6 Best Space Heaters for Basements in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on December 11, 2021

A basement space heater

A good space heater can help you cut back on your power bills, and also just stay nice and cozy during the punishing months of winter. That said, there is tons of variation with this product, and what’s perfect for one family may be disastrous for another. The goal is always to find the best product at the best price, and with this guide, you should have no problem doing exactly that.

We’ve tested a ton of space heaters over the past few months, always intending to find the right one for a variety of different types of users. The products that have been assembled in this guide are great at what they do, so read on for some space heater for basement reviews!

 Comparison Table (updated in 2022):

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Dr. Infrared Space Heater Dr. Infrared Space Heater
  • Digital controls
  • Natural infrared light
  • Wide temperature range
  • Best Value
    Second place
    ISILER Space Heater ISILER Space Heater
  • Affordable
  • Very portable
  • Broad temperature range
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    DeLonghi Radiant Heater DeLonghi Radiant Heater
  • Resists overheating
  • Around the clock timer
  • 144 square feet of coverage
  • LIFE SMART Infrared Heater LIFE SMART Infrared Heater
  • Infrared
  • Wireless remote
  • Maintains humidity
  • Lasko Ceramic Under-Desk Heater Lasko Ceramic Under-Desk Heater
  • Very portable
  • 3 fan settings
  • 11 different heats
  • The 6 Best Basement Space Heaters:

    1. Dr. Infrared Heater DR968 Portable Space Heater – Best Overall

    Dr. Infrared Heater DR968

    The Dr. Infrared unit takes the day. This infrared heater uses the same type of energy as the sun, nuclear fusion. The heating experience is both natural and thorough, warming your skin and not just the air around it. With built-in digital controls, it will be easy to regulate the many different temperature settings featured here.

    The Dr. Infrared can be set anywhere between 50-85 degrees Fahrenheit, which should be enough of a range to suit pretty much anyone. It also benefits from a timer that can be set in 12-hour increments and a completely silent operation that won’t disrupt your household.

    As far as features are concerned, the unit is solid. Note that it is on the pricier side. Budget buyers probably won’t favor this one. And, given that this is an infrared unit, heat retention is pretty minimal. Once the heater shuts off, your room will start getting cold fast.

    Pros
    • Natural infrared light
    • Digital controls
    • Wide temperature range
    • Timer
    Cons
    • Poor heat retention
    • Pricey

    2. ISILER Space Heater – Best Value

    ISILER Space Heater

    The Isiler comes in as the best space heater for basement for the money on our list. It’s an affordable convection unit that is simple but effective. With little more than a fan and a heating element, this ceramic heater is still effective at what it does.

    The unit features a pretty broad temperature range of 41-95 degrees. It can heat up in a matter of seconds and is compact enough to easily be moved from place to place. At just two pounds, no one will have much trouble lugging this thing around.

    Unfortunately, though, limitations stem from the simplicity. For one thing, it tends to be fairly noisy, which may irritate some people. It also suffers from a fairly limited range. This won’t be the right product for people that need to heat a larger space. Still, for the money, this unit is hard to beat.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Broad temperature range
    • Very portable
    Cons
    • Noisy
    • Not good for large spaces

    3. DeLonghi TRD40615E Radiant Heater – Premium Choice

    DeLonghi TRD40615E

    The DeLonghi is a radiant heater that features enough of a range to cover your entire room. It boasts a durable build and an automatic shut-off feature that ensures it doesn’t overheat and risk a fire. A single unit can heat 144 square feet. Of course, this number may change based on windows, furniture, or other variables, but it is impressive all the same.

    The DeLonghi also benefits from an around the clock timer. You can set it to stop running any time at all throughout a 24-hour cycle.

    You may want to note that this is one of the bulkier options on our list. This is offset somewhat by wheels, but it still may be a hassle for people with serious spacial restrictions. And, as the designation of “premium choice,” implies, it is also one of the most expensive options featured here today.

    Pros
    • 144 square feet of coverage
    • Designed to resist overheating
    • Around the clock timer
    Cons
    • Bulky
    • Very pricey

    4. LIFE SMART LS-6BPIQH-X-IN Infrared Heater

    LIFE SMART LifeSmart 6 Element

    The Life Smart is an infrared unit that operates via a wireless remote. This feature allows you to manipulate the three settings from anywhere in the room. The thermostat is completely digital for ease of use, and the metal construction helps to ensure durability.

    The heater also guarantees that it will be able to maintain the natural humidity of your home. Traditionally speaking, space heaters tend to dry out the air. Such will not be a concern here. Because it is an infrared heater, only objects and people will be affected.

    In terms of issues, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. For one thing, it is a good deal heavier than many of the other products on our list. At 26 pounds, it will be fairly difficult to lug from room to room. This will be especially inconvenient when you factor for the range. Unfortunately, the heater is not able to warm up large spaces very well, so you may indeed find yourself moving it around often.

    Pros
    • Infrared
    • Wireless remote
    • Maintains humidity
    Cons
    • Heavy
    • Limited range

    5. Lasko CD09250 Ceramic Under-Desk Heater

    Lasko Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat Tabletop or Under-Desk Heater

    As the name suggests, the Lasko is sized to fit on or underneath a desk. Consequently, it won’t do much good at heating a large room but will be perfect for personal use. It features three fan output settings and 11 different temperatures, giving you enough options to satisfactorily keep yourself comfortable.

    With dimensions of 5.7 x 7 x 9 inches and a weight of fewer than 3 pounds, it is extremely easy to get around with. Unfortunately, though, its limited application keeps it on the bottom of our list. Given its size, it is only able to heat a range of a few feet. The safety features also just aren’t what they are on some of the other options. There is little here to prevent tip-overs or fires caused by overheating.

    Pros
    • 3 fan settings
    • Very portable
    • 11 different heats
    Cons
    • Very small range
    • Limited safety features

    6. AmazonBasics DF1515 Portable Eco-Smart Space Heater

    AmazonBasics Portable Eco-Smart Space Heater

    We close the list with the AmazonBasics. Price and portability are the two main selling points here. For the size, it’s one of the most affordable and easiest to move units on the list. At only fourteen pounds, you should be able to get it around the house with relative ease.

    Unfortunately, though, the rest of the performance leaves something to be desired. Even though the unit claims to be able to heat a 1,000 square foot space, many users are saying that it falls well short.

    It’s also very noisy, so consider this as you decide where to place it in your home.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Portable
    Cons
    • Not extremely effective
    • Very noisy

    Buyer’s Guide

    And now, here are some buying considerations that will help you to make sense of the products we’ve just looked at.

    First, Why Basements?

    Even though we are technically talking about basement space heaters today, the products on this list will perform equally well in any room of your house. The location of the space heater is much less important than the size of the room.

    In other words, if you find the right space heater it really won’t matter too much what room you put it in.

    Type of Heat

    Not all heat is created equal. As you explore our list of six products, you are likely to encounter two main different styles of heating: convection and infrared. Let’s examine both of them separately.

    Convection: The convection heater operates essentially the same way that your furnace does. You have a heating element and a fan that circulates the warmth. Consequently, the air around you becomes hotter, creating the feeling of warmth. However, they are not able to directly heat your body.

    When it comes to heating larger spaces, the convection style unit makes the most sense. However, it may not be the best choice for the individual.

    Infrared: Infrared heaters are almost the exact opposite. These units work the same way that sunlight does. Using warm light they heat your skin directly. The experience of warmth is more thorough, but there is a major con: infrared heat doesn’t stick around the same way that convection-driven heat does.

    The moment you step out of the range of the infrared heater you will stop benefitting from its effects. Similarly, infrared heaters will not do much to heat an entire room.

    Still, if you are looking for something that will suit the needs of a couple of people at a time, infrared can’t be beaten.

    Do, however, note that it tends to be on the pricier side.

    Square Footage

    You will certainly need to account for the square footage of the room you are trying to heat. The bigger the room, the bigger you will need your space heater to be. The good news is that many manufacturers will list the square footage potential of their unit on the box. This certainly isn’t a universal inclusion but it is very useful where you can find it.

    Style

    There are also a variety of different styles that impact your user experience. Here are a few of the different types of space heaters you can expect to encounter.

    a space heater

    Upright

    The upright unit rests on the ground and may stand several feet high. This style tends to be good at heating small to moderate-sized spaces, though this will vary from unit to unit.

    Desk Top

    Desk-sized units are made for personal use. They usually stand less than 12 inches high and can only heat several feet of space at a time. They are great for a drafty office or even a nightstand, but they won’t be good for bigger spaces.

    Wall Mounted

    The wall-mounted unit is going to be ideal for people that don’t have central heating. These heaters are very large, and consequently able to spread heat across a fairly large space. Granted, they are pricey (though certainly significantly less so than a furnace) and they are known to be quite the eyesore; but for some, they may be just what the doctor ordered.

    Timer

    Some heaters will feature onboard timers. This is great for people that want to regulate how often they use their heaters without constantly having to worry about it. The only downside is that a timer can lead to the formation of bad habits.

    It is always dangerous to leave a space heater unattended, even if there is a timer regulating its output. Consequently, be mindful of safety and always check that your heater is off before you leave the room.

    Safety Features

    Safety is truly crucial when it comes to space heaters. Ideally, you will be able to get something that accounts for this in the design concept. Some safety features that can go a long way towards making the space heater at least relatively kid-friendly.

    For example, most of the options on our list can automatically shut off if they start to overheat. Others deactivate the moment they’ve been tipped over.

    Still, others will feature a cool exterior, ensuring that you (or a clumsy pet or child) don’t get burned coming into accidental contact with it.

    Unfortunately, some of these features are only found on higher-end units.

    Conclusion:

    By now the hope is always that most readers will have already made up their mind. However, if you feel overwhelmed by all the great options supplied by these space heater for basement reviews, we get it. All of the products on the list are really great, which can make zeroing in on a final selection tricky.

    That being the case it may serve you well to remember a few of the standout options from the list. If you want the best product you can get your hands on no matter what, go with our top choice the Dr. Infrared Heater DR968 Portable Space Heater.

    Then again, maybe you need to find yourself an unbeatable deal on a high performing product. If that describes your situation, look at something like our runner-up choice the ISILER Space Heater.

    The good news is that all six of these products are a pretty safe bet. Just choose the one you’re the most comfortable with.