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The 10 Best Space Heaters of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Stay nice and cozy all winter long

Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove and remote displayed on a wood floor

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

A great space heater can make you feel cozy on damp, chilly days. Whether you're looking to heat up an office, garage, or bedroom, there are many factors to consider when shopping for the perfect option for your space.

You should “always keep safety at the top of the list. After that, the size of the room you're heating and the power consumption of the heater are the next most important factors," says Deane Biermeier, a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board. "A heater that's too small is a waste of money, and one that is too large may trip circuit breakers or cycle too often, which shortens its lifespan and reduces efficiency.”

Over the last year, we've tested 43 space heaters in The Lab, where we methodically evaluated their heating performance, design, safety features, noise levels, portability, and value. For example, we measured the temperature, humidity, and energy usage for each heater after 15 and 30 minutes. We've also continued testing the winners in our own homes for six months to see how effectively they heated and blended into our spaces. Based on several rounds of testing, here are the best options to keep you warm and comfortable.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Vornado Personal Space Heater

Vornado VH200 Personal Space Heater with Vortex Circulation Technology

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    5/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Safety
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Effective heating

  • Simple to operate

  • Very quiet

  • Sturdy, compact, and lightweight

What We Don't Like
  • No remote control

Our best overall pick is the Vordando VH200 Personal Space Heater with Vortex Circulation Technology. While testing, we found that it's easy to operate, compact, and effective. Since it’s a fan-style heater, we could feel the stream of air instantly, and the change in overall temperature was felt after just a few minutes. Despite its power, the space heater was very quiet (46 decibels on high, about the sound of a refrigerator hum), and we could barely notice it was on. 

Although it does not feature a remote or a programmable thermostat, we love that it has simple controls. It offers three heat settings—low, medium, and high—and seven different fan settings, so you can adjust the heating a bit to find the perfect temperature. 

This heater has several safety features, including overheating protection and tip-over auto-shutoff. While the body of the heater doesn’t get hot, the grill does (as is the case with many space heaters). We like that it’s lightweight and has a built-in carry handle so you can move it wherever you need extra heating. Since it doesn’t have a fan-only mode for use in the warmer months, we like that its portability also makes it easy to store.

Heating Element: Fan | Wattage: 750W, 1125W, 1500W | Dimensions: 10.40 x 9.20 x 10.60 inches | Weight: Not listed | Safety Features: Overheating protection and tip-over auto-shutoff

Best Splurge

Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove

Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    5/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Safety
    4/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Energy-efficient design

  • Flame feature works without heat

  • Easy to assemble

What We Don't Like
  • Front grill gets hot

If you’ve always wanted a fireplace in your home, but don’t have the space or budget, the Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove Heater is a great alternative. While testing, we found that it has a lot of heating power in a compact, energy-efficient design. While operating the unit and using our P3 Kill a Watt monitor, we measured this unit only to use 0.48 kilowatts per hour (making it one of the most energy-efficient options on this list). The assembly was easy, only requiring us to attach the legs, and once it was up and running, this UL-tested unit performed well on each of its settings. Note that this is an infrared heater, so it only heats objects and people in a given space rather than the air in that room. This is why we didn’t record a change in the room temperature when using this heater. However, we did appreciate the overall feeling of warmth it provided. 

The front grill of this electric fireplace heater gets quite hot, which is something to keep in mind since you will want to be especially careful to make sure it is out of reach of children or pets. However, the top and side of the heater did not get too hot. We wish the remote had a better design and the instructions were more clear, but we really appreciated this unit’s aesthetic value. There’s a flame feature that allows the heater to visually emulate flames, which you can use with or without heat for a cozy ambiance—even in the summer. We also loved this heater’s quiet operation, as we measured it to have a noise rating of just 56 decibels (quieter than a normal conversation).

How It Performed Long-Term

We really enjoyed the fireplace feel of this space heater after testing it at home. We found ourselves using it weekly with and without the heat, depending on the weather. We loved that the control panel is hidden by the door for a more realistic fireplace appearance, but keep in mind that you’ll have to open the door to see the heater’s exact temperature. However, the features can also be controlled by remote, which meant we didn’t have to leave the couch to adjust anything. You can also set a timer on both the heater and the flame. Overall, we found it to be an excellent value, considering that you are getting both an effective space heater and a fireplace that you can use year-round.

Heating Element: Infrared | Wattage: 1500W | Dimensions: 24 x 12.9 x 23.4 inches | Weight: 28 pounds | Safety Features: Not listed

Best Budget

Black+Decker Indoor Infrared Heater

Black+Decker Indoor Infrared Heater with E-Save Function

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    5/5
  • Design
    4.9/5
  • Safety
    4/5
  • Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Several Temperature settings

  • Small and lightweight

  • Powerful for size

What We Don't Like
  • Not effective in large or open rooms

If you want a powerful little heater with a few extra features at a great price, we recommend this model from Black+Decker. Unlike our best overall pick, this heater does allow you to select a few exact temperatures, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80, depending on your preferences. It’s a bit louder than our overall winner, but still quiet enough to watch TV or have a conversation while it's on (we measured 54 decibels on high, just below the sound of a normal conversation or air conditioner noise).

The buttons are easy to use: use the mode button to toggle between the settings. The separate e-save button helps keep the heater at a set temperature to help save on energy. Thanks to the built-in carrying handle, we found this heater lightweight (just 2.3 pounds) and easy to move around. Overall, we think it would be a great extra heating option for a small bedroom, office, or garage, but we don’t think it’s powerful enough for larger rooms or open spaces.

Heating Element: Fan | Wattage: 1000W, 1500W | Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.4 x 9.2 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Safety Features: Overheating protection

Best Tower

Pelonis Tower Space Heater

Pelonis Ceramic Tower Space Heater

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    5/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Safety
    5/5
  • Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Quiet operation

  • Clear digital display

  • Slim design

What We Don't Like
  • Basic design

This space-conscious tower heater has a basic design yet blends well into small spaces while heating up the room effectively. We think it’s an excellent option for bedrooms, offices, or living rooms because it is relatively quiet on high (we measured it at 65 decibels on its highest setting, about as loud as a normal conversation) and is easy to move around, thanks to its 6-pound weight, and built-in carrying handle. It also has an 8-hour timer, so you can program it to shut off automatically.

While it comes with a simple remote, we found the touchscreen digital display to be most impressive. It has a high and low mode, plus an eco mode that keeps it at a consistent temperature (70 degrees). You can’t select an exact temperature, but it does have a built-in thermostat and will display the temperature in the room, and we noticed it only gets as hot as 92 degrees. We love that the heater is ETL-tested (an independent test that certifies products meet safety standards) and has all of the standard safety features, including overheat protection (turns off if it gets too hot), tip-over protection (shuts off even if slightly bumped), and won't feel hot when it's on, which is always a plus in homes with kids or pets. It turns left to right by 30 degrees to help circulate the air, however, we felt the heat from it even when it was still, and not just in front of the grill as with some other heaters.

How It Performed Long-Term

We tested this heater for six months over the winter and found that it heated up a small, carpeted office pretty quickly (in just 10 minutes). We used the eco mode most often to keep our room at a consistent temperature to help save energy. Although we loved all of its heating features, we did find the remote control to be hard to use. The buttons made a loud beeping noise when pressed and worked inconsistently, so if you are looking to choose a heater that you can control from far away, this is not a great option. However, we found the digital display to be just as easy to use at home for six months, as we did during our lab testing.

Our only other note is that this isn’t the best option for large open spaces, but it will keep small to medium-sized rooms pretty toasty.

Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 1500W | Dimensions: 17 x 7.6 x 26 | Weight: 6 pounds | Safety Features: Overheating protection and tip-over auto-shutoff

Best Value

Dreo Atom One Space Heater

Dreo Atom One Space Heater

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    4.5/5
  • Design
    4.8/5
  • Safety
    4.5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Exact temperature control

  • Circulates air well

  • Easy to use remote and display

  • Extra safety features

What We Don't Like
  • Unit gets hot

Cold, damp rooms are never fun in the winter. We think the Dreo DR-HSH004A is a good solution to help take out the chill in a damp space because it has an ALCI (Appliance Leakage Current Interrupter) plug that is designed to shut off (like a circuit breaker) if it comes into contact with water or has a short, and is listed as IP21 (which means the unit is protected from condensation). And unlike most of the space heaters on this list (aside from our best with thermostat option, also a Dreo model), it has a digital thermostat with a clear LED display so you can choose the exact temperature you’d like (between 45 and 90 degrees).

You can also use this unit as a cooling fan in the summer. Plus, this small unit can turn 70 degrees (35 degrees in each direction) to help circulate the air around the room. The numbers on the display are very easy to read (like a digital alarm clock), and the features are very easy to understand (we never had to refer to the instructions for clarity). 

While it’s great for damp rooms, we also think this compact unit would be effective in other rooms in your home, and it is portable enough to move around when needed (although we found it to be sturdy, despite its size). It also comes with a remote that is easy to use and worked from as far as 8 feet away while we were testing. This unit also has a timer, so you can program it to shut off between 1 and 12 hours after you turn it on, and an eco mode, to help save energy by keeping it at a constant temperature.

Keep in mind though that this unit does get hot (except for the display), so you will want to keep it away from kids and pets. But overall, we think this feature-packed space heater is a great value, and can make any space cozy.

Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 900 to 1500W | Dimensions: 15 x 6.69 x 10.31 inches | Weight: 3.96 pounds | Safety Features: Overheating protection, ALCI plug, tip-over auto shutoff

Best Personal

Kismile Portable Space Heater

Kismile Portable Electric Space Heater

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    4/5
  • Design
    4/5
  • Safety
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Small size

  • Simple controls

  • Fan-only setting

What We Don't Like
  • A bit loud

The Kismile Small Space Heater offers a good amount of heating power and a number of features at a more budget-friendly price than other heaters we tested (aside from our best budget pick). We think this ceramic heater is great for personal use or heating smaller spaces quickly, rather than entire large rooms, as the heat it produces tends to be concentrated in front of the heater. While it doesn't have a large carrying handle like our best portable option, it's less than 4 pounds and has a small built-in handle, so it's relatively easy to lift. There are two control dials at its top, and both operate smoothly and are straightforward to use. One of the dials lets you choose among three settings: high heat (1,500 watts), low heat, and fan-only which is helpful on warm days. The other dial lets you set the power level of each of those three settings from minimum to maximum.  

While testing in the lab, we measured it at 67.7 decibels on high (louder than a normal conversation but similar to white noise), which is the highest noise rating of all the units included on this list. However, we were impressed by how easily this ETL-tested space heater effectively warmed us up, and how easily it shut off, with just a little push.

How It Performed Long-Term

While testing at home, we found that this small but mighty ceramic heater warmed our small bedroom quickly, and didn’t find the noise to be an issue. Our favorite feature was the tip-over safety protection: It turned off automatically when we picked it up to move it. While it doesn’t offer as many features as other options on this list, or circulate heat around a room, it’s an excellent option to take with you almost anywhere you need extra warmth.

Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 1500W | Dimensions: 7.28 x 6.5 x 9.65 inches | Weight: 3.2 pounds | Safety Features: Overheat and tip-over auto-shutoff

Best Smart

Atomi Smart Wireless Tabletop Heater

Atomi Smart Wireless Tabletop Heater

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    4.5/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Safety
    4.5/5
  • Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Alexa- and Google Assistant-compatible

  • Great digital display

  • Quick to heat up

  • Quiet operation

What We Don't Like
  • Heat is only felt in front

Smart appliances are popular for a reason: They allow you to turn the power on and off, control settings, and even alert you about potential issues from another location. We love the Atomi Smart Wi-Fi Portable Heater because it is Alexa- and Google Assistant-compatible, is controlled from an app, and has a user-friendly display—plus, it heats up quickly, especially in the area in front of the heater.

While the heater’s exterior did warm up while it was on, it didn’t get too hot, and it has a red light that makes it easy to know when it’s on, as well as when it is still cooling down. And safety-wise, it turned off right away after being tipped over.

Overall, our favorite feature was its digital display, which allowed us to easily read and adjust the temperature and had very responsive touchscreen controls. There are also eco-mode (to keep the air at a consistent temperature), timer (so it shuts off automatically), and oscillation settings, so the air can circulate around the room.

In terms of design, this space heater is medium in size and modern in appearance. It’s light and has a handle on its back, so it's easy to tote around, and it operates quietly, even on its highest setting. We noticed a slight smell while using this unit on its highest setting, but since the smell wasn’t too strong, we didn’t think it was enough of an issue to negate all of this heater’s other positive attributes. Also note that the app is only compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, which means its connectivity isn’t the fastest, but it can operate better across potential Wi-Fi impediments, such as walls.

How It Performed Long-Term

While testing at home, our favorite feature was being able to control this heater with an app. We had no trouble setting up the app on our phone (despite having trouble at the lab) and loved being able to turn it on from another room in our house. Plus, knowing that we would get an alert if it overheated or was knocked over was reassuring (even if it would shut off automatically if either of those things happened).

While we loved the smart features, we do wish the heater was a bit more powerful—we really only noticed heat in front of the heater, even on its highest setting. But since it's meant to be a tabletop heater, it's perfect for warming one or two people, and we found it to be quiet even on the highest setting, so we didn't mind having it relatively close to us.

Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 1000W, 1500W | Dimensions: 8.27 x 9.06 x 18.11 inches | Weight: 4.6 pounds | Safety Features: Tip-over auto-shutoff and app notifications

Best with Thermostat

Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater

Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater

Dreo

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    4.8/5
  • Design
    4.8/5
  • Safety
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • 12-hour timer

  • Exact temperature control

  • Remote control and digital display

  • Good height and oscillation

What We Don't Like
  • Beeps loudly when changing settings (unless you turn it off)

If you like being able to choose the exact temperature you want in the room, the Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater is a great option. It has all of the features we love about the Dreo Atom One Space Heater, our best value pick, including an easy-to-use digital display and remote control, 70-degree oscillation, stylish look, and effective heating, but it is taller and can heat a larger area at once. In fact, while seated, we felt the heat entirely thanks to the height of the heater.

This unit does not have an ALCI safety plug, but you can choose a model with one if needed. However, it does have tip-over and overheat protection. It also has a feature where it will shut off if left on for a 24-hour period without the use of the controls, in case you accidentally leave it on. You can also set a timer in 1-hour increments from 1 to 12 hours, so it automatically shuts off. We did notice that it beeped loudly whenever we changed the settings, but you can turn this feature off if you find it disruptive.

Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 700 to 1500W | Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.9 x 15.8 inches | Weight: 4.63 pounds | Safety Features: Tip-over auto-shutoff, overheat protection

Best Portable

GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater

GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater With Thermostat

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    4/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Safety
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Sturdy carrying handle

  • Lightweight

  • Fan-only setting

What We Don't Like
  • Front grill gets warm

If you are mostly looking for a heater to bring from room to room, we love the GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater. During testing, we found that the large handle made it very easy to carry and lift, and it's one of the lightest options on our list, at 3 pounds. It doesn’t come with a remote, which in this case is helpful since you don't have to also move the remote as you move the heater. The controls on the heater are simple and very easy to operate. One dial controls the power, while the other dial allows you to choose from a fan-only setting (no heat), 750 watts (low heat), or 1,500 watts (high heat).

It will shut off if it's tipped over (which we found worked well) or overheats, and we appreciated that its side, exterior, and cord didn’t get too hot, though the front grill was a bit warm. While this heater is similar in size to our best budget option, the large handle makes it easy to carry, and we think the fan-only mode is a plus, so it comes in handy even on warm days.

How It Performed Long-Term

This portable space heater kept us warm while testing at home for over six months, where we carried it back and forth between our drafty living room and enclosed porch. It helped keep us warm in the office as well, since it's the perfect size to use by our desk at work. Just note that the heat only seems to come out of the right side of the unit, so we found ourselves moving it around to get just the right amount of heat where we wanted it.

Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 750W, 1500W | Dimensions: 7 x 6.2 x 10.2 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Safety Features: Overheat protection, tip-over auto-shutoff

Best Safety Features

Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Space Heater

Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Ceramic Technology Space Heater

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Heating Performance
    5/5
  • Design
    4.5/5
  • Safety
    5/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Extra safety features

  • Modern design

  • Adjustable airflow

What We Don't Like
  • Noisy

The Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Ceramic Technology Space Heater is a UL-tested heater that offers all of the standard safety features, as well as a few extras. It will stop operating once knocked over and will need to be manually turned back on after being resituated. This model also has two built-in heat sensors, which will cause the heater to automatically shut off when it’s overheating and require it to undergo a 20-minute cool-down period before resuming its operation. It’s designed to automatically shut off after eight hours, too. The exterior doesn’t get hot, and once you shut the heater off, a fan will run for one minute to help it properly cool down. There’s even a handle on the back of the units that stays particularly cool and is easy to grip, which makes for easy carrying. But please note that the heater will not automatically turn off if carried upright, so you will want to turn it off before adjusting its placement. 

Overall, we were pleased with the warmth this unit provided on both its highest and lowest setting and liked being able to control the airflow either straight out, or upward. However, you cannot angle the airflow toward the floor (which would be helpful in warming up your feet or legs), so we think this is a better option to heat up the whole room. Also, we found that this heater used up more watts per hour than the others on this list. Otherwise, we liked most aspects of the heater’s design, including its easy-to-operate and easy-to-read controls.

How It Performed Long-Term

While we still love this heater for its safety features, we noted a few hiccups when testing at home. We found the noise level to be a little distracting and wished that the air blew further so we could have it on at a greater distance to reduce the sound. Also, when it was on high on the second floor of one of our homes, we could hear it vibrating on the hardwood floor. Other than those two small noise issues, we appreciated the extra safety features and how effectively it warmed up the room.

Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 1500W | Dimensions: 18.11 x 7.75 x 18.5 inches | Weight: 11 pounds | Safety Features: Overheating sensors and auto-shutoff, tip-over auto-shutoff, 8-hour auto-shutoff, cool-touch exterior, cooling fan

Compare

Heating Performance Design Safety Value
Vornado VH200 Personal Space Heater with Vortex Circulation Technology
Best Overall:
Vornado Personal Space Heater
5 5 5 5
Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove
Best Splurge:
Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove
5 5 4 5
Black+Decker Indoor Infrared Heater with E-Save Function
Best Budget:
Black+Decker Indoor Infrared Heater
5 4.9 4 4.5
Pelonis Ceramic Tower Space Heater
Best Tower:
Pelonis Tower Space Heater
5 5 5 4
Dreo Atom One Space Heater
Best Value:
Dreo Atom One Space Heater
4.5 4.8 4.5 5
Kismile Portable Electric Space Heater
Best Personal:
Kismile Portable Space Heater
4 4 5 5
Atomi Smart Wireless Tabletop Heater
Best Smart:
Atomi Smart Wireless Tabletop Heater
4.5 5 4.5 4.5
Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater
Best with Thermostat:
Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater
4.8 4.8 5 5
GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater With Thermostat
Best Portable:
GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater
4 5 5 5
Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Ceramic Technology Space Heater
Best Safety Features:
Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Space Heater
5 4.5 5 5
Final Verdict

After testing over 40 space heaters, the Vornado VH200 Personal Space Heater w/ Vortex Circulation Technology is our best overall pick. This unit provides a powerful stream of warm air and is compact, lightweight, and simple to use. If you want an option that warms the room and provides a cozy ambiance, we love the Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove, our best splurge pick. This energy-efficient, infrared heater has a remote control and a flame feature that works with or without heat.

A person measures the heat output of the Vornado VH200 Personal Space Heater with Vortex Circulation Technology

The Spruce / Henry Wortock

Other Options We Tested

Here are other options that we tested and stand by, but given certain flaws we decided not to give them the best overall title.

Andily Electric Space Heater

Andily Space Heater Electric Heater for Home and Office

Amazon

After testing in our lab, we used this little space heater several times a week in different parts of a home, including an office, vanity space, and living room, and found that it took the chill out of the air quickly. The high heat setting was impressive and warmed the room quickly, especially considering its small size, just note that the heat does seem to be directed at a downward angle. Also, it was quiet while operating, but, oddly enough, we found it to be louder while operating on the low setting. The grill (where the heat comes out) does get quite hot on the highest setting, however, so you may want to shut it off and let it cool down before moving it (but otherwise, it’s a great portable option, at just over 2 pounds).

Person holding the Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Ceramic Technology Space Heater on a carpeted floor

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

How We Tested the Heaters

Over the last few years, we've tested 43 space heaters in our lab and evaluated each unit on what’s most important in a space heater: heating performance, design, safety features, noise levels, portability, and value

Heating performance: We used an infrared thermometer (IR thermometer) to measure the base temperature in the room at 4, and 8 feet from the heater and a hygrometer to test the humidity. We also measured the base temperature of the front grill or opening of the heater. Once we had all our base readings recorded, we plugged the heater into the outlet, which was equipped with a P3 Kill a Watt monitor (easy to find on Amazon) so we could measure each space heater’s electricity usage. We then turned the heater on and measured the temperature, humidity, and energy usage again after 15 minutes with the heater on high, and after an additional 15 minutes, also recording how the temperature in the room made us feel each time. 

Design: We tested the functionality of each feature. For oscillating heaters, we turned them on to their highest mode, turned on the oscillation feature, and noted how smoothly they moved and how much area they covered. For heaters with app control options, we noted how easily we were able to connect the heater to the Wi-Fi and set up the app, as well as whether the in-app controls were user-friendly. We also tested the performance of any included remote controls from 2, 4, and 8 feet from the heaters. 

Safety Features: For heaters with a tip-over shut-off safety feature, we turned the unit onto its lowest setting and nudged it with our foot to gently tip it over. We waited 30 seconds and noted whether the heater automatically turned off or not. We noted any other additional safety features as well as any certifications. 

Noise Levels: Using a decibel reader, we measured the noise level of each heater on both the low and the highest settings.

Portability: We carried or wheeled the space heaters across the room, noting how comfortable they were to handle and how easy they were to move.

Value: We considered all of the positive and negative aspects of each unit in relation to its price point.

Person using their foot to tip over the Pelonis Ceramic Tower Space Heater

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

What to Look for in a Space Heater

Type

There are many types of space heaters, but the most common—and often least expensive—models are compact space heaters with fans. Biermeier says that “fan space heaters are excellent for supplying heat directly where you need it” and that they are best used for “supplemental heat when remaining in the same spot for a while.”

Other relatively safe compact space heaters have ceramic plates or coils. Models with ceramic plates are self-regulating to avoid overheating. Models with coils are often exposed and get very hot, posing a safety risk, especially to children and pets.  Biermeier lists energy efficiency and an ability to quickly produce a large amount of heat as being the typical benefits of a ceramic heater. The Kismile Small Space Heater for Indoor Use, which we love for its portability and budget-friendly price, uses ceramic heating technology. 

Some floor-standing space heaters run off infrared heat or oil. Infrared heats up very quickly but does not stay hot. Biermeier says that “infrared space heaters provide heat that's similar to radiant style HVAC boiler systems. It's a comfortable warmth that heats the room objects, including you, instead of the air in the room.” The Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove, which is our pick for the best splurge, is an infrared model. Oil models are very effective but large, heavy, and expensive. Biermeier also notes that “oil space heaters are slower to heat up, but maintain their heat between cycles, which makes them very energy-efficient.”

Heat Output

Heat output refers to the amount of heat produced by a given unit. Thus, the higher the heat output, the greater the warmth being produced. Heat output is typically measured in BTUs per hour, but it can also be converted over into watts, with one watt being equivalent to 3.41 BTUs per hour. Biermeier notes that “space heaters aren't designed for use as a primary heat source, so you shouldn't need more than a 1500-watt space heater.” He adds that “1500 watts is the largest heater that you can safely plug into a standard 15-amp electrical circuit without tripping the breaker.” None of the heaters in our roundup is listed as using more than 1500W.

Safety Features

Look for models with automatic shutoffs or temperature regulators, particularly if your space heater will be running frequently or overnight. Biermeier recommends that you look for a space heater that has a tip-over switch that turns the heater off if it falls down, a thermostat to control the temperature, and an automatic overheating sensor and auto switch.

Always buy models that meet U.S. safety standards. Look for labels indicating that the unit has been tested by recognized labs like UL, ETL, or CSA. The Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Ceramic Technology Space Heater, which we love for its array of safety features, is UL-tested and has overheat protection, a tip-over auto-shutoff, and temperature sensors. Also, never use an extension cord with an electric heater—choose a model with a long power cord if proximity to an outlet is an issue.

A hand using a decibel meter to check the sound level of the Kismile Portable Electric Space Heater

The Spruce / Rachel Marek

FAQ
  • What kind of space heater is best?

    That will depend on the space you plan to heat, your budget, and your individual needs and preferences. To choose a space heater, you first need to decide whether a convection, radiant, or combination model is right for your space. In general, convection heaters are most suited to heating entire rooms; radiant heaters warm up quickly for spot heating; and combination models are a good bet for everyday use. Biermeier notes that “for the best features in the most categories, ceramic heaters provide a nice heat that warms quickly and operates efficiently.”

  • Do space heaters use a lot of electricity?

    Yes. Space heaters might be small and are often marketed as being energy-efficient. However, most space heaters use 1,500 watts to power up, meaning that running them regularly for many hours a day will increase your energy consumption and electricity bill. Biermeier adds that “despite being considered energy-efficient, the size of the area that they can effectively heat is small for the amount of electricity used.”

  • Can you keep a space heater on all night?

    Overheating is a primary safety concern when using a space heater. As a general rule, space heaters should never be left unattended, making it a bad idea to leave one on all night. If you plan to keep a space heater on while you sleep, it is imperative that you choose a model that is equipped with automatic temperature regulators and shutoff features designed to protect the space unit from overheating. To eliminate risk, heat your bedroom before you go to sleep, turn off the space heater, and tuck in under a warm comforter and plenty of blankets instead.


    Biermeier warns that while “in theory, the safety functions on a space heater would allow you to run one all night,” there is always the risk of a safety function failing, which could cause a house fire. He adds that “the only truly safe time to operate a space heater is when a human is awake and in the same room as the heater.”

Why Trust The Spruce?

Jenica Currie is an editor for The Spruce, specializing in outdoor, home improvement, garden, and gift guide topics since 2020. She has tested dozens of products at home and in the lab, including solar lights, snow blowers, fans, hose nozzles, and vacuums. For this article, Currie updated our list based on our latest round of testing insights.

Our Experts:

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. What Causes Hearing Loss, Centers for Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Protection.

  2. Understanding Ground Fault and Leakage Current Protection, UL Solutions.

  3. IP Ratings, International Electrotechnical Commission.

  4. Current List of NRTLs. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

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