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.
What is the right heating system for a workshop?
A typical single-bay workshop of 100–200 m² is heated for £1,500–£6,000 installed, and running cost is decided almost entirely by whether you heat the working bays on demand or the whole shed all day.
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
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.
How to size workshop heating
| Situation | Sizing guide |
|---|---|
| Single bench or bay | 1–2 kW of radiant output per working position at 2.2–2.6 m mounting height, on a local pull-cord or occupancy switch. |
| Workshop up to 100 m² | 3–6 kW total radiant, split into at least two zones so half the space can stay cold. |
| Workshop 100–250 m² | 6–15 kW, zoned by activity — machining, assembly, spray or finishing each want different temperatures. |
| Uninsulated metal-clad shed | Add 30–40% output, or insulate the roof first; radiant tolerates poor fabric far better than air heating but is not immune to it. |
| Paint, resin or adhesive work | Check the material's minimum cure temperature and ventilation requirement before sizing — process temperature, not comfort, sets the spec. |
Disruption and installation time
Usually a one to two day job. Units mount to roof steels, joists or a wall plate, feed from a local consumer unit, and the workshop can normally keep running around the installer with the affected bay cleared.
Regulations and approvals that apply to workshops
- Workplace regulations reasonable-temperature guidance: 16 °C, or 13 °C where the work is physically strenuous.
- BS 7671 electrical installation and certification, including RCD protection in a damp or dusty environment.
- DSEAR and ventilation requirements where solvents, dust or flammable materials are present — radiant units have exclusion zones.
- Insurance conditions: some policies specify clearances between heaters and stored timber, solvents or bedding.
Guidance summary only — confirm the current requirement with your local authority, inspector or a qualified engineer before ordering work.
Expensive mistakes in workshop heating
- Buying one big heater for the middle of the room instead of output over each working position.
- Heating the whole workshop from 7am when only one bay is used before mid-morning.
- Mounting units where a crane, hoist or vehicle door passes.
- Overlooking dust and moisture ingress ratings on cheap panels.
- Sizing for comfort when the real requirement is a cure or process temperature.
When radiant heating is the wrong answer
If the workshop needs a stable ambient temperature across the whole floor — a machine shop holding tolerances, a temperature-controlled store, or a paint bay with forced ventilation — air-based heating with proper controls does that job better than radiant, which creates a comfortable working position rather than a uniform room.
What to ask before you sign
- What output have you allowed per working position, and at what mounting height?
- How many zones, and can each bay be switched independently?
- What IP rating are the units, and is that right for dust, damp or spray?
- Are there exclusion zones for solvents, timber or flammable stock?
- Is the existing consumer unit adequate, or is a new circuit and certification included?
Workshop heating: FAQs
Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Open-Meteo, Ofgem, Energy Saving Trust