If you're looking for an efficient way to heat your home, a heat pump will usually use less electricity than a conventional electric space heater to deliver the same amount of warmth. The reason comes down to how the two systems work. A space heater converts electricity directly into heat, while a heat pump moves existing heat from the outside air into your home, allowing it to produce several times more heat energy than the electricity it consumes.
But does that automatically make a heat pump the better choice? Space heaters are generally cheaper to buy, simple to install and useful for warming a single room or providing occasional supplemental heat. Heat pumps, on the other hand, can be much more economical for regularly heating larger areas, particularly when they're properly sized and operating in suitable conditions.
Perhaps you're weighing up a heat pump for your whole home, or simply wondering whether a portable space heater is enough for the room you use most. In this guide, we'll compare how both options work, how much electricity they use to produce the same amount of heat, and which makes more sense depending on your heating needs, budget and home.
Although both heat pumps and electric space heaters are designed to warm your home, they produce heat in very different ways. Understanding this difference helps explain why a heat pump can deliver the same amount of warmth while using considerably less electricity.
Most conventional electric space heaters use resistance heating. Electricity passes through a heating element, which becomes hot and transfers heat into the surrounding air or nearby objects.
Some models use a fan to circulate warm air around the room, while others use radiant heating to warm people and objects directly. Oil-filled radiators also use electric resistance elements, with the heated oil helping distribute and retain warmth. If you're comparing different types of electric heaters, our guide to the most energy-efficient space heaters looks at the technologies and features worth considering.
The important point is that almost all the electricity consumed by a conventional resistance space heater is converted into heat at the point of use. This makes them highly effective at turning electricity into heat, but they cannot produce several units of heat energy from one unit of electricity.
A heat pump works differently. Instead of generating heat directly from electricity, it moves heat from one place to another.
In heating mode, an air-source heat pump extracts heat energy from the outdoor air, even when temperatures are relatively cold. A refrigerant absorbs this heat, which is then compressed to raise its temperature before being transferred indoors.
Electricity is needed to operate the compressor, fans and other components, but it isn't used to generate all the heat delivered to the home. Much of that heat is transferred from the outside environment.
This allows a heat pump to deliver more heat energy than the electrical energy it consumes. Depending on the model and operating conditions, it may provide around two to four units of heat for every unit of electricity used.
The distinction is simple: a space heater generates heat using electricity, while a heat pump uses electricity to move existing heat.
That's why comparing their electricity consumption based on wattage alone can be misleading. A heat pump might use a similar amount of electricity to a space heater while delivering considerably more heat. The wattage you choose also matters when comparing portable models. Our guide to 1,500W vs 750W space heaters explains how lower- and higher-powered heaters compare.
For a fair comparison, we need to look at how much electricity each system requires to provide the same amount of heating.
A heat pump generally uses considerably less electricity than a conventional electric space heater to deliver the same amount of heat. The difference becomes clearer when you compare how much heating each system provides for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity consumed.
A conventional electric space heater has a coefficient of performance (COP) of approximately 1. This means that for every 1 kWh of electricity it uses, it delivers roughly 1 kWh of heat into the room.
A heat pump can achieve a much higher COP because it transfers additional heat from the outdoor environment. Depending on the model, outdoor temperature and operating conditions, an air-source heat pump might deliver around 2 to 4 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity consumed. Of course, electricity consumption also varies between individual space heaters. Our guide to how much electricity a space heater uses explains what affects their energy consumption.
The following example illustrates the difference:
As the comparison shows, a heat pump operating at a COP of 3 delivers approximately three times as much heat as a resistance space heater using the same amount of electricity.
Put another way, to deliver 3 kWh of heat, a conventional electric space heater would require approximately 3 kWh of electricity. A heat pump operating at a COP of 3 would need approximately 1 kWh.
COP stands for coefficient of performance. It measures the amount of heat a heat pump delivers compared with the electricity it consumes under particular operating conditions.
A higher COP indicates greater efficiency. However, a heat pump's performance isn't fixed. It changes with outdoor temperature, indoor heating requirements and the way the system operates.
This is particularly important during colder weather. When outdoor temperatures fall, extracting heat from the air becomes more difficult, and the heat pump may need more electricity to maintain the same indoor temperature.
The key takeaway is that a heat pump can deliver several times more heat per unit of electricity than a conventional electric space heater. This is why it will usually be the more electricity-efficient option when both systems are providing the same amount of heating.
Yes. A heat pump generally becomes less efficient as outdoor temperatures fall, although modern models can continue heating effectively in quite cold conditions.
Air-source heat pumps work by extracting thermal energy from the outdoor air and transferring it indoors. Even when the weather feels cold, outdoor air still contains usable heat. However, the colder it gets, the harder the system has to work to extract that energy and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
This means the heat pump's coefficient of performance (COP) usually decreases as outdoor temperatures drop. A system that delivers three or four units of heat per unit of electricity in mild weather may deliver less under colder conditions.
Research has demonstrated that some heat pumps can continue operating efficiently even in much colder conditions. A field study published in Building and Environment in 2022 monitored a low-temperature air-source heat pump system in a severely cold region of China. It recorded COP values between 1.63 and 2.17 at outdoor temperatures as low as −24.7°C, showing that a heat pump can continue delivering more heat than the electricity it consumes, even during severe cold spells.
In many cases, yes. Even when its efficiency decreases, a properly selected modern heat pump can still deliver more heat per unit of electricity than a conventional electric space heater.
For example, a heat pump operating at a COP of 2 still delivers approximately twice as much heat as a resistance heater using the same amount of electricity.
However, performance depends on the particular model and climate. Some heat pumps are specifically designed for colder regions, while other models may rely more heavily on supplementary heating as temperatures fall. If your portable heater keeps switching off while you're using it, our guide to why a space heater keeps turning off explains some of the possible causes.
The important thing is to look at a heat pump's performance at realistic winter temperatures, rather than relying only on its headline efficiency rating. A model's seasonal performance and its ability to maintain heating capacity in cold weather are much more useful indicators of how it will perform in your home.
To understand the potential electricity savings, it's useful to compare how much electricity each system needs to deliver the same amount of heat over time.
This is where the seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) becomes particularly useful. While COP measures efficiency under specific operating conditions, SCOP estimates a heat pump's average performance across an entire heating season under standardised conditions.
A higher SCOP means the system can deliver more heat for each unit of electricity it consumes.
Imagine your home needs 6,000 kWh of heat over a heating season. The following example shows how much electricity different heating systems would need to provide that amount of warmth.
These figures are illustrative, assuming the systems deliver the same amount of useful heat and the heat pump achieves the stated seasonal performance.
For this example, a heat pump with a SCOP of 3 would require approximately one-third of the electricity used by a conventional electric space heater to provide the same amount of heat.
The potential difference can be substantial. If a heat pump achieves a SCOP of 3, it uses approximately 67% less electricity than direct electric resistance heating to deliver the same amount of heat. If you'd like to see how electricity consumption translates into everyday running costs, our guide to how much it costs to run a space heater 24/7 breaks down the figures.
At a SCOP of 4, the reduction would be approximately 75%.
However, these are comparisons of heating electricity consumption, not guaranteed household savings. Actual results depend on the heat pump's seasonal performance, the home's insulation, the outdoor climate, heating habits and whether supplementary electric heating is needed.
It's also worth remembering that a heat pump's advertised efficiency rating may not reflect the performance you'll achieve in your own home. Look for seasonal performance figures relevant to your climate and check how the system performs at lower outdoor temperatures.
This difference between advertised and actual performance has also been examined in large-scale research. A 2025 study published in Nature Communications analysed two years of operating data from 1,023 heat pumps across Central Europe, highlighting how installation design, system settings and equipment faults can affect real-world efficiency.
The takeaway is that a heat pump can use substantially less electricity than a conventional space heater over a heating season, provided it is correctly sized and operating efficiently.
Although heat pumps are generally more electricity-efficient, a conventional electric space heater can still be the more practical option in certain situations. The best choice depends on how much of your home you need to heat, how frequently you use heating and whether installing a heat pump is realistic.
A space heater can make sense when you only need occasional or localised heating rather than a system that heats your entire home.
For example, it may be a practical option if:
If you only need to keep yourself warm while working at a desk or relaxing on the sofa, an electric blanket may be another option. Our comparison of electric blankets vs space heaters looks at their differences in electricity use, running costs and practicality.
A heat pump is usually the stronger option if you regularly heat your home and want to reduce the electricity needed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
It may be particularly suitable if:
If you're considering a portable heater for a particular room, it's also worth thinking about its heating capacity. Our guide to choosing the right space heater for your room size explains how to match a heater to the space.
Yes. The two heating options don't necessarily have to be alternatives.
A heat pump can provide the main heating for your home, while a small electric space heater supplies occasional warmth in a room that needs a little extra heat.
For example, you might use a heat pump to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the house and switch on a portable heater in your home office when you're working there. If you want to use a space heater somewhere without access to mains electricity, you may also find our guides to portable power station runtime with a space heater and choosing the right size power station for a space heater useful.
This approach can be useful, provided the additional heater isn't simply compensating for an inefficient heating setup or running unnecessarily.
Ultimately, a space heater is often more practical for occasional, localised warmth, while a heat pump is generally better suited to regular, ongoing heating.
Although a heat pump generally costs less to run than a conventional electric space heater, the initial purchase and installation costs can be considerably higher.
A portable space heater is relatively inexpensive to buy and usually requires no professional installation. A heat pump, on the other hand, involves a much larger upfront investment, particularly if you're installing a new system to heat your entire home.
This means the cheapest option depends on more than electricity consumption alone. If you're considering a heat pump as a longer-term investment, there's more to weigh up than running costs alone. Our guide to whether a heat pump is worth it looks at installation costs, potential savings and how long it could take to pay back the initial investment.
Space heaters are generally the more affordable option initially. Most portable models can simply be plugged into a suitable electrical outlet, making them convenient for renters, occasional use and supplemental heating. For another perspective on the cost of electric heating, our comparison of space heaters vs central heating costs looks at when heating individual rooms can make financial sense.
Heat pumps require a larger investment. Depending on the type of system, installation may involve outdoor units, indoor equipment, refrigerant pipework and professional labour.
This is where heat pumps have a significant advantage. Because they can deliver several units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed, they generally cost less to operate when providing the same amount of heating.
The more frequently you use your heating system, the more valuable this efficiency advantage can become.
However, the actual savings depend on electricity prices, the heat pump's seasonal efficiency, installation costs and how much heating your home requires.
A heat pump may be worth considering if you regularly heat your home and plan to stay in the property long enough to benefit from lower running costs.
For occasional heating in a single room, the purchase price and installation requirements of a heat pump may be difficult to justify. In that situation, a portable space heater may be the more practical choice, even though it uses more electricity per unit of heat delivered.
It's also worth considering available grants, incentives and local installation costs, as these can affect the financial case for switching to a heat pump.
The bottom line is that space heaters are generally cheaper to buy, while heat pumps are usually cheaper to operate. Which option costs less overall depends on how much heating you need and how long you expect to use the system.
When comparing a heat pump with a conventional electric space heater, the biggest difference is how efficiently each one provides warmth. A heat pump can deliver considerably more heat from the same amount of electricity, making it a much better option for households that rely on electric heating regularly.
But efficiency isn't the only thing worth considering.
A portable space heater can be a perfectly sensible choice if you only need to warm a room occasionally, work from home in one particular space or add a little extra warmth during colder days. Its low purchase price and simple setup make it convenient when installing a permanent heating system isn't necessary or practical.
If you're looking for a longer-term heating solution, however, a heat pump is generally the better investment to explore. The initial expense is higher, but the potential reduction in electricity consumption can make it worthwhile, particularly if you heat your home regularly.
Before deciding, think about how much of your home you need to heat, how often you'll use the system and whether your property is suitable for a heat pump. These factors will have a much greater influence on your decision than simply comparing the advertised power ratings.
Ultimately, choose a heat pump if you want efficient, regular home heating, and a space heater if you need affordable, occasional warmth in a specific room. Both have their place, but they serve quite different heating needs.
