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Best Space Heaters of 2024 | U.S. News
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Looking to warm up a room in your house without raising your energy bills? A space heater can help. “Space heaters are a great option for adding extra warmth to your space during colder months,” says Josh Mitchell, an HVAC technician and founder of the website Air Conditioner Lab.
The best space heaters keep you comfortable and operate safely, so you can stay toasty without worry. To help you in your search for a space heater, our guide includes the top picks for every type, size, design, and budget. Plus, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions and cover what you should know before you buy.
With accurate temperature controls, the Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Heater with Auto Climate is our top space heater pick. Its LED screen lets you set your desired temperature with the option between high (1500 watts) and low operation (750 watts).
Vornado explains that the space heater relies on Vortex Action airflow that releases a twisting current to efficiently distribute heat throughout the room. Once the room reaches the set temperature, the Vornado’s auto climate feature turns the unit off. If the room dips below the set temperature, it resumes heating. The exterior case is designed to remain cool to the touch and the no-heat fan setting can be useful during warmer months.
Lauren Allain, the author of this piece, has used the Vornado AVH10 for more than three years in a winter cabin with successful results. She enjoys the easy-to-use control panel, quiet operation, and overall strong heating performance. While she found it to have an initial smell, she notes that it dissipated quickly.
The bottom of the unit includes a convenient cord storage compartment and integrated sensors to detect if the heater gets tipped over, which triggers the automatic shut-off.
If you’re on a tight budget and just need to heat a small space, the Amazon Basics 500-Watt Ceramic Personal Heater gets the job done for less than $25. Using a ceramic heating element, this unobtrusive appliance is well-suited for a small bedroom or an office space.
The heater operates with an on/off switch on the back of the unit, and it’s equipped with tip-over protection that’ll automatically turn the heater off if it detects the unit has fallen. It comes in several color options including black, blue, pink, and white so shoppers can match their color preference to the room’s decor. The price can vary by a few dollars depending on the color.
Lauren Allain, the author of this piece, has used the Amazon Basics space heater in a small office space and found it effective at heating the room quickly. Users should be aware that the exterior of the heater gets quite hot, so it’s important to not touch or move the heater until it’s cooled down.
The De’Longhi Dragon Digital Full Room Radiant Heater reaches up to 1,500 watts to heat large rooms. The oil-filled radiator has a digital control panel that allows you to tune the thermostat to the ideal temperature via plus and minus buttons and three power settings: min, med, and max. There’s also an eco mode that stops the heat output once the room reaches the desired temperature; it’ll resume heating the room if the temperature drops again. Plus, an anti-freeze setting is designed to prevent your home’s pipes from freezing, automatically turning on when the room temperature falls below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
Since the De’Longhi Dragon Digital Full Room Radiant Heater uses oil heating, there’s no need for a fan, which De’Longhi says can cut down on stirring up allergens like dust and pollen. The brand also says this type of heating is less likely to dry out interior air.
Four base wheels make for easy portability of the space heater, which also has a timer setting and a convenient built-in holder for the power cord when the heater’s not in use.
Users that equally value function and style are in luck with the Vornado VHEAT Whole Room Vintage Heater. This eye-catching heater comes in either green or white with all-metal housing.
On the back of the heater, you’ll find a dial thermostat that controls the heat output level ranging from 1 to 10. There’s also a toggle switch on the back to select off, low, or high power. The head of the heater is capable of pivoting up to 47 degrees so you can direct heat to where it’s needed most.
The Vornado VHEAT Whole Room Vintage Heater employs the brand’s Vortex Heat airflow, which pushes hot air outward in a twisting motion, propelling it to bounce off walls and the ceiling to reach the entire room. In terms of safety, the Vornado will automatically turn off if it’s tipped over or if it detects something has obstructed the air intake.
Tech-savvy homeowners looking for a space heater could be the right match for this Dyson Purifier Hot+Cold HP07. To heat your space, Dyson’s Air Multiplier technology pushes out filtered hot air until the room reaches your desired temperature, at which point the heating shuts off. Plus, this unit serves as a combined heater, fan, and air purifier – all functions you can control in the MyDyson mobile app.
The app shows you the room’s temperature, humidity, air quality, and filter status. The temperature and air quality are also displayed on the tower itself. If you’re not interested in using the app, you can also control the appliance with the included remote control or with voice commands.
The air filtration system is outfitted with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter designed to capture 99.97% of particulate matter, including viruses, bacteria, wildfire smoke, and pollutants that can come from cooking.
The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 comes in a black/nickel version as well as a white/silver colorway. It costs about $750, and Dyson mentions most homes will need to replace the air filter once every 12 months, which costs about $80.
If you’re looking for an electric space heater that heats quickly, our top pick is the Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Heater with Auto Climate. The LED control screen is intuitive and easy to use while the auto-climate turns off heat once the room has reached the desired temperature. If you’re heating a larger room, the De’Longhi Dragon Digital Full Room Radiant Heater uses an oil heating element without a fan, which makes it especially appealing to those who deal with allergies. If you prefer smart features, we like the versatile functions of the high-end Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07.
Space Heaters
Heating Element: Each space heater is equipped with a heating element that’s responsible for warming the room’s air. Ceramic, electric, and oil heating elements are all common options.
Mitchell explains ceramic heaters use ceramic plates and aluminum baffles to heat quickly and efficiently. “I recommend these for heating small to medium spaces due to their quick response and safety features,” he says.
Oil-filled heaters warm oil inside of sealed columns to emit heat. Mitchell explains, “They might take a bit longer to warm up, but they provide consistent, long-lasting heat and are excellent for maintaining humidity levels in your space.”
Safety Features: There are a few key safety mechanisms that shoppers should look for in their space heater search, says Justin Bohannon, owner of Affordable Solutions HVAC & Electrical. “Opt for heaters with automatic shut-off, tip-over protection, and overheat protection. Always keep heaters away from flammable materials and never leave them unattended,” he says.
You’ll also find space heaters designed to turn off if they detect the air intake getting blocked by items like a blanket or pillow, as well as models that offer child lock protection.
Power Level: Each space heater is constructed to output a specific power level, or a range if the heater has more than one output setting. Heaters designed for smaller spaces may reach up to about 500 watts, while more powerful options on our list top out around 1,500 watts. When deciding the right wattage, Bohannon says you generally want 10 watts per every square foot of space you’d like to heat.
“If your room has high ceilings, you may need a heater with more power to compensate for the larger volume of air,” notes Mitchell.
Price: The price of space heaters varies widely – the options on our list range from about $25 to $750. High-tech features, smart capabilities, and multiple functions tend to drive the price higher. So do size and power, with heaters geared toward larger rooms typically costing more than small room options.
the Best Space Heaters
As part of our research on the best space heaters, we interviewed several appliance experts including Justin Bohannon, the owner of Affordable Solutions HVAC & Electrical in North Carolina; HVAC technician Josh Mitchell, founder of the website Air Conditioner Lab; and Ben Uscilla from Highwood Mechanical HVAC specialists in Connecticut. We also looked into safety recommendations from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?
Contributors and editors at 360 Reviews have years of experience researching and testing consumer products. Lauren Allain, the author of this piece, has been a product reviewer for more than five years. In addition to U.S. News, her work has appeared at Mashable, Reader’s Digest, and The Family Handyman.
Space heaters are ideal for providing extra warmth during cold months. The U.S. Department of Energy notes they can be especially useful for warming up a specific room rather than turning up the heat to your entire home. Space heaters also come in handy in cases where installing central heating isn’t feasible. However, Mitchell says he typically recommends space heaters be used as a supplemental, rather than primary, heat source for your home.
Space heaters can be a safe home appliance when operated correctly. Bohannon mentions shoppers should opt for a space heater with auto shut-off functionality and a thermostat to control the maximum temperature. This combination of features prevents overheating by shutting off the unit once the desired room temperature is reached.
He also recommends buying a model with tip-over protection, which ensures the heater turns off if it gets knocked over. Additionally, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that users should never leave a space heater unattended and should keep it at least 3 feet away from anything combustible.
Space heaters can be an energy-efficient way to heat a single room or part of a room. The U.S. Department of Energy says small space heaters can be inexpensive to operate when used for limited spaces or for supplementing your main heating system.
“Many modern space heaters are designed to minimize electricity usage,” says Bohannon. “Look for models with thermostats and energy-saving modes.”
Bohannon recommends replacing a space heater once it shows signs of wear, including frayed wires. He also says that if your space heater is older than five years, it could be smart to invest in a newer model since safety features have likely improved since you bought it.
Mitchell says most space heaters should last between three and five years. He adds that you’ll know it’s time for a replacement when the heater doesn’t perform as well as it used to.
Lauren Allain is a contributing writer for U.S. News 360 Reviews where she covers sleep products and other home goods. She’s a trained journalist with expertise in sleep health, fitness, and wellness. In addition to 360 Reviews, her sleep-product writing has appeared in Homes & Gardens, INSIDER, tuck.com, Mattress Firm, and sleep.com.
Victoria Sheridan is an editor on the 360 Reviews team where she covers sleep products and home goods. She is an experienced writer and editor and has contributed to local news outlets and trade publications. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the George Washington University and is a Certified Sleep Science Coach.
U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.
