The short answer
Both run on electricity, but they work very differently. Infrared panels are direct electric heaters that warm objects and people directly with radiant heat; like all resistance heating they are 100% efficient at the point of use, so one unit of electricity gives one unit of heat. A heat pump moves heat from the outside air, reaching a SCOP of around 3 to 4 — 3 to 4 units of heat per unit of electricity. For whole-home heating, a heat pump therefore uses roughly a third of the electricity and is far cheaper to run. Infrared panels are cheap and simple to install, need no pipework or outdoor unit, respond quickly and can suit a single room, garden room or very low-demand space. But they do not provide hot water and are expensive to run as a whole-house system, and they are not eligible for the £7,500 grant that a heat pump is.
Infrared panels are sometimes marketed as a low-cost alternative to a heat pump. They have their place, but the efficiency and running-cost difference for whole-home heating is large. Here is how they compare.
Heat pump vs infrared
- Heat pump efficiencySCOP ~3.0–4.0
- Infrared efficiency100% at point of use
- Electricity for same heatHeat pump uses ~1/3
- Hot waterHeat pump yes; infrared no
- BUS grantHeat pump yes; infrared no
Efficiency and running cost
Infrared panels heat by radiation — they warm surfaces, objects and people directly rather than heating the air first. They are a form of direct electric resistance heating, so they are 100% efficient at the point of use. That sounds impressive, but it means the ceiling is one unit of heat per unit of electricity, the same as any electric resistance heater.
A heat pump does not generate heat by resistance; it moves heat from outside using a refrigeration cycle, delivering 3 to 4 units of heat per unit of electricity. For heating a whole home, that efficiency gap means a heat pump uses roughly a third of the electricity infrared panels would for the same warmth — which is why infrared is expensive to run as a primary, whole-house system.
| Factor | Air source heat pump | Infrared panels |
|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Moves heat from outside air | Direct radiant electric heat |
| Efficiency | SCOP ~3.0–4.0 | 100% at point of use |
| Electricity for same heat | Roughly one third | Three times as much |
| Running cost (whole home) | Much lower | High |
| Hot water | Yes, via cylinder | No |
| Install | More involved | Simple, panel and wiring |
| BUS grant | £7,500 | Not eligible |
Indicative comparison for guidance. Sources: Energy Saving Trust.
Install, response and comfort
Infrared panels are simple: they mount on a wall or ceiling and wire into the electrical supply, with no pipework, flue, cylinder or outdoor unit. Installation is cheap and quick, and the panels respond fast, warming you the moment they are switched on because they heat objects directly rather than the air.
A heat pump is a wet central heating system — outdoor unit, cylinder, radiators or underfloor heating — so it costs more and is more disruptive to install, and it heats more gently and steadily rather than instantly. The trade-off is that the heat pump heats the whole home and the hot water efficiently, whereas infrared is best at warming a specific space when occupied.
Comfort, controls and the 'radiant' claim
Infrared marketing often stresses that the panels heat objects and people rather than the air, giving a warmth that feels pleasant the moment they are on. That radiant effect is real and can feel comfortable in a fixed spot — but it works best with a direct line of sight to the panel, and the warmth fades quickly when the panel is switched off because little heat is stored in the room.
A heat pump heats the whole space steadily through radiators or underfloor heating, with thermostats and weather compensation maintaining an even temperature across the day. It does not give the instant radiant hit of an infrared panel, but it keeps the entire home at a consistent comfortable level rather than warming only the area in front of an emitter.
On controls, infrared panels are typically switched per room with simple thermostats or timers, which suits occasional, zoned use. A heat pump is controlled as a whole-house system designed to run continuously at low output, which is what makes it efficient. The two reflect different heating philosophies: targeted bursts of radiant warmth versus steady whole-home heat.
Which suits which home
For whole-home heating and hot water, a heat pump is the efficient, lower-cost choice over time, and it is eligible for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. Infrared panels are not eligible for that grant and are expensive to run across a whole house.
Infrared comes into its own for supplementary or single-space heating: a garden room, a home office used a few hours a day, or a hard-to-plumb room where adding a radiator is impractical. In those cases the instant radiant heat, low install cost and zero maintenance are real advantages. The honest summary is that they solve different problems — a heat pump for efficient whole-home heating, infrared for quick, localised warmth in a specific space.
Frequently asked questions
Is infrared heating cheaper to run than a heat pump?
No, not for whole-home heating. Infrared panels are 100% efficient, so one unit of electricity gives one unit of heat, while a heat pump delivers 3 to 4 units per unit of electricity. A heat pump uses roughly a third of the electricity for the same heat, making it far cheaper to run across a whole house.
Can infrared panels heat my whole house?
They can, but it is expensive. Because each panel is direct electric resistance heating, running enough panels to heat an entire home uses a lot of electricity. Infrared is better suited to single rooms or occasionally used spaces; for whole-home heating, a heat pump is far more efficient and also provides hot water.
Do infrared panels qualify for the heat pump grant?
No. The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme applies to air source and ground source heat pumps (and some rural biomass), not to infrared panels or other direct electric heating. If you want grant support, a heat pump is the eligible route.
Sources & further reading
- Energy Saving Trust — air source heat pumps
- Energy Saving Trust — electric heating
- Ofgem — Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific home. They are guidance, not a quotation or guaranteed saving.