Due to the sheer number of different models of space heaters available on the market, trying to select just one among them is no simple task. Most consumers simply don’t have the time nor the desire to read hundreds of reviews written about all the different space heaters for sale online, which is why we did the research for you.
After investing 22+ hours into researching, analyzing and comparing dozens of different space heaters, we created this list of the eight best units, buying guide and comparison chart. We based our selections on a number of different factors, including heat output, efficiency, controls/features, safety and price.
Best Overall: Dr Heater DR998 Elite Infrared Space Heater
The Dr Heater DR998 Elite is, in our opinion, the best space heater currently on the market. It is our top pick and we give it our highest recommendation. The DR998 is a 4-in-1 appliance that can function as a heater, air purifier, humidifier or a cooling fan. You can control each of these functions independently as well, so you can use it only as a heater or as an air purifier, or both simultaneously. Due to its versatility, you’ll find use for it all year round, whether it’s to keep you warm during cold winter nights, to eliminate dust and allergens in the spring, or to keep you cool during hot summer days. This will also allow you to save a ton of space. Instead of having to store four different gadgets in your closet/garage, you’ll only need to store one.
Although similar to the extremely popular Dr. Heater DR968 which is about $40 cheaper, the DR998 Elite offers more functionality and therefore better value for money spent, in our opinion. Just consider how much it would potentially cost to purchase an air purifier, humidifier, and a fan separately? It will most likely run you a lot more than $40.
And we didn’t even mention its heating prowess yet. It can heat up a space of about 800 sq. ft. using only 1,500 watts of energy, making it one of the most energy efficient space heaters on the market. It utilizes a heating method known as Advanced Dual Heating, which the manufacturer claims greatly increases heat transfer capabilities and allows for more even heat distribution than space heaters without the technology. Additionally, because the heating element is enclosed in a wood cabinet housing, the exterior always remains cool to the touch, making it one of the safest infrared heaters around. The unit is also whisper quiet and has a built-in automatic timer and thermostat, a remote control and a number of energy saving features.
Best Oil-Filled Radiator Heater: DeLonghi TRD40615E
The DeLonghi TRD40615E is, in our opinion, the best oil-filled space heater on the market. The De’Longhi TRD40615E has a unique design that incorporates the use of flat panels to create a greater heating surface area. The unit also provides 2 different types of heat: convection and radiant heat. This unique mixture of heat provides better warmth when in close proximity to the unit than a convection-only space heater, but does not limit it to spot heating like a dish-type radiant heater.
It’s also designed with “thermal chimneys” which vents heat upward, keeping the sides/exterior cool at all times. This makes it very safe to use even if you have kids or pets around the home, as there’s very little risk of them getting burned. It also virtually eliminates the risk of your space heater potentially burning your upholstery or drapes.
The De’Longhi TRD40615E has a modern, digital control pad and display (no guessing the temperature with dials here) that allows you to customize the heat in a number of ways. You can set it to one of the three pre-programmed settings or you can use the EcoPlus function, which will automatically adjust the heat to maintain your preferred temperature. Additionally, the body of the unit is made out of rust-resistant metal and the heater is completely silent, as it has no moving parts.
Best Propane Heater: Mr. Heater MH18B Big Buddy
The Mr. Heater MH18B Big Buddy is a very popular space heater that can be used both indoors and outdoors. This unit can pack a wallop when it comes to producing heat in a chilly or drafty area. The combination of radiant heat and fan-powered convection heat enables this portable propane space heater to provide reliable and effective heating to virtually any location, be it a living room, garage, workshop, porch, trailer, storage building or cabin. It’s also user-friendly and not at all complicated to operate, and its versatility means it will come in handy in just about any situation where warmth is needed.
In addition, the Mr. Heater MH18B’s small size means it can easily be used wherever space is at a premium but where heat is needed, and its attractive design means it won’t be an eye-sore in your home. Moreover, its built-in handle will allow you to easily carry the unit from one location to another, and its lightweight design means you’re not dragging a heavy piece of equipment to wherever it may be needed. The unit was also designed so that it can easily maintain the optimal temperature level for the location where it is being used.
The Mr. Heater MH18B Big Buddy also comes with a number of built-in safety features, such as a low oxygen shut-off mechanism and a tip-over switch that will automatically shut the unit off if it is ever accidentally knocked over, giving you added peace of mind. Keep in mind, though, that since it is a propane heater, it should never be left unattended when in use.
4 Best Value: DeLonghi HMP1500 Micathermic Heater
If you’re looking to get the best “bang for your buck” then look no further than the DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica Panel. It’s affordably priced at just under $80, but this stylish, modern looking space heater certainly doesn’t look like a budget heater. It boasts a number of useful features as well, not to mention that the unit is completely silent and safe to use.
This compact, micathermic heater has a built-in adjustable thermostat with 2 different heat settings: 750 watts and 1500 watts. But perhaps its best feature is that it’s very lightweight. It’s one of the lightest 1500 watt heaters around, and is significantly lighter than a radiator heater (since it contains no oil) or a forced-air convection space heater, as it has no fan/blower motor. In fact, the DeLonghi HMP1500 is so light (and thin) that it can even be mounted on your wall (it comes with a wall mounting kit), which can free up a lot of space in your home. One disadvantage of this heater, though, is that it has an analog temperature control dial, which can require a bit of trial and error to get it to the precise temperature that you want.
5 DeLonghi EW7707CM Safe Heat Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater
The DeLonghi EW7707CM Safe Heat is a top rated radiator heater that can provide 1500 watts of heat through quiet operation. This unit is best suited for medium to large areas where a constant flow of heat is required. This electrically powered oil-filled space heater’s attached wheels enable it to be conveniently rolled from one location to another. In addition, its built-in adjustable thermostat along with 3 heat settings simplify the operation of this unit, allowing you to easily control the temperature of any room.
You’ll also appreciate the DeLonghi EW7707CM’s durable steel construction, as well as the safety features that come standard with the unit. One feature that parents and/or pet owners will like is its specially designed thermal slots, which ensure that the surface of the radiator never gets too hot. This means you can safely use this heater in any room of your house without worrying about your children or pets getting burned by accidentally bumping into it.
6 Best Budget Model: Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Space Heater
If you’re looking for a good space heater that’s relatively inexpensive, then we recommend the Lasko 755320. This 1500-watt tower heater stands 23″ tall, but takes up very little floor space (only about 60 sq. inches of it), making it ideally suited for use in areas where space is limited. Users will also like its oscillation feature, which enables it to distribute consistent warmth throughout the whole room. And weighing just 9 lbs., it’s also light and portable, making it easy for you take to different rooms in your house or elsewhere, such as a workshop or garage.
Additionally, the Lasko 755320 is very easy to operate with push button controls located at the top of the unit. It also comes with a battery-operated remote control that enables you to manage the unit from any location within the room, making it a very convenient space heater to use. In addition, it has an 8-hour timer that will allow you to set it so that it automatically turns itself off after a certain period of time.
7 Optimus H-4438 Oscillating Radiant Heater
The Optimus H-4438 is a 14″ oscillating dish heater that emits radiant heat, which means that it’s designed to provide spot heating for a single person. So it won’t heat up an entire room like a convection heater will as it doesn’t heat the air, only objects. If you need to heat an entire room, we recommend that you choose one of the 3 convection space heaters above.
Bur for its intended purpose, it does a terrfic job. For a spot heater, it’s quite powerful as it can pump out up to 1200 watts of heat. It’s also very compact and is great when you need addtional warmth when lounging on your sofa or when working at your desk. It’s also great for use outdoors, as the radiant heat it emits isn’t affected by the wind. In addition, it has a built-in auto tipover switch, 3 different timer settings and the ability to oscillate 75 degrees left and right.
This is a good, affordable heating option for supplementing your central heater or perhaps even another space heater. But we do have to reiterate that this is not a space heater you should purchase if you expect it to be your sole source of heat.
8 Best Kerosene Heater: Dyna-Glo RMC-95C6B
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to heat up very large rooms and spaces, then you may want to consider getting a kerosene heater like the Dyna-Glo RMC-95C6B. This 23,000 BTU indoor convection space heater can not only provide supplemental heat for areas like your basement, workshop or enclosed porch, it’s also powerful enough to heat an entire home, albeit a small one. It’s also economical to operate due to the fact that it runs on kerosene, which is a relatively cheap fuel.
The Dyna-Glo RMC-95C6B’s user-friendly design consists of an automatic ignition, one-touch shutoff, and a safety switch that will turn the unit off automatically in case it is accidentally tipped over. And although this heater may look big, with a 23″ height and 18″ diameter, it’s actually surprisingly small, making it fairly portable and easy to move around. Depending on the grade of kerosene that you use and the age of the wick, the unit is capable of heating a 1,000 square foot room for up to 12 hours on a single tank.
Buying Guide: How To Select The Best Space Heater
Type
Space heaters are categorized based upon the type of heat they generate and how they’re powered/fueled. Here we’re going to be taking a look at the different kinds of space heaters and discussing the pros and cons of each type.
Convection Heaters
Convection space heaters work by heating the air in a room via a heating element (typically a resistor or coil). Some of them utilize a blower or fan to move hot air around a room. One disadvantage of a forced-air convection heater is that, in some of the lower quality models, the fan can be quite loud and distracting, so this is something consumers should be aware of when purchasing a fan-powered unit.
Oil-filled Heaters
They are also known as radiator heaters, or simply oil heaters, and work by using a heating element to heat up metal columns that are filled with oil. One advantage of these types of heaters is that they tend to stay warm even after they’re turned off, making them some of the most energy efficient heaters on the market.
Ceramic Heaters
These space heaters typically utilize a fan to blow hot air around a ceramic heating element and out into the room. They’re some of the safest heaters around, as the heating elements are encased in a housing unit, so the exterior will never get very hot.
Radiant Heaters
Radiant heaters produce a different kind of heat than convection heaters. Instead of heating the air, radiant heaters heat people and objects directly. As a result, they aren’t very well suited for warming up a whole room. However, they heat up almost instantly and are very effective at providing heat to a spot or small area in a room.
Heating Power
You’ll find that most electric space heaters have two heat settings: a low setting (usually 750 watts) and a high setting (1500 watts). For a typical room, it will require approximately 5 to 10 watts to heat 1 square foot of space. This means your average 1,500-watt space heater can heat up a space of about 150 to 300 sq. ft.
Safety
Ensure that any space heater that you buy has the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) logo on it, which indicates that it meets industry safety standards. Generally speaking, the safest space heaters to use are those that have been designed in such a way so as to prevent the exterior from getting too hot. Another safety feature you’ll definitely want to look for is whether the unit will automatically shut itself off if it is ever knocked over. This is an especially important feature to have for those who have children in the home. Although you may’ve heard stories in the past about space heaters causing fires, such instances are very uncommon, and the vast majority of space heaters are quite safe to use.
Price
Space heaters can vary significantly in price. Although most are priced between $40 and $200, some of the cheaper, miniature models can be as cheap as $20 and on the other extreme, a luxury cabinet-style space heater could run you well over $300. Indoor kerosene heaters are usually priced between $100 – $250, and gas heaters can run you anywhere from about $130 up to several thousand dollars depending on size.
Electric Heaters
Electric heaters are very easy to operate. Many of these heaters will be the oil-filled radiator type of unit that has a permanently sealed oil reservoir. All you need to do is plug the unit in and set the temperature. Radiator units can be made with a special feature that will keep the unit at a low surface temperature. This is a great feature if you have children and/or pets who might come into contact with the unit.
Oil-filled heaters are great for rooms where you do not want any distracting noise, such as a bedroom. They operate quietly and can do a very effective job. These types of heaters may take a little bit longer to warm up, but when they do, they keep the room at a comfortable temperature and even manage to maintain warmth for a period of time after being turned off. This feature makes them great choices for heating bedrooms because you will not need to leave the heater on all night. If the unit comes with a timer, that is better yet.
The downside to an electric heater is the fact that you cannot use it when there is a power outage. If you want a heater that will provide warmth in emergency situations where the power may be out, it would be better to obtain a propane unit.
Electric heaters can also be somewhat costly to run if you leave the heater on for any length of time. Depending on the type of electric heater you purchase, it may also be somewhat bulky in size and take up more space in the room where it is placed. If you have ample space, then a heater that is larger in size should present no problem. Smaller rooms with limited space, though, may not be able to accommodate a bulky heater as easily. Oil-filled radiator heaters take up a bit more room, but tower heaters, being tall, will not require as much space.
Of course, not all space heaters run on electricity, as some use propane or kerosene as their source of power. They’re usually great for emergency situations where a power outage has occurred. The downside, however, is that you will always need to have propane/kerosene on hand for the unit to work. If you run out of fuel, you have no heat. Also, not all propane heaters are designed for indoor use, so if you’re interested in going that route then you need to make sure to check whether the unit of your choice is recommended for both indoor and outdoor use.
Radiant vs. Convection
Space heaters can be either radiant or convection. With a radiant heater, people and objects in the room will be warmed first, then the air will warm up. Convection heaters are just the opposite, with the air warming first and the heated air then transferring to people and objects in the room.
Of convection and radiant heat, radiant is more efficient. The reason for this is because radiant heaters will produce heat at the level where they are placed and not push the heat to the ceiling, thus resulting in less loss of energy.
Radiant heaters can work well in areas that will be occupied for a shorter period of time, and they do a good job in a room where people will not be moving around a great deal. To feel the heat most effectively, though, you need to be close to the heater. The farther away you move from a radiant unit, the less you will feel the warmth. Radiant heaters can also do a good job for a limited period of time but may not be the best choice if you want the warmth to last for an extended period.
Radiant heaters take longer to heat a room, and they also get hot to the touch. This is something to keep in mind if children or pets might be in the vicinity where a radiant heater may be in use. If you want to save money on your heater, a convection unit will be less costly than a radiant unit. Convection heaters can keep a room warm for long periods of time, and they also work very quickly. These heaters are usually designed with the heating element covered by other parts of the unit, and this means that the heater will not be able to burn you.
Convection heaters work by moving the air in a room. If cold air should enter the area and come in contact with the unit, it will take longer for the unit to heat the room since the recirculated air will be colder than elsewhere in the area. If you use this type of heater in a room that will be subjected to the frequent opening of doors, it may slow down the effectiveness of the unit. You’ll also want to place a convection heater in an area where there will not be any objects blocking the flow of air into and out of the unit, as they work most efficiently if there is good air flow around the heater.
With a convection heater, you will experience more energy loss due to the heater pushing hot air to the ceiling. A convection heater may also be more noisy than a radiant unit and will not be the best choice for areas where you want to keep the noise level down to a minimum.
Kerosene Heaters vs. Propane Heaters
Kerosene is a relatively inexpensive fuel so this type of heater can be very cost-efficient. Kerosene units are also remarkably good at heating when the temperatures are very cold. Another benefit of kerosene is that it is easier to use than propane because it does not need to be pressurized. Propane must be stored in pressurized tanks that will have to be kept outside. These tanks should never be kept inside a house because of the danger of an explosion should a leak occur.
Kerosene heaters are a good unit for use in emergency situations as you can store kerosene in larger amounts. If your emergency situation involves a power outage, though, you will need to have an operating generator on hand as the heater will require electricity in order to function. Propane heaters usually do not require electricity, depending on the type of heater you purchase.
If you need a heater for daily or frequent use, you will also need to buy kerosene and keep it on hand at all times if you have a kerosene unit. The fuel should also be properly stored or it can present a fire hazard.
Since propane heaters can be attached to large tanks, they can operate for long periods of time without frequent refilling. With a kerosene heater, you will need to keep an eye on the level of fuel and refill more frequently.
Comparison Chart
Our Top Pick
Dr. Infrared Heater DR998
Indoor Electric Infrared
1500 Watts (5100 BTU)
Built-in Humidifier &
Oscillating Summer Fan
Adj. Digital Thermostat
25 lbs.
$$$$
Best Value
DeLonghi TRD40615E
Indoor Electric Oil-Filled
1500 Watts (5100 BTU)
Virtually Silent; Digital
Controls & Thermostat
Adj. Digital Thermostat
26 lbs.
$$$
Best Budget Model
DeLonghi HMP1500
Indoor Electric Micathermic
1500 Watts (5100 BTU)
Virtually Silent &
Extremely Lightweight
Analog Thermostat
10 lbs.
$$
Top Rated
Dr. Infrared Heater DR968
Indoor Electric Infrared
1500 Watts (5100 BTU)
Uses Quartz Infrared
Heating Element
Adj. Digital Thermostat
24 lbs.
$$$
Very Good
Lasko 755320
Indoor Electric Forced Air
1500 Watts (5100 BTU)
Wide Range Oscillation; Programmable Thermostat
Adj. Digital Thermostat
9 lbs.
$
Good
DeLonghi EW7707CM
Indoor Electric Oil-Filled
1500 Watts (5100 BTU)
Makes No Audible Noise;
Very Safe To Use
Analog Thermostat
23 lbs.
$$
Best Propane Heater
Mr. Heater MH18B Big Buddy
Indoor/Outdoor Propane
18000 BTU
Can Be Used
Indoors or Outdoors
High/Medium/Low
11 lbs.
$$$$
Best Commercial Propane
Dyna-Glo RMC-FA60DGD
Indoor/Outdoor Propane
60000 BTU
Extremely High Heat Output;
Safe for Indoor & Outdoor
High/Low
14 lbs.
$$
Best Kerosene Heater
Dyna-Glo RMC-95C6B
Indoor Kerosene
6000 Watts (20000 BTU)
Very High Heat Output;
No Ventilation Req.
Analog Thermostat
23 lbs.
$$$$
Best Commercial Electric
Dr. Heater DR966
Indoor Electric Forced Air
23000 BTU
Very High Heat Output;
Ceiling/Wall Mountable
Analog Thermostat
27 lbs.
$$$$$
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