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Best Plug In Thermostat for a Flat with Electric Storage Heaters
A plug in thermostat is the cheapest way to put real temperature control on electric storage heaters and the appliances around them in a flat. This roundup covers five units that switch a heater on and off by temperature, and it is written for three kinds of buyer: renters who cannot rewire anything, owners of older storage heaters with no built-in thermostat, and anyone running a supplementary fan or oil heater alongside the night-storage system. The overview table below puts every pick side by side, and each review states who the unit suits and where it falls short.
The Picks at a Glance
| Product | Key Spec | Best Use | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amaze-Heater Plug in Thermostat | Analog dial, heat and cool modes | Simple dial control for a single heater | Budget |
| DIGITEN Wireless Thermostat Outlet with Power Cord | Remote control, heating and cooling | Heaters placed away from the socket | Mid |
| DIGITEN WTC100 Pro Temperature Controller | Remote controlled, non-programmable | Straightforward remote switching | Mid |
| Heavy Duty Digital Thermostat Outlet | Countdown timer, digital control | Wall-mounted infrared panels | Budget |
| DEWENWILS Temperature Controller Outlet | 1800W, VA display, cyclic timing | High-load and timed setups | Budget |
1. Amaze-Heater Plug in Thermostat for Heater or AC
Amaze-Heater Plug in Thermostat for Heater or AC
Type: Universal temperature controlled outlet
Modes: Heat and cool
Control: Analog dial
Best for: Home heating and cooling
Price Tier: Budget
This unit sits between the wall socket and the heater and cuts power once the surrounding air reaches the dial setting. The analog dial is the whole interface, so there is nothing to program and nothing to learn. A heat-and-cool switch flips the logic for summer use with a fan or portable AC. It is aimed at buyers who want one heater controlled by temperature and no app, account or manual.
The pick earns its place for renters and anyone who wants a storage heater or supplementary heater managed without touching the wiring. The lack of a digital readout is the trade-off: the dial is set by eye, so the exact switching point drifts a little between adjustments and fine-tuning takes a few tries.
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2. DIGITEN Wireless Thermostat Outlet with Power Cord
Temperature Controlled Outlet with Power Cord for Heating and Cooling
Type: Wireless thermostat outlet
Modes: Heating and cooling
Control: Remote control
Power Cord: Included
Load: 1800W
Best for: Space heater, fan, AC
Price Tier: Mid
The power cord is the feature that separates this unit from a plain wall plug: the outlet body can sit on the floor or a shelf near the heater while the cord reaches the socket. A handheld remote sets the target temperature and mode, so the control point does not have to be behind a sofa or at skirting level. The 1800W rating covers a typical space heater or fan without straining the unit.
This is the pick for a flat where the heater and the nearest socket are not in the same place, and for anyone who would rather adjust temperature from across the room than crouch by the wall. The remote is also the weak point — lose it and the unit is far less convenient to set, so it needs a fixed home.
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3. DIGITEN WTC100 Pro Temperature Controller
DIGITEN WTC100 Pro Temperature Controller
Type: Remote controlled thermostat outlet
Modes: Cooling and heating
Programming: Non-programmable
Control: Remote control
Best for: AC and space heater
Price Tier: Budget
This is the simplest of the remote-controlled options: a plug-in outlet with a handset that sets the mode and the switching temperature, and no schedule or app layer on top. The non-programmable design suits a flat where the heating pattern is set by the storage heater’s own off-peak cycle rather than by a timer on the plug. It handles both a supplementary heater in winter and a fan or AC in summer.
It suits buyers who want remote convenience without menus, and it is a sensible second unit for a bedroom or study alongside a main heater. The caution is the same as any remote-first design — it depends on the handset, and a flat with several of these units means keeping track of which remote belongs to which outlet.
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4. Heavy Duty Digital Thermostat Outlet with Countdown Timer
Heavy Duty Digital Thermostat Outlet Plug Countdown Timer
Type: Digital thermostat outlet
Feature: Countdown timer
Compatibility: Wall mount infrared space heaters
Control: Adjustable thermostat
Build: Heavy duty
Price Tier: Budget
The countdown timer is what makes this unit different from a pure thermostat plug: it can shut a heater off after a set run time as well as by temperature. The digital adjustable thermostat is set in degrees rather than by dial position, which makes repeat settings easier. It is explicitly aimed at wall-mounted infrared space heaters, a common supplement to storage heating in flats.
It is the pick for a buyer who wants a run-time limit as a safety and cost backstop, and for infrared panels mounted where a plug-in controller is the only practical option. The trade-off is that the timer and the thermostat do different jobs, so the unit asks for a little more thought at setup than a dial model — worth knowing before buying for a guest or a less technical household member.
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5. DEWENWILS Temperature Controller Outlet
DEWENWILS Temperature Controller Outlet
Type: Thermostat plug
Display: VA display
Load: 1800W, 15A
Timing: Cyclic timing and countdown
Range: -40~210°F
Modes: Heating and cooling
Price Tier: Budget
This is the most capable unit on the list for the money: a 15A, 1800W outlet with a VA display, cyclic timing, countdown and a wide temperature range. The display shows the setpoint and reading at a glance, and the wide range covers everything from a cold flat to a warm utility corner. The name also points at greenhouse, incubator and homebrew use, so it is built for steady, unattended switching.
It suits buyers who want to see the numbers rather than guess at a dial, and who may later repurpose the unit for something other than a heater. The caution is complexity: cyclic timing plus countdown plus thermostat is three overlapping ways to control the same outlet, so the manual needs a read before the first setting and a simple on/off routine is easy to over-configure.
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Before You Buy
- Load rating: Match the outlet’s wattage and amp rating to the heater. A storage heater on its own circuit is not a plug-in job; these units are for supplementary heaters and appliances.
- Mode: Confirm the unit has a heating mode, and a cooling mode if a fan or portable AC will share it.
- Control type: Dial, remote or digital display each suit a different household — pick the one the people using it will actually operate.
- Placement: A corded or wireless outlet helps when the socket is behind furniture or at floor level.
- Timing: A countdown or cyclic timer adds a run-time backstop that a plain thermostat does not.
- Compatibility: Check the heater’s plug type and whether the manufacturer permits an external controller.
- Household: Remote-based units need their handset kept track of; dial units need no accessories at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Can a plug in thermostat control an electric storage heater?
Only a supplementary heater plugged into a standard socket. A fixed storage heater on its own circuit needs a qualified electrician and a proper wall thermostat, not a plug-in unit. -
Which pick is best for a renter?
The Amaze-Heater dial unit, because it needs no remote, no app and no wiring, and it comes off the wall when the tenancy ends. -
Do these units work with both heating and cooling?
All five list a heating mode, and the models described as heating and cooling switch logic for a fan or portable AC in summer. -
What does the 1800W rating mean in practice?
It is the maximum load the outlet is built to switch. A heater rated above that figure needs a different solution. -
Is a remote-controlled outlet worth it over a dial?
It is when the socket is hard to reach or the heater sits away from the wall. A dial is simpler and has no handset to lose. -
Can these units run a timer as well as a thermostat?
The Heavy Duty Digital and DEWENWILS models both add countdown or cyclic timing; the others switch on temperature alone.
Bottom Line
For most flats with electric storage heaters, the best plug in thermostat is the DIGITEN Wireless Thermostat Outlet with Power Cord: the cord frees the outlet from the wall, the remote makes daily adjustment easy, and the 1800W rating covers a typical supplementary heater. Buyers who want no accessories at all should take the Amaze-Heater dial instead, while the DEWENWILS unit is the one to choose when a display and timing matter more than simplicity.
