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How to Choose a Radiator
Not sure which radiator to buy? Start with your heating system, required heat output and available wall space, then find the radiator type that fits.
Choosing from all the different types of radiators gets much easier when you make the big decisions in the right order. Your radiator needs to provide enough heat, suit your heating system and physically fit the wall before colour or style enters the equation.
Think:
heating system → heat output → available space → radiator type → style and finish.
Get those first three right and the much nicer question of whether you fancy classic columns or sleek anthracite can come afterwards.
Radiator Choices at a Glance
Before buying a radiator:
- Choose the fuel type: central heating, electric or dual fuel.
- Calculate the heat output: work out the BTU/hr or watts your room needs.
- Check the ΔT: particularly for heat pumps and lower-temperature heating systems.
- Measure height, width and projection: your radiator has to fit outwards as well as across.
- Check pipe centres: especially when replacing an existing plumbed radiator.
- Compare panels and convectors: they affect output as well as radiator depth.
- Choose vertical or horizontal: work with the usable wall you actually have.
- Compare materials: different radiator materials vary in weight and thermal response.
- Check valves and controls: don’t assume they come with the radiator.
- Choose style and colour last: once you know the radiator can do its actual job.
The key thing to remember: a radiator has to fit your room twice. It needs to fit physically on the wall and thermally in the heat calculation.
Contents
1. Which Radiator Fuel Type Do You Need?
2. How Much Heat Does Your Radiator Need to Produce?
3. What Does ΔT Mean When Choosing a Radiator?
4. How Do You Measure for a Radiator?
5. What Are the Different Types of Radiators?
6. What’s the Difference Between Type 11, Type 21 and Type 22 Radiators?
7. Should You Choose a Vertical or Horizontal Radiator?
8. Which Radiator Material Is Best?
9. What Are the Best Radiators for Different Rooms?
10. Where Should You Put a Radiator?
11. Which Radiator Colour Should You Choose?
12. Which Radiator Valves Do You Need?
13. What Should You Check Before Buying a Radiator?
14. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Radiator Fuel Type Do You Need?
Choose the radiator fuel type that matches your heating system and how you want to heat the room. The three main options are central heating, electric and dual fuel.
| Radiator type | How it works | When it can make sense |
|---|---|---|
| Central heating | Hot water from a wet heating system flows through the radiator | Your home already has wet central heating |
| Electric | Runs from electricity independently of wet central heating | You want independent heating or extending pipework would be inconvenient |
| Dual fuel | A suitable radiator can operate from central heating and an electric element | You want the flexibility to use it independently of the main heating at times |
Central heating radiators connect to your wet heating system, so their heat depends on hot water circulating through the radiator.
Dual fuel setups are particularly useful for suitable towel radiators. You may, for example, want warm towels when running the full central heating would be unnecessary.
Note: Always check the individual radiator specification for compatibility with your intended heating setup.
2. How Much Heat Does Your Radiator Need to Produce?
Calculate the room’s required heat output before choosing your radiator size. A radiator can fit the wall perfectly and still be wrong for the room if it cannot replace enough of the heat being lost.
Radiator heat output is usually shown in BTU/hr, watts or both.
What Does BTU Mean?
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. When you're comparing radiators, the BTU/hr figure tells you the radiator's quoted heat output under its stated test conditions.
A higher figure means greater quoted heat output under those conditions. It does not simply mean the radiator will be physically taller or wider.
Your room's requirement can be affected by factors including:
- Length, width and height
- Windows and glazing
- External walls
- Insulation
- Room construction
- Overall heat loss.
Our guide to how to calculate BTU explains the calculation in more detail.
Once you know your target, you can compare radiators by actual output instead of guessing from their appearance. If your calculation comes out around that level, for example, our 4000 BTU radiators give you a far more useful starting point than simply searching for something that looks “big enough”.
3. What Does ΔT Mean When Choosing a Radiator?
ΔT tells you the temperature difference used when a radiator's heat output is calculated. It matters because the same radiator can give out different amounts of heat at different heating-system temperatures.
You may see an output quoted at a figure such as ΔT50. If your system operates with a lower water temperature, the radiator may deliver less heat than that higher-temperature figure suggests.
What About Radiators for Heat Pumps?
Heat pumps commonly operate at lower water temperatures than traditional higher-temperature heating systems. That can mean you need more heat-emitting surface to deliver the same room heat requirement.
If you have a heat pump or another lower-temperature system, compare radiator outputs at conditions relevant to your system rather than relying on the headline BTU figure alone.
This is one of those details that looks thoroughly dull until it saves you from buying a radiator that looks perfect and leaves you reaching for another jumper.
4. How Do You Measure for a Radiator?
Measure the height, width and projection available before buying. You also need to consider the space needed for valves, pipework and anything surrounding the radiator.
Check:
- Maximum radiator width
- Available height
- Projection from the wall
- Valve clearance
- Nearby doors
- Furniture
- Curtains
- Skirting
- Pipe positions.
Measure Out as Well as Across
Projection is easy to overlook.
A deeper radiator may provide more heat without using more wall width, but it will also extend further into the room. That can be important in a narrow hallway, beside a door or anywhere you regularly pass close to it.
Replacing an Existing Radiator?
If you're replacing a plumbed radiator, measure the existing pipe centres as well as the radiator itself.
A replacement may fit comfortably on the wall but still require pipework alterations if its connections sit somewhere different.
Check the radiator's weight and your wall construction too. Heavier radiators need a suitable wall and fixing arrangement.
If the old one needs to come down first, our guide to how to remove a radiator covers that job separately.
5. What Are the Different Types of Radiators?
The main types of radiators differ in construction, shape, purpose and style. Once you know the heat output and dimensions you need, use those differences to narrow down the best radiator for your room.
| Radiator type | Main advantage | Worth considering when |
|---|---|---|
| Panel radiator | Practical heating with different panel and convector combinations | Straightforward performance is the priority |
| Column radiator | Distinctive column construction with traditional and modern options | You want more architectural styling |
| Vertical radiator | Uses height instead of lots of wall width | Available wall is tall and narrow |
| Horizontal radiator | Makes use of wider, lower areas | You have plenty of horizontal wall |
| Designer radiator | Makes stylish heating a deliberate part of the interior | Your radiator will be highly visible |
| Traditional radiator | Period-inspired detailing | You want a classic or heritage look |
| Towel radiator | Adds useful towel warming and hanging | Bathrooms and en-suites |
| Mirror radiator | Combines heating and a reflective surface | You want one wall feature to perform two jobs |
Panel Radiators
Panel radiators are a familiar option in UK homes and are available with different combinations of panels and convector fins.
Those internal differences matter because they can alter how much heat a radiator produces without simply making it wider.
Column Radiators
Column radiators use repeated columns to create their heating surface and are available in both classic and contemporary designs.
Compare the number of columns, dimensions, depth and output rather than assuming every column radiator will perform similarly.
Our guide to column radiator styles for your home has more inspiration if you like the look.
Designer Radiators
Designer radiators give you more freedom with shapes, finishes and orientations when the radiator will form a visible part of the interior.
Treat the design as a filter after checking the output and measurements.
Looking good doesn't excuse a radiator from the heating part of the job.
Traditional Radiators
Traditional radiators use period-inspired detailing that can work particularly well in Victorian, Edwardian and other characterful interiors.
Our guide to the best Edwardian radiators for your home has more traditional inspiration.
Curious how radiators became such a familiar part of British homes? Our history of the radiator goes considerably further back.
Mirror Radiators
Mirror radiators combine heating with a reflective surface.
That can be particularly useful when wall space is limited and you would otherwise need separate positions for the radiator and mirror.
6. What's the Difference Between Type 11, Type 21 and Type 22 Radiators?
Type 11, Type 21 and Type 22 describe common combinations of radiator panels and convector fins. Increasing the number of panels and convectors can increase output, but it generally increases radiator depth too.
| Radiator type | Panels | Convectors | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 11 | 1 | 1 | Slimmer profile with less heating surface |
| Type 21 | 2 | 1 | More heating surface with moderate additional depth |
| Type 22 | 2 | 2 | Greater output potential but typically more projection |
This is especially useful when your wall width is limited.
A deeper radiator with more panels or convectors can sometimes provide the heat you need without requiring a much wider model.
More output from a similar patch of wall can mean more radiator projecting into the room.
Our guides to the difference between Type 21 and Type 22 radiators and whether you need a single or double radiator explain these configurations in more detail.
7. Should You Choose a Vertical or Horizontal Radiator?
Choose vertical or horizontal according to the shape of the usable wall, provided the radiator can still deliver the heat output your room needs.
| Orientation | Usually suits | Main thing to check |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal | Wider, lower sections of wall | Enough wall width |
| Vertical | Tall, narrow areas | Enough height and required output |
| Either | Walls that could accommodate both | Which shape works best around furniture and doors |
Horizontal radiators make good use of wider stretches of wall and can work naturally across lower wall areas.
Vertical radiators use more height and less width. They can be particularly useful where furniture, doors or kitchen cabinets leave one tall, narrow section free.
A vertical radiator isn't automatically the best radiator because a room is small. The right orientation comes from heat output + wall shape + radiator dimensions + surrounding furniture.
Our guide answering whether vertical radiators are efficient goes into vertical radiator performance in more detail.
8. Which Radiator Material Is Best?
There isn't one universally best radiator material. Materials differ in weight, thermal response and appearance, so choose based on your heating system and priorities.
| Material | What to know |
|---|---|
| Steel | Widely used and available across a broad range of radiator styles |
| Aluminium | Comparatively lightweight and responds quickly to temperature changes |
| Cast iron | Heavy, slower to warm and slower to cool |
| Stainless steel | Used in designs where its material and finish characteristics are desirable |
Aluminium radiators are worth considering where lower weight and responsive heating are useful priorities.
Cast iron tends to appeal where a more traditional look and slower thermal response suit the project.
Choose the material after considering the required output, heating system, wall and installation, rather than looking for a universal winner.
9. What Are the Best Radiators for Different Rooms?
The best radiators for individual rooms are the ones that provide the calculated heat output while fitting around the way that room is actually furnished and used.
| Room | What to prioritise |
|---|---|
| Living room | Heat output, furniture positions and available feature walls |
| Bedroom | Output, bed and wardrobe positions, projection |
| Bathroom | Room heating, towel drying and limited wall space |
| Kitchen | Wall left free after cabinets and appliances |
| Hallway | Projection and clear walking routes |
What Are the Best Radiators for Living Rooms?
The best radiators for living rooms provide enough heat for the room while working around sofas, doors and other furniture.
A wide horizontal radiator may suit a large clear wall, while a vertical or designer radiator can make use of a narrower feature area.
Browse our living room radiators once you've calculated the output required.
A larger room doesn't necessarily need one enormous radiator either. Two appropriately sized radiators can sometimes suit the layout better if their combined output meets the room's requirement.
What Are the Best Radiators for Bedrooms?
The best radiators for bedrooms provide enough heat without making beds, wardrobes and other furniture unnecessarily difficult to position.
A vertical radiator can be useful where bedroom furniture has already claimed the wider sections of wall.
Our bedroom radiators include different dimensions, styles and orientations to work with different layouts.
What Are the Best Radiators for Bathrooms?
A bathroom radiator needs to provide enough room heat while working around sanitaryware, doors and the towels you need somewhere to dry.
Our bathroom radiators include designs suited to different bathroom layouts, while towel radiators add useful hanging space.
In a particularly tight bathroom, a narrower profile can help. Our guide to the benefits of a slim radiator for bathroom layouts has more ideas.
What Are the Best Radiators for Kitchens?
Kitchen cabinets, appliances and doors can leave surprisingly little clear wall, so identify what remains after the finished kitchen layout is taken into account.
Our kitchen radiators include horizontal and vertical designs for different layouts.
A vertical radiator can be particularly useful where base cabinets have occupied most of the lower wall, as long as the chosen model still meets the kitchen's heat requirement.
10. Where Should You Put a Radiator?
Position a radiator where it can release heat into the room without being unnecessarily blocked by furniture or other large objects.
Before settling on the wall, check what will actually surround it once the room is finished, such as:
- Sofas and chairs
- Beds
- Cabinets
- Open doors
- Curtains
- Pipe routes
- Valve access
The perfect blank wall can look considerably less perfect once the sofa moves back in.
Our guide to where to put a radiator covers positioning in more detail.
11. Which Radiator Colour Should You Choose?
Choose radiator colour after performance and fit are sorted. Then decide whether you want the radiator to disappear into the scheme or become a feature.
White radiators are an easy neutral choice, while anthracite radiators and black radiators can create a stronger architectural look.
If you want the radiator to stand out, there are plenty of other finishes to explore:
The useful question isn't whether white, black or brass is universally best. It's whether you want the radiator quietly supporting the room or deliberately becoming part of the design.
If your existing radiator simply needs a refresh, our guide to the best paint for radiators covers that job separately.
12. Which Radiator Valves Do You Need?
Choose radiator valves around your pipe direction, radiator connections and preferred heating control. Don't assume they're included with the radiator.
Before ordering radiator valves, check:
- Whether valves come with the radiator
- Where the radiator connections sit
- Whether pipes approach from the floor or wall
- The valve orientation required
- Whether you want manual or thermostatic control
- Whether you want the valve finish to match the radiator.
A manual radiator valve lets you adjust the flow yourself.
A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) responds to room temperature and controls the flow through the radiator accordingly.
For more connected control, our smart heating range includes options for managing heating more intelligently.
Nothing takes the shine off choosing your new radiator quite like discovering that the radiator, valves and pipework all arrived with different plans.
13. What Should You Check Before Buying a Radiator?
Run through the full specification before checkout. Heat output and appearance are only part of the decision.
| Final check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Heating system | The radiator suits your central heating, electric or intended dual-fuel setup |
| Heat output | BTU/hr or watts meet the calculated room requirement |
| ΔT | The quoted output is relevant to your heating-system temperature |
| Height and width | The radiator fits the usable wall |
| Projection | It won't protrude too far into the room |
| Pipe centres | Existing pipework suits the radiator or alterations are planned |
| Weight | Your wall and fixing arrangement are suitable |
| Valves | You know whether they're supplied and which type you need |
| Brackets and fixings | You know what comes with the radiator |
| Guarantee | You're happy with the manufacturer's cover |
You may also need radiator accessories to complete the setup.
A few minutes with the specification and tape measure is considerably easier than unpacking the radiator and discovering the wall and pipework have never been formally introduced.
Once everything is installed, our guide to how to clean a radiator can help keep it looking its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Better to Have One Large Radiator or Two Smaller Ones?
Either can work if the radiator or combined radiators meet the room's required heat output. Two smaller radiators may suit a larger or awkwardly shaped room better when suitable wall space and pipework are available in more than one position.
Compare the combined output and room layout, rather than assuming one large radiator is automatically more effective.
Can I Replace a Radiator With a Different Size?
Yes, but changing radiator dimensions can affect pipework, wall fixings and the clearance around it.
Compare the replacement's heat output, overall dimensions and connection positions with your existing setup before buying. A radiator can be suitable for the room and still require alterations to fit the existing pipes.
Do I Need Bigger Radiators With a Heat Pump?
Potentially. Heat pumps commonly use lower water temperatures, so you may need a radiator with more heat-emitting capacity to satisfy the same room heat requirement.
Check output at operating conditions relevant to your heat-pump system rather than relying only on a headline figure quoted at a higher ΔT.
Find the Right Radiator for Your Home
There’s no single best radiator for every home. Start with the heat your room needs, your heating system and the wall space available, then choose the radiator type, size and style that works for you.
Need more help with the project? Our heating advice, DIY and technical advice and buying guides are packed with practical advice to help you get everything sorted.
Once your new radiator is fitted, we’d love to see how it looks. Tag us on Facebook or Instagram and show us how you’ve turned up the heat.
Know somebody else currently trying to get their head around BTUs, pipe centres and radiator sizes? Send this guide their way.
Jack
Jack is part of the resident bathroom bloggers team here at Victorian Plumbing. As a bathroom décor and DIY expert, he loves writing in depth articles and buying guides and is renowned for his expert 'how to' tutorials.
