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. Even if your campervan does have a gas system fitted, you may prefer a plug-in electric option for use overnight. Either way, it’s always good to consider whether your current heater is giving you the best you can get.
The offseason can be a great time to head to one of the best campervan sites, providing a quieter touring experience and beautiful scenery, but even if you do reach for the best motorhome cover and store your ‘van over winter, a good 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.
We consider electric campervan heaters to be the best choice for ‘van owners – these are safe to run, cheap and generally very efficient. We also think the features they come with are useful for ‘van owners, with some offering timers and thermostats. We’ve also included some oil-filled models. 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 and can be bulkier, however, so will require additional space for storing. The last type is a diesel heater, which will require fitting in your camper van retrospectively.
With the exception of the diesel 12v campervan heater, all of these options offer supplementary heating rather than needing to be installed into the hardware of your ‘van like a motorhome heating system would be. Most models available work on corded electric so a decent hook-up supply is recommended. We’ve mainly stuck to low-wattage electric options to give you the most flexibility, with the lowest operating on 500W and the highest 1500W.
Whether you’re looking for an electric option or the best 12v heater for a campervan, we’re here to help as we share our top picks on the market, featuring options from brands like Russell Hobbs, Kampa, De’Longhi and more.
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The best heater for a campervan:
The best electric heater 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 picks of the best:
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, has a timer
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, this is an option which is 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 which we particularly like 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 a 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. While this doesn’t actually play a part in its effectiveness at keeping you warm, one of our favourite features with it is how smart it looks – with a curved shape, we think if style is an important trait in your buying process, this could be the best campervan heater for you.
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, with its dimensions making it quite bulky.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
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. We think 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 for some excellent portability, comes with a dial that controls the wattage, which can be set to either 750w or 1500w.
The corded option also provides some useful features that we think will give ‘van owners peace of mind, thanks to its thermal overheat protection and a tip over protection switch. It offers an energy-efficient heating element too. 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 which we think will appeal to ‘van owners, 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, which is where this 12v campervan heater comes in. Made by maXpeedingrods, it 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, we like how 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, offering the type of flexibility we like to see in our touring accessories.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
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 contrast 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. 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 such as 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 more of your payload, and will also typically 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 features 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 are the features you most want to see.
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.
What is the best way to heat a campervan?
When it comes to choosing the best heater for a campervan, there are a few different options on the market.
The first option is an electric campervan heater. They offer useful portability to the touring experience, letting you find the best place to put it in your ‘van.
These make a good choice for campervan owners who don’t want to have a diesel or gas system retrofitted into their ‘van, or perhaps want to have heating during the night which doesn’t run on either. They can come as pure electric or oil-filled. Pure electric options are cheap, efficient and generally the safest to use. However, what could make an oil-filled option a more attractive choice is it will not dry the air out as much and is also more likely to operate in a quieter manner. The downside is these are heavier, which could be a payload concern, and also means they don’t offer quite the portability that the fan counterpart provides.
We wouldn’t recommend a 12v electric campervan heater, however. These are likely to be too weak to warm your ‘van and we wouldn’t consider this a worthwhile investment.
Another popular type of campervan heater will run on diesel. While they will offer an effective heating solution, these will require installation to run, meaning they don’t add the flexibility to your setup that an electric option would require. We’d say that generally, these are better suited to those who are in the process of a self-build campervan project.
However, if you do want a 12v option, there are diesel varieties, such as the maXpeedingrods 12V 5KW Air Diesel Heater option that features above. The one point we’d say with these are they are not straightforward to install in a campervan, requiring fitting with all of the relevant parts.
The last choice for ‘van owners is a gas campervan heater. In the winter months, you would need one that runs on propane (which can turn from a liquid to a gas at as low a temperature as -42ºC), instead of butane (which only does it to ‘gassing’ at -2ºC). However, you will need to ensure you have the gas bottle to run it as well as consider taking a spare with you. You will also need have good ventilation for this and a CO detector in your ‘van. Something else we should highlight is that like a diesel option, it will need to be installed in your ‘van.
Fundamentally, it’s all down to circumstance and personal preference, but when it comes to choosing the best heater for a campervan, we’d generally advise opting for a fan or oil-filled electric option, thanks to the flexibility and portability they provide to your ‘van setup.
Do 12v car heaters really work in a campervan?
We’d be reluctant to advise you to rely on a plug-in 12v car heater for your campervan for the simple fact that these are incredibly unlikely to be able to provide the necessary power to heat up a space as big as a campervan. As a result, we’ve not included any 12v car heater options in our guide.
How do I keep my campervan warm at night?
Whether you opt for the best electric heater for a campervan, a 12v, or a diesel option, you should have an efficient way of beating the chill in your ‘van. However, there are some other tips we’d advise to help you keep touring during the cooler weather and stay warm at night.
As a starting point, we’d suggest ensuring you are insulating the floor beneath both the sofas and (if it has a fixed bed), the beds. This can be done by using carpet or another type of insulation material. You could consider adding lagging to the wheel arches and the gas-locker bulkheads too.
However, one thing you want to avoid doing is blocking the drop-out vents in the floor; these are important for letting propane and butane gases escape, on the off chance you have a leak.
The cab is the area that’s likely to lose the most amount of heat overnight, so if you only have standard blinds, you could consider adding thermal external screens, too.
Additionally, if you’ve got a pop-up roof, you could consider dropping it overnight during the very coldest of weather.
Written with contributions from Peter Byrne and Sarah Wakely
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