The 6 Best Ceramic Heaters, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater

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

With an array of adjustable features, the Dreo Solaris Max Space Heater earns our top spot on this list. We first tested the heater at the lab and found that the room became substantially warmer after only fifteen minutes of turning it on. In fact, the heater's column form made our entire body feel warm all around, even when we were a few feet away. We also tested the heater in our basement office for three months, keeping the temperature around 80 degrees, and it never seemed to lose power. 

There are three distinct heat output settings on this ceramic heater (H1 (low), H2 (medium), and H3 (high), with a power range of 700W to 1500W. At just 48.1 decibels on its lowest setting, we found the heater to be quite quiet. While it does generate some white noise in the background, we don't think it's something that would necessitate turning up the TV level to drown out.

This heater also has a 70-degree oscillation feature and a timer function ranging from one to twelve hours. You can also perfectly customize the temperature of your room with its changeable digital thermostat, which lets you choose from 41 to 95 degrees. One drawback we noted from the thermostat display is that it isn't always in view. When you change a setting, the display will light up to inform you of your new current temperature and setting, but this information quickly disappears. You can use the remote control, which has a straightforward design, to operate the heater from a distance.

In terms of safety, the heater is ETL-certified and has both overheating and tip-over protection. After intentionally tipping over the heater during testing, the tip-over safety feature kicked in when the heater tipped past 45 degrees, with the heater shutting off fully after about 10 or 15 seconds. We had the heater running for 30 minutes, and the body of the unit itself was cool to touch. However, we found that the grill, which was made out of metal, became quite hot after a while. Therefore, we recommend operating the space heater under supervision if you have children or pets.

As for its design, the heater has a rounded and compact shape and an overall modern, clean-cut, and unobtrusive appearance. It stands just under 16 inches tall and is available with a gold or silver rim. At just under 5 pounds, we were able to carry the heater with just one hand with no issues. There is a handle to make moving the heater easier. Overall, this heater is a standout product, offering excellent features and safety measures, making it worth considering if you want a high-quality ceramic heater.

_{Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.9 x 15.8 inches | Weight: 4.6 pounds | Wattage: 700W-1500W | Oscillating: Yes | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified}

Best Budget

GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater

$25 at Amazon $35 at Walmart

The GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater is an excellent option for those looking for a budget-friendly, portable heating solution. Weighing only 3.59 pounds, this heater has a compact design and easy-to-grip handle that makes it effortless to move from one room to another. Don't be fooled by its small size. After only 30 minutes on the highest setting, the room temperature rose by two degrees. 

Aside from being easy to tote around, this heater is also easy to use thanks to the two large dials for controlling the temperature located on the top of the heater. One of the knobs lets you choose between a heat output of 750W, a heat output of 1500W, or a fan-only mode. The other knob is a thermostat dial, which allows you to set the temperature anywhere between 0 to 95 degrees. While we were testing it out at home, there were a few instances when our main home heater wasn't functioning, and this space heater came in handy to keep our space warm. 

This unit, unfortunately, does not have an oscillation feature, so it may not be best suited for larger areas. However, its compact size makes it ideal for small rooms, and its effortless operation ensures that you can quickly and easily adjust the temperature to your liking. During testing, we found that the overall exterior stays cool to the touch, but the front grill does get considerably warm, which is something to keep in mind when handling the heater.

It also has an overheating and tip-over auto-shutoff feature, so it will turn off if it starts to get too hot or is knocked over. As for its design, this heater’s straightforward and simple appearance, paired with its small frame, means it will be an inconspicuous addition to any room. It has a six-foot cord, too, which should provide a good amount of reach for most rooms.

_{Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.2 x 10.2 inches | Weight: 3 pounds | Wattage: 1500W | Oscillating: No}

Best Tower

Pelonis Tower Space Heater

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

During testing, the PELONIS PTH15A4BGB Ceramic Tower Heater stood out for its design, features, and heating power. The unit offers a high, low, and eco mode, as well as a convenient 8-hour timer option. Its maximum temperature is 92 degrees, and its 70-degree oscillation feature functions smoothly and quietly.

The heater also has important safety features—it’s ETL-tested, features overheat protection and has a tip-over auto-shutoff function. In terms of design, the tower stands 23 inches tall, and its compact profile means it won’t take up too much space wherever you place it. It’s lightweight, too, which makes moving it quite easy.

We found that this heater does an excellent job of distributing heat evenly throughout a room. Unlike other heaters, where warmth is only felt around the front grill, the PELONIS effectively distributes heat all around the unit, providing even warmth from all angles. We also liked how its heating power remained consistent while operating and how the unit's exterior didn’t get too hot and stayed cool to the touch.

The instructions could have been more clear, and we wish the unit had a fan. On the plus side, the digital display was user-friendly, and it comes with a handy remote, so you have multiple ways to control the unit. Unfortunately, the remote control stopped working during our first two months of at-home testing. As a result, we had to rely on the actual unit itself to regulate the temperature, which was a bit of an inconvenience. Despite this, we found that it kept our office toasty without increasing our electric bill.

_{Dimensions: 17 x 7.6 x 26 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Wattage: 1500W | Oscillating: Yes | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified}

Best Compact

Dreo Atom One Space Heater

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

The Dreo Atom One Space Heater has a small footprint but still offers effective heating power. We tested the heater in the lab and found that the room became noticeably warmer within just minutes. The unit measures just 6.7 by 5.5 by 10.3 inches, so you can trust it to be unobtrusive wherever you place it.

It lets you choose from low, high, fan-only, or eco settings. The eco mode automatically adjusts the heater’s settings to help save energy, which is handy for anyone whose top concern is energy efficiency. This model also has an oscillation function, which we found made no additional noise when it was on. When it comes to safety features, this model protects against overheating and has a tip-over auto-shutoff feature. 

The controls on the unit are user-friendly, and the digital display is clear and easy to read from a few feet away. The heater may also be controlled remotely, which we tested from a variety of distances and found to be reliable. During at-home testing, we discovered a mute button on the remote, which mutes the beeping noise caused when you change the settings. This heater also has a removable filter for collecting dust particles in the air.

While it's handy that this model can simultaneously heat and clean the air, it requires extra maintenance since you must remember to clean the dust filter. The unit also has a cool-touch handle for easy carrying and special technology that allows for quiet operation.

_{Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.5 x 10.3 inches | Weight: 3.8 pounds | Wattage: 1500W | Oscillating: Yes | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified}

Best Safety Features

Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Space Heater

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

During our testing of the Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Ceramic Technology Space Heater in our lab, we extensively evaluated its safety features and heating capabilities. We were thoroughly impressed by the range and effectiveness of the safety features built into this UL-tested unit. The heater has an automatic shutoff in case it is knocked over, keeping you safe from any potential fires. It is important to remember that once the heater has been set upright again, it will need to be turned back on manually.

In the event that the internal heater sensors detect an unsafe temperature, the heater will turn off if it gets too hot, and it will stay off for 20 minutes before turning back on. Additionally, the heater has an auto-timer that automatically turns it off after 8 hours of operation. After the unit is turned off, a fan runs for one minute to ensure a smooth cooling process. We found the exterior of the unit to remain cool-to-touch, making it safe to use around children and pets.

This heater lets you choose from a low, high, or auto heat output, and it has an adjustable thermostat and multiple timer options. While the heater provides great options for controlling the heat output and temperature, it lacks an oscillation feature, and the grill is located at the top of the unit, causing the heat to flow upward with no option for adjusting its direction. 

We noted that the watts per hour of use are higher than the general 1.5 threshold, which means this heater could perform better in terms of energy efficiency. However, we were overall pleased with the amount of heat this model produced. The heater has an attractive, sleek appearance, and it also has a built-in handle that makes carrying it easy. We found that the handle is in a good location to avoid potential burns from heat on the front of the unit.

After six months of use, we can confidently say that this ceramic space heater is an excellent investment, as it has reliably kept our home toasty during the colder months. However, we wish the fan could be more potent, extending the range over which the heat dissipates. Despite being mostly white, the heater retains its shine and appears to be as new as the day we brought it home from the lab. Overall, we think the heater is a must-have for anyone who wants to keep their space warm.

_{Dimensions: 18.11 x 18.54 x 7.75 inches | Weight: 13.17 pounds | Wattage: 1500W | Oscillating: No | Safety Certifications: UL-tested}

Best Smart

Atomi Smart Wireless Tabletop Heater

$100 at Amazon

The Atomi Smart Table Top Space Heater stands out for all of its user-friendly features. It’s Alexa- and Google Assistant-compatible, so you can use voice commands if you have the proper voice assistant-enable devices. It also works with app controls, allowing you to conveniently operate it from your smartphone. However, we did have some difficulties connecting the heater to the app. If you prefer not to use the smart features, you can use the easy-to-read, highly responsive digital display. 

We were pleased with the warmth this heater provided and how quickly it heated up the space. The exterior did start to feel warm while it was operating, but not excessively hot. On the highest setting, we did notice the heater produced a slight smell, which was unfortunate, but it wasn’t an overbearing scent.

This ETL-tested heater compensates for this minor con with other handy features, such as an eco-mode for saving energy, various timer settings, and an oscillation setting with a 70-degree coverage. It also operates quietly and has a sleek, futuristic appearance, so it won’t be obtrusive wherever you place it in your home.

We used the heater for six months and found that once it was turned on, our room temperature rose to a pleasant 70 degrees, so we did not have to wait long before feeling warm and cozy. Overall, we found it is lightweight and simple to relocate if necessary. If you have kids or pets, you will appreciate the space heater's Wi-Fi connectivity and the accompanying alerts in an emergency, such as the appliance being knocked over or becoming too hot.

_{Dimensions: 8.27 x 9.06 x 18.11 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Wattage: 1500W | Oscillating: Yes | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified}