12 Best Space Heaters [Tested and Reviewed]

Dreo's Atom 316 Space Heater is ideal if you want to stay warm while working from home. Not only does this heater warm up fast, but it also comes equipped with a digital thermostat that senses changes in temperature and adjusts automatically for optimum comfort.

When we tested for how quickly this space heater warmed up the area around it, we observed that after 15 minutes of operation, the temperature at six points corresponding to the area around a person's feet and chest when seated increased by an average of 36.51°F. Even the location with the least temperature change is heated up by more than 30°F, so your hands and feet should not feel cold as you work; this space heater should warm your body evenly.

When it came to speed, when using this heater, the overall room temperature increased by an average of 12.91°F in 15 minutes. However this heater was not suitable for warming the entire room as it lacked an oscillating swing function. If you want to heat an entire room, the Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater from the same manufacturer is a better choice.

This heater features an automatic mode, and you can set it in increments of 1°F between 41 and 95°F. At about 3 pounds, this model is easy to carry and suitable for use in a range of rooms, from the garage to the bedroom or home office. It’s also equipped with safety features like a child lock, protection against overheating, and a tip-over shut-off function. In fact, when we tipped it over, it shut off securely in about 40 seconds, so the risk of fire should be low.

Overall, this heater can quickly warm your entire body. At a budget-friendly price of $40, this model provides great value. It's great if you’re looking for targeted heat within a small radius, and at this price, you might even want to buy more than one.

Dreo's Atom Guard Electric Space Heater comes with an ALCI safety plug and is rated IP21, a high level of waterproofing, so it can safely warm up your bathroom. Although it doesn’t heat up as quickly as Dreo’s Atom 316 Space Heater, it still provides reliable heat. With oscillation and automatic modes that project and regulate the level of the heat, you can use it in other rooms in addition to the bathroom.

During our testing, after we operated this heater for 15 minutes, the temperature around six areas corresponding to the feet and chest of a seated person increased by an average of 27.72°F. Although the upper body area warmed by more than 40°F, the lower body, including the feet, only heated up by about 8°F. So if your feet have a tendency to get cold, you might want to consider the Atom 316 Space Heater instead. When it came to heating an entire space, the overall room temperature rose an average of 13.27°F in 15 minutes during our testing. This heater also has a 70° oscillating feature, so we recommend it if you’re looking for a model that can heat a whole room.

In terms of range, you can set the temperature in 1°F increments from 40-95°F, so you can use this heater around your home, from a chilly garage to a humid bathroom and through the winter and into spring. When we tested the automatic shut-off feature for tipping, the power turned off in just under 40 seconds after it fell over. This model’s overheating protection feature also reduces the risk of fire. This heater is also equipped with a leakage-prevention plug, so it’s safe to use it in the bathroom.

Overall, this heater earned high ratings both for heating the space around the body and the entire room. We recommend this product if you’re looking for a heater that will perform well in any room of the house.

We recommend Dreo's Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater if you’re looking for a product to supplement the heat in your home. Featuring both touch and remote control operations, this space heater’s appeal lies in the convenience it offers. For example, it retains its previous settings even when you turn the power off.

After 15 minutes of testing, the temperature at six points corresponding to the feet and chest of a seated person increased by an average of 36.51°F. Additionally, this heater is equipped with a 70° swinging function, so it can warm up the entire room. During our testing, the overall room temperature increased by an average of 13.5°F in 15 minutes. That said, while the upper part of the body warmed up by more than 35°F, the lower part, including the feet, only warmed up by about 6°F. So if your feet get cold, we recommend the Atom 316 Space Heater instead.

This product is designed with an automatic mode, and a major selling point is that you can set it in 1°F increments between 41~95°F. At 4.7 pounds, this heater is not exactly light, but it is more portable than the Atom 316 Space Heater, because its weight is well-balanced. This model also features basic safety protections, such as overheating prevention and tip-over shut-off functions.

Overall, this space heater provides reliable heat for an entire room. Operating at a relatively quiet 39.1dB, even in its highest mode, this heater is suitable for both the living room and the bedroom.

Pelonis' Ceramic Tower 1500W Indoor Space Heater is a ceramic space heater that’s 23 inches high, which is taller than other heaters. We anticipated that this heater’s size would help it heat the entire room, but while this model warmed to an average of 42°F at a height of 35 inches around chest level, it only increased about 5.5°F at a height of 8 inches around foot level. So if you’re looking for a space heater specifically to keep your feet warm, you should consider Dreo's Atom 316 Space Heater instead.

If you want to heat a whole room, however, thanks to this heater’s 70° oscillating feature, the overall room temperature rose an average of 12.82°F in 15 minutes. While its heating performance is impressive, if you're willing to spend around $60, you might want to consider Dreo's Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater or Atom Guard Electric Space Heater, which provide better performance in the same price range.

This heater comes equipped with an automatic, eco mode that you can set up to 70°F. The manufacturer also designed this heater with safety features, including overheating prevention and automatic shut-off. We tested whether the tip-over shut-off function worked, and found the heater stopped within about 20 seconds, minimizing the risk of fire.

Although this heater doesn’t match the performance of Dreo’s offerings, we recommend this model for its portability and height, which will serve you well in both the living room and the bedroom.

Vornado's Whole Room Heater with Auto Climate boasts a highly personal heating efficiency, coming second only to Dreo's Atom 316 Space Heater. True to its manufacturer's claims, this heater not only warms you up quickly but is designed with a lower center of gravity, so it’s less prone to tipping over and therefore is ideal if you have pets or children.

After operating this heater for 15 minutes, the temperature in six locations around the foot and chest level of a seated person increased by an average of 28.62°F. Even the location with the smallest temperature change among the six spots warmed up by more than 25°F, so this heater distributes heat around the body better than other models. When we evaluated how well this model heated the entire room, we noted that the temperature rose by an average of 12.46°F over 15 minutes. That said, this device’s lack of a swivel function means it is not suited for heating an entire room. If that’s your priority, we recommend you consider Dreo's Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater instead.

Another notable feature of this product is its automatic temperature adjustment function, which maintains the room’s temperature autonomously. At about 5.3 pounds, this heater is somewhat heavy, but it’s not hard to carry because of its handle, which is easy to grip. When it comes to safety, this heater has a switch on the back, which instantly shuts off if the heater tips over.

Overall, this heater’s ability to warm the whole body is its top selling point. It is more expensive than some other models, but if you’re looking for a portable heater that is designed for safe use around children and pets, we recommend this one.

Mainstays' 1500W Ceramic Fan-Force Electric Space Heater can effectively warm your body at a low price of around $20. It doesn’t include features like an automatic mode, but if cost is your top concern, you’ll appreciate the low price.

After 15 minutes of operation, the temperature at six points corresponding to the feet and chest increased by an average of 23.37°F. Although the chest-height warmed by about 40°F on average, the area near the feet only heats up by about 7.5°F, so we don’t recommend it for people with cold feet. The overall room temperature rose by an average of 10.93°F in 15 minutes. The results revealed that this heater was not able to warm a whole room as quickly as the top-rated products.

In addition, this heater is somewhat loud. We recorded a noise level of about 47dB from a distance of 3 feet away from the unit. That’s about 10dB louder than Dreo's Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater, which is known for its quiet operation, so we do not recommend Mainstays’ for bedroom use.

On the plus side, this heater is equipped with a switch-type fall prevention function on the back for safety, and it immediately stops when it’s knocked over. Despite its low price, it can sufficiently warm your arms and face. This affordable heater may be a good option if you’re looking to keep your hands warm while working in your garage.

Aikoper's Space Heater is a compact heater that can easily be placed on a desk or bedside table. Due to its small size, this heater doesn’t radiate warmth as widely and instead mainly warms the upper body.

After 15 minutes of operation, this heater increased the temperature at chest height by an average of 35°F, while it only warmed the area around the feet by an average of 10°F. In addition, the overall room temperature only rose an average of 10.12°F after 15 minutes of heating. Plus, this model does not have an oscillating function to distribute heat throughout a room.

What sets this heater apart is its portability. At just 2.6 pounds and a compact size, this heater is light and easy to carry around. It’s also designed with safety features including an overheating prevention and a tip-over shut-off function. This heater would work well on your desk or on a side table in the living room. At just $23, this heater is perfect for keeping your hands warm as you work.

The Whole Room Heater VH200 from Vornado, is priced at about $60, which is more expensive than some models. This heater does not perform any better than the 1500W Ceramic Fan-Force Electric Space Heater from Mainstays, which is one-third of the price. We recommend you consider a heater with a higher rating.

After 15 minutes of operation, the temperature in six spots corresponding to the foot and chest level rose by an average of 23.94°F. Even the spot with the least temperature change among the six locations warmed up by more than 22°F. This heater also adequately heated a larger space, as the room's overall temperature rose by an average of 12.82°F in 15 minutes. That said, this heater does not have an oscillating function, so it may not heat an entire room. If that’s what you’re looking for, we recommend the Atom Guard Electric Space Heater or the Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater from Dreo.

Despite its high price, this heater lacks a timer function and only provides three temperature levels. You’ll also have to adjust it frequently, so you can’t leave it alone to warm up. This model is equipped with a switch-type tip-over prevention mechanism with buttons on the back, which immediately stops the heat when it tips over for safety.

In the end, this heater has some drawbacks. If you’re someone who always has cold hands and feet, you’ll probably be more satisfied if you purchase Dreo's Atom 316 Space Heater instead.

The Amazon Basics 1500W Ceramic Personal Heater is a compact ceramic heater that's easy to place on a tabletop.

After 15 minutes of operation, the temperature rose by an average of 21.6°F in six areas that corresponded to the feet and chest area. On the other hand, the three places corresponding to the foot level only rose by an average of about 7.8°F, which is not enough to warm up the body. This heater also lacks a swing function, so it won’t work as a central heater.

The operating noise is approximately 49dB, which is louder than other heaters and may not be suitable for the bedroom. It's 10 dB noisier than the Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater from Dreo, which excels at quiet performance. This model also isn’t particularly user-friendly, as it lacks an automatic mode and timer.

While a compact heater that can fit on your desk is appealing, this model doesn’t provide a reliable heater, so you may as well consider higher-ranking products that may be more expensive but can be relied upon to bring the heat.

GiveBest's Portable Space Heater PTC-905 features an easy-to-carry handle. It does a great job of heating the area around your body, but it is noisy. When we conducted our 15-minute test of how well it warmed up six locations around the body of a seated person, the temperature increased by an average of 24.09°F. The warmest area saw an increase of 37°F in 15 minutes, a significant boost in heat. But the least warmed area only increased by 10.44°F, demonstrating that this heater doesn’t warm evenly.

 
This model does not have an automatic mode, but you can switch between cool air, 750W, and 1500W modes. In addition, this heater does not offer oscillation or remote control features. Also, this heater is loud, with a noise level that exceeds 50 dB.

 
Although this heater is easy to carry, its noise level and minimal features are drawbacks. You may want to consider spending a little more on Dreo's Atom 316 Space Heater instead.

Lasko's Bathroom Space Heater is designed for use in the bathroom, featuring an ALCI safety plug and a timer.

After we tested this heater for 15 minutes, temperatures at six points corresponding to the feet and chest increased by an average of 23.58°F. Although the upper part of the body warmed up by more than 33°F, the area around the feet, only heated up by about 10°F. If you are concerned about cold feet after getting out of the shower, you may be more satisfied with Dreo's Atom Guard Electric Space Heater.

This heater operates quietly, recording a noise level of 41.9dB at a distance of 3 feet from the body. Unfortunately, this model doesn’t include the crucial tip-over shut-off feature for safety, so we don’t recommend you use it while you’re sleeping. Given this heater’s drawbacks, you may want to opt for a model in the same price range that heats consistently and is more user-friendly, such as Dreo's Atom 316 Space Heater.

Lasko's Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat Space Heater falls short in both heating performance and safety. 

During our 15-minute heat test, the temperature increased on average by 13.47°F in six areas around the feet and chest. By contrast, other heaters on this list increased the temperature by more than 20°F during the same time span. And this model only warmed the area around the feet by about 5°F.

 
The tipping shut-off function, which is standard on other heaters, is not available on this product, nor on the same manufacturer's Bathroom Space Heater. 

Given the risk and the sub-optimal performance, we recommend you consider another model that is equipped with a tip-over shut-off function.