The Top 5 Best Space Heaters Tested and Ranked

Will Space Heaters Save me Money?

We all wish we could crank up the thermostat during these cold winter months, but sadly, that means using (and paying for) a lot of natural gas or electricity. Another option is to warm up a single room. This too can be an expensive option. There are, however, ways to strategically use a space heater to stay warm while also keeping your power consumption (and electrical bill) down.

Generally, it takes a lot of energy to turn electricity into heat.

Space heaters are considered 100 percent efficient because all the energy they emit goes into the room they are heating. Standard furnaces lose heat traveling through your home's ducts. This can make using a space heater more worthwhile.

Another great advantage to using an electric space heater is that you don’t have to worry about venting the gas. A kerosene heater emits carbon dioxide and other gasses that are unsafe for your living space.

How to Use Your Space Heater Efficiently

If you plan on using an electric space heater, it's best to use it sparingly. The larger the room, the more energy is required to heat and maintain it. You want to keep the heater on while in the room; otherwise, you could be wasting electricity. Leaving the heater on while away from home could be a safety concern. Our experts highly recommend turning off space heaters while away, as they could cause fires if something were to go wrong.

We recommend a couple of options when it comes to setting your space heaters on a schedule:

Use timer plugs – they allow you to set timers and put the heater on a schedule.

Use smart plugs – many are Wi-Fi-enabled and interface with your smart home setup. This is a great way to set the heaters are a more time-specific schedule as well as power on or off remotely. Many smart home setups also allow you to turn off specific devices when you leave home.

How Do I Find the Cost of Using a Space Heater?

The department of energy tells you how to calculate the cost. Take the wattage of the space heater (found on the box or in the owner's manual), multiply that number by the hours you will use it, and divide that number by 1,000. Then, multiply that number by the kilowatt-hour rate charged by your utility company. Additionally, you can use this tool to calculate it for you.

What Space Heater Should I Use for My Home?

As you search for a home space heater, you should first figure out the size of the room you’re trying to warm. Generally, a space heater that is 500-1000 watts is ideal for smaller rooms and anywhere from 1000-1500 for larger spaces. Air-quality company Sylvane says you need 10 watts of heating power for each square foot of the room. They have provided a guide for calculating this.

As you do your research to find the perfect space heater for your home, here are a few things to consider:

Energy Efficiency. Space heaters are typically more efficient than your home’s central heating since they only use energy to warm a single room. Although depending on the heater model, some will be more efficient than others. Since space heaters don’t have an Energy Star rating (the rating for a product’s energy efficiency), the best way to determine if your unit will conserve energy is to check if it has a thermostat and automatic shut-off so that it can maintain the temperature and prevent a room from overheating.
Safety Features. We already talked about automatic shut-off features in space heaters, but this is also an essential feature for safety reasons. Space heaters can be fire hazards, so any feature designed to prevent that cannot be overlooked. Protective grills and tip sensors are two critical features to look out for. A grill will prevent items from entering and touching the coils, and a tip sensor will automatically turn off the heater if an animal or child knocks it over.
Noise level. Some space heaters will be louder than others; if you plan to use them in a bedroom or family room, the noise can get obnoxious. The company Quiet Mark has compiled several products that they tested and awarded based on their noise output.

Our Top 5 Home Space Heater Recommendations

Vornado VH2: The Vornado VH2 is a ceramic heater that delivers steady heat increase over the course of an hour. It’s very quiet, emitting only a soft fan whir. It’s also minimal and compact, easily able to be stored away in the months when it’s not needed. It has an overheat protection sensor as well as a tip sensor. The plastic exterior stays relatively cool, so it can still be touched and moved even after running for an extended period. Some online reviews did say it struggled to heat, particularly cold rooms. This model only has two heat settings, low at 750 watts and high at 1500 watts.
Vornado AVH10: The AVH10 is similar to the VH2 in form factor but has added additional features, such as a digital display and a countdown clock. It heats rooms quickly and has a thermostat to regulate temperature and manage energy consumption. This model also contains a tip-over sensor and automatic safety shutoff. The exterior stays safe to touch after extended runtime, though we recommend that all users exercise caution when handling heating equipment that has been running for an extended period.
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater: This space heater is always highly recommended as the price point is very reasonable (between $30-50) and is very reliable. The body is very lightweight and compact. This heater is ideal for use in a small bedroom or office space with an easy-to-use temperature knob on the top. While it contains overheating protection, it does not have a tip-over sensor. The fan is a little noisier, and some users found that they had to turn it off to be able to sleep.
Lasko FH500 Tower: Standing three and a half feet tall, this model is a 1500-watt ceramic heater. It has four different fan speeds, and all are relatively quiet. The oscillation allows it to have a wider reach and warms up a space more evenly and quickly than a static single-direction space heater. It has easy-to-use digital controls on the front and a remote for ease of management. The lights on the front can be a little bright and problematic if you’re using the heater near a bed. We always recommend keeping all space heaters safe from potentially flammable materials or bedding for safety reasons.
DeLonghi TRD40615E Portable Oil Heater: This oil heater is ideal for warming medium to larger rooms that may need constant heat. It has 1500 watts of heating power, all while remaining entirely silent. While it may not heat a room as quickly as one of the smaller ceramic space heaters, it can keep rooms warm for extended periods even after being switched off. Placement of this heater is important as it has “chimneys” that direct the heat upwards through thermal updraft. This model has a tip-over sensor that will turn off the device and a thermal cut-off sensor that turns off the unit in the case of overheating.

What Space Heater Should I Use for My Garage?

Finding a good heater for your garage is no simple task. Choosing the right one for the job can be challenging, with so many factors to consider. The best heater for your garage depends on how much space you’re trying to warm, the type of heater you want, and the safety features that matter to you.

Here are our top 5 recommendations for garage space heaters

Heat Storm HS-15000-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater: This model is power and Wi-Fi-enabled so that you can access and control it from your phone or smart assistants (Google and Alexa). You set the thermostat to the desired temperature and let it do the rest. This heater can be set up on the ground or mounted to the wall. It contains an overheating and tip sensor, so if it falls off the wall or tips over, it will automatically power off to prevent damage. The heater temperature can range from 40 to 99 degrees, preventing your pipes from freezing without keeping the space too warm. If you decide to come in from the cold outdoors and want the sauna experience, it should do that just fine too!

The only downside to this heater is that the cord is only three feet long, so you may be limited in where to install it. If you decide to use an extension cord, use the proper gauge so you don’t overheat your cord.
Lasko 775320 Ceramic Space Heater: This model is shaped like a tower and has an oscillation feature to you can spread the heat over a wider area. The temperature can be fixed low or high setting. It also has a timer so that you can turn it off when it reaches the scheduled time. This heater is very quiet and heats the space using convection. The oscillation feature helps this model distribute heat faster and warm the space more quickly. The only downside is that this model does not have a tip sensor.
Aikoper Space Heater, 1500W: This is a very easy-to-use and set-up model. Plug in and it's ready to go. The heat range for this model is 900 watts to 1500 watts of heat. Once the desired temperature has been reached, ECO mode will automatically turn it off so that your space isn’t without heat and energy isn’t wasted. This model also has an oscillation feature so that heat can be distributed more evenly and quickly. The heater has a digital face that easily lets you set the desired temperature as well as a remote for more ease of control.
Broan-NuTone 198 High-Capacity Wall Heater: This heater is a wall-mounted electric garage heater. It’s designed to work with either 240-volt power (for a maximum output of 4,000 watts) or 120-volt power (for a maximum output of 2,000 watts). This heater can be plugged directly into a wall outlet or hardwired into the home electrical system (with appropriate hardware). This is undoubtedly a heavy-duty model with an 18-gauge steel grill, an adjustable thermostat on the front, and massive heat output. The front louvers direct airflow downward, so it may be best to install the heater higher on your garage wall.
Dr. Infrared Header DR-988 Heater: This is a very powerful heater with a temperature range of 45-90 degrees. This model has a built-in thermostat, so it will quickly heat up and maintain your space. It runs on 240-volt power and requires a NEMA 6-30P receptacle. We recommend hiring an electrician to install this professionally and ensure your wiring can handle the load. Overall, this model is a powerful and an excellent option for more extensive warming operations and will heat your space quickly.

Maintaining your Heaters

Any heating or cooling appliances will require maintenance to continue working correctly. Whatever the cost or quality, cleaning dust and grime regularly will ensure they function correctly. Inspect the power inlet for breaks and examine the power cord for cracks and exposed wire as well.

Whether to warm your home or garage, having a space heater can have many benefits, namely having a warm, comfortable space to occupy year-round. Be sure to check the owner's manual when you purchase a heater and review the safety features to ensure it will meet your needs and safety requirements.

Protect Your Home

As the cold weather approaches, something else you may want to consider is the condition of your roof. The melt and freeze cycle can severely damage your roof if the proper actions aren’t taken to prevent it. Check out this article to learn about how ice dams could mean your roof is in danger. You can also reach out, and we will provide an evaluation completely free of charge.

Are you just trying to educate yourself? This tool allows you to get an instant roof replacement quote based on a fair market price.

*None of the sites we link or products we recommend are sponsored or contain affiliate links. These are the best models we’ve found based on reviews, testing, and other blog posts. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision and save time without all the ads and interruptions.