How to Heat a Garden Dome

The main heating options

1. Electric heaters (the easy default). A modern thermostatic electric heater (fan, ceramic or oil-filled radiator) is the go-to for most dome owners. No flue, no plumbing, plug in and go, and a thermostat keeps the temperature steady without waste. Oil-filled radiators give a gentle, even background warmth; fan or ceramic heaters warm the space fast for shorter sessions. Choose one with tip-over and overheat cut-outs. For most people, this is all a dome needs.

2. Infrared panels. Infrared warms objects and people directly rather than heating all the air first, which feels pleasant and responsive in a dome full of clear panels. Freestanding panels on stands are the easiest fit, because the dome's own panels aren't the place to mount a heater: face them towards where you sit and keep them well clear of the polycarbonate. They run efficiently and suit a dome used regularly.

3. Electric underfloor heating. For a permanently warm, luxurious feel underfoot, electric underfloor heating beneath the floor finish is hard to beat. It's the most "finished room" option and pairs naturally with the base build: plan it in when you do the flooring, and have a registered electrician install and connect it.

4. Wood burner or log stove. For unbeatable atmosphere and serious heat, a small wood burner is a wonderful addition: the glow, the crackle, the warmth on a frosty night. But it's a job for a professional. It needs a HETAS-registered installer, a proper flue, the clearances and heat shielding the installer specifies, a hearth, good ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm, and stove installations come under building regulations. Many owners decide electric heat is simpler. We cover this fully in our wood burner guide; treat it as a considered, properly installed option rather than a casual one.

Get the basics right first

Whatever heater you choose, three things make it work harder for less. They matter all the more because solid polycarbonate isn't an insulator: warmth fades fairly quickly once the heater is off, so heating the dome for the hours you use it works better than trying to keep it warm all the time.

• Insulate the base. A cold floor draws warmth out of the room. An insulated base keeps warmth in and bills down (see our guides to insulating a garden dome and garden dome flooring options).
• Manage ventilation. With electric heat, keep the included roof vents closed while heating to retain warmth, and open them periodically to clear moisture. A little airflow prevents condensation without losing much heat: get the balance right and the space stays both warm and clear.
• Add soft furnishings. Rugs, throws and cushions hold warmth and make it feel cosy sooner.

A safety note

Use heaters designed for the space and follow the maker's clearances. Keep every heat source well away from the panels, curtains and cushions (polycarbonate is tough, but like any plastic it softens if it gets very hot), and never leave a high-output heater running unattended or overnight. Avoid unflued gas or paraffin heaters: they pump moisture and combustion gases into the air and aren't suitable for an enclosed dome. Electric is clean, dry and simple, which is why we recommend it for most domes. Anything that burns fuel, like a wood burner, must be installed correctly, with proper ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm.

Plan the power as carefully as the heater. Heaters are among the most power-hungry things you'll run in a dome, so rather than trailing an extension lead from the house, have a registered electrician install a proper outdoor supply with RCD protection and outdoor-rated sockets and fittings (in England and Wales this work comes under Part P of the Building Regulations). Our electrics guide explains the options.

Frequently asked questions