Single Panel or Double Panel Radiators
The panel count on a radiator directly affects how much heat it can put into a room for a given wall space, which matters when replacing radiators or fitting new ones in an extension..
The panel count on a radiator directly affects how much heat it can put into a room for a given wall space, which matters when replacing radiators or fitting new ones in an extension.
The case for single panel radiators
Rooms with limited wall space where a slimmer radiator is needed, or spaces with modest heat loss that don't need the extra output.
The case for double panel radiators
Rooms with higher heat loss — larger rooms, poorly insulated walls, or rooms with a lot of glazing — where a single panel can't put out enough heat to keep up.
Which wins when
It comes down to a heat loss calculation for the room, not the size of the wall available. A single panel in an undersized position will simply never bring the room up to temperature on a cold day.
What we calculate before specifying a radiator
- Room heat loss based on size, insulation and glazing
- Available wall space and radiator height options
- Flow temperature the system will actually run at
Who does the work
- Gas Safe registered engineers — registration 554328
- Worcester Bosch accredited installer
- John The Plumb Ltd, company registration 10026483
Get radiators sized properly for your rooms
Tell us the room dimensions and current radiators and we'll calculate what output each space actually needs.
Questions we get asked
Can I just fit a bigger single panel instead of a double?
Sometimes, if wall space allows a longer or taller single panel with equivalent output, though double panels are often the more compact solution.
Do double panel radiators cost more to run?
Output relates to what the room actually needs — an undersized single panel run harder isn't more efficient, it's just less comfortable.
Will changing to a heat pump affect which radiators I need?
Likely yes, because lower flow temperatures reduce output from the same radiator, often meaning some upsizing to double panels or larger sizes.