The best heater for a campervan can make a real difference to your touring experience, whether you’re looking for an option that can go in your conversion, or you just want to add something to your current heating set up. Either way, it’s always good to consider whether your current heater is giving you the best you can get.
While some of us intend to store our ‘vans over the colder months and will be reaching for the best motorhome cover to help protect it, others like touring all year long. After all, the offseason can provide quieter sites and beautiful scenery. If you do store your ‘van over winter, having a campervan heater can still be a crucial buy, helping to ward off any chills in the air that can occur in the evening of summer days.
Even if you’ve opted for the best campervan, you’re likely to find you have less room than you would have in a traditional motorhome, so you might want to think about where your heater will be going. All of these options offer supplementary heating rather than being installed into the hardware of your ‘van. Most models available work on corded electric so a hook-up is recommended.
There are three types of campervan heater to choose from. We consider the electric option to be the best choice for a ‘van owner – these are safer to run, cheaper and also more efficient. We also think the features they come with are useful for campervan owners, with some offering timers and thermostats.
Oil-filled models are another option. These have the benefit of not drying the air out as much as a fan heater and also run more quietly while providing a more stable flow of air. These are typically heavier, however, so will require space for storing. The last type is a diesel heater. These will require fitting in your camper van retrospectively.
Whether you’re looking for the best 12v heater for a campervan or a diesel option, our guide is here to help. We’re sharing our top picks on the market, featuring options from brands like Russell Hobbs, Kampa, De’Longhi and more.
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The best heaters for a campervan:
Russell Hobbs RHPH2001
Schallen Radiator
De’Longhi TRNS0505M Oil Filled Radiator
Kampa Diddy Portable Heater
Dreo Space Heater
Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Chico Mini Radiator
Pro Breeze Mini Heater
Best diesel and 12V heater for a campervan:
maXpeedingrods 12V 5KW Air Diesel Heater
Campervan heaters – our top picks:
Russell Hobbs RHPH2001
- Dimensions: 4.49 x 4.17 x 7.09 cm
- Weight: 840g
Reason to buy:
- Super compact and can be used anywhere
Reason to avoid:
- Not as powerful as other models
If you don’t want to worry about your heater tipping over, or you’ve got a large van to heat but want to keep costs down, these nifty plug-in heaters are perfect. With a 500W maximum output, they’re safe as well as cheap to run and can be plugged into any standard socket.
The handy digital display lets you keep an eye on the temperature while the variable thermostat allows you to adjust the level to suit your needs and regulates the heat. One stand out feature is the timer, which allows you to run the fan for up to 12 hours before it automatically turns off. Designed with heat-resistant castors and handle, you can move the plug without having to wait for it to cool down. Other safety features include tip over and overheat protection.
De’Longhi TRNS0505M Oil Filled Radiator
- Weight: 5.5kg
- Dimensions: 38.5 x 17.3 x 34.0 (W x H x D in cm)
Reason to buy:
- Smart appearance, useful carry handles, rounded edges
Reason to avoid:
- Heaviest option in our guide, may be too big for smaller ‘vans
There’s a lot to like about this De’Longhi as a campervan heater. My favourite feature about it is how smart it looks – with a curved shape, I think it is one of the more stylish options in our best heater for a campervan guide.
The shape offers more than just an injection of style into your ‘van’s interior though – if you inadvertently walk into it, it also helps to keep pain to a minimum. It weighs 5.5kg, which is among the weightier end of the scale of the products in our guide, but carry handles will help you to move it around as required. Coming with an adjustable thermostat too, it’s able to heat a space of up to 15m³. One thing worth considering is whether or not it would be too big for your ‘van.
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Kampa Diddy Portable Heater
- Weight: 1.16kg
- Dimensions: 13.78 x 11.02 x 13.78 cm
Reason to buy:
- Lightweight and portable
Reason to avoid:
- Probably better suited to smaller spaces
Campervan owners are likely to be familiar with outdoor brand Kampa, which produces a wide range of camping accessories. This small and compact product is ideal for anyone who wants a low wattage option that is light in weight. The heater, which weighs only 1.16kg, comes with a dial that controls the wattage, which can be set to 700w or 1500w.
The corded option also provides some useful features that could give ‘van owners peace of mind, thanks to its thermal overheat protection and a tip over protection switch. It also offers an energy efficient heating element. However, we’d say it’s probably better suited to those who only want to heat a small area.
Dreo Space Heater
- Weight: 2.5kg
- Dimensions: 15.6 x 15.6 x 40.64cm
Reason to buy:
- Comes with a remote control and a digital display
Reason to avoid:
- Fan may be too loud
This is ideal for those who want a remote control and digital display on their campervan heater. It runs at up to 1500W of power, and we like how it has a built-in digital thermostat which offers the flexibility of being set at between 5℃ to 35℃, letting you get the temperature just right.
It’s packed full of features, including three fan speeds, a filter which can be removed and cleaned, a timer which can be set for up to 12 hours, and a touch control panel. There are also some good safety features provided, such as an enhanced safety plug, protection from overheating and tip-over safety, and flame-retardant materials. It runs with nine blades and a brushless motor, with the fan oscillating at 70 degrees to help distribute heat.
Dimplex OFRB7N Eco Chico Mini Radiator
- Weight: 5.4kg
- Dimensions: H44.6, W29.6, D19.4 in cm
Reason to buy:
- Economical to run
Reason to avoid:
- At 5.4kg, it’s fairly weighty
We’d say this Dimplex option is ideal for ‘van owners who want a mid-wattage option. The heater, which has been tested to British Electrotechnical Approvals Board standards, has an output of 700W, while we like how its adjustable dial will offer an efficient way of controlling the temperature. As it is oil-free, it is also a more environmentally-friendly option than an oil-filled heater, as well as providing more efficient heating.
Two things we should point out – it comes to 5.4kg, which means it could be a bit heavy to move around, while its dimensions of 44.6 x 29.6 x 19.4cm could mean it’s not as easy to store as other products in our guide. However, if you have the room and are happy with its weight, it makes a fine option. We like the safety cut function it offers too.
Schallen Radiator
- Dimensions: 15 x 50 x 50 cm
- Weight: 3.42kg
Reason to buy:
- Cheap to run and quieter than fan heaters
Reason to avoid:
- Heavy
For an alternative to fan-assisted heaters, you can try an oil-filled radiator. Also powered by corded electric, this 800W model features 6 oil-filled fins which heat up quickly and provide long lasting heating for your campervan. The sleek design is easily portable, being just 38cm high and 28cm in length and built with a carry handle.
With an adjustable thermostat dial and temperature control, you can leave it on for extended periods of time with the added reassurance of tip-over protection and overheating prevention. Being an oil-filled heater rather than fan, the unit has improved heat retention so you benefit from it even when it’s cooling down.
Pro Breeze Mini Heater
- Dimensions: 10.5D x 16.5W x 19H centimetres
- Weight: 710g
Reason to buy:
- Lightweight and compact
Reason to avoid:
- Best suited to small spaces
Running on only 500W, this mini heater provides lightweight portability for anyone who wants a campervan heater with a low wattage and low weight. It comes with some useful features which can provide some valuable peace of mind when it’s in use – for instance, it has an auto-off tip-over switch, as well as overheat protection.
It’s also good to see it comes with an adjustable thermostat, so you can use the dial to reach the right heat for you. It’s also a compact option, so isn’t going to take up much space.
maXpeedingrods 12V 5KW Air Diesel Heater
- Dimensions: 39 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm
- Weight: 3.7kg
Reason to buy:
- Easy to operate, efficient heating
Reason to avoid:
- More effort is required to install and maintain
If you don’t mind getting stuck into some DIY, you could always consider fitting a diesel heater. this model from maXpeedingrods has a 9 litre fuel tank capacity and can be fitted to most vehicles, including campervans. The heater comes with all the kit you need for installation, including an energy efficient fuel pump, filter, exhaust pipe and tubing.
The heater utilises a combustion chamber and aluminium base which distribute heat quickly and evenly. With a fuel consumption rate of 0.16-0.5L/H, the unit is cheap to run and will operate in temperatures of -40 or +40. A bonus of this model is the remote control which has a range of 30 metres.
How to choose a campervan heater
When you’re looking for the best heater for a campervan, there are a few factors to consider that will help you choose the one for you.
Firstly, consider the size of it. Camper vans are likely to have more compact interiors in comparison to a typical motorhome, so before making any purchase, work out exactly where you’re going to want it to go in your ‘van and see how much space there will be for it to go. You may find you have to go for a more compact option than you expected, or alternatively, could find you have more space than you thought. Don’t forget you will need to have the room to store it too.
You also need to think about whether you’d rather have an electric or an oil-filled option. In our opinion, electric heaters are the best choice for a campervan. They’re cheap, safe and efficient and most include handy features like thermostats and timers. You could opt for an oil-filled model, which can be quieter and less drying to the air than a fan heater and keep the airflow more stable. However, oil-filled models tend to be heavier, therefore using up more of your payload, and will also tend to need more space in your ‘van when you store them. Diesel heating is also an option, but you’ll need to get this system fitted retrospectively in your ‘van if you don’t already have it
Think about what you’d like your ‘van’s heater to have too – would a remote control make it better for you? Perhaps the peace of mind provided by a tip-over safety switch or thermal overheat protection would make it a better option for you.
Once you know what you’d like it to have, you’ll be well on your way to picking the right heater for a campervan.
Written with contributions from Peter Byrne and Sarah Wakely
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