Storage heaters running cost

Beyond the purchase price of the unit and paying for installation, you will also need to weigh up the ongoing running costs. This will help to decide if storage heaters are the right choice for your home.

Night storage heaters use electricity supplied at cheaper, off-peak night-time tariffs (Economy 7 and Economy 10).

Since they work by radiating the heat stored at the night throughout the day, you’ll save on heating costs by avoiding more expensive day-time tariffs to heat your home.

Assuming you only use it on a lower rate tariff, a 2kW storage heater has an average running cost of 50p per hour*.

Tip: If you work from home, storage heating is highly cost-effective. However, heat can only be stored for around 12 hours. Therefore if you return home from work at around 8 pm, it may not make as much sense to invest in a storage heating solution.

How to use night storage heater controls

If you’ve moved into a property with storage heaters, you might not be familiar with the controls and therefore aren’t sure of the best way to use them.

Settings may vary depending on your needs and how often you’re at home, but the information below should give you a better idea of how to maximise the efficiency of your storage heaters.

Input and output settings

The input and output settings are often found on the top right of the heater itself, potentially under a panel. Most heaters have an ‘output’ setting on the left and an ‘input’ setting on the right.

  • Input: Determines how much energy is stored overnight
  • Output: Controls the rate at which heat is released during the day

Night-time controls

Before bed, turn the output down to as low as possible or turn it off. The input warms up the heater anyway, so you won’t lose any heat

  • During the winter nights, turn up the input to maximum to store as much heat as possible
  • During summer or autumn nights, you won’t need to turn the input up so high

Daytime and evening controls

The output tells the heater how quickly you want the heat to be released. Therefore, always consider how high you have it in the daytime to avoid using the stored heat too quickly, leaving you short during the evening.

  • Turn the output up whenever you’re at home and in need

Tips to lower your storage heating costs

  1. Turn the ‘output’ setting of your storage heater to ‘off’ before you go to bed
  2. If you remember, do this whenever you leave the house or aren’t in the room
  3. If your heater has a ‘boost’ setting, use it for extra warmth but be mindful that it’ll be using a more expensive, daytime tariff
  4. Always use the stored heat first before using any boost option
  5. To avoid using electric or plug-in heaters, turn up the input on your storage heater instead

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Alternatives to storage heaters

If storage heaters aren’t suitable for your needs, consider these alternatives:

Electric radiators

  • Pros: Easy to install, no reliance on specific tariffs, precise temperature control
  • Cons: Higher running costs compared with storage heaters
  • Best for: Homes without off-peak tariffs or where heating is needed in specific rooms
  • Read more: Discover the cost of electric radiators

Infrared panels

  • Pros: Compact, stylish design, providing direct heating for specific areas
  • Cons: Limited heating range and higher upfront cost per unit
  • Best for: Small, well-insulated spaces or as supplementary heating
  • Read more: Learn about infrared heating and its costs

Heat pumps

  • Pros: Highly energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and government grants are available if eligibility criteria are met
  • Cons: Higher initial investment and requires external space for the outdoor unit
  • Best for: Well-insulated homes with a focus on long-term energy savings
  • Read more: Understand air source heat pump costs

Central heating systems

  • Pros: Efficient for larger homes, consistent heat distribution, can be powered by gas or electricity
  • Cons: Higher installation costs and ongoing maintenance requirements
  • Best for: Larger properties or homes with existing central heating infrastructure
  • Read more: Find out the cost of a new boiler in 2025

This is not an exhaustive list. The right home heating solution for your needs will depend on its suitability for the type of property and size of space you’re heating, cost considerations, and personal preference. Read our post on electric heating options for a complete overview.

Are storage heaters right for you?

As we round up this article, the final question is whether storage heaters offer the right home heating solution for your needs.

Storage heaters are ideal if:

  • Your home has access to night-time electricity tariffs such as Economy 7 or Economy 10
  • You live in a smaller property where central heating might not be a cost-effective solution

However, consider alternatives to storage heaters if:

  • You rely on consistent heating in the evening
  • You live in a larger home with higher heating demands
  • Your property doesn’t have access to Economy 7 heating tariffs, or similar

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Find an approved tradesperson for your storage heater installation

Storage heaters should only be installed by qualified professionals.

This will either be a qualified electrician or a certified electric heating engineer.

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FAQs

Are storage heaters cheaper than central heating?

In short – yes. Since they run on cheap night-time tariffs and release energy during the day, they are much cheaper to run than standard electrical heaters. They’re also cheaper to install than a central heating system.

Are storage heaters expensive to use?

Electricity is more expensive than gas, however, electric heating systems are more efficient. Plus, storage heaters use cheaper, night-time tariffs.

The top-rated brands of storage heaters are often the most efficient. As such, they are more expensive to install, but will cost less to run and will therefore save money in the long-term.

What are the installation costs for a storage heater?

For replacement, storage heater installation costs around £70 - £150, while new installation typically comes in at around £200 - £400.

How do storage heaters work?

Storage heaters use cheaper electricity at night to generate and store heat in ceramic or clay bricks, which is released during the day.

Are storage heaters being phased out?

Storage heaters are highly cost-efficient for the time being, but the Economy 7 tariff is being phased out as the UK moves towards the closure of all coal-based power plants by 2030. So, while it’s worth taking advantage of the low night-time rates for the next decade, it may not be the best long-term solution.

Can storage heaters be upgraded for modern use?

Yes, many models now include smart controls and improved insulation for better efficiency.

What are the pros and cons of storage heaters?

  • Pros: Cost-effective, energy-efficient, low-carbon, and easy to install and use
  • Cons: Limited heat storage, reliance on specific tariffs, not ideal if you’re out of the house during the day as you can’t enjoy the stored heat

Can I install a storage heater by myself?

It’s not recommended to install a storage heater yourself as it will need to be hardwired. This job is best left to a qualified electrician or electric heating engineer.

*Prices based on energy price cap 1st Jan 2025-31st Mar 2025 – unit price for electricity 24.86p/kWh. 

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What others think of this article:

Patricia

Very useful, as I am moving home. The new property has electric heating. At the moment I have central heating which I prefer. But unfortunately you can't have it always.

Gail

Very useful and easy to understand article

Peter Duncan

Thank you. Very useful information without someone trying to sell you something.

Ruby white

I found this very interested and very helpful I have a nova rad I rent a flat and it was here when I got here but I’m afraid I haven’t managed to work it properly I’ve also got two other night storage heaters the ones with the bricks in them I’m not sure How much they cost to run and I don’t understand the timers that are on anyway but your information was very good thank you Ruby

Antone Spiroc-tica

Excellent - good to have some ideas from.a source which is not trying to sell you something, but is simply there to give information so the best decisions can be made .

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