Best Space Heaters, According to Months of Testing

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Warm up your home with our top picks.

In This Article

Better Homes & Gardens / Rachel Marek

Whether you’re in a drafty converted farmhouse or a metropolitan apartment, cold winter nights have a way of getting through even the tightest window seal. You might find yourself throwing on an extra blanket, or heating the kettle for yet another cup of tea, but when the snow’s really swirling, there’s little out there that can keep the shivers at bay like a great space heater.

However, how cozy a heater will get you isn’t the only thing to think about when you’re shopping for one, it's also important to consider safety. According to Dr. Kenneth L d’Entremont, professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ergonomics & Safety Program, and author of Engineering Ethics and Design for Product Safety, it’s important to make sure you consider safety when you make your purchase and to follow your heater’s safety instructions once you do.

“It is important that you read, understand, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and if you don’t understand something, reach out to them through their customer service hotline or website,” Dr. d’Entremont says.

Our list of the best space heaters is dominated by a few types of heaters that are meant to be used within the home: Electric infrared, ceramic, or metal radiating heaters, as well as convection forced air heaters, which pair metal or ceramic systems with fans to move hot air.

To help you choose a space heater, we tested 43 models, evaluating them for a number of factors, including how well they heat your skin and the air around you, how much they lower the humidity in the space, and how their various safety features actually perform in a real world setting.

There are three heat options to choose from and it’s incredibly quiet.

The temperature of the air projected out of the machine is not displayed on its exterior.

If you’re looking for the best space heater to warm up your home, the Vornado VH200 Personal Space Heater is it. We noted that the noise coming from the space heater was nearly unnoticeable, which was pleasantly surprising considering how much heat was produced. If it wasn’t for the smell of the hot air around this heater, the device is so quiet we would’ve forgotten it was on. Even with seven fan speed options, the highest decibel reading we recorded was 46.6.

If we could change one thing about the heater, it would be the exterior. It doesn’t display what temperature of air is being emitted nor its volume. The only information that can be gathered from looking at the machine is which heat setting was selected of the three: low, medium, and high. However, its switches and dials were easy to use since they were bright red and black.

The device is small, lightweight, and includes a built-in handle, making it easy to pick up and carry in one hand. Its size might not make it ideal for warming a large room, but we think it’s a great pick for bedrooms.

We were most impressed with its safety features including tip shut off which turns off the machine once it tips past 25 degrees. It also offers an over-temperature shut-off which detects any airflow restrictions and a standard grill to prevent fingers from slipping inside the gadget. At home, our entire room would warm up within an hour, and we'd keep the device on for 8 hours at a time, during which the fan would kick on only three times to keep the temperature up.

At home, we noticed a slight burning smell whenever the heater is first turned on, and this hasn't stopped after months of use. The scent dissapates after a few minutes of use, but it's something to note if you're sensitive to smell.

Product Details: Heating Element: Forced air | Heat Settings: Three | Wattage: 750, 1125, and 1500 watts | Decibel: 45.5–46.6 decibels | Dimensions: 9.20 x 10.60 x 10.40 inches | Weight: 4.06 pounds | Safety Features: Tip-over protection, cool-touch case, auto shutoff (2-stage)

With powerful infrared heating and an attractive 3D faux-fireplace that flames merrily, this space heater ensures you’ll feel the warmth both inside and out.

The front gets very hot while in use.

Using radiant infrared heat, this Duraflame space heater pumps out some serious BTUs (British Thermal Units). We gave the heater a 5 out of 5 for overall heating, doing a solid job with direct body heat as well as ambient heat. The front does get hot, hitting a whopping 528 degrees behind the grill after use. However, the rest of the housing stays only moderately hot: With 104 degree and 118 degree temps measured on the back and top respectively. It also features a useful thermostat that ranges from 60 to 82 degrees, as well as a continuous-on mode.

Our favorite part of this heater was its faux-fireplace aesthetic that can be turned on even without heat, to provide a cozy visual fire experience that even seems to billow in 3D, without having to fill your home with blazing heat in warmer months. Even when we didn't need the extra heat, we enjoyed using the flame feature for added ambiance at home, and we even received compliments from guests. The heater also sports a remote, though it lacks some features you might expect, like the ability to change the heater’s temperature.

A modern infrared heater that gives your home the feeling of a real wood-burning fire, the Duraflame is a premium pick for those who want to invest in a space heater that makes for an attractive permanent furniture piece. This is a space heater that’s more or a permanent faux-fireplace than it is a bandaid for a heat outage, but those that invest won’t regret it.

Weighing in under 4 pounds, this space heater delivers solid heat to the person in front of it.

While it warms the space directly around you well, it won’t heat up a room as effectively.

For those who work in semi-enclosed spaces like garages, and workshops, a portable, personal space heater can mean limber knees and overall comfort, even when the nights get cold. The GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater is our pick for just such cases. With a convenient handle, this highly portable heater will follow you anywhere.

The GiveBest does a great job at keeping you warm. Using ceramic heating tech, it pumps forced air, and features two settings—750 watts and 1500 watts—which are adjusted with a dial that also includes a fan-only setting. A separate dial controls the device’s thermostat. On high, the heater raised our body temperature by about 14 degrees, while it raised the overall room temperature by about 2 degrees.

This heater’s design is what makes it really stand out. We found it to be lightweight and well-endowed with a useful handle. The heater’s safety features also do an impressive job, shutting off promptly when tipped even just a little, and automatically shutting down in case of overheating. The heater also maintains touch-safe temperatures across its housing, getting hot on the grill, but not so hot as to prove dangerous to pets or children—a feature that’s quite handy in a portable space heater that might get moved around frequently.

Throughout our long-term testing, we used this little space heater to warm us when our home’s HVAC system wasn’t working properly, and we were grateful to have it. We especially enjoyed bringing the unit out to our porch to enjoy breakfast outside on chilly mornings.

It’s equipped with many safety features so you can feel at ease when it is powered on.

The buttons produce a loud noise when pushed, but this can be turned off.

For those looking to heat an entire room without a ton of noise, the Dreo Solaris Slim H3 can do just that. With a taller height of 15 inches, we immediately noticed the warm forced air it pumped out even when seated a couple of feet away. This space heater differs from some others as it offers a medium heat setting in addition to just low and high. It oscillates to cover 70 degrees of space, a feature we found useful to intentionally heat a room instead of blowing air in a single direction.

At home, we ran this heater for hours at a time, and we never noticed any dip in performance. We enjoyed using it on the eco setting, which turns the device off when it reaches the desired temperature.

We found the noise output to be quiet and not distracting. It measured at 48.1 decibels, which was on the low end of the heaters we tested. Because the heater only has one fan speed, the noise stayed the same on both high and low heat. The only loud part about this device is its buttons, which we found loud by default. However, the button volume can be turned off completely.

As for safety features, this space heater has plenty with both tip-over and overheat protection, automatic power shut off, and a 12-hour timer. When the device is tipped over, it shuts off and emits loud beeps to notify you of a fall for extra peace of mind.

During testing, we noticed that the body of the gadget remains cool when in use, but the grill does get very hot. Since it’s a larger unit with more grill exposed, it may not be the best pick for families with young kids or curious pets.

What sets this space heater apart is its simplicity. We liked that it has simple controls and settings that can be easily adjusted as needed. And, it’s lightweight enough that it can be carried using one hand.

Product Details: Heating Element: Forced air | Heat Settings: Five | Wattage: 700–1500 watts | Decibel: 48.1 decibels | Dimensions: 5.9 x 15.8 x 5.9 inches | Weight: 4.63 pounds | Safety Features: Tip-over and overheat protection, automatic power off, 12-hour timer, and a flame retardant plug

Even with its taller build, we found the device light and easy to carry.

The oscillating feature began making a clicking noise after long-term use.

Oscillating tower space heaters help push warmth out to an entire room, and the Better Homes & Gardens 23-Inch Electric Ceramic Tower Heater did just that. The heater allows you to adjust the temperature between 41–95ºF and during testing, the device was able to increase our body temperature by 10ºF.

Because tower space heaters are more vulnerable to falls thanks to their added height, safety features like tip-over protection are extra important. When we knocked this device over, it took just five seconds to shut off. For extra peace of mind, this heater also includes overheat protection and an eight-hour timer.

One thing to keep in mind is that the settings on this space heater weren’t clear, and the instruction manual wasn’t the best at explaining every feature. But once we set it up, we found the digital panel easy to control.

The 6-foot-long cord is long enough to readjust the heater’s position in a room, and an included remote makes it easy to control from your couch or bed. If you expect to move the heater from room to room, we found its 9-pound weight light enough to carry without any issues.

We used this heater throughout our older home during the winter months. It warmed rooms quickly, which was impressive given its smaller footprint. We even let our neighbors borrow the unit when their pipes froze, and they appreciated the safety features while running the heater in their basement overnight.

However, after six months of regular use, the oscillating feature began making a clicking noise. Because this was an affordable heater, the noise wasn’t a deal breaker—but we recommend using it for shorter cold spells rather than all winter long.

If you can’t decide between getting a permanent option and a portable one, this model’s flexibility make it a great pick.

Infrared heat doesn’t do as well at raising the overall ambient temperature of the room as it does heating objects.

Delivering between 750 and 1500-Watt heat paired with a fan, this infrared heater does a good job at keeping you warm. We found that the heater did little to increase the overall warmth of the air, mostly warming our skin only. Because the heating element is infrared, the heater did little to affect the overall humidity of the room. If you fear the drying heat of traditional hot water radiators and convection heaters then you’ll appreciate how this heater warms your flesh without turning your living space into a desert.

When you’re looking for a heater to install permanently, the Heat Storm Phoenix Infrared Space Heater is one of the best around. This infra makes it easy to change setting from a distance. However, though this heater works great installed on a wall, don’t assume this is the only way to use it; this versatile heater also comes with feet, and is lightweight and portable enough to carry around with you. However if you opt to use it as a freestanding unit, like we did during the first few months of testing, note that it takes a bit longer for the heat to rise from the bottom of the unit. After we mounted it on the wall, we found the heat to circulate the room much easier.

Thankfully this heater does a good job with the standard safety features. When tipped over, the heater shut off its heating function quickly, displaying an error message, even while it continued to run its fan to cool the heating element. The heater’s front grill also stays remarkably cool—it heated to just 90 degrees during use. With a timer function built in, you can also program your heater to stop heating when you know you’ll be finished. Overheat protection is included as well for added safety.

We appreciated the heater’s remote control options, but did find that some of the remote’s buttons were not as responsive as they would have liked, requiring a small bout of button mashing to adjust its controls, which include temperature adjustments, fan speed, and brightness. We also appreciated the versatility it provided with the installable feet, though they were somewhat flimsy. Feet aside, it’s a great infrared heater for installation in your home.

Despite its small size, it effectively spreads out heat.

The effects weren’t as immediately noticed as some other heaters.

The Dreo DR-HSH004A is the best choice for personal use. Whether you’re looking for a space heater to take into the bathroom or one for a small bedroom, this one which heats via forced air and convection is a great pick. Since it immediately shuts off when it comes into contact with small quantities of water, you can rest assured that it is safer for a bathroom setting, especially if you plan on keeping it on when taking a shower or washing your hands.

When it comes to design, the unit is user-friendly thanks to its LED front lights which display important information about its settings and temperature. While the space heater came with a user manual, we didn’t feel inclined to look through it after initially setting it up as it is a straightforward gadget. The remote worked well when tested from 2 to 8 feet away; this was one of our favorite features while using the device at home. The noise coming from this machine could barely be heard and was quieter than the fan in the home where it was tested.

The space heater offers a wide oscillation and we found it able to effectively spread out the heat. While the heating effect wasn’t noticeable right away, the room we tested in eventually became so hot that we had to move to a different room when recording insights. The heater’s body grew warm, and we could only keep our hands between 6 and 10 inches away from the top without growing too uncomfortable. However, the buttons to adjust the settings did not feel hot when touched.

While testing the heater at home, we enjoyed using it to heat our bathroom. It size heated up the small space well, but we didn't find it as useful in larger rooms.

Product Details: Heating Element: Forced air & convection | Heat Settings: Three | Wattage: 900–1500 watts | Decibel: 48-51.5 decibels | Dimensions: 5.5 x 10.3 x 6.7 inches | Weight: 3.8 pounds | Safety Features: Safety plug, flame retardant materials, tip-over and overheat protection, 24 hour automatic shut off

Personally sized, with a fan built right in, this metal space heater delivers soft warmth, and sports a 5-year warranty.

The distinctive design is fun, but it won’t be to everyone’s taste.

The Vornado 1500-Watt Fan Utility Indoor Electric Space Heater makes its quality obvious from first glance, with metal housing that’s detailed, retro, and actually cute. Available in an attractive “vintage green” or off-white, which call to mind barbershops of old and 1950s soda fountains, this Vornado sports retro aesthetics and dependability, that’s guaranteed for 5 years of dependable heating.

Providing between 750 and 1500 watts, this heater delivers power commensurate with the other heavy hitters on this list, and flips between low and high mode with a simple metal switch. The heater delivered a heat that was markedly “soft” compared to some others. Set up about 3 feet away, they appreciated how the heater was easy to tilt into position, aiming the air stream away when they got too hot, and directing it back onto them when they were ready for more.

This premium Vornado did a stellar job with our tip test, shutting off right away when tipped over. Our only safety concern with this device is its front grill, which our reviewer measured at 186 degrees. However, this is far less than some other heaters on this list, and should only be a concern for those with infants, or particularly inquisitive pets. They also noted that the metal housing didn’t become too hot, even when the heater was running at high.

After almost daily use, we’re confident this space heater will last for years to come. Despite its small size, it’s fairly heavy so we haven’t had any issues accidentally knocking it over. It only takes half an hour for our room to increase about 5ºF, and we plan on using the heater in future cold seasons.

Our favorite space heater overall is the Vornado VH200 Personal Space Heater with Vortex Circulation Technology as it’s able to heat up a room in only a couple of minutes and do so quietly. It also quickly turns off when tipped for an added level of safety.

We’ve been testing space heaters since 2022, with a total of 43 units put to the test in our testing lab. We measured a number of factors, noting the temperatures of our bodies and room before and after engaging the heater, as well as measuring the sound decibels made by the device during operation, the kilowatt hours used, how quickly the machine shut-off when tipped, and more.

If a unit included a remote control, we tested it at 2, 4, and 8 feet from the device, noting how easy it was to operate. We considered how far oscillating heaters turned and how far we felt the heating effect throughout the room. For units with tip-over shutoff protection, we lightly kicked the unit to test how easy it was to knock over, then noted how quickly the device turned off during the fall.

After testing the units in our lab, we took our top picks home to test throughout the cooler seasons, noting any change in quality and heating effectiveness in a variety of room sizes.

Finally, we rated each heater for their performance at each metric, and compared them all, looking for the best in each category.

Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock

Space heaters use a few different heat elements to create and distribute heat. There’s no consensus as to which of these designs makes for the best space heater, but there are ways to choose which one is best for you.

Ceramic heaters, like our best tower pick, the Better Homes & Garden 23 inch Tower Ceramic Heater, electrically warm a ceramic surface which radiates heat. Similarly, electric wire heaters heat a wire, which radiates heat. Both ceramic and metal elements are frequently used in convection heaters which use fans to push warm air out, and pull unheated air across the heated surface.

Infrared heaters, on the other hand, use wire paired with ceramic or quartz, and radiate infrared energy outwards; they provide the benefit of converting more energy directly into heat. Infrared heaters transfer less heat to the air, without stripping humidity from it as many convection heaters do. Our best splurge pick, the Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove, is a great example of an infrared heater. Still, other types use mica paired with the heating element to distribute both infrared and convection heat.

Safety is highly important in space heaters. It’s always important to keep space heaters well away from showers and baths. Outside of their potential for spillage induced shock, good space heaters keep you pretty safe—still there’s a few things to keep in mind. When you’re looking for the best space heater for your needs, don’t forget to make sure that it has a reputable tip-over shut off function that will cut out the power if the heater falls over. This can be invaluable for keeping your heater from starting fires.

When asked about resources for researching the safety of products Dr. Kenneth L d’Entremont, professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ergonomics & Safety Program, says, “One thing that I would ask people to look at is the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, or the CPSC, and SaferProducts.gov. They list recalls for consumer products. I would encourage everyone to take a look at that—to look at the product as well as the manufacturer—does that manufacturer have lots and lots of recalls?”

Some space heaters warn you not to connect their power source to an extension cord, about which Dr. d’Entremont says, “Space heaters are unlike your phone charger, your phone charger won't draw much current, but a space heater will. And sometimes if you use a very inexpensive, thin extension cord, you could run the risk of heating that up.” Dr. d’Entremont also noted that extension cords can create a trip hazard, which can be dangerous if the space heater has been running and the exterior is hot.

Most of the heaters we featured use between 750 and 1500 watts. This is a good range for standard room sizes that will heat your space but won’t blow your fuse box. Lower wattage heaters that are designed for personal up close use can also be worth it, but consider that they likely won’t heat a room as well as higher wattage options.

You might think that every 1500 watt heater would consume power the same way, but this isn’t the case. Not only will some high-quality heaters (like infrared heaters) do a better job than others with converting power to heat, but they’ll also use less energy to do it. How much energy a heater uses is measured in kilowatt hours, which measures the energy draw per hour of your device. This information can be helpful in assessing the overall cost of your heater to run.

We all want to save a penny where we can, but when you’re buying a space heater it’s important to make sure you’re spending enough to get a heater from a reputable brand.

It’s also important to remember that sometimes higher ticket items might cost you more upfront but save you money over the long term, as their premium builds stand the test of time, and their longer warranties ensure they continue to go.

Almost all of the heaters we featured, including our best overall pick, the Vornado Space Heater, were below the median price of the heaters we tested, but we do think spending more is worth it for more design-friendly exteriors or nice-to-have features like timers or remotes.

We previously recommended the Black+Decker Electronic Space Heater as a budget pick; In our initial lab tests, it warmed us well, and we appreciated its user-friendly design. However, in our long-term testing, the overheat protection turned the device off incredibly quickly, before we even felt the effects of the heat. At times, the heater would only run for seconds before shutting off.

While our tester found that the Dr Infrared heater didn’t deliver quite enough heat output to make an impact on the whole room, it did a good job when positioned close by. In the end we think that’s what the Dr Infrared excels at: It’s a wheeled space heater that does a good job with portability. Its retro design is either a perk or liability depending on your preference.

At a whopping $750 at the time of publish, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool was the most expensive space heater we tested—by hundreds of dollars. The device worked well `4r 4rnm/.

to heat our space, and it also doubles as an air purifier and a fan. It may be worth the cost if you want an all-in-one unit that can carry you through all four seasons, but we tested heaters that are just as effective for a fraction of the price.

For the most part, radiant infrared heaters are the most energy-efficient heaters, helping to save money on electricity. These heaters convert electricity directly into infrared heat which directly heats bodies and objects, thereby losing less heat to the atmosphere of your room. When considering heaters for garages, gas is generally considered to be more energy-efficientthan electricity.

If you’ve already decided on a convection heater and you want to get as much efficiency as possible out of it, consider using it in rooms that are well-insulated; space heaters that heat the air around them do a much more efficient job at heating a room when that room retains heat well.

The short answer is no, you shouldn’t. Even when used properly, space heaters can get extremely hot and shouldn’t be left on unattended—and that includes when you’re asleep. It’s better to heat up the space for an hour or two while you’re winding down for sleep, then turning off the heater and using down comforters, cozy PJs, or wool blankets to keep you warm throughout the night.

The temperature a room can achieve with the use of one of a space heaters will depend on the kind of space heater purchased. The size of the room may also play a part as the heat has the potential to disperse differently. During testing, we found that oscillating units, like the Dreo DR-HSH004A, dispersed heat around the room more efficiently.

Gabriel Morgan and Jenna Clark are contributing writers for Better Homes & Gardens. This article is deeply informed by research from the Better Homes & Gardens testing team which the two consulted throughout. Gabriel also consulted Dr. Kenneth L d’Entremont, professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ergonomics & Safety Program, and author of Engineering Ethics and Design for Product Safety for background on the safety of space heaters for this piece.

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

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