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It depends on who you ask – for some, a space heater is the must-have winter essential, and for others, it seems like a risky product to have around the house, especially in older homes where the wiring may be suspect. In my best portable air conditioner guide, I discussed the older rental home in Florida I lived in that did not have central air and heating. Even though winter in Florida was never bitterly cold, with leaky windows during a cold snap of 30 degrees Fahrenheit, I simply had to invest in a space heater.

So before you make that snap purchase, especially during a prime time sale season, it’s important to do a little homework to make sure you aren’t in danger of buying more space heater power than you need, and properly ensuring your home safety.

In the guide below, we’ll highlight the variety of heating methods depending on the type of space heater, and the pros and cons of each option. We also break down some must-have safety features, how to pick the proper wattage, and our top five space heater picks of 2025 based on safety criteria, functionality and reviews.

What Is A Portable Space Heater?

A space heater is usually a portable electric appliance designed to heat a small area or room by converting electrical energy into heat through several types of heating methods.

You might choose to purchase a space heater if, like me, you need one due to a lack of central heating, or to help supplement a central heating unit, warm specific rooms (especially those with a lot of windows) or even just to save a little energy by heating only the rooms you use most frequently.

Types Of Space Heaters

According to The Home Depot, the two most common power options for space heaters are electric and combustion. Gas space heaters may use propane, natural gas or kerosene.

Convection Heaters

Convection heaters warm air that naturally circulates through the room. These are referred to as “indirect heaters,” as air currents will be drawn through the heating elements (usually through a fan) and then released to raise the temperature of the entire room. If you’re trying to target one area, this would not be the most ideal type of heater to use.

Pros:

• Ideal for larger areas (like bedrooms)
• More safety features, like overheating protection and tip-over switches
• Versatility in warmer months

Cons:

• Takes more energy to operate
• May reduce room humidity

1. Fan-Forced Space Heaters

Fan-forced heaters use a fan to blow air across a heating element. These are typically some of the more budget-friendly options compared to infrared heaters or those with smart features.

2. Ceramic Space Heaters

Ceramic space heaters are electric heaters designed to warm small to medium-sized rooms, and work by heating up a ceramic element, which in turn heats up the air around it. These are one of the most popular choices due to their convenience and effectiveness. Ceramic space heaters can be available in a variety of types, including portable units, wall heaters, tower heaters and strip heaters.

Radiant Heaters

Radiant heaters offer more direct, targeted heating, and so will cover less area. Radiant heating can also work by heating objects and surfaces directly, and once heated, will continue to radiate heat.

Pros:

• Rapid heating and area targeting
• More energy-efficient, heating objects directly without heating the air in between
• Quiet
• Best option for those with allergies – no dust or allergens circulated with fans

Cons:

• Not as ideal for larger rooms and homes
• Hot surfaces are a safety hazard for children and pets

3. Infrared Space Heaters

Infrared heaters, also known as reflective heaters, can be powered by electricity, natural gas or propane. Infrared waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and while the human eye usually cannot see it, humans can detect it as heat.

Infrared heat lamps can emit both visible and infrared energy, and are capable of heating a room or keeping food (and reptiles!) warm.

4. Oil-Filled Radiators

Oil-filled radiators are radiant heaters, filling the “fins” with oil that is then heated with electric heating elements. The oil doesn’t burn off (it is merely warmed up, so it doesn’t need to be refilled), and typically uses less energy to stay warm compared to ceramic space heaters.

What To Look For When Buying A Space Heater

Home and tech products boast a huge variety of smart features, but you may not need all the bells and whistles that come with the price tag. When it comes to space heaters, there are a few “extras” that make the upgrades worthwhile.

• Wattage
• Thermostat control
• Automatic shut-off features: Overheating protection ensures that a portable space heater will automatically turn off when it reaches a certain temperature.
• Tip-over protection: This is an important safety feature that turns off a heater if it tips over more than a certain amount.
• Cool-touch exterior

Wattage

The average space heater wattage falls between 1,000 to 1,500 watts (up to 7,500 BTU), with the general guidance that you need 10 watts (or 50 BTUs) for every square foot of floor area in the room.

Note that ceiling height and home insulation can affect the wattage of the heater that you need.

A BTU is short for British Thermal Unit, a unit of measurement for heat, and according to the EIA, one BTU is approximately equal to the energy released by burning a match.

Space Heater FAQ

Should I plug a space heater into an extension cord or power strip?

No. According to all of the safety materials we reviewed for this guide, plugging a space heater into an extension cord instead of directly into an outlet is strongly discouraged. It should always be plugged directly into a wall socket (and many have suggested it should be the only plug in the socket while in use) to avoid overloading, overheating or causing a fire from the cable.

Safety Tip: When not in use, a space heater should always be unplugged.

Best Portable Space Heaters Of 2025: Our Top Picks

We’ve rounded up some of the most popular, highly rated space heaters on the market today. We researched a variety of criteria including energy and heating type, wattage power and room size, price and user ratings.

• Best Overall Space Heater: Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater (1500W PTC Ceramic Heater)
• Best Oil-Filled Radiant Space Heater: De'Longhi Oil filled Radiator Heater
• Best Infrared Space Heater: Dr Infrared Heater Original 1500-Watt Infrared Portable Space Heater with Dual Heating System
• Best Fan Space Heater For Small Rooms: Vornado MVH Space Heater
• Best Splurge Space Heater: Dyson Hot+Cool™ Jet Focus Fan Heater

1. Best Overall Space Heater: Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater (1500W PTC Ceramic Heater)

Shop It: Amazon, Dreo

Price: $74.99 (silver) at Dreo.com; $79.99 (gold) at Amazon

Type: Ceramic | Adjustable Thermostat: 41-95℉ | Oscillating: 70 degrees | Timer: 1-12 hours | Overheat Protection: Yes | Tip-over Protection: Yes

Features:

• Made from flame-retardant materials, according to the company
• Built-in smart tip-over protection, overheat protection
• 12-hour timer, automatic shut off in 24 hours
• Remote control, 5 speeds
• 70-degree oscillation
• Heating coverage: Up to 200 sq. ft.

“Game changer” and “worth buying” were some of the glowing reviews for the 16-inch Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater, and its 4.5 stars and 10,000+ ratings on Amazon reiterate the customer satisfaction with this portable space heater. Dreo space heaters have been purchased over 20,000 times in the past month alone, according to the Amazon company page.

We selected this particular space heater as our best overall pick thanks to the reasonable price point and the functional extras (like overheat protection and tip-over protection). It’s not as quiet as some of the other products we feature on this list, but its slim, portable design makes up for some of the drawbacks. It’s best for small to medium-sized rooms – it will struggle to heat large, open spaces.

“The space heater works great. I really like the ease of setting it to the proper temperature and its ability to heat a space in little time. I also like the look of the heater and the other features,” says one reviewer on dreo.com.

“It seems well-built, has a fall-over sensor…it heats very, very well,” says another reviewer. They went on to mention they use the space heater to supplement heating near their computer, in a room that's approximately 120 square feet, and it’s been able to keep the room warm.

For complaints, some noted that it can flip the breaker, and it is not very quiet. There was another complaint that it needs its own outlet – it can’t share an outlet with other appliances, or a power strip (which could be the cause of the flipped breakers from other reviewers).

2. Best Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater: De'Longhi Oil filled Radiator Heater

Shop It: Amazon

Price: $99.95 at Amazon

Type: Oil-filled (Radiant) | Adjustable Thermostat: Temperature dial | Oscillating: No | Timer: No | Overheat Protection: Yes | Tip-over Protection: No

Features:

• Radiant heat minimizes dry air, according to the company
• No fan to stir up allergens
• Safety elements include thermal cut-off, enclosed heating elements and anti-freeze settings
• Never needs to be refilled
• ComfortTemp feature to help maintain optimal temperature
• Heating coverage: Small to medium spaces

With manual controls, this “no-nonsense, dependable heater” De’Longhi Oil-filled radiator heater is one of our top picks for space heaters thanks to its simple design and allergen-friendly, highly functional heat output. If you’re not sold on ceramic or fan-forced space heaters, we recommend checking out this product. It has 4.4 stars and over 12,000 company ratings on the Amazon page.

As discussed earlier in the guide, radiant heat works by heating surfaces for more targeted heating, so there are no fans or coil heating elements. The oil is permanently sealed in the reservoir and never needs refilling.

For temperature control, it has a manual knob, and one reviewer noted it takes a little trial and error to find the best temperature for your home, but some mentioned it’s fairly intuitive and not hard to calibrate.

One reviewer updated their original review after owning it for a year, and said “It’s still 5-stars and I still love it. Working great, and with the increased extreme cold weather events, I now run it on low all night in my bedroom. [It] makes a huge difference, [and] doesn’t impact my electric bill unreasonably.”

Another mentioned that it’s a nice and compact radiator heater, and “gives off a nice, moist, calm heat. When I say moist and calm, I’m comparing this to other electric heating elements that get red hot and use a fan that tends to dry out a room in a hurry.”

For complaints, while it does come with overheat protection, it does not come with tip-over protection, which is not ideal if you have children or animals in the house. Some mentioned the surfaces can get hot despite the safety features. Others were frustrated by the thermostat, and many were disappointed there is no timer feature.

3. Best Infrared Space Heater: Dr Infrared Heater Original 1500-Watt (5200 BTU) Infrared Portable Space Heater with Dual Heating System

Shop It: The Home Depot, Amazon

Price: $113.29 at The Home Depot and Amazon

Type: Infrared | Adjustable Thermostat: 50-85℉ | Oscillating: No | Timer: 1-12 hours | Overheat Protection: Yes | Tip-over Protection: Yes

Features:

• Made from flame-retardant materials according to the company
• Built-in tip-over protection, overheat protection
• 12-hour timer, automatic shut off in 24 hours
• Remote control, 5 speeds
• Heating coverage: ~200 sq. ft. according to reviewers, ~500 sq. ft according to company

When researching infrared space heaters, this Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater seems to top the charts according to reviewers, with 4.5 stars and over 2,200 ratings on The Home Depot, and over 26,000 ratings on Amazon. We selected this as one of our best picks thanks to the safety protection features, adjustable thermostat, safe-to-touch exterior with no exposed heating elements (making it safer for children and pets), and quiet heating action.

There’s a multitude of heat setting options, including eco and auto mode, with the unit cycling on and off to maintain the desired temperature without the risk of overheating your room. This unit is pretty hefty, clocking in at 24 pounds.

“As good as it gets. Truly delighted with the temperature on/off on the eco-setting. Does a fabulous job of creating heat in the space that I want. Highly recommend this heater. Great features, small footprint,” says one glowing review on The Home Depot.

“I bought this just to supplement on chilly nights. The case doesn’t get hot to the touch, just warm enough that my cats enjoy laying on it! It’s extremely quiet…The thermostat seems to work pretty well, it cuts on and off when I set it to hold a certain temperature and it gets pretty close. I also love that it’s on wheels,” said another reviewer on Amazon.

As for complaints, some felt the heat output wasn’t as high as the company claims and that it’s really only designed for small spaces, some noted the wheels were flimsy or broken when arrived, and another noted that it is not energy efficient (and could increase your electricity bills).

4. Best Fan Space Heater: Vornado MVH Space Heater

Shop It: Amazon, The Home Depot

Price: $66.31 at Amazon; $69.99 at The Home Depot

Type: Fan | Adjustable Thermostat: No | Oscillating: No | Timer: No | Overheat Protection: Yes | Tip-over Protection: Yes

Features:

• Flame retardant materials according to the company
• Cool-touch exterior, overheat protection and tip-over protection
• 3 heat settings and mechanical thermostat
• Heating coverage: up to 256 sq. ft.

If you’re a “fan” of the fan-forced portable space heater option, the Vornado MVH Space Heater is a popular, albeit no-frills choice. It’s not going to have the same kind of features that some of the other products have on this list, like an adjustable thermostat or timer, but if you’re simply looking for a product to add warmth to a small room, this is a safe bet. It’s ideal for an RV or camper.

Customers have typically found it an extremely quiet and functional portable space heater, especially for such a small unit. One called it “quiet and powerful”, while another said it offers “amazing heat and nearly silent.” It has solid safety features, and similar to the other space heaters on this list, it’s recommended you plug it directly into an outlet and not an extension cord.

“Absolutely awesome heater once you figure out the best placing and setting,” starts one helpful review. “This heater is nothing short of amazing…regular space heaters are dangerous at the [high] temperature, do okay at low temperatures, and only truly can be safely run when you’re at home.” They went on to offer a tip about using it in an RV, and that’s to set it up where it can blow across a room unobstructed and have air flow to the back of the unit.

As for complaints, some felt the heat output of the Vornado portable heater is weaker compared to other products (one felt the fan blows too softly to disperse the heat), and questioned the longevity and durability of the unit over time. A few reviewers noted a bad smell.

5. Best Splurge Space Heater: Dyson Hot+Cool™ Jet Focus Fan Heater

Shop It: Dyson, Walmart

Price: $469.99 at Dyson.com and Walmart

Type: Fan (Hot + Cold) | Adjustable Thermostat: 32-98.6℉ | Oscillating: 70 degrees | Timer: 15 minutes to 9 hours | Overheat Protection: Not stated | Tip-over Protection: Not stated

Features:

• Dual heat and fan air flow
• Sleep timer, night mode, remote control
• One-touch oscillation and tilt
• Diffused mode (whole room airflow), focused mode (directed airflow)
• Heating coverage: Not specified

Dyson is one of the ultimate “splurge” home brands on the market, from their vacuums and haircare products, to space heaters and air purifiers. We selected the Dyson Hot+Cool™ Jet Focus Fan Heater thanks to the dual-action heating and fan system, temperature control and oscillation features, though it comes with a hefty price tag.

This particular unit isn’t so large to take up a substantial amount of space (and is portable enough to move from room to room if needed), though the company doesn’t state the ideal room size for heating.

It’s important to note that based on reviewer and company feedback, it’s not a traditional “cooling” or air conditioning unit – the cooling effect is due to the fan air movement.

One reviewer on walmart.com said, “The new model is much more efficient in heating and gets hot quickly. The motor is quiet at lower fan speeds. We use the fan instead of using the entire house heater. The fan is expensive, but [the] product is quality made.”

Another said, “The best heater I have ever bought, it can heat the whole living area of my apartment in winter without difficulty.”

As for complaints, that expensive price tag tops the list, especially when you consider the cooling portion is just a fan and not a cold air condenser. Others felt that it didn’t put out enough heat to properly heat a room, and a few reviewers mentioned error codes that would effectively ruin the functionality.

More Home Product Reviews: Air Purifiers, Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers And Portable Air Conditioners

If you’re looking for more ideas to improve your air quality, you can’t kick dry skin and chapped lips, or you suffer from an extremely humid spring and summer, we’ve got a few handy guides that will help you find the best product for your household.

• A Beginner’s Guide to Air Purifiers
• Dehumidifier Guide: How It Works And Our Top Picks
• A Complete Guide To Portable Air Conditioners
• Best Humidifiers of 2025

How We Made Our Decision

Safety

The three main safety features we aimed to include were:

• Automatic shut-off
• Tip-over protection
• Cool-touch exterior

Our best overall pick, the Dreo Solaris Slim H3 Space Heater, met our safety criteria. And while not all options on this list included the three safety features, it’s important to understand what to look for when purchasing a space heater.

The shut-off / overheating protection feature ensures if the unit becomes too hot (which would also mean the cord and outlet could be compromised), the space heater would automatically turn off. Likewise, if you have children or pets, the tip-over protection could be imperative for your space heater.

Many space heaters are also made from flame-resistant and cool-touch materials, but the De'Longhi Oil filled Radiator Heater selection, for example, leverages radiant heating and requires the metal fins to get hot to the touch.

Functionality

When pulling together our best-selling list of space heaters, we were looking at a few different performance criteria: heating type, thermostat adjustability, safety features, heating coverage and other smart features. Not every unit checked off every box, but depending on the needs, preferred heating method and price point, we aimed to include a number of viable options for everyone interested in purchasing a space heater.

Price

Outside of our obvious “splurge” pick, we aim to keep our picks within the reasonable average cost of space heaters. During our research, most fell between $50-150 depending on the additional features and specs.

Reviews

We let the reviewers speak for themselves when it comes to hands-on testing. We strive to highlight the pros and cons of each product based on user feedback and the feature list. If a product has few (or no) verified reviewers, or the complaints outweigh the purpose and price of the product, we won’t feature it in our lists.

P​rice accurate and items in stock at time of publish.