The best space heaters we tested
Best space heater: Dreo Solaris 718 Space Heater
Best budget space heater: Lasko Ellipse Ceramic Tabletop Heater
Now’s the time to seriously consider investing in the best space heater. After all, winter is coming (cue “Game of Thrones” opening sequence music). If you’re privileged enough to have central heating that works like a well-oiled machine, we’re super happy for you. But if you’re one of many who must contend with shivering indoor temperatures … friends, you’ve come to the right place.
The best space heater will keep you comfortable during those crisp fall months and freezing winter nights without putting a strain on your wallet when that electric bill comes in the mail. Space heaters are likely the most cost-efficient solution for heating smaller areas and spaces. According to Joel Hawk, the Principal Engineering Manager for Small Appliances at UL Solutions, “Size makes the difference. Your floor plan. What is the space to be heated? With space heaters, just like the name, think of them in terms of space. For a localized space, this type of heater is perfect.”
We pooled 19 of the latest and greatest on the market, spending several weeks in toasty temperatures to find the safest, easiest to use and best-performing space heaters. We then whittled that list down to the two best space heaters to buy. You’ll thank us when that nippy weather comes around, and you’re staying warm and cozy at home.
With an elegant aesthetic, impressive heating capability and an almost gravity-defying design, the Dreo Solaris 718 Space Heater is our clear winner. It’s also affordable and made of high-quality materials.
For a tabletop space heater, this Lasko model punches above its weight, impressing us with a heating performance that’s on par with bigger rivals. It’s not as cheap as other tabletops, but it would still be our pick even if money were tight.
Best space heater: Dreo Solaris 718 Space Heater
When it comes to performance and design, the Dreo Solaris 718 is undeniably superior to the rest of the space heaters in our product pool. So much so that it was an easy top pick. Great for small bedrooms but best for larger rooms, it’s so good at heating spaces quickly, efficiently and quietly while keeping things elegant in the design department.
The first time we tested this heater in our 13-by-18 “testing” room, it quickly heated the immediate area by 21 degrees without oscillation and by 11 degrees with oscillation in just 15 minutes. And that was when we set its target temperature to 83F. At its highest heat mode, it raised the temperature in the room to 95F in 15 minutes and 101F in an hour, making it the best choice to combat those biting winter nights.
We only wish it spread heat more evenly in the room. While it quickly warmed its immediate vicinity, it did take a little longer for the rest of the room to catch up even when the heater was set to swivel.
That said, it still heated our test room faster than the competition while also being quieter. The loudest this space heater got was 41 dB. Throw in the fact its grill doesn’t get too hot and cools down incredibly fast, and it’s already worth every cent.
Keep that in mind when looking at its $130 price tag. Not that it’s expensive, but if you’re seeking something under $100, you could try our budget pick below. However, if you’re comfortable with paying more than $100 for a top-quality space heater then you can’t do better than the Dreo Solaris 718.
Even its design is much more elevated than the rest. It’s a tower space heater that’s only 2.5 feet tall and under eight inches in diameter at its widest, which means it’s svelte and compact. And while it’s not incredibly heavy, it’s got enough heft to it that we struggled to get it to topple over. Every time we tried, it swung back and forth at its base before eventually settling back into its normal position.
Not once did it fall over during our stress tests so unless your child or pet body slams or tackles it to the ground, accidents with this one should be minimal. Isn’t it incredible what a difference a beautiful and thoughtful design makes? We also liked its additional safety features whenever it did fall out of place. It first sends out a few warning beeps, then has an effective auto-shutoff function that turns it off 20 seconds after falling out of place.
We’re not done singing the Dreo Solaris 718 praises. Did we mention this heater is pretty? It has a sophisticated conical design that makes it look more expensive than it is so you’d be proud to have it sitting in your living room in full view of guests. In addition, the touch control panel and remote control are both robust and very responsive while the handle is wide and deep, making it fairly effortless to transfer from one room to another.
Though it may be slightly pricier than most other space heaters, it’s well worth the money and an investment you won’t regret.
Best budget space heater: Lasko Ellipse Ceramic Tabletop Heater
The spot for the best budget heater was a little harder to fill but not because it was hard to find an inexpensive space heater worth your money. Far from. The two budget contenders we tested were not only solid choices but also so similar in performance and features that it made it hard to decide.
However, the Lasko Ellipse Ceramic Tabletop Heater ultimately nabbed the budget spot. A tabletop space heater that’s best for small rooms, it’s tiny and light enough to stuff in your work backpack and take on your commutes to and from the office. More importantly, it proved capable of taking on its bigger rivals to heat small rooms and maybe even medium-sized spaces.
During testing, this little-heater-that-could spread heat fairly evenly in our test area and kept temperatures consistent inside even after an hour. Of course, our top pick, the Dreo Solaris 718, still left it in the dust with how fast it heated the space, but this one still hit our target temperature within 15 minutes with oscillation turned off. It also made our test area 10 degrees hotter within an hour when set to its highest heat mode.
What’s even more impressive is it does all that while keeping things relatively quiet. When both budget contenders were set to their highest heat mode, this one was slightly quieter than the cheaper Dreo Atom One.
The Lasko Ellipse Ceramic Tabletop Heater does have its share of misses. Its touch controls aren’t as elegant or responsive as the ones on the Atom One, and its remote control only works if you’re pointing it directly at the heater. But it also has several hits, including a child lock feature that seems to have eluded several of the pricier models we tested. This function works well and adds another layer of safety to the space heater, making it ideal for homes with young kids and occasionally riotous pets.
Another nice feature is its timer, which you can set in 30- to 60-minute increments. It’s a nifty one to use if you don’t want to overheat but can’t be bothered to constantly fuss over the heater throughout the day or during the night.
While we appreciate its slim profile and small footprint, it’s just not pretty to look at. Put plainly, its aesthetics are basic. The handle is also very shallow, making it hard to get a secure grip when moving it. Plus, it’s vulnerable to toppling over the way it’s shaped (like a slightly rounded trapezoid).
The good news though is that due to its size, it works best when placed on top of a dresser or a side table. Just strategically put it in a spot where it’s not susceptible to a child dragging it off its perch by the cable, especially because that grill tends to heat up to 220F during use and may cause minor burn injuries. Another quality feature is that its auto shutoff function was on point, shutting off after three seconds every time we purposely knocked it over during testing.
It also feels robust, which it better be, considering it will set you back $61. That’s not exactly what we’d define as expensive but it still sits in the higher price bracket of the tabletop category. The Dreo Atom One, to put that into perspective, is $10 cheaper. Still, we had to go with the Lasko Ellipse Ceramic Tabletop Heater for our best budget space heater pick due to its heating performance and extra safety features. Easily the best value and performance for your money.
How we tested
To compare performance and make sure we found the best space heaters for your needs, we tested each heater in a 13-foot-by-18-foot bedroom to gauge their performance, ease of use, design and build quality, features and overall value. Because space heaters are, by their definition, meant to be movable, we tested each model’s portability as well.
More specifically, we evaluated each pair using the following primary criteria:
- Heating performance: To accurately test each space heater’s ability to heat a room, we placed each heater in the corner of our bedroom, with the windows and doors closed, and set the controls to a target temperature of 83F then again to the highest setting. Two temperature and humidity sensors placed three feet and 10 feet away measured temperature and humidity for 60 minutes. After the 60-minute test, we also used an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of each heater’s grille and exterior case. Getting an exact reading on the grille was sometimes difficult — especially on models with holes so small it was hard to be sure what exactly the laser was hitting — so we used our fingers and palms to gauge if the grill could potentially burn skin.
- Quiet operation: We used a decibel meter app to compare each heater’s noise level on its lowest and highest settings.
- Ease of use: We checked the overall usability of each heater, exploring its functions and control panel, and assessing how easy or complicated they were to operate. We also tested each heater’s overall functionality by comparing features like fan-only settings, remote controls, oscillation options and timer options.
- Safety features: We evaluated each heater’s automatic shutoff features and tested their tip-over mechanism to make sure they powered off immediately when knocked over. We reviewed the included safety documentation as well, noting if they were concise and straightforward or complicated and difficult to navigate.
- Portability: We paid close attention to each unit’s overall portability. Interestingly enough, their carrying handles varied more than we expected. So while a few were easy to grab and hold on to, many were too small or shallow to use comfortably. We also took their weight and footprint into account.
For a fair assessment, we also considered the following secondary criteria:
- Build quality and design: We assessed each space heater’s look, design and overall build quality to see if it’ll stand the test of time and blend seamlessly in most homes. We also noted whether they looked good or not.
- Extra features: Most space heaters are straightforward and don’t have special features, but if one did, we put those features through their paces as well.
- Overall value: We looked at each space heater’s price tag and compared it with its performance, design and features. After determining its overall value, we then compared it with its rivals to see if it’s the best space heater to recommend to most people.
How to choose the best space heater for your needs
Before you choose the right model, decide if a space heater is the right heating solution for your needs. For example, if you have a larger space or several rooms to cover in your home, a central heating unit might be a more cost-effective solution in the long run. If you only need something to keep you warm while sleeping, a heated blanket, which tends to use less energy, might be a better option.
However, if it is the most ideal solution for you, there are several things you need to consider when choosing the best space heater.
Consider the coverage area
Take a look at your coverage area. Consider the space or room that needs heating — and we’re not just talking about the size. When you think about it, there are many factors to look for in a space heater that largely hinges on where you’ll be using it.
Of course, the bigger the coverage area, the more power a space heater needs to properly heat all areas of that space. So you may require the best space heater for larger spaces like your living room or master bedroom but a small tabletop unit for smaller areas.
You’ll need to consider other questions as well. Will you be using it in a bedroom? You may need something whisper-quiet. Do you want something that sits on top of your office desk? Consider a small and unobtrusive space heater. Do you want one space heater you can take with you from room to room? Then something lightweight and easy to carry is best. Are there kids or pets in the house? Get something stable — or even better, wall-mountable.
Safety above all else
Above everything else, safety is a vital consideration, especially if you live with kids, unruly pets or the elderly.
According to a study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), portable heaters are responsible for 1,700 residential fires per year and an annual average of 70 deaths and 160 injuries from 2017 to 2019. That said, modern space heaters are much safer now, and most utilize multiple safety features to minimize fire risk.
Tip-over sensors automatically shut off the unit if it’s accidentally knocked over by a child or pet, preventing a hot grille from coming in contact with flammable materials. Child locks prevent youngsters from raising the temperature or power setting, and overheating protection circuits can shut off a heater if a coat or curtain accidentally falls on top of it.
Do your due diligence
Despite these features, exercise caution and due diligence when using space heaters. You must read your heater’s instruction manual and practice the manufacturer’s recommended safety precautions.
“Anything that sucks in electricity should be treated with respect, but dealing with a space heating, you are dealing with heat. Heating products in general have unique hazards,” according to Hawk, “The most important thing you can do after you purchase it is read all the markings on the product. You also want to read all the instructions, especially all the safety instructions at the very beginning of the manual. You want to keep that manual too; it’s not something you want to throw away or put in the garage and forget about. You really should always keep any instruction manual you get with any product.”
Also, supervise its use by family members who can’t operate it properly. Heaters pose a risk of hyperthermia — a condition caused by an elevated body temperature — and those with limited mobility like the elderly and small children are most susceptible.
Finally, know when it’s time to replace it. Hawk says “Any time you sense something is wrong, it’s time to retire the product. Send it back to the manufacturer or throw it away. Don’t use any product that behaves badly. And that can be many things: you notice a spark, the smell of smoke, the coloring changed, damaged cords. Never hold on to these types of low-cost products you can get rid of and replace because modern technology is always better than the past.”
Look for certifications
When shopping for a space heater, make sure the one you choose meets the safety guidelines and standards like the UL 1278, Solutions’ Standard for Movable and Wall-or Ceiling-Hung Electric Room Heaters.
“Look for the UL mark. That’s UL in a circle,” says Hawk. “That means we certified it. There are also other agencies in that marketplace. The first thing you look for is some form of certification from a safety-authorized and OSHA-recognized agency.”
How easy is it to operate?
Convenience and ease of use are important when choosing the best space heater, especially in a busy household. Luckily, most space heaters come with a remote control and a touch control panel, making it easier to change heat settings, set timers, toggle the swivel function and more. Some space heaters have smart home functionality which means you can control them via an app on your phone, via voice with a smart home assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant, or both.
Try to be discerning in this area as well. Some remote controls and touch panels are more responsive than others, and just because a space heater has smart home functionality, doesn’t mean it’s more convenient. Some manufacturers use a third-party app that may be a pain to use, only complicating things or not work at all, as was the case with one of the smart space heaters we tested.
What type of space heater is best for you?
There are a few basic types of space heaters, each of which has its pros and cons.
- Ceramic: Ceramic space heaters, the most common of the bunch, use heated ceramic plates to generate warmth. These heat up quickly and are best for small spaces and specific areas. The ceramic elements take longer to cool down than other heaters — increasing their energy efficiency — but you’ll need to be wary of hot grilles retaining heat. We found that ceramic heater grilles were substantially hotter than other heater types, and some were so hot that even a second of skin contact was enough to cause serious pain and possibly a minor burn.
- Forced air: Also known as “fan” space heaters, forced-air options work by heating metal coils and then using a fan to disperse the resulting hot air into your space. The process of heating the air is known as “convective” heating, like what a convection oven does. With no ceramic plate to heat up, fan heaters reach temperature quickly and also stop working quickly after being turned off. We found their grilles to be much cooler than ceramic heaters and only warm to the touch.
- Infrared: Infrared heaters work differently than ceramic and fan heaters, using a light source — in the infrared range you can’t see — to generate radiant heat. This heat warms objects directly (very similar to how sunlight warms your body), though some designs use systems of internal reflectors and fans to produce convective heating like the other types. The advantage of an infrared heater is that it starts working immediately, and since it heats the objects in a room directly instead of the air, it can be more effective in more drafty conditions.
Stick to your budget
Space heaters can set you back anywhere from $35 to $750, but we wouldn’t worry too much about the cost. One thing to remember is that an affordable space heater can be as effective as an expensive one. For example, the over-$500 Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 raised the room temperature by 10 degrees in an hour, but so did the under-$50 Dreo Atom One and the under-$150 Dreo Solaris 718.
You don’t need an expensive model to get the best performance so don’t be afraid to stay within your budget. Consider everything from the heating performance to the design, and make sure that you’re getting the best space heater for you in terms of value.
Other space heaters we tested
Why spend all that money maintaining your fireplace or building a new one when the Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace is a more affordable option? It heats a room beautifully while providing a cozy yet smoke-free atmosphere.
Although TerraFlame’s Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace isn’t technically a space heater, we feel that it deserves a spot in this guide as it technically does what space heaters are designed to do, which is warm a room — and it does it so well.
It proved quite capable during testing. With all three gel fuel cans lit up, it raised the temperature in a medium-sized room by five degrees within 30 minutes. That’s quite a feat considering it’s much smaller than a regular fireplace and was servicing a space almost twice as big as the room where we tested the rest of the space heaters in our pool.
What sets the Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace apart from the space heaters in this guide and makes it so appealing is that it’s an actual fireplace with an adorable, fairly compact retro design and flames that softly crackle. So, not only does it warm a room (for up to three hours per can) but it immediately transforms the vibe from nice to winter cozy.
So, it’s a fireplace in every sense of the word, except it’s better because it uses gel fuel cans instead of firewood, which means smoke- and soot-free flames. According to the Terraflame team, its gel fuel is “generally much safer than wood, pellets or gas. Alcohol produces the cleanest flame.” That’s based on their “test reports regarding the burn.” This fireplace is also incredibly easy to assemble and move from room to room as well as comes in several different attractive colors.
Of course, unlike a regular space heater, you can’t change any settings apart from choosing how many gel fuel cans to light up and set it to swivel. And it’s a pricier proposition at $699. However, if you’ve been dreaming of a fireplace in your home or apartment, the Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace is a winner in our book.
Another excellent budget space heater, the adorable Dreo Atom One is a powerful option that punches above its weight. It’s very effective at heating bedrooms and also very good at staying upright, thanks to its cubic design.
There’s a lot to love about the Dreo Atom One, and it would have been our budget pick had the Lasko Ellipse Ceramic Tabletop Heater not outmatched it in heating performance. This tiny tabletop model is lightweight yet robust, adorable yet powerful, and easy to carry yet hard to topple.
During testing, it heated our testing space quickly and evenly by nine degrees within 30 minutes and maintained that temperature even after an hour. When set to its highest heat setting, it kept the room at a sultry 90F, which may be too warm but is proof of its heating prowess. It was a little louder than the Lasko, hitting 50 dB at its loudest. However, unlike the Lasko, it managed to keep its grille temperature down to non-skin-scorching levels.
It may look a little boxy but still exudes elegance and boasts a high-quality design you come to expect from Dreo products. Besides, that cubic shape serves a specific purpose — it minimizes the possibility of the space heater tipping over. And boy is it effective.
That’s something it does better than the Lasko. Throw in its cheaper price tag and very responsive touch buttons and remote, and this may be a better proposition for you if heating performance isn’t your only priority.
If you’re looking for a more compact floor space heater, this svelte option from Dreo sits at a good price range and delivers great heating performance. It’s solidly built, boasts very responsive touch buttons and exudes elegance.
Like most Dreo products, the Dreo Solaris Slim H3 is tastefully designed and solidly built so you already have great quality in the bag if you decide to go with this space heater. We also love its deep and wide angle, ensuring you have a secure grip if you need to move it to another area of the house or take it to the office, and its very responsive control panel and remote control.
Its shape and frame make it svelte, allowing it to fit pretty much anywhere — your desk, your bedroom floor, the top of your wardrobe, wherever. However, we do feel like it’s an awkward size. It’s taller than your typical tabletop space heater but seems too short to sit on the floor.
We recommend placing this on the floor though. We tested it at our office desk and it simply wasn’t as effective as it was on our testing room floor. We figured that had something to do with its height; hot air rises and because it’s taller, most of the heat it put out just completely missed our desk area and quite literally went right over our heads.
It performed better in our room tests, hitting a toasty 98F within the hour at its highest heat setting. But it did so at 47 dB, meaning it’s not as quiet as our top pick. If you want a more affordable, under-$100 option for heating your bedroom, the Dreo Solaris Slim H3 is worth checking out.
Affordable, compact and lightweight, the Lasko AR122 comes with a backup power button in the back as an extra precaution, app support and smart home integration.?
Liking the Lasko AR122 was a struggle for us. On one hand, this compact space heater comes with a backup power button in the back for added safety, shuts off immediately when tipped over and won’t even turn on unless the surface it’s standing on is completely even and solid.
On the other, its heating performance is middling, its base is wobbly so it’s likely to get knocked down at the lightest nudge and its handle isn’t as wide or deep which makes it harder to carry. That’s not all; although it comes with smart home integration and app support, we never made it far enough in the setup process to see how well those fancy features were implemented.
The first time we added the Lasko AR122 to Aria, the third-party app Lasko uses for its smart home devices, we couldn’t get the space heater to respond to any of the app controls. In an attempt to troubleshoot the issue, we disconnected the appliance from the app, which led to even more tedious issues. And when we finally managed to reestablish the connection, it still didn’t fix the original problem.
Smart home integration is supposed to make consumers’ lives easier but that wasn’t the case here. What’s worse is that the heater doesn’t have a remote control so if you can’t get the app to work, you’re stuck with the touch control panel. If you can’t get it to work with the app, you’ll have to get up every single time you have to change the settings, making it even more annoying.
We try not to be too harsh on the products we test but to be honest, this one’s a bit of a tough sell.
Sturdy, easy to use and with impressive heating power, this Vornado space heater is a great all-around option.
If you’re looking for a space heater that’s easy to use and convenient to move around, there’s the Vornado AVH10. Our previous best space heater pick, this forced-air option has nice big control buttons that are easy to distinguish and the tactile feel of its physical buttons makes it easier and more enjoyable to use than touchscreen-equipped models that can have frustrating sensitivity issues.
Unlike more rudimentary heaters that use a temperature dial so you set the target temperature directly, this space heater features a digital thermostat, which automatically adjusts the output to your specific temperature setting. The large display and bright digits make it easy to adjust the settings and are also easy to read from across the room. A separate fan-only setting also makes this heater more functional than bare-bones options, making it useful for warmer months as well.
At just 5.4 pounds and with a comfortable carrying handle, the Vornado AVH10 is about as easy to transport from room to room. This handle has a long, deep recess that you can hook your fingers underneath and is far superior to many other space heaters that tend to slip out of your grasp. The convenient cord storage space under the base was a huge perk too and a feature we didn’t find on any other heater.
Best for small rooms, this space heater performed well in our testing, raising the temperature of our space an average of 5.6 degrees between both temperature sensors. Its tip-over sensor worked as it should, and the exterior never came close to being hot enough to injure, with our temperature gun only clocking 119F — warm but safe to touch.
The only real drawback to the Vornado AVH10 is its lack of a remote or timer function. This makes it less than ideal for bedroom use since you’ll have to get out of bed to turn it on or off. These functions would make it more convenient in these situations.
This multifunctional Dyson machine isn’t cheap, but its heating, cooling and purifying abilities could be a great investment.
It’s not cheap, but we can confidently say that the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 may be worth the money if you can afford it. This multifunctional machine is a highly effective space heater that works just as well as an air cooler. And thanks to the activated charcoal filter, it’s also an air purifier.
The large, looped shape and 350-degree oscillating base work to generate a full-coverage airstream, and with 10 fan speeds to choose from, it provides an impressive number of options to tailor its output to your taste.
The cooling function works better than we expected. Though it isn’t an “air conditioner” per se (it doesn’t use a coolant like freon), the powerful output and shape of the fan’s opening certainly make it feel like you have the AC on. Dyson claims that a foil-shaped air channel creates areas of low pressure that then draw in surrounding air, creating a cooling effect.
Our favorite design feature of this space heater is its full-function color display. When using the remote control, this display uses colored animations and icons to show the real-time status of settings and adjustments. The lightweight and slim design of the remote control, as well as its clever magnetic attachment method, adds to the sleek, high-end look of the machine.
In our performance test, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 raised the room temperature 10 degrees in an hour. Its 40 dB noise level was also an advantage, and even when set to the highest temperature setting, the air opening was never hot to the touch.
If you have the budget for such a device and are interested in a high-quality machine that not only performs well but looks great, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 is probably what you’re looking for.
A tall tower heater, this Lasko model is best for large rooms and spaces. It's also easy to operate thanks to its height and intuitive control panel.
This oscillating tower heater boasts an intuitive, color-coded control panel (heat settings on one side and fan settings on the other), and at 41 inches tall, it’s comfortable to operate without bending over too far. The three heat settings and four fan speeds make it useful for various temperatures, and the remote has a handy little onboard caddy to keep it from getting lost.
The main drawback to this heater is how hot the exterior grille gets after prolonged use. Unlike other heaters with grilles that didn’t get uncomfortably hot, this one reached 212 degrees after 60 minutes on high. Even a fraction of a second was too long for my fingers to come in contact with it.
If you’re comfortable with a hotter-than-average grille and are looking for an all-around tower heater with multiple fan settings, this is a great option.
Another great tower space heater, the Lasko CT22495 boasts remote control storage and a display panel that's angled so you can easily see the current settings.
This Lasko tower unit performed nearly as well as my top pick, the Vornado AVH10, in our performance test, raising the temperature in our testing room by about six degrees after 60 minutes. It also features three heat settings and a digital thermostat that shuts off the heater when the set temperature is reached, and then cycles on and off to maintain the set temperature.
The onboard remote control storage is a nice perk, and the sloped top gives you a clear view of the display across the room. The recessed handle isn’t the most comfortable, though, and it’s angled in a way that it naturally slides out of your grip when carrying it.
The tower version of our budget pick, the Lasko CT18950 is a great space heater in its own right. We appreciate that it comes with a child lock function, which is a rare but useful safety feature.
A fine budget-friendly tower option, this Lasko model features an oscillating base, a 12-hour timer and two fan-only settings. Unfortunately, like the other ceramic models we tested, the grille became very hot to the touch after running for an hour.
The touch-sensitive controls are fairly simple to understand, and the compact 5-inch-by-6-inch footprint won’t clutter your space too much. Lasko’s three-year warranty should have you covered if any issues arise.
Easy and straightforward to use, this space heater from Honeywell is capable of heating a room quickly and is best for large spaces. It's a great value for the money.
Although this tower heater has a clear, user-friendly display and controls — we especially enjoyed how easy the timer was to schedule — its terrible carrying handle was a deal breaker.
Its angled design creates an inverted grip, which slowly slides out of your grasp as you carry it. Unlike most tower heaters, this model lacks a remote control. One of the worst performers in my real-world heating test, this heater only raised the temperature in our testing room by about two degrees in 60 minutes.
If you adore a retro design, Vornado's Vheat metal space heater boasts Vornado's signature design as well as a solid build and impressive performance.
The retro design of this heater would be a great fit for those who want an alternative to the utilitarian look of most space heaters. Its all-metal body has a sturdy, heavy-duty feel, and the metal control switches feel rock-solid as well. It also pivots up and down — not usually the case with a space heater — and performed well enough to raise the temperature in our testing room by above five degrees.
The lack of a carrying handle is the obvious drawback of this model, although its relatively low exterior temperature — we could touch and hold the grille without much discomfort — makes this less of a deal breaker.
Another budget option, the DeLonghi Capsule Electric is a compact and stylish ceramic space heater best for small rooms. It has great safety features that make it ideal for homes with kids.
With a retractable stand, 4-inch width and top-mounted carrying handle, this compact heater would be perfect for those who prioritize portability and storage. Despite the slim profile, it was still able to raise the temperature by 4.4 degrees, and a fan-only feature is useful for maintaining airflow in warmer months.
The wide, extended handle has enough clearance to get a nice solid grip too. The grille gets pretty hot, though, and was very hot to the touch, even for a second. At 64 decibels on its highest setting, this was also the noisiest heater we tested.
Want to heat the room more evenly? This space heater from Honeywell is incredibly effective at heating and delivers that heat from all angles with its 360-degree output.
This tough little heater is made of thick plastic with a really comfortable handle on top for convenient grabbing and carrying. Its simple controls are about as easy to use as they get, and the 360-degree grille is perfect for whole-room heating.
This full-coverage design seems to affect its heating ability as it only raised the room temperature by 2.45 degrees after 60 minutes. You’re not getting a timer, remote, oscillation or fan options, but at $35, it’s a decent value for those looking for a low-budget heater that’s durable and simple to use.
If you prefer a more traditional-looking heating appliance, this Duraflame electric fireplace adds a classier ambiance to your living room or bedroom. While there's no real fire, it does give the illusion and feel of one.
It’s probably overkill for most people who want a straightforward space heater, but this faux fireplace and its realistic flame effect are perfect for those who want a cozy and festive aesthetic. However, its infrared heating method struggled in our performance test, with a 2-degree differential after 60 minutes.
It kept the grille and exterior at a safe 134 degrees though — essentially just warm to the touch — and we especially appreciated how the door covers up the display panel when closed, adding to the realistic look. The metal and glass construction gives it a sturdy, long-lasting feel as well.
The Dr. Infrared Heater DR998 lends a more vintage vibe to any space with its 70s look. It's modern in features, however, including a remote control, overheat protection and a built-in humidifier that delivers a cool mist.
We love the huge onboard controls and display of this infrared model, making it extremely easy to control and adjust settings. A one-page “quick-start” guide walks you through the heating operation, and the detailed instruction manual explains the more complicated humidifier feature.
Its 26-pound weight is heavier than most portable heaters but gives it a nice sturdy feel, and the rolling casters make the weight less of a mobility issue. Rotating air outlets allow you to customize the airflow, and its 206-degree grille poses no burn risk. The 3.5-degree temperature differential was on the lower end of our testing pool, though.
This mid-range ceramic model from Pelonis is praised for its heat output and value. We also adore its sleek modern look and appreciate its safety features. It's also very affordable.
The control panel of this ceramic tower heater isn’t the most intuitive — we required some practice with the instruction manual to understand the “M” button and Eco-Mode settings — but its 5.1-degree temperature differential ranked better than most.
The rear carrying handle was comfortable and well-designed, and the oscillation and digital thermostat features offer a nice amount of customization. It lacks a fan-only option, though, and the grille became very hot to the touch after my 60-minute performance test.
