How many watts to heat a workshop?

For targeted comfort, allow roughly 1–1.5 kW of radiant output per working position. Whole-space heating of an uninsulated workshop needs 100–150 W/m², which is why zoning saves so much.

Are infrared workshop heaters expensive to run?

Per kWh they cost the same as any electric heater — around 24.5p. The saving comes from running them for the hours you are at the bench rather than heating the building all day.

Can you heat a workshop with the door open?

Yes, with radiant heat. It travels to surfaces and people directly rather than relying on warm air staying in the room.

Do workshop heaters need an electrician?

Hard-wired radiant heaters should be installed by a qualified electrician, and higher-output units usually need a dedicated circuit.

Workshop heating: warm at the bench, not in the roof

Workshops punish any heating system that relies on trapping warm air. The practical answer is targeted radiant heat over the bays actually in use, switched on when someone is standing there and off when they are not.

Quick answer

What is the best heater for a workshop?

A radiant heater aimed at the working area. It warms you and the bench directly, so it works with the door open and does not blow dust around the workspace.

The problem with workshop heating

Roller doors open all day, dust makes ducted air a liability, and the only place that needs to be warm is a two-metre radius around each bench.

Zoning strategy: One radiant zone per bay or bench, with local switching so unused bays cost nothing.

Options compared

System	Verdict	Upfront	Running
Infrared / radiant panels Aimed at the bench: comfort in seconds, unaffected by open doors, no dust circulation.	Best fit	Low	Medium
Electric blow heaters Cheap to buy and genuinely awful to run — heats air that leaves through the door.	Poor fit	Very low	Very high
Gas radiant tube Good for larger units where a gas supply and flue route already exist.	Viable	Medium	Low
Diesel or waste-oil space heater Fumes, noise and ventilation requirements make it a poor fit for occupied workspaces.	Poor fit	Low	Medium

Indicative annual heating cost — 200 m², older / poorly insulated

Degree-day method at UK average 2000 HDD, Ofgem price cap (indicative, 2026). Whole-space figures — zoning typically cuts these substantially.

Infrared panels£4,403/yr
Air-source heat pump£1,764/yr
Gas central heating£1,587/yr
Old electric / storage heaters£5,645/yr

Run the numbers for your own building →

What workshop heating costs to install

Single bench zone£400 – £1,200
One to three wall or ceiling radiant heaters on local switching.
Small unit (100–250 m²)£1,500 – £5,000
Zoned radiant across working bays.
Large industrial unit£6,000+
Multi-zone radiant with time and occupancy control.

Workshop heating: FAQs

Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Open-Meteo, Ofgem, Energy Saving Trust

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