Must-Have Space Heaters To Stay Warm This Winter (2024)

Small but mighty, we found that this top-rated space heater can circulate warm air throughout a room in minutes. It features three heat settings (750 watt, 1125 watt and 1500 watt) so you can control just how much heat output you need.

We also love that it's packed with a number of safety features. The case stays cool to the touch and a wide base helps prevent it from being knocked over. If it does get tipped over (or if it starts to overheat), it will automatically shut off.

A built-in carrying handle makes it easy to take the heater with you throughout your home, and our pros love that it's whisper quiet. One customer said it's "the quietest forced-air heater I've come across." Other online reviewers loved how effectively the Vornado space heater warms up large rooms, which is impressive given its compact design and the fact that it's only advertised for medium-sized rooms.

Though some users complained of reliability issues after using the unit for years, in our testing we found Vornado's customer service to be extremely responsive and your purchase comes with a five-year warranty should anything go wrong.

This compact space heater is an affordable purchase for individuals and families looking to heat up a garage, bedroom or living room without sacrificing a lot of floor space. The manufacturer claims the product can cover up to 260 square feet, and it has three heating modes so you can quickly adjust it to your liking: fan only, low heat (750 watt) and high heat (1500 watt). With a 4.4 rating on Amazon and nearly 28,000 five-star reviews, it's a solid choice that won't break the bank.

One of our tech experts used this space heater to keep a large room warm and appreciated how quickly it was able to heat up. She confirmed the tip-over shut-off feature works effectively, so you won't have to worry about accidentally knocking it over. Other safety features include an automatic overheat shut-off and a power indicator light to confirm when the heater is plugged in.

For less than $40, Lasko's little space heater — it's under 10 inches tall! — will keep a full room warm without costing a fortune. It comes with low-heat, high-heat and fan settings, and we found it to be lightweight enough, at just over 3 pounds, to carry from the bedroom to the bathroom to the kitchen and back with no hassle. Plus, there's a built-in handle to make it even easier.

Many users set this space heater up on a countertop so they don't need to bend down when they're ready to move it to another room or adjust temperature settings. Other online reviewers reported keeping a Lasko space heater at their work desk. One thing to note: This electric heater doesn't come with an auto-shut-off safety feature like some of our other top recommendations, so you'll want to keep an eye on the machine when it's on.

Though it may be the priciest unit on this list, this premium three-in-one appliance from Dyson is a space heater, a fan and an air purifier so you can use it year-round. Not only is it able to warm up cold rooms, but it can provide some much-needed breeze in the summer. Even better, it helps purify the air no matter what mode it's in. The sealed HEPA filter channels hot or cold air into the room, all while removing common allergens including dust, smoke, pollen and dander.

The heat function is controlled by a thermostat so you can choose the exact temperature you want. In the automatic setting, the fan will kick into high gear until your desired temperature is reached and then will quiet back down to maintain your ideal environment. It's also safe: The fan is blade-less, and there are no visible heating elements. Plus, the Dyson will automatically shut off when tipped over.

We also appreciate that while a remote is provided, you can use the MyDyson app to control your air quality or voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri and Google for quick, hands-free adjustments. A digital display shows you the air quality at a glance, among other settings like fan speed. Just keep in mind that at over 10 pounds, it's not the easiest space heater to move around.

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This sleek and slim tower has a small footprint that easily fits into most rooms. We love the timer feature that lets you set it to run all night (or day) for up to eight hours before it shuts off automatically. Though we wish it offered more than two heat settings (high or low), we like that the exact temperature in the room is displayed on the space heater. The heat setting can be turned up or down with the included remote control.

"The heater's height and the rotation help evenly spread heat throughout the room," one online reviewer said. "It runs smoothly and quietly and the base is stable even on thick carpet." For safety, the unit stays cool to the touch and will shut itself off before it overheats, but it doesn't include tip-over protection which could become a fire hazard should the heater tip over unknowingly.

In comparison to our best overall Vornado space heater, the AVH10 features a digital display so you can see the numerical temperature reading directly on the unit. It has three settings (low, high and fan only), and the manufacturer claims it has a multitude of safety features like a cool-touch exterior, tip-over protection and automatic shut-off.

In tests, our pros were impressed by its ability to heat up medium- to large-sized rooms. Other testers noted that despite its small size, it's quite powerful and operates quietly. It's "very effective at distributing the heat throughout the room and much quieter" than other Vornado models, one online reviewer said. "The automatic temperature controller works very well and the controls could not be simpler." Although some Amazon reviewers noted the product has a short lifespan.

For a more discreet electric space heater that can blend right into a wall, look no further than this model from DeLonghi. At just 3 inches deep but 32 inches wide, it can replace a radiator to warm up a space as large as 300 square feet, like a bedrooms or basem*nt. Just note that the air blows out the sides, so you'll need to have a little extra space around the heater for proper airflow.

You can set the space heater on the floor or use the included mounting kit to hang it up to save floor space. One online reviewer said it's the only heat source she uses to get through the winter in her South Carolina home, while others loved its attractive design, compact size and efficiency. Though it's larger and heavier than other models we've tried and doesn't come with a remote, it's a great semi-permanent solution and one that's impressively quiet. It also has a 24-hour timer so you can program it to shut off when no longer needed.

It includes safety features like tip-over protection and auto-shut-off should it overheat. We also appreciate that it'll automatically turn on if the ambient temperature dips below 41°F, to prevent pipes or plants from freezing.

This little cutie will never be an eyesore on your desktop, nightstand or floor, and it's affordable enough to give to a college kid or a work colleague who complains about being chilly. While the manufacturer says it's best for personal use in small spaces, like an office or a dorm room, online reviewers were pleasantly surprised to find that it can keep an entire bedroom cozy.

Its compact size makes it easy to move around so you can stay warm wherever you go, though we did find that it’s noisier than other space heaters. But those who like white noise and sound machines may actually enjoy that attribute. It also comes with key safety features like tip-over protection, a cool-to-touch surface and overheat protection.

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We love this space heater for its vintage appeal with modern engineering that quickly and safely heats a room. This one inspired by a classic 1945 design is available in green or white and has tip-over protection should you knock it over as well as an automatic shut-off feature should it get too warm.

Though we wish it offered more heat settings, we found that this space heater is the perfect size to place by your bed or desk. The fan tips up and down so you can adjust the heat to flow right where you want it. But because it's all metal and a bit heavy for its size, it's best to choose a place of honor for it and leave it there.

The engineers and product analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have researched, reviewed and tested more than 24 space heaters in the past five years. To find the best ones on the market, our pros evaluate space heaters for ease of use, performance and safety in temperature-controlled rooms.

When evaluating ease of use, we assess how easy space heaters are to set up and operate and whether manuals are readable and easy to understand. We also consider each space heater’s weight and any features that improve or hinder its portability.

To analyze performance, each space heater is evaluated for how effectively it heats up a 50°F area in a 90-minute time interval while we monitor temperature, electrical usage (wattage), heat distribution and noise levels. We also consider extra features such as adjustable thermostats and the number of heat settings.

Lastly, we review the safety of each space heater during use and foreseeable misuse by testing a unit’s stability, automatic tip-over, shut-off protection, surface temperature, flammability, safety sensors and more.

When shopping for space heaters you’ll come across a variety of options. Here's what to look out for:

✔️ Type: Space heaters use a heating element to operate, and there are three main types to choose from with various pros and cons.

• Fan heaters use a metal coil as their heating element. An internal fan blows hot air from the coil into the room. “Fan heaters deliver solid heat distribution, but they’re noisy, especially on the highest fan settings,” said Good Housekeeping’s Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab Director Dan DiClerico.
• Ceramic heaters are like fan heaters, except that they use ceramic plates instead of metal coils. The plates heat up very quickly as electricity passes through them and a fan distributes the air into the room. “These are effective and inexpensive, but also on the noisy side,” DiClerico said.
• Infrared heaters use radiant heat that instantly warms up objects and people, rather than the air in the room. “That makes them quiet and energy efficient, but they’re not the best at heating large spaces,” said DiClerico.

✔️ Size: Space heaters range from smaller, spot-heating units that take about 15 minutes to properly kick in, or larger units that are best for heating a bedroom or living room. Smaller units are likely to be lighter and more portable so you can move them around your home, while larger units are heavier and best kept in a permanent location.

✔️ Features: Look for a thermostat with multiple settings so you can choose between low, medium or high heat. You can also consider one with an eco setting to save electricity (for instance, overnight), or one with an adjustable thermostat that allows you to choose a specific temperature. Your space heater should also have a timer to save energy when it’s not in use, a remote control, portability features such as a handle or wheels to make moving it around easier and, of course, key safety features.

✔️ Safety: As with any electrical device, space heaters can be dangerous, and you should look for one that has been vetted by a third-party safety certification such as UL or ETL. Features such as automatic shut-off in case of overheating, a programmable timer, tip-over protection and an adjustable thermostat are important to have. Never use your space heater with an extension cord, always place it on the floor for stability and if you notice any signs of damage to power cords, immediately stop using the space heater.

If you want to keep costs at a minimum, it’s important to find an energy-efficient space heater that uses the least amount of electricity possible. “Because they run electricity, space heaters tend to be fairly expensive to operate, especially if you live in a state with high electricity rates,” said DiClerico. “That said, you can lower your total energy costs this winter by using a space heater to warm frequently occupied rooms and turning the central heat down in the rest of the house.”

When shopping for an energy-efficient space heater, DiClerico suggested a few tips. First, find a space heater with multiple output settings (low, medium, high). “This lets you choose the lowest possible setting to keep the room cozy,” he shared.

You should also consider a space heater that features a built-in timer. “Timers can save energy by programming the heater to turn off when it’s no longer needed,” he said. For instance, you can set your bedroom space heater to shut off after an hour; this way, you’re warmed up as you drift off to sleep, but not overheating in the middle of the night when you may not need as much warmth.