The best space heaters for every kind of space

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Space heaters are a fast and affordable way to warm up your home when temperatures dip — and they can be a beneficial tool to keep on hand in case of emergencies . Whether it’s a drafty bedroom or outside on the patio during a cool night, space heaters can give an effective boost of heat wherever you need it.

To determine the best one for you, I spoke to home and safety experts about the benefits of space heaters, what features to look for when shopping for one and how to use them safely.

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The best space heaters

Listed below are expert-recommended options at various price points.

Editor’s pick

Black + Decker Personal Ceramic Heater

This space heater comes recommended by NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown , who loves how quickly it warms up. “This heater is small but it packs a punch. On the highest level, it heats up a large room in under an hour,” she says. “There’s also a mechanism on the bottom that can gauge if it’s sitting on a flat surface or not. If it’s not, it will automatically turn off, which I love.” The heater is made of comes with three temperature setting and a built-in handle so you can easily carry it from room to room.

Best radiant space heater

Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater

Glenn Wiseman, sales manager of Top Hat Home Comfort Services in Ontario, recommends this portable infrared model for its dual heating system and built-in thermostat that ranges from 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The energy-saving space heater offers 1,500 watts and is powered through an electric cord with 120 volts, which can evenly heat a 150-square-foot room, he says. It also has an automatic 12-hour shutoff timer.

Best radiant space heater for large rooms

RealSmart Infrared Space Heater

This RealSmart infrared space heater is for spaces up to 350 square feet. It has a maximum setting of 1,500 watts, a remote and three different heat modes. It also includes an ”eco setting,” which the brand says maintains a constant 68-degree temperature using less power for when you want to bring it into a smaller room.

Best panel radiant space heater

De'Longhi Mica Thermic Panel Heater

The nice thing about this lightweight, compact space heater is that it can either be mounted on the wall or set on the floor. It also comes with wheels so you can easily move it from room to room. It packs a powerful punch with 1,500 watts of heat and has an adjustable thermostat and multiple heat settings so you can personalize for your comfort, according to the brand.

Best wall-mounted convection space heater

Envi 120v Plug-in Electric Panel Wall Heater

Arie Van Tuijl, a licensed home inspector and founder of home-maintenance website Home Inspector Secrets, recommends this wall-mounted, convection space heater, which has a temperature-controlling thermostat and the brand’s Wall-Sens technology, which cuts out the power for safety when the unit is removed from the wall, according to the brand. The unit, which Envi says heats rooms between 130 and 150 square feet, is just 2 inches thick and can automatically dim the power light in dark rooms.

Best tower convection space heater

Lasko Bladeless 1500-Watt Electric Ceramic Oscillating Space Heater

This Lasko space heater has a bladeless design at a more affordable price than similar brands, like Dyson. Lasko says it’s equipped with a slew of safety features, including a safe touch surface and an automatic 8-hour shut-off switch. With its quiet oscillating mode, this tower can evenly distribute heat in rooms up to 300 square feet, according to the brand.

Best combination space heater

Lasko All-Season 1500-Watt Electric Oscillating Space Heater

This oscillating tower unit is both a space heater and fan. It has four fan speeds and three heat settings, according to the brand. It also comes with a 6-foot power cord, a remote and has a 1 to 8-hour auto shut-off feature.

Best energy-efficient combination space heater

Dreo Space Heater Solaris Slim H3

Van Tuijl recommends this convection space heater from Dreo due to its easy-to-use touch screen panel, strong heat output and remote control capabilities. This model has three heating modes and a digital thermostat that ranges from 41 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has a timer that automatically shuts off after 12 hours, and the remote lets you turn the unit off from up to 26 feet away, according to the brand.

Best luxury space heater

Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HP1 Fan

The bladeless Dyson Pure Hot + Cold is a remote-controlled combination heater, fan and air purifier all in one, according to the brand. The remote-controlled fan can oscillate up to 350 degrees and offers different modes, including a backward airflow mode that diverts air through the rear of the space heater, continuing its purifying effect without the draft, according to the brand. It also includes a nighttime mode with a dimmed display, according to Dyson. Wiseman noted this space heater is “substantially quieter” than many other models and can regulate indoor air quality: using a HEPA-style filter, it can capture 99.97 percent of particles that are 0.3 microns in size, says the brand. The unit can also connect to Wi-Fi so you can control your machine remotely and schedule when your air purifier is on, using the Dyson Link app.

Best budget space heater

Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Heater

The portable Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Heater , is a worthwhile option if you’re on a budget: besides our editor's pick, it's the most affordable one on our list. Lasko says this space heater can heat rooms up to 300 square feet and offers two heat levels — low heat and high heat — along with a cool air fan setting. You can also use the thermostat knob to both turn on the unit and have it shut off automatically once a certain temperature has been reached (though the knob itself doesn’t list actual numbers), according to the brand.

Best safety features

De'Longhi Capsule Electric Space Heater

This compact and portable heater from DeLonghi packs 1,500 watts of power and is great for all-season use; it has heat settings for the winter and a cooling, fan-only functionality that’s perfect for summertime, according to the brand. You can customize your heat settings using the adjustable thermostat and also carry the heater with you using the cool-touch handle at the top. This heater also has a number of built-in safety features that make it easier to have around a busy home, including a two-stage protection against overheating and an internal tip-over switch that automatically shuts the heater off if it falls over, according to the brand.

How I picked the best space heaters

There are several factors to consider when choosing a space heater. Here’s everything I kept in mind when making this list:

How to shop for a space heater

Once you’ve decided that you want a space heater, factor in the aspects below to choose the exact one that’s best for your space and situation.

Choose between a radiant, convection or combination space heater. Depending on your living situation, one may be better for you than the other. If you have a small space, choose a radiant heater and if you have a large space to warm up, a convection may be best. Additionally, if you don’t mind the noise, a combination space heater is good for families with small children since they’re less of a safety hazard, according to our experts.

In addition to the type of space heater you want, you should consider where you’ll put it, which will determine what size and shape is best. Plus, if you’re only getting one to heat a small room, this will further make it easier to decide on a type.

Some space heaters tend to make a lot of noise, some more than others. Keeping this in mind, I made sure to include units from brands that mention minimal to moderate noise. units are louder than others. If you’re shopping for a bedroom or home office, that’s something to keep in mind. One resource for finding devices that are especially quiet is Quiet Mark , which tests and awards products based on their noise output.

Space heaters are generally more energy efficient than central heating since you’re only heating up the room and some space heaters are also more energy efficient than others. Since space heaters don’t have Energy Star ratings — which independently certifies a product’s energy efficiency — the easiest way to determine if your unit conserves energy is by checking whether it has features like an adjustable thermostat and auto shut-off option that can maintain a certain temperature and prevent a room from overheating, according to the Department of Energy.

What should you know about space heaters and safety?