How Much Does an Oil Filled Radiator Cost to Run in Ireland?
Running cost calculator
Last updated 29 October 2026, using the current Electric Ireland unit rate.
An oil filled radiator uses 1 unit of electricity an hour for every 1000 watts at full output. At 38.04 cent per kWh, the Electric Ireland 24 hour standard rate from 1 July 2026, including VAT, that is about 23 cent an hour for a 600W, 46 cent for a 1200W and 68 cent for an 1800W. Those are ceilings. Once the room is warm the thermostat switches the element on and off, so the real cost is lower.
Work out your own cost below, using your hours and the unit rate on your bill.
Running cost calculator
Pick the size, how long you run it, and the unit rate from your bill.
100 percent is the most it can cost. Once the room is warm the thermostat switches the element on and off, so slide this down to match how often yours is actually heating.
Uses 7.2 units of electricity a day.
See the 1200W TitanCost by size at full output
At 38.04 cent per kWh. These are the most each size can cost, with the element on the whole time.
| Size | Room | Per hour | 4 hours a day, per week | 8 hours a day, per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600W | up to 8 m² | 23 cent | €6.39 | €12.78 |
| 900W | up to 12 m² | 34 cent | €9.59 | €19.17 |
| 1200W | up to 15 m² | 46 cent | €12.78 | €25.56 |
| 1500W | up to 18 m² | 57 cent | €15.98 | €31.95 |
| 1800W | up to 22 m² | 68 cent | €19.17 | €38.34 |
| 2000W | up to 20 m² | 76 cent | €21.30 | €42.60 |
How to work it out yourself
Divide the wattage by 1000, multiply by the hours it runs, then multiply by your unit rate.
Example: a 900W radiator for 8 hours is 0.9 × 8 = 7.2 units. At 38.04 cent that is €2.74 for the day, at most.
Your unit rate is on your electricity bill, shown in cent per kWh. If you are on a discount or a smart tariff with cheaper hours, use that rate, and use the cheaper hours where you can.
Is oil filled cheaper to run than other electric heaters?
Watt for watt, no. A 1500W oil filled radiator, a 1500W panel heater and a 1500W fan heater all use 1.5 units an hour at full output, and all of them turn that electricity into the same amount of heat. Claims that one type costs less per hour at the same wattage do not hold up.
What actually changes the bill is control:
- ✓A thermostat that switches off when the room reaches temperature, instead of running flat out.
- ✓A timer, so it heats the hours you are in the room and not the hours you are out.
- ✓The right size. Too small and it runs flat out all day without getting there. Allow about 100 watts per square metre.
- ✓Held heat. The oil keeps giving off warmth after the element switches off, so the temperature stays steady in rooms you heat for long stretches.
For heating a whole house, a heat pump costs less per unit of heat, but it is a whole house installation. For one room, a plug in radiator with good controls is the simple answer. More on that in our guide to electric heating in Ireland, or compare types setting by setting in oil filled radiator vs convector vs fan heater.
The Titan smart radiator
An oil filled, wall mounted radiator built around the controls that keep running costs down: a thermostat, a 24 hour timer, weekly programming and open window detection, all from the Tuya app or the buttons on the side.
| Size | Room | Per hour at full output | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600W | up to 8 m² | 23 cent | Choose |
| 900W | up to 12 m² | 34 cent | Choose |
| 1200W | up to 15 m² | 46 cent | Choose |
| 1500W | up to 18 m² | 57 cent | Choose |
| 1800W | up to 22 m² | 68 cent | Choose |
- ✓Free delivery from the first euro, anywhere in Ireland.
- ✓10 percent off a first order for new customers.
- ✓Collect from our counter in Greenogue, just off the N7.
Want fast heat instead? The Titan WiFi panel heater
A slim panel heater that warms a room quickly, for rooms you heat in short bursts, like a morning or an evening. It runs on the same app as the Titan radiator and comes with a remote, a thermostat and a programmable timer. Mount it on the wall or stand it on the floor. Unlike an oil filled radiator it stops giving off heat soon after it switches off, so for rooms heated over long stretches the radiator is the better fit.
Browse the heater range
Every heater in the range uses the same maths: the wattage divided by 1000 is the units it uses each hour at full output. Free delivery from the first euro on all of them.
- ✓Electric radiators and heaters, the full range, oil filled and panel
- ✓Wall mounted electric heaters and panel heaters, slim heaters fixed to the wall
- ✓Portable electric heaters, plug in and move from room to room
Questions
How much does an oil filled radiator cost to run per hour?
For every 1000 watts it uses 1 unit (1 kWh) an hour at full output. At 38.04 cent per kWh, the Electric Ireland 24 hour standard rate from 1 July 2026, including VAT, that is about 23 cent an hour for a 600W radiator, 38 cent for a 1000W, 57 cent for a 1500W and 76 cent for a 2000W. Those are ceilings. Once the room is warm the thermostat switches the element on and off, so the real cost is lower.
How much does a 2kW heater cost per hour in Ireland?
A 2kW (2000W) heater uses 2 units an hour at full output, which is about 76 cent an hour at 38.04 cent per kWh. Any electric heater of the same wattage costs the same per hour at full output, whether it is oil filled, a panel heater or a fan heater.
Is an oil filled radiator cheaper to run than a panel heater or fan heater?
Watt for watt, no. Every plug in electric heater turns one unit of electricity into the same amount of heat. What changes the bill is control: a good thermostat and timer, the right size for the room, and only heating the hours you need. Oil filled radiators hold their heat and keep giving it off after the element switches off, which suits rooms heated for long stretches.
Is an oil filled radiator expensive to run?
It depends on the size and the hours. A 900W radiator running flat out for 8 hours uses 7.2 units, about €2.74 at 38.04 cent per kWh. Heating one room you are using is usually cheaper than heating the whole house to warm that one room.
What does electricity cost per kWh in Ireland?
Electric Ireland's 24 hour standard rate is 38.04 cent per kWh including VAT from 1 July 2026, before any discount. Rates vary by supplier and plan, and many customers pay less after a discount, so check the unit rate on your own bill and put it into the calculator.
What size oil filled radiator do I need?
Allow roughly 100 watts per square metre of floor. A 600W suits a room up to 8 square metres, 900W up to 12, 1200W up to 15, 1500W up to 18 and 1800W up to 22. If the room is poorly insulated, go one size up. For a bigger room, the Titan panel heater comes in 2000W for rooms up to 20 square metres.
Figures use 38.04 cent per kWh, the Electric Ireland 24 hour standard rate from 1 July 2026, including VAT, and assume full output unless stated. Your cost depends on your tariff, the room and how you set the thermostat. Last updated 29 October 2026. Questions? Call 01 401 9907 or email sales@shamrockelectrical.ie.