The best space heaters we tested:
Best space heater overall: Vornado AVH10
Best splurge space heater: Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07
Even if you’re a fan of winter weather, you probably prefer to experience those cold temperatures outside. A space heater is an easy way to raise the temperature of a room or space inside your home without having to heat the whole house. These portable appliances also save money by taking the load off your home heating system, allowing you to reserve the furnace for when it’s practical to heat the entire house. I’ve found space heaters especially convenient when living with others who prefer chillier temperatures inside, eliminating those frustrating thermostat battles (and keeping everyone comfortable without having to layer on sweaters and extra socks).
We rounded up 13 popular space heaters and tested them extensively, assessing their heating power and overall performance by using them in a closed room with temperature and humidity sensors (and, of course, making sure they were easy to use, portable and well built). After comparing this data, we think the Vornado AVH10 is the best space heater to warm up your chilly room.
Best space heater overall
Sturdy, easy to use and with impressive heating power, this Vornado space heater is a great all-around option.
Best splurge space heater
This multifunctional Dyson machine isn’t cheap, but its heating, cooling and purifying abilities could be a great investment.
Best space heater overall: Vornado AVH10 Space Heater
$125 $90 at Amazon; $90 at Best Buy; From $90 at The Home Depot
If you’re looking for a space heater that’s easy to use and convenient to move around, you’re not going to do much better than the Vornado AVH10. This forced-air option has nice big control buttons that are easy to distinguish — there are no confusing icons to decipher — and the tactile feel of its physical buttons makes the Vornado 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, the Vornado 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 really comfortable carrying handle, the Vornado is about as easy to transport from room to room as they come. This handle has a long, deep recess that you can actually hook your fingers underneath and is far superior to the majority of 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 I didn’t find on any other heater.
The Vornado performed well in my testing, raising the temperature of my testing space an average of 5.6 degrees between both temperature sensors. It’s tip-over sensor worked as it should, and despite trying my best to “accidentally” burn myself by sticking my fingers into grille spaces and even placing a flat palm against the front, the exterior of the Vornado never came close to being hot enough to injure and my temperature gun only clocked 119 degrees — warm but safe to touch.
The only real drawbacks to the Vornado AVH10 are its lack of 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.
Best splurge space heater: Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 Space Heater
$750 $550 at Dyson; $750 at Best Buy; $750 $676 at Amazon
It’s not cheap, but after two weeks of testing, I can confidently say that the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 is worth the money if you can afford it. This multifunctional machine is not only a highly effective space heater but it 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 together 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 I expected, and 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 makes 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.)
My favorite design feature of the Dyson is its full-function color display. When using the remote control, this display uses colored animations and icons to show you the real-time status of settings and adjustments. The lightweight and slim design of the remote control, and its clever magnetic attachment method, adds to the sleek, high-end look of the machine.
The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 blew the competition away in my performance test and raised the room temperature 10.55 degrees in an hour. It’s 40-decibel noise level was also the lowest I tested, 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.
Why do I need a space heater?
If your home or apartment gets colder than you’d like and you don’t control the heat yourself, or you’d just prefer not to use your whole-house heating system when you just need to keep your office or bedroom warm, or you have a guest who likes warmer temperatures than the rest of the family, you’ll probably find a space heater useful.
Space heaters aren’t going to be able to warm more than one room at a time, but their compact size and light weight makes them convenient to bring you with from room to room. Many also have timers and remote controls, allowing you to leave them on for a while before you go to bed or switch them on in the morning without getting out from under the covers. Considering their relative affordability, user-friendly controls and fast-acting operation, a space heater can be a great investment — especially if the alternative is layering on socks and sweaters just to get through the day.
What are the different types of space heaters?
There are a few basic types of space heaters, each of which has their own pros and cons.
- Ceramic: Ceramic space heaters are the most common and use heated ceramic plates to generate warmth. These heat up quickly and are best for heating smaller 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. During my testing, 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.
- Forced Air: Also known as “fan” space heaters, forced-air options work by heating metal coils and then use a fan to disperse the resulting hot air into your space. (Heating the air is known as “convective” heating — think of a convection oven.) With no ceramic plate to heat up, fan heaters reach temperature quickly and also stop working quickly after being turned off. I found their grilles to be much cooler than ceramic heaters, and even after running for an hour, they were only warm to the touch and I felt no pain when I pressed my palm against it.
- Infrared: Infrared heaters work differently than ceramic and fan heaters, using a light source — in the infrared range that you can’t see — to generate radiant heat, which 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 up the objects in a room directly instead of the air, it can be more effective in more drafty conditions.
Are space heaters safe?
According to a study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), portable heaters are responsible for 1,700 residential fires per year, causing 80 deaths. That said, modern space heaters are much safer than you might remember them being, 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 overheat protection circuits can shut off a heater if a coat or curtain accidentally falls on top of it.
Despite the presence of these features, you still need to make sure you know how to use space heaters safely, so it’s important that you read your heater’s instruction manual and practice the safety precautions it describes.
Even if your space heater is used properly, you’ll want to take care to make sure they are used safely and correctly and to supervise its use by family members who may not be able to control the heater effectively. Heaters can 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.
How we tested
To best compare performance and make sure we found the best heaters for your living situation, I assessed specifications and technical performance and tested each heater in real-world conditions, heating the rooms in my home.
First, I evaluated the overall usability of each heater, exploring their specific functions and control panels and comparing how easy or complicated they were to operate. I also assessed each heater’s overall functionality by comparing features like fan-only settings, remote controls and any onboard storage for such accessories, oscillation options and timer options. I reviewed their instruction manuals and any included safety documentation as well, noting if they were concise and straightforward or complicated and difficult to navigate.
Since space heaters are commonly moved from room to room, I also paid close attention to each unit’s overall portability. Interestingly enough, their carrying handles varied more than I expected, and while a few were easy to grab and hold on to, many were either too small or too shallow to use comfortably. I also took their weight and footprint into account.
To accurately compare each space heater’s ability to heat a room, I ran each unit through the same real-word test: I placed each heater in the corner of a 14-foot-by-11-foot bedroom, with the windows and doors closed, and set the controls to their highest setting. Two Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensors — one placed 3 feet away from the front of the heater, the other at 10 feet — measured both temperature and humidity for 60 minutes. I used that data to compare how far the heater was able to effectively heat, how quickly they worked and how consistent they were able to maintain temperature. I also used a decibel meter app to compare each heater’s noise level on its highest setting.
After that 60 minute test, I immediately 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 I also used my own fingers and palm to get a hands-on sense of how hot they were. This method obviously can’t give an accurate temperature reading, but it did tell me if a heater’s grille was hot to the touch or not, which is really what we’re looking for. I also evaluated each heater’s safety features and tested their tip-over mechanism to make sure they powered off immediately when knocked over.
Other space heaters we tested
Lasko FH500 All Season Comfort Control Tower
$130 $120 at Amazon; $230 $136 Wayfair
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 a range of 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 just looking for an all-around tower heater with multiple fan settings, this is a great option.
Lasko CT22495 Electric Ceramic Tower Space Heater
$81 at Walmart
This Lasko tower unit performed nearly as well as my top pick, the Vornado AVH10, in my performance test, raising the temperature in my testing room 5.45 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, 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 from across the room. The recessed handle isn’t the most comfortable, though, and it’s angled in such a way that it naturally slides out of your grip when carrying it.
Lasko CT18950 Ellipse Ceramic Tower Heater
$75 at Amazon
A fine budget-friendly tower option, this Lasko model features an oscillating base, 12-hour timer and two fan-only settings. Unfortunately, like the other ceramic models I 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.
Honeywell Digital Ceramic Tower Heater
From $54 at Amazon
Although this tower heater has a clear, user-friendly display and controls — I especially enjoyed how easy the timer was to schedule — its terrible carrying handle was a deal breaker for me. Its angled design creates an inverted grip, which slowly slides out of your grasp as you carry it. Unlike most tower heaters, this model, unfortunately, lacks a remote control. One of the worst performers in my real-world heating test, this heater only raised the temperature in my testing room 1.85 degrees in 60 minutes.
Vornado Vheat Vintage Metal Heater
$170 $160 at Wayfair; $160 at Amazon
The retro aesthetic 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 to it, 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 my testing room 4.7 degrees. The lack of a carrying handle is the obvious drawback of this model, although its relatively low exterior temperature — I was able to touch and hold the grille without much discomfort — makes this less of a deal breaker.
Vornado VH200
$64 at The Home Depot
A stripped-down version of our top pick, the Vornado AVH10, this budget-friendly model is a fine option for those who don’t need any bells and whistles. It’s 4.25-degree temperature differential ranked a little above average among my testing pool, and even after an hour, the grille was cool enough to press my entire palm against without feeling any discomfort. I wish its handle design were the same as the Vornado AVH10, but unfortunately, it’s slightly sloped, providing a much less ergonomic grip. It doesn’t feature a fan or timer, but if you just want a low-cost option for basic heating, this is a great choice.
Delonghi HFX30C15 Capsule Ceramic Heater
$50 at Amazon
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 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 I tested.
Honeywell 360-Degree Surround Tower Heater
$43 $35 at Amazon
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 it gets, and the 360-degree grille is perfect for whole-room heating. This full-coverage design seems to affect its heating ability, though, and only raised the room temperature 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.
Duraflame Electric Infrared Quartz Fireplace Stove
From $215 at Wayfair $225 at Amazon;
It’s probably overkill for most people who just want a straightforward space heater, but this faux fireplace and its realistic flame effect is perfect for those who want a cozy and festive aesthetic. But its infrared heating method struggled in my 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 I 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.
Dr. Infrared Heater DR998
$147 $140 at Amazon; $320 $149 at Wayfair
I 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 my testing pool, though.
Pelonis Ceramic Tower Space Heater
$75 $60 at Amazon
The control panel of this ceramic tower heater isn’t the most intuitive — I 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.
