5 Best Electric Wall Heaters of 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on December 11, 2021

an electric wall heater

Trying to shop online for electric wall heaters can leave you feeling like you were left out in the cold. Misleading product descriptions can make it hard to get a good feel for the products you’re comparing, and even when you find one that you think you’ll like, it can be difficult to make sure that you’re getting a good price for it.

We think that it shouldn’t be such a challenge to find the right model for your situation when shopping online. Our reviews of the best electric wall heaters of 2020 are designed to walk you through everything you need to know before you buy. That includes the highlights and the design flaws that you may or may not want to avoid.

We’ve also included a buyer’s guide, so you can learn to look at these models like an expert would, and ensure that you come away with a great deal.

A Comparison of Heaterking’s Favorites:

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Stiebel Eltron Electric Heater Stiebel Eltron Electric Heater
  • Quiet
  • Frost protection
  • Downdraft design
  • Second place
    Cadet Electric Heater Cadet Electric Heater
  • Thermostat
  • Night mode
  • Quiet fan
  • Best Value
    Third place
    Heat Storm Deluxe Heater Heat Storm Deluxe Heater
  • Great price
  • Washable filter system
  • Easy installation
  • EconoHome Electric Heater EconoHome Electric Heater
  • Safe
  • Great look
  • Plug-in thermostat
  • Fahrenheat Electric Heater Fahrenheat Electric Heater
  • Remote
  • LED touch screen
  • Weekday/weekend settings
  • The 5 Best Electric Wall-Heaters:

    1. Stiebel Eltron Wall-Mounted Electric Heater – Best Overall

    Stiebel Eltron 074058 Wall Mounted Heater

    The Stiebel Eltron 074058 Wall Mounted Heater is the best overall wall mounted electric heater on the market today. It comes with a monstrous, 3-year warranty, and if a manufacturer is willing to stand by their product for that long, you can rest assured that they’re not going to cut corners. The best thing about this model is its downdraft design. Unlike most heaters, this model aims heated air downward, which heats rooms more quickly and evenly than an upward-facing model. This model also produces less than 50 decibels of noise when operating, making it one of the quietest heaters you can find.

    Plus, this model comes with a frost protection setting. When set to this power level, the Stiebel will use its built-in thermostat to keep the room above freezing, which can be useful for keeping pipes or electronic equipment in good condition without having to heat the whole house. The only downside is that the power wires are visible from above, which isn’t a great look. If the manufacturer came up with a sleeker design, we’d rate this model even more highly. Still, this is going to be the best bet for most people looking for a wall heater.

    Pros
    • 3-year warranty
    • Frost protection setting
    • Downdraft design
    • Quiet operation
    Cons
    • Visible wiring

    2. Cadet CEC163TW Electric Wall Heater

    Cadet CEC163TW Energy Plus Wall Heater

    The Cadet CEC163TW Energy Plus Wall Heater comes with a great electronic thermostat. It features a large LED screen, which can be read from across the room, and it’s backlit, so you can read it even when the lights aren’t on. Most people love the fact that this heater is very sensitive to changes in temperature, and that it almost always keeps the room within two degrees of the desired temperature, making it a great choice for people with serious heating needs. It also comes with a night mode, which can be set to run at a lower temperature. This feature makes the Cadet ideal for bathrooms, where you might want good heat during the day, and just enough heat to not regret the experience during the night.

    This model also runs quietly, though it may run a bit louder than our top model. Unfortunately, some units ship with a defect that leads to them running very noisily. That speaks to poor quality control and possible unresolved design issues. While this doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem, it isn’t one that you can identify before installation. Still, this model is a good choice for most people.

    Pros
    • Electronic thermostat
    • Quiet fan
    • Night mode
    • Maintains temperature well
    Cons
    • Some noisy models

    3. Heat Storm Deluxe Infrared Wall Heater – Best Value

    Heat Storm Deluxe Infrared Wall Heater

    The Heat Storm Deluxe Infrared Wall Heater takes some of the best features from the previous models and packs them into an affordable package. This model comes with a downdraft design, which is the better design for quickly and evenly heating a space. It’s also incredibly easy to install. It makes use of a standard 120-volt power cord, so most people will be able to mount it and plug it in on their own, whereas the previous models will likely require professional installation. It also comes with a washable filter system, which cleans the air that passes through the heater and can be cleaned with just warm water.

    You can get this model for less than half of what the top two models on our list cost. That easily makes this model the best overall value for the money. If you’re looking for a great deal, then you’ll be very happy with the Heat Storm. However, this model does come with some problems. It sometimes overheats a room and then responds by overcooling it, which results in it overheating. However, this is still an excellent choice for people looking to score a deal on an electric wall heater.

    Pros
    • Downdraft design
    • Easy installation
    • Washable filter system
    • Great price
    Cons
    • Touchy

    4. EconoHome 500SS Electric Wall-Heater

    EconoHome 500SS

    The EconoHome 500SS is the model you want to get if you’re looking for a silent electric wall heater. This model doesn’t have a fan, so it doesn’t push heat out into the room as effectively as other models, making it a good choice for heating smaller rooms. However, the EconoHome has one of the best appearances of any model on our list, and it will fit in well in rooms with modern styling. It also comes with a plug-in thermostat, which makes it easy to control the temperature, and allows you to put the thermostat in the location most convenient for you. Plus, this model plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet and comes with all the mounting hardware you need, making it a very easy installation process.

    However, many units continue to smell long after they’ve been turned on for the first time. Some heaters have an odor problem at the start that fades, but this model sometimes continues to have issues for months. Some units also crack, which is a safety concern. Overall, this is an inexpensive-to-run and quiet model, but its other flaws mean it won’t be the right model for most people.

    Pros
    • Great look
    • Plug-in thermostat
    • Easy installation
    Cons
    • Smell issues
    • Cracking issues

    5. Fahrenheat FSSWH1502 Electric Wall Heater

    Fahrenheat FSSWH1502 Electric Wall Heater

    The Fahrenheat FSSWH1502 Electric Wall Heater is a model worth considering if you’re looking for a modern-looking unit with touch screen capabilities. While it won’t be a feature that most people will readily use, it’s something that drives up the price. This model also comes with a remote, allowing you to adjust the temperature from anywhere in the room. The Fahrenheat also comes with the option of programming it for different operations on weekdays and weekends, making it very versatile.

    However, this model is relatively tricky to install. It doesn’t require a 240-volt circuit, but you will be tearing out part of your wall to install and hardwire it. It’s also not the quietest electric wall heater you can find. The fan runs even on the low setting, and you really notice it when the unit is running on high. It’s also somewhat sensitive to changes in temperature, so it turns itself on and off frequently. Overall, this isn’t a terrible model, but most people won’t get great value from it.

    Pros
    • LED touch screen
    • Remote
    • Weekday/weekend settings
    Cons
    • Tricky installation
    • Noisy

    Buyer’s Guide

    You may already have figured out which electric wall heater is right for you, but if you’re not yet sure which will leave you satisfied with your purchase, check out this buyer’s guide. We’ve designed it with the layman in mind, so we cover all the basic properties of an electric wall heater that you should be aware of before you spend your hard-earned cash. After reading this, you’ll be able to evaluate these machines just as an expert would. We’ve also included some tips on getting great value for your money, so if you’re looking to get a great deal, read on.

    Ease of installation

    The first thing you need to consider when shopping for an electric wall heater is the complexity of the installation. Some models can be mounted nearly flush with a wall, providing a lot of heating power without taking up much space. However, that requires removing sheetrock and, in most instances, also building a dedicated circuit on which to run your heater. If you don’t have extensive electrical skills, that could turn into a large and potentially dangerous project.

    Unfortunately, this isn’t a job for which you can cheaply hire a contractor. You’ll typically hand out a few hundred dollars to pay for these services, in addition to what you spend on your electric wall heater. That can result in the project becoming very expensive before it’s all said and done.

    If you’re not looking for a solution that permanent, then some heaters may interest you. Instead of being mounted in the wall, they’re mounted on it, and instead of being hard-wired, they make use of a standard 120-volt outlet. These are nearly as easy to hang as a picture, and since they don’t require any sensitive electrical work, they should be a project that most homeowners can handle.

    The one downside to these models is that they aren’t always as powerful as the hard-wired variety. However, if you’re trying to heat a small space, you typically won’t have any problems with using the weaker, but easier to install, models.

    Heating effectiveness

    The other thing you need to consider is the size of the space that you need to heat, and how quickly you need that space to get warm. The best thing about wall-mounted electric wall heaters is that they’re one of the most reliable choices when it comes to heating a room evenly, and they tend to have high-quality thermostats, as well.

    The downside is that they’re mounted in one place, and if you like to reposition a heater to quickly bring areas of a room up to the same temperature, you’re not going to be able to do that with a wall-mounted heater. So, you have to make sure that you’re getting a model that heats quickly enough to suit your needs.

    If you value the speed at which your heater works, then you’ll need to go with a model that has a fan. The fan helps the heater bring the entire room up to the same temperature more quickly. Models that don’t use a fan are far quieter, but they also don’t work nearly as quickly.

    The big trade-off here is that in most circumstances, the more quickly a heater works, the noisier it is. That may not be an issue for many rooms in the house, but if you’re planning to use the heater in a bathroom connected to a bedroom, or in the bedroom itself, you’ll want to make sure that you invest in a model that allows you to sleep undisturbed.

    Ease of use

    Some features can add a lot to the experience, even if they don’t necessarily affect how well the wall heater works. For instance, some models come with a remote. That allows you to change the temperature from across the room, or from the warmth of your bed, which is a true luxury. The good news is that this feature typically doesn’t add a noticeable amount to the price. However, not all models come with a remote, so if it’s something you value, you’ll need to make sure that you’re looking for it from the get-go.

    Another underrated feature is an oversized screen. We’ve all had moments where we feel warm or cold, only to realize that the thermostat is set incorrectly. The oversized screen on an electric wall heater allows you to monitor the temperature from across the room. It also makes it easier to program the model, if it allows for scheduling. If you don’t have perfect vision, getting a model with a large screen can dramatically improve your experience, and reduce the time that you spend fussing with your electric wall heater.

    Touch screens, while nice in theory, aren’t more effective than traditional controls, and add to the price without adding as much value as comparable features, such as a remote.

    Noise

    Noise is one of the biggest complaints associated with most electric wall heater models. As we discussed earlier, there tends to be a correlation between heating effectiveness and the noise that a model puts out. That’s due to the fact that most models require a powerful fan to push heat out into the room. The more powerful the fan, the noisier the model tends to be.

    However, some models buck this trend. Models with a downward draft design tend to be a bit quieter, but still very effective. Instead of blowing heat outward or upward, as many models do, they blow heat down. Since heat rises, this naturally heats the rest of the room. An added bonus is that the floor warms up the fastest, which is good in bathrooms with tile, where you may be walking barefoot.

    Since they don’t have to heat the whole room, but instead just the area by the floor, downward draft heaters don’t have to have the most powerful fan on the market, and that means that they can be just as effective while working more quietly.

    If you’re getting a wall heater for a bedroom and are fine with heating it gradually over a day, you may want to go with a convection or infrared heater, which don’t always require a fan but can be just as effective.

    Which electric wall heater is right for you?

    There are a lot of wall heaters out there, but unfortunately, many people don’t get great value when they choose one. Instead of worrying about their individual needs, many people get caught up trying to score a deal by looking at the lowest-priced models and hoping that they can score a deal there. Others focus only on the most expensive models, thinking that those are going to be the ones that work the best.

    Neither of those approaches is fundamentally true. Rather than focus on the price tag, it’s a better idea to start with your individual needs. Evaluating the heating effectiveness and noise tolerances you have is a great place to start. If you narrow your search to the models that perform well in those areas, you’ll increase the odds of ending up with a model that you like using.

    If you want the best value for your money, you can choose the cheapest model from the shortlist of models that meet your needs. This unit will have the features you need for a good experience, so it won’t leave you wishing you spent more, and it will also come at a relatively low price, so you won’t feel buyer’s remorse afterward.

    Also worth checking out: a comparison of 5 popular electric baseboard heaters.

    Conclusion

    The Stiebel Eltron 074058 Wall Mounted Heater is the best overall electric wall heater due to its downdraft design, frost protection setting, and quiet operation. The Cadet CEC163TW Energy Plus Wall Heater comes with an electronic thermostat, a quiet fan, and night mode, but the occasional noisy unit drops it to second place. The Heat Storm Deluxe Infrared Wall Heater comes with easy installation, a downdraft design, and a washable filter system, and can be had for a fraction of what the top two models cost, making it the best overall choice for the money. The EconoHome 500SS comes with a great look, a plug-in thermostat, and easy installation, but smell and cracking issues drop it to fourth place. The Fahrenheat FSSWH1502 Electric Wall Heater comes with an LED touch screen and good programming options, but its tricky installation and high noise mean it can rise no higher than last place.

    We hope that our reviews and buyer’s guide have helped you better understand electric wall heaters and have helped you find the model that is right for you.

    Came here looking for an energy-efficient heater? Then check out our recent guide found here.