9 Best Low-Wattage Space Heaters of 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on December 11, 2021

Best Low Wattage Space HeaterDoes anyone work in an office that feels like a meat locker? Sometimes, it gets so cold that you can’t focus on anything else but getting your fingers and toes warmed up. That’s where a low-wattage space heater comes into the picture. They are the best option for small areas, such as an office or cubicle, since they are compact, lightweight, and offer many safety features.

Once you purchase a space heater, you may have to re-arrange your office to fit all your co-workers as they naturally gravitate toward the warmth — at least, you tell them how to find one for themselves, such as by reading this list of low-wattage space heater reviews. Then, you can get back to your warm cocoon of peace and quiet.


A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
VersionTECH Space Heater VersionTECH Space Heater
  • Heats fast
  • 3 modes
  • 2 safety features
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Brightown Personal Mini Heater Brightown Personal Mini Heater
  • 400 watts
  • Quiet
  • Compact
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    COSTWAY Oil Radiator Heater COSTWAY Oil Radiator Heater
  • 700 watts
  • Silent operation
  • Covers larger area
  • Lasko 100 MyHeat Heater Lasko 100 MyHeat Heater
  • Easy to transport
  • Low energy usage
  • Cool touch housing
  • AmazonBasics Mini Heater AmazonBasics Mini Heater
  • 500 watts
  • Heats up quickly
  • Automatic shut-off
  • The 9 Best Low-Wattage Space Heaters – Reviews 2022

    1. VersionTECH Small Space Heater – Best Overall

    VersionTECH MQ002-1FBA

    The VersionTECH space heater is small and compact, yet it can radiate enough heat for a small-sized room. You can also keep it under your desk to warm your feet on cold winter days. Made from durable PTC ceramics that heat up fast, it sits on a rotating base for the option to make it oscillate.

    It has three modes with an indicator light and will heat within two seconds. Note that it takes 20 seconds to stop working after being turned off. It uses 450 watts on the low setting and 950 watts on high.

    This heater is quiet while operating, emitting a low humming sound. It has a carrying handle and only weighs 2.4 pounds. Two nice safety features are that it will automatically turn off if it starts to become too hot or gets tipped over.

    Pros
    • Compact
    • Lightweight
    • Heats fast
    • Three modes
    • Two safety features
    • Quiet
    • Oscillating base
    Cons
    • Small coverage area

    2. Brightown Personal Mini Heater – Best Value

    Brightown 8541833742

    The Brightown little orange heater is the best low-wattage space heater for the money. It is perfect for a small office or cubicle due to its compact size and weight of only 1.5 pounds. When running, it resembles the sound of a small fan.

    There is, however, a burnt plastic smell when turned on for the first time, though it dissipates with each use. On the upside, the housing stays nice and cool when running. It is ETL listed and uses only 400 watts. We liked the overheat protection and that if it falls over, it will shut off.

    This fan doesn’t have as many features as our number-one choice, which is why it is rated second on the list.

    Pros
    • Compact
    • 400 watts
    • Quiet
    • Lightweight
    • Two safety features
    Cons
    • Burnt plastic smell
    • Small coverage area

    3. COSTWAY Oil Radiator Heater – Premium Choice

    COSTWAY 22917-CYPE

    For more heat coverage, the Costway radiator heater is a good choice. It’s filled with permanently sealed oil, which means it won’t have to be refilled. The heater warms and emits the heat as the oil is warmed, and will cover approximately 400 square feet.

    The Costway comes with many features and options. It’s larger than the first two on our list, but it also puts out more heat. It weighs 8.6 pounds and has a carry handle for easy moving from room to room. The heater will shut off automatically if lopsided or beginning to overheat.

    A big advantage is that this heater is silent when running. There’s an adjustable thermostat for warmth control. It uses 700 watts of power at all times, no matter the setting. On the negative side, the sides of the heater do become quite hot, so it would need to be used with care when small children are present.

    This heater is rated number three because for the money, the other two heaters offer great features at a better price. This unit comes with a 90-day warranty.

    Pros
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • Sides hot when running

    Also read: Electric blanket vs space heater – Our advice!


    4. Lasko 100 MyHeat Ceramic Heater

    Lasko 100 MyHeat

    The Lasko 100 personal ceramic heater is great for putting under your desk to keep your feet warm on cold days in the office. This heater isn’t designed to warm a whole room, since it is compact and only 200 watts. We found it was quiet when running and is small enough to place on a counter or desk top.

    It is designed with a ceramic safety system that offers cool-touch housing to prevent accidental burns. It is ETL listed and comes fully assembled. It also comes with a three-year limited warranty.

    Pros
    Cons
    • Minimal safety features
    • Small coverage

    5. AmazonBasics DQ1722D Mini Heater

    AmazonBasics DQ1722D

    The AmazonBasics DQ1722D is a 500-watt ceramic heater that is designed to work well in personal spaces. When your fingers are cold, you will appreciate that it warms up fast due to its ceramic coils. If you happen to get a bit clumsy and tip it over, it will automatically turn off.

    We found it to be a little louder than others when running, but the cord is long enough to move it from the floor to a desktop without unplugging it. It would be wise to not get too close to the heater to warm up because the metal becomes hot after a while.

    Pros
    • 500 watts
    • Compact
    • Heats up quickly
    • Automatic shut-off
    Cons
    • Loud
    • Metal gets hot

    6. DOUHE QN02-BVD1 Space Heater

    DOUHE QN02-BVD1

    The Douhe is a ceramic floor heater that emits a good amount of warmth into a small room. There are three settings at different wattages. Low heat uses 600 watts, and high heat jumps up to 950 watts. Using the natural wind setting uses a mere 5 watts.

    Even on the high setting, this heater was fairly quiet at 45 decibels. One nice feature is the 45-degree oscillation, which will increase your heat distribution. There is a safety switch on the bottom of the unit that has to be switched on for the unit to work. It also has tip-over and overheat protection. Another safety feature is the ABS flame-retardant grid on the front of the heater, which is designed to prevent fires.

    On the negative side, the cord is short at only 3.5 feet, which makes it difficult to move around to different areas of the room. This heater is ETL listed and comes with a one-year warranty.

    Pros
    • Covers small room
    • Three settings
    • 950 watts
    • Oscillation feature
    • Three safety features
    Cons
    • Short cord
    • Noisier

    7. Joyday Space Heater

    Joyday Space Heater

    The Joyday is a 500-watt ceramic heater that will warm up a small space easily and fast, though you shouldn’t rely on it to heat a large area. Because of its convection heating unit, it is designed to allow air to flow in three dimensions, which is an advantage when placed under a desk or a table since it will heat the area effectively.

    When tipped over, it will shut off, and the body is made of flame-retardant materials to prevent accidental fires. When the temperature on the unit goes over 120 degrees, it will also shut off. The noise it makes is similar to a running computer fan.

    With its compact, low profile, it is sturdy and will not tip over easily. Being lightweight at 1.43 pounds, you could easily use it on top of a desk or countertop. The cord length is only 3.75 inches, so we found it difficult to move from one area to another, though the handle on the back was nice to use when the front grill got hot. The housing for this heater does not seem as durable as others on our list.

    Pros
    • 500 watts
    • Heats fast
    • Three safety features
    • Low profile
    • Handle
    • Quiet
    Cons
    • Short cord
    • Durability

    8. Fitfirst Ceramic Space Heater

    Fitfirst PTC

    The Fitfirst compact ceramic heater sits on the higher end of heating capability, offering 950 watts of power. It has a few extra features that will be appreciated due to added convenience. The fan auto-oscillates 45 degrees when running, which helps distribute warm air to a designated area.

    There are three settings: low, high, and natural wind. This heater is powerful enough to heat a small room — it gets too warm on high heat to leave under a desk but works well in a corner of a small office. It’s small enough and light to blend into your room’s décor and has a handle on the back for easy carry.

    Safety features include tip-over protection, flame-resistant materials, and overheat protection. The back cover is removable to clean the dust filter. Unfortunately, the Fitfirst is louder compared to others on our list, and on fan mode, it doesn’t move enough air to feel a difference. There is a 30-day return guarantee and a 12-month warranty on this heater.

    Pros
    • 950 watts
    • Oscillates 45 degrees
    • Three settings
    • Heats small room
    • Carry handle
    • Three safety features
    Cons
    • Loud
    • Wind mode ineffective

    9. Minetom Handy Plug In Space Heater

    Minetom Handy Plug In Space Heater

    The Minetom portable ceramic space heater offers a unique design: It has a flame effect display and an LED touchscreen. Though some may enjoy the aesthetic feature of the screen, it makes the area where the heat comes from quite small.

    There are two settings for warmth, and the heater uses 450 watts of power when running on high. It has overheat protection but not tip-over protection. The included remote makes for added convenience, though you can’t be too far from the unit itself if you want to feel any warmth. For its small size, we were surprised at how noisy it runs.

    There is a 90-day warranty on this product.

    Pros
    • Two settings
    • LED touch display
    • 450 watts
    • Overheat protection
    Cons
    • No tip-over protection
    • Display screen large
    • Poor heating
    • Noisy

    Buyer’s Guide

    This section will provide considerations to keep in mind when looking to buy a low-wattage space heater. Some will offer more features than others, usually at a higher price. It all depends on what you need and where it will be used.

    There are two types of heaters listed in this review list: ceramic and oil filled.

    • Ceramic: These generate heat using an element of Positive Temperature Coefficient (PCT) ceramic. The air is heated as it passes over this element. Ceramic is durable and should last for many years.
    • Oil-filled radiator: These generate heat as the oil inside the heater is warmed, which circulates through the fins and columns of the unit and then radiates heat into the room. These are slower at getting warm because it takes time to heat the oil.

    See the top radiant heaters – Click here!

    Features

    Watts: A general guideline is that a heater will use 10 watts of heating power to heat one square foot. So, a 500-watt heater will cover 50 square feet, though not all models with the same wattage are created equally. The lower the wattage, the less electricity it will consume. It is important to choose the right size for the space you want to heat. Our low-wattage list is good for offices and small spaces.

    Built-In Safety: Heaters can offer safety features, such as turning off if tipped over or temperature regulators that prevent it from overheating. Some will be tested to meet safety standards such as ETL listed, which gives proof of the manufacturer’s compliance to safety. Certain large companies won’t buy or allow a product in the building if it isn’t ETL listed.

    Features: Cord length can play a role if you don’t have many outlets in your space and using extension cords is frowned upon. Remotes allow you to conveniently control the heater from a distance, though it may not be needed if you keep it nearby. Handles are nice if you want to move the heater from room to room.

    Noise: There will be a certain amount of noise no matter what, though the lower wattage heaters will usually create less noise. There are some that are fan-less and will have a silent operation.

    Quality: Not all space heaters are made with durable, high-quality materials, but most will keep the housing from getting too hot while the heater is running. Certain plastic heaters may break if dropped or kicked over.

    Price: The higher the wattage, the more it will cost because it has the capability to heat a larger area.

    Warranty: Some space heaters will come with a warranty, and others won’t. If you aren’t buying a high-priced model, you may be fine with no warranty. But when buying a premium heater, it’s nice to have the assurance that if anything goes wrong, you can receive help.

    Conclusion

    Getting a compact space heater for a small space will make your workday more pleasant and relaxing. They are a great way to add just enough heat to warm your hands and feet. Our review list of low-wattage space heaters gave a variety of options to consider.

    Our top choice was the VersionTECH, since it has options and safety features that make it a great little heater to have nearby on a cold day. The Brightown, labeled as the best value, is a simple heater but provides a good amount of warmth while keeping the housing cool. If you want quality features with silent operation, the Costway oil-filled radiator was our premium choice.

    After reading our reviews list, we hope that you will find the best heater to keep the frostbite at bay during the winter season.