Best Space Heaters for the Home: These 6 Are Our Favorites

Got a cold house? Here are the best space heaters for the home to help you stay warm this winter. There are so many options out there; it can be challenging to decide which one is right for you.

We’ve rounded up some of the most popular models that will keep your room or entire house warm and cozy all winter long. Keep reading below to find out if space heaters are safe, what they cost per year in electricity, and why smart ones might be worth investing in.

Are Space Heaters Safe?

Yes. Space heaters are a remarkably safe and cost-effective way of keeping your house warm during colder months. To ensure you stay as comfortable (and safe) as possible, follow these tips:

• Make sure to place space heaters on level surfaces away from flammable materials such as curtains or furniture. 
• Never leave space heaters on when you leave the room or can’t keep an eye on them.
• Make sure to plug into a socket that isn’t overloaded with other appliances and never use extension cords. 

Do Space Heaters Use A Lot Of Electricity?

No. Compared to other appliances, most space heaters score pretty high when it comes to energy efficiency. Depending on the model you choose and how often you use it each day, most only cost less than $100 to operate per year, so don’t worry too much about a big electricity bill.

Here’s how much it costs to operate various types of popular space heaters:

• Infrared Space Heater – $41 per year 
• Fan-Powered Space Heater – $31 per year 
• Convection Space Heater – $30 per year 
• Radiant Space Heater – $22 per year 

What’s The Benefit Of A Smart Space Heater?

Smart space heaters are becoming popular and for a good reason. These heaters offer integrated features that save you money on energy costs, feature even heat distribution without overheating, and even allow you to control the temperature from your phone or remote control.

You may have already heard about smart home devices and how they’re changing the way we live. Smart home systems like the Nest Thermostat or Philips Hue allow you to control your home remotely and save electricity, so if you’re in the market for a new space heater, you might want to consider investing in a smart space heater. 

Which Type Of Space Heater Is For Me?

You can choose from a variety of space heaters, each with its unique benefits and features. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide which type will work best for your home:

Fan-Powered Space Heater – These are the least expensive options, and the fan moves warm air throughout the room. They are noisier than most space heaters, however. If this isn’t a problem, then you can save yourself some money by going this route.

Infrared Space Heater – These heaters are generally more expensive than fan-powered models, but last up to three times longer and heat rooms more evenly. Some infrared space heaters also allow you to adjust your heater to the desired temperature from your phone and even include a built-in timer so that they only turn on when you want them to.

Convection Space Heater – These tend to be more expensive than fan models but cheaper than infrared. They use less electricity since there’s no heating element. But, again, it will depend on how much space you need to heat and the recommended wattage for your room size.

Are Space Heaters Safe to Leave on All Night?

Yes. You can leave a space heater on all night if you want to, as long as you take the proper security precautions. It is safe so long as the area around your space heater isn’t flammable and there are no pets or children in the room when you’re sleeping. 

Also, if you plan to leave the heater on all night, make sure it has some of the following safety features:

• Tip-Over Protection
• Timer
• Automatic Shut Off
• Protective grills to keep pets and kids away from the heating element

Is It Okay To Plug The Space Heater Into An Extension Cord?

No. Don’t ever use an extension cord with a space heater. Space heaters can easily overload extension cords and cause fires. If you need to add more outlets, make sure you get a power strip and plug it directly into the wall outlet instead of using an extension cord. This is particularly important if there are children or pets around since they could accidentally pull on the cord, which can cause damage.

The Best Space Heaters

Here are our picks for the best space heaters. We’ve reviewed the following six space heaters, and think they’re among the best. Although some in this list are not smart space heaters, you can plug them into a smart plug and control it that way. We’ve done that here at the test house without any issues. Just have a way to detect the ambient temperature in that room so you can use IFTTT to trigger the space heater on and off based on how warm or cold it is.

Best Space Heater Overall for Features and Value

The Heat Storm HS-15000-PHX-WIFI allows you to control the temperature from your phone, has a built-in timer for customizing when you want the heater to turn on and off, and includes tip-over protection. This 1500-watt smart heater is wall-mountable and is ETL certified.

Some other features include:

• Safe Touch Grill
• Child Lock
• Auto Dimmer
• Auto Eco Mode
• Tipover Shut Off 
• Digital Thermostat
• Power Outage Settings Recall

Best Space Heater For Year-Round Use

The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool space heater also doubles as a HEPA air purifier and is compatible with Amazon Alexa. You can use this tower heater as a personal space heater or for an entire room. The HEPA filter will capture 99.97% of allergens, making it ideal for pet owners who need some extra heat. 

Some other notable features include:

• Doubles as a fan
• Can be controlled with voice via Alexa
• The app allows you to see the temperature and air quality in the room
• Oscillating up to 350 degrees

Best Smart Space Heater

The Atomi Smart heater is excellent for those who don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a space heater. You can dial in the exact temperature you want via Alexa or the smartphone app. It also offers features like app notifications if the unit tips over and quiet, quick heating. 

Additional features include:

• 1500 watts of power
• Large touch panel
• Warns surrounding air in 2 seconds
• Wobble-free base 
• Cool-touch housing
• Overheat protection
• ETL certified

Also, check out the tabletop version of this space heater below.

Best Space Heater for Air Circulation

If you are looking for a smaller space heater, the VH200 is for you. This electrical and portable heater has 1500 watts of power, a safety tip-over switch, and a cool-touch case. The size makes it perfect for use in an office or smaller room. 

Other features include:

• Three heat settings
• Overheat protection
• 5-year warranty
• Whisper quiet

Best Space Heater for Quiet Operation

For its mix of quick, efficient heating, safety, and mobility, this Dr. Infrared Heater model takes the number one spot. The headline figure of 1,500 watts of radiant heat is generated by two methods: an infrared quartz tube that generates near-instantaneous warmth, and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters that provide excellent durability and low power consumption.

Unlike most radiant heaters, it has a fan to quickly distribute the heat while being extremely quiet at only 39 decibels. In addition, a handheld remote allows you to adjust various temperature and mode settings and turn on and off the device using a 12-hour auto-off timer. 

Other features include:

• Tip-over protection
• Overheat protection
• Includes a remote
• Safe to touch casing
• Easy to maintain
• Delivers an average of 250 degrees F of air at 3.5m/s

Best Small Space Heater (and cheap, too)

If you are looking for something on the small side, consider the Mini Desk Heater from Brightown. This corded electric heater runs at a low wattage of 400 watts making it energy efficient and is ETL certified with an automatic shut-off if the unit is tipped over. 

Other notable features include:

• Overheat protection
• Quiet heater
• Handle for easier carrying
• Quick heating 

The Best Space Heater for Your Needs

Finding the best space heater for your needs can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you can find one that’s right for your home. 

Don’t forget to check for safety features first and foremost since some types of heaters come with additional perks like a built-in timer or tip-over protection.