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10 Best Space Heaters of 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on December 11, 2021

A good space heater can bring you comfort and warmth in a small, portable package. If you do a simple search for “space heaters,” you’ll find thousands of them to choose from.

Different sizes and designs can heat larger or smaller spaces. Fans, safety features, and multiple heat levels are just a few of the functions that you might compare between models. It may sound a bit overwhelming, but we’ve simplified it for you by comparing and testing the top ten space heaters available and compiling our findings in these reviews.

Afterward, we’ve put together a short buyer’s guide as a quick refresher of all the things to keep in mind before making a purchase.

A Quick Comparison of the Winners in 2022:

The 10 Best Space Heaters:

1. Vornado AVH10 Vortex Space Heater – Best Overall

Automatic climate control may be a feature that you look for in a vehicle, but now you can have it on your space heater as well. No more adjusting the temperature back and forth, simply set the digital readout to the desired temperature and the heater will bring the room to your desired heat level. Then, it maintains this temperature evenly throughout the room by way of its specially tuned “Vortex Action” airflow. With this fan, the whole room will stay nice and toasty, not just the area directly in front of the heater.

There are two heat options at 1,500 watts and 750 watts to set how much heat you want produced. Although it runs up to 140 degrees, the cool-touch case worked as advertised and never got hot to the touch, meaning it’s safe around pets and kids. It also features an automatic shut-off in case of tip-over or overheating. The one drawback to this device is that the quality control isn’t quite up to par. That said, they replaced it very quickly, staying true to their five-year warranty.

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2. Lasko 754200 Portable Space Heater – Best Value

When you just need a cheap way to heat a room and you don’t feel all the extra features are necessary, we think the Lasko 754200 is the best space heater for the money. With low and high heat settings plus a fan only option, the 1,500 watts offered by this portable space heater can comfortably heat 300 square feet. The adjustable thermostat allows you to set a temperature level that the heater will work to maintain.

Built-in safety features such as cool-touch exterior and overheat protection make sure that you’re not at risk of fire while trying to fight the chill. However, it is missing one important safety function which keeps it from possibly breaking out of the second position on this list. This heater does not feature a shut-off mechanism for when it tips over. This means that should the heater fall over while operating, it will continue to generate heat, becoming a fire hazard. If you have children or pets, you may want to avoid it for this reason.

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3. Duraflame DFI-5010 Portable Indoor Space Heater – Premium Choice

If you want an elegant way to heat your home while also adding to the décor and ambiance, the DFI-5010 from Duraflame may be right up your alley. Designed to look like a fireplace stove, it features special 3D flame effect technology to create a surprisingly real looking fire.

Of course, this heater is a whole lot more than just great looks. The performance of this premium space heater is hard to beat. Able to heat 1,000 square feet, this heater can keep an entire two-bedroom apartment warm, which has the potential to save you serious money on your energy bill. To make it even better, it implements infrared quartz heat which we found to be a very comfortable feature. It maintains the natural humidity in the air, so even though it keeps things nice and warm, the air never felt dry. With all of these premium features, the high price tag should come as no surprise. What is more of a surprise, is that it’s somewhat common for this product to arrive with a broken flame generator motor. However, Duraflame holds true to their three-year warranty, so getting a replacement was no problem.

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4. DrDR968 Infrared Portable Space Heater

If energy-efficiency is your most important consideration in finding a portable space heater, then the DR968 is one you may want to take a look at. The high-efficiency blower in this heater is capable of producing 250 degrees at the same 1,500-watt power consumption that other similar heaters can only produce up to 155 degrees with. Therefore, this heater requires less power to heat the same amount of space. The infrared (IR) heat works like the sun, heating objects instead of the air. Utilizing IR heat also means that the unit never gets hot to the touch. Other great functions include built-in heater timers and a remote.

Unfortunately, the fan didn’t seem as quiet as advertised, feeling louder than some of its competitors. It’s also got an interesting way of running that causes it to cycle every five minutes while detecting the temperature. This caused the room to overheat beyond the desired temperature setting. It’s also priced at the high end of the space heater price range. These two drawbacks keep it from getting higher on our list.

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5. andilyA-750-1500 Space Heater

Simple and cheap. Two words that perfectly describe this space heater from Andily. It’s a ceramic space heater, so it heats up quick and produces plenty of heat. Of course, the coils do get pretty hot, so you’ll want to avoid touching the front grille. This means it may not be the best choice around little children or pets. That said, it does include the most important safety features. Tip-over shutoff and automatic overheat shutoff help avoid turning this little heater into a fire hazard. With low, high, and fan-only settings, plus a temperature select knob, you should be able to find a setting that keeps your room at just the right temperature.

As stated, this product is low priced, so you have to expect some imperfections. The biggest one for this heater is its loud noise. If you want a quiet heater that you won’t notice, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Also, a three-month warranty doesn’t do much to inspire confidence in a long lifespan.

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6. Givebest Ceramic Space Heater

Givebest has created a very basic and affordable heater that serves its function without any unnecessary features. It has three modes; low, high, and fan-only. There is also a temperature selection knob to allow you to dial in the setting you find most comfortable. Standard safety features are built-in, such as tip-over shutoff and overheat shutoff. It’s got a tiny footprint and is easily movable from room to room.

Where this heater goes wrong is in longevity. The first one wasn’t working when it arrived. The next one worked fine, though the lack of a warranty doesn’t help you to feel protected should something go wrong with this one as well since it seems to be a known occurrence.

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7. Fane Portable Quiet Ceramic Space-Heater

Unique single-knob operation sets this ceramic space heater apart from the masses of similar products. It still features low, high, and fan-only modes, but there’s no temperature select knob due to the simplified design. This is a definite drawback since you won’t have as much freedom in dialing in your desired temperature. Ceramic heating warms up quickly, but don’t touch the grill in front! This unit is also equipped with standard safety shutoff features such as tip-over and overheat protection. Considering what you get, the Fane heater is a bit overpriced compared to some models on this list that offer more adjustability for a lower price point.

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8. iSiLER 1500W Portable Indoor Heater

The iSiLER definitely deserves a second glance just based on its unique exterior. A bright yellow housing sets it apart in the looks department. The thermostat is adjustable from 41-95 degrees, giving you plenty of variability to get the temperature exactly where you want it. The ceramic heating elements work quickly and efficiently to heat your home. Designed for areas up to 108 square feet, this little heater doesn’t provide quite as much warmth as the competitors that we’ve ranked higher on this list. Another drawback is that when it reaches temperature to stop producing heat, the fan continues to run. For some this may not be an issue, for others it may be a deal-breaker. Although it does feature a triangular design meant to be difficult to tip-over, the lack of a tip-over shutoff function is another downside to the iSiLER space heater.

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9. DOUHEQN02-BVD1 Space Heaters

Designed for up-close heating, this mini portable heater from DOUHE features oscillating operation for wider heat distribution. This is a personal space heater and does not have enough power to heat an entire room. Whereas most of the heaters on our reviews list have featured a high-heat level that pushed 1,500 watts, the maximum setting on this heater only uses 950 watts. In reality, it just doesn’t seem to create enough warmth for even a smaller sized room, though it does work great to heat just one individual. It does still feature important safety functions such as tip-over shutoff and overheat protection and the price point is rather modest.

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10. HALOFUN Portable Ceramic Space Heater

Featuring a unique cylindrical design, this portable heater from HALOFUN has oscillating operation to spread the warmth out more evenly over a greater area. It features low heat, high heat, and fan-only operation, although, there is no temperature selector. This means you lose a lot of adjustability with the temperature. Another issue with this portable heater is that it doesn’t have any carrying handle. If you’d like to move your heater to a new location but you’ve already been using it, you’ll have to be very careful touching the main housing to do so. Similar heaters in the price range feature a well-designed carrying handle that makes it much easier to transport them during use. Also, this unit tripped the breaker repeatedly. It seems to be pulling more power than a standard home electric circuit breaker is meant to handle.

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Buyer’s Guide

Only you know the specifics of your situation. Even though you know which heaters we think are the best after testing and reviewing so many, you still have to decide which one is the best one for you. To help you understand your own needs a little better, we’ve put together this buyer’s guide. It’s going to help make sure you pick the right features and the right product, so you can be satisfied with your purchase the first time. Let’s go over all the things you should keep in mind when purchasing a new space heater.

Temperature Adjustability

Not everyone is going to have the same heating needs, so it’s essential to have plenty of adjustability when it comes to setting the heat level. Some models offer digital thermostats that let you easily dial in a specific temperature setting. Other products offer a temperature select knob that allows you to determine the level of heat. In addition, they usually feature a fan level select knob that lets you choose between low, high, and fan-only operation. With both knobs, you have plenty of variability to dial in a comfortable temperature. Some products only feature the fan level select knob, which then has controls for low-heat, high-heat, and fan-only modes. This may be plenty of temperature adjustability for some, while others may prefer the more flexible adjustability of the two-knob system or a digital thermostat.

Safety Features

Heating abilities have come a long way in modern times. Today, no flames are even necessary to heat your home! Obviously, the likelihood of your home burning down due to your attempts at keeping warm has been greatly minimized. That said, it’s still a possibility, so it’s in your best interest to get a heater that has built-in protection against common accidents. Tip-over shutoff automatically turns the heater off if it gets tipped over. Overheat protection makes sure that the heater never goes beyond a certain temperature. Both of these features are available on most space heaters these days but double-check just to be sure.

Another great feature on many heaters now is the cool-touch exterior. This means that most of the outside of your heater is cool enough to touch and won’t cause burns. For most though, this won’t include the front grill. This is a particularly great feature to have if you have children or pets.

Portability

Space heaters are intended to heat a single space, usually one room. If you want a different area warm, you’ll have to take the heater with you. Many space heaters are built to be easily portable, so this won’t be an issue. Look for a small footprint with a carrying handle on top so you don’t have to worry about getting burned. Some heaters are too large to be moved from room to room and are not really portable. Others don’t feature carrying handles that would make transportation much easier and safer. Keep these things in mind when deciding which space heater is right for you.

Heating Range

How much area do you need to keep warm? The size of the room you’re trying to keep warm may be the number one factor to dictate which heater to get. Although many of the heaters feature similar power levels in terms of watts used, the amount of space they can heat varies considerably from model to model. While some models are intended more as personal heaters that will only warm up the space immediately in front of them, others are strong enough to warm an entire two-bedroom apartment. Figure out how large of an area you need to heat up before you make a decision about which heater to purchase.

ALSO: How does a space heater compare to a furnace?

Price

While price may be the last consideration for some, it’s the most important factor for other people. Although all of these heaters perform the same function, heat a room, there is a pretty hard to miss price difference between models. In fact, our premium choice in the third position is six times more expensive than our budget pick in the second spot. While this is quite a significant difference, they have just as drastic of a difference in ability and aesthetics. It’s up to you which features to prioritize. We’ve made sure to offer choices that fit any budget to make sure that you find the heater that exactly fits your needs.

SEE ALSO: an overview of the different types of space heaters

Conclusion

When buying a space heater there is a lot to consider, but don’t let the decision get you heated! After reading our reviews, you should be able to make the right choice that will keep you comfortable whenever temperatures get low. The Vornado AVH10 in the first place was our pick for best overall space heater, and it’s not hard to see why. With “Vortex Action” airflow maintaining an even temperature throughout the room in a cool-touch case that’s safe for pets and kids, this heater will keep you comfortable without question.

For the budget-minded consumer, the Lasko 754200 offers plenty of heat with a cool-touch exterior at a very affordable price, making it our pick for best value. On the high end of the price spectrum, the Duraflame DFI-5010 is the ultimate in luxury heaters. With infrared quartz heat that doesn’t dry the air out and the ability to heat an astounding 1,000 square feet, this heater is a serious performer. Top it off with elegant looks that emulate a fireplace with very realistic simulated flames, and you have a top of the line option for those who want a premium offer and don’t mind the premium price.

It’s also worth mentioning that we recently compared office space heaters. Click here to see the winners of 2020.