The 9 Best Space Heaters of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater

$68 at Amazon $75 at Walmart View on Dreo.com

Based on our latest round of testing, our favorite space heater is the Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater. We think it has many useful features at a reasonable price, including a programmable thermostat so you can choose the exact temperature you want in the room. While testing for three months at home during winter, we loved the easy-to-use digital display and remote control, 70-degree oscillation, stylish look, and powerful heating.

At about 16 inches tall, it was tall enough that we could fully feel the heat while seated, but it was short enough that it didn't look overpowering in a room. We used it every cold day in our basement while testing at home and would put it on oscillate so it would turn in each direction to help circulate the air if we ever felt too hot. We also liked the eco mode so that we could set it to a certain temperature, and it would turn off if it ever reached that in the room. With a hidden handle on the back, it's perfect for bringing from room to room if you need extra heating.

We love all of the safety features of this unit and never notice any smell when turning it on. Along with tip-over and overheat protection, it will shut off if left on for 24 hours without using 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 Fireplace Heater

Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove

$230 at Amazon $309 at Wayfair $260 at Walmart

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 enjoyed 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 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).

While testing this heater for six months 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 for Office

Vornado Personal Space Heater

$60 at Wayfair $60 at Home Depot $75 at Walmart

When you need a bit of extra warmth in your home office, we recommend this option from Vornado. While testing in our lab and in a basement office, 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. It also kept the room warm and comfortable at home while we worked.

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, so it's not disturbing while you work. 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. We found this to be a bit of a guessing game at first to find the right setting for our needs (we settled on the second or third fan setting).

This heater has several safety features, including overheating protection and tip-over auto-shutoff. It also has a wide base, so we didn't feel like it could tip over easily. While the body of the heater doesn’t get hot, the grill does (as is the case with many space heaters). However, we did notice while testing for three months at home that it does smell initially every time it's turned on but dissipates after several minutes.

We do 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 Tower

Pelonis Tower Space Heater

$67 at Amazon $80 at Home Depot $97 at Walmart

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.

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

$45 at Amazon $50 at Walmart View on Dreo.com

After testing in our lab and for three months at home, we think the Dreo is a great value, especially to help take out the chill in a damp space. 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 overall 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, it 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. We found the handle hard to grasp, and we needed to use two hands, but it was not heavy. 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. We found this handy while testing at home in a smaller room, but in a larger room, it would need to work longer so it wasn't as useful.

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

$19 at Amazon

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. 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.  

During our lab tests, 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.

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

$100 at Amazon

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 testing for several months 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). 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.

We also love the 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. This unit is also lightweight and has a handle on its back, so it's easy to tote around, and it operates quietly, even on its highest setting.

In terms of safety features, the heater’s exterior did warm up while it was on, but 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. During lab testing, it turned off right away after being tipped over. We did notice 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.

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 Portable

GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater

$25 at Amazon $35 at Walmart

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 heater's controls are simple and very easy to operate. One dial controls the power, while the other 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 liked 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 personal 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.

This portable space heater kept us warm while we tested it at home for over six months, carrying it back and forth between our drafty living room and enclosed porch. It also helped keep us warm in the office 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

$82 at Amazon $70 at Walmart $91 at Best Buy

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 also designed to automatically shut off after eight hours. The exterior doesn’t get hot, and once you shut the heater off, a fan will run for one minute to help it cool down properly. There’s even a handle on the back of the units that stays particularly cool and is easy to grip, which makes it easy to carry. However, 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 settings and liked being able to control the airflow either straight out or upward. However, you cannot angle the airflow toward the floor (which would help warm up your feet or legs), so we think this is a better option for heating up the whole room. Also, we found that this heater used more watts per hour than the others on this list.

While testing at home, we did find 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}