Best Space Heaters

When paired with the right safety features, the best space heater can keep you cozy through the coldest winters.
Best overall
Best oil-filled heater
Budget pick
Best oscillating heater
Style pick
Lasko space heater
Lasko 6405
  • con
    No tip-over shut-off
  • pro
    Timer
  • con
    No fan

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

Dr. Infrared Heater can heat up a large room up to 1000 square feet safely. And with its built-in humidifier, your room will stay comfortable during those dry winter months. 

This infrared space heater is housed inside a stylish wooden case that stays cool to the touch, so it’s safe for homes with kids and pets. And with a heating range from 50° to 85° F, you can keep your home comfortable into spring. 


Bell
More indoor heating resources

Read our space heater safety guide and make sure you stay warm and safe with a reliable carbon monoxide detector.


Compare the best space heaters

All of these space heaters feature overheat protection.

Best for
Heater
List price*
Square footage
Oscillation
Remote control
Learn more
Best overall

1,000 sq. ft.

Icon No  Light

No

Icon Yes  Light

Yes

Best oil-filled heater

200 sq. ft.

Icon No  Light

No

Icon No  Light

No

Budget pick

200 sq. ft.

Icon No  Light

No

Icon No  Light

No

Best oscillating heater

270 sq. ft.

Icon Yes  Light

Yes

Icon Yes  Light

Yes

Style pick

700 sq. ft.

Icon Yes  Light

Yes

Icon No  Light

No

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Best space heater reviews

1. Dr. Infrared Heater: Best overall

Best overall
Dr. Infrared Heater space heater

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Dr. Infrared Heater looks at home in an Aspen ski lodge or your own living room. This infrared space heater is stylish, safe, and packed with unique features. 

If you live in an area that gets especially cold and dry during the winter (looking at you, Intermountain West), you’ll really appreciate the built-in humidifier that works with or without the heating function. 

pro
Pros
pro Built-in humidifier
pro Tip-over and overheat protection
pro Remote control included
con
Cons
con Expensive
con No oscillation

Dr. Infrared safety features

The Dr. Infrared Heater comes with a range of safety features to minimize fire risk. 

Common risks with space heaters include overheating and falling over. The Dr. Infrared Heater has protection for both. Its 72-inch cord allows you to move it far away from flammable items like curtains or bedsheets to reduce fire hazards too. 

The wood casing around the heater also makes it cool to the touch, so it’s safer for curious kids and pets in your home. Plus, it sports a UL listing, earning our trust for its safety features. 

Light Bulb
What is UL?

The Underwriters Laboratories sets safety standards for all types of household appliances. We highly recommend looking for a listing when shopping for a new space heater. 

Convenience and comfort

The Dr. Infrared Heater is safe, but that doesn’t mean it’s weak. 

It can heat up to 1,000 square feet evenly up to 85° F. The dual heating system distributes the heat and has an energy-saving mode to avoid burning through your wallet. 

You can control all the Dr. Infrared Heater’s settings through a remote control. So you can set the timer, bring up the heat, or switch to fan mode without getting out of your toasty blanket cocoon. 

The biggest downside to the Dr. Infrared Heater is the price. It costs over $100, but for an appliance that’s part space heater, part humidifier, and part fan, it’s easily the best deal around.

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

Best oil-filled heater
DeLonghi Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you’ve been burnt before by an inefficient space heater, you know how much energy they use. 

The De’Longhi Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater distributes heat throughout the unit, so it requires less energy than a typical convection heater. It also has multiple heat settings and a timer to keep your usage easy to control. 

pro
Pros
pro Uses less energy
pro Comes with pre-assembled wheels and cord rack
pro Doesn't require oil refills
con
Cons
con Has fewer convenience features
con Is too hot to touch while running

De'Longhi safety features

This De’Longhi radiant heater has tip-over shut off and overheat protection, the two biggest safety features we looked for. 

But on top of that, it has a cord rack to keep the power source in good shape. Frayed cords and poor wiring are a big cause of space heater fires, so it’s nice to know you can keep it safe while in storage. 

Comfort and convenience

You won’t get extras like a remote control or fan mode with the De’Longhi electric space heater, but you do get adjustable heat settings and a timer to keep you cozy during the winter. 

And while this heater uses diathermic oil, you won’t have to worry about refilling it. The oil heats when you turn the unit on and expands, flooding each of the fins. All that oil creates an even heating experience much like traditional water-filled radiators. And even heating equals less energy wasted. 

3. Aikoper 1500W Space Heater: Budget pick

Budget pick
Aikoper space heater

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

With its convenient size and even more convenient price, the Aikoper 1500W Space Heater is a great choice for someone with limited space and cash. You get the basic safety features to prevent fires and a powerful, portable space heater for around $40.

The Aikoper space heater has tip-over and overheat protection, adjustable heat settings, and low noise operation in one compact appliance. It’s small enough to fit under your home office desk but powerful enough to heat a room around 200 square feet. 

pro
Pros
pro Under $40
pro Tip-over and overheat protection
pro Adjustable temperature
con
Cons
con No oscillation
con No remote control
con No timer

Aikoper safety features

The Aikoper 1500W Space Heater will shut off if it falls over or overheats—two common causes of space heater fires. And with its three heat settings, you won’t have to worry about energy usage. The settings range between 600 and 1,500 watts of energy use, and there’s a fan for spring and summer

One safety setting this electric heater lacks is a timer. If you fall asleep or leave the house without turning it off, the Aikoper will keep running—which can increase the risk of fire

Comfort and convenience

Unfortunately, this portable heater misses some of the fancier features like oscillation or a remote control. 

But, at under three pounds and nine inches tall, the Aikoper 1500W Space Heater is super compact and easy to take with you. If you work from home, you can move it easily from your home office to the living room during your breaks or set it up on the coffee table while you check emails. 

4. Dreo 1500W Ceramic Heater: Best oscillating heater

Best oscillating heater

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Dreo 1500W Ceramic Heater isn’t the only ceramic space heater that oscillates, but it is our favorite. It has overheat and tip-over protection, a wide temperature range, eco mode, and a timer and remote control. You really couldn't ask for more. 

pro
Pros
pro 70° oscillation
pro 41°F to 95°F thermostat
pro Timer
pro Remote control
pro Overheat and tip-over protection
con
Cons
con Small rooms only

Comfort and convenience

The Dreo 1500W Ceramic Heater’s adjustable thermostat has the widest temperature range in our lineup. It can drop as low as 41° F and rise to as high as 95° F—making it the best space heater to use all year. 

It also has a smart smart eco-mode to reduce its power intake, which avoids straining your power bill. 

5. Lasko 6405: Style pick

Style pick
Lasko space heater
Lasko 6405
$59.99

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Lasko 6405 is a space heater cleverly disguised as stylish pottery. It’s a great choice for someone who wants a space heater that doesn’t look too appliancey (totally a word). 

Its ceramic surface keeps it heat resistant and its metal stand keeps it safely on the ground. However, if it does fall over, it won’t shut off automatically like other space heaters. Luckily, it comes with a sturdy stand to hold the heater in place even while it oscillates. 

pro
Pros
pro Stylish pottery-like design
pro Simple built-in timer and controls
con
Cons
con No tip-over shutoff
con No fan mode

Lasko safety features

But while the Lasko 6405 doesn’t have a tip-over shut off feature, it does have overheat protection. The adjustable thermostat on this ceramic space heater can reach temperatures over 85° F, making it effective but potentially dangerous if left unsupervised.

The good news is that it has an easy timer feature that leaves your heat on from one to four hours. So if you use the timer, it will shut off automatically whether you’re in the room or not. 

Comfort and convenience

The Lasko 6405 lacks remote control or fan mode to save energy, but it can still make a room comfortable year round. 

It hits a wide range of temperatures from as low as 40° F (helloooo summer) to over 85° F. It also has an oscillation mode to spread heat more evenly throughout the room. 

We like how simple the controls are too. Each mode, timer, and feature is labeled simply on the top of the heater to eliminate any guesswork about the buttons. 

Final word

Your portable space heater can be a faithful winter companion if you choose one with the right features for your home. The best space heaters around range from the compact-yet-powerful Dr. Infrared Heater that can warm your entire house to the energy-efficient De’Longhi Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater

The most important thing to remember about space heaters is safety. It’s easy to get lax when you’re enjoying a toasty night in. But always remember these safety habits: 

  • Turn off the space heater before you leave the room. 
  • Keep the space heater three feet away from flammable materials like blankets or curtains.
  • Plug the space heater directly into the wall.

Our dedicated guide to space heater safety can give you more information on the dos and don’ts of staying warm all winter. 

Space heater FAQ

A portable space heater uses a lot of energy to create all that heat. If they aren’t plugged in properly, a loose connection can start a fire. They can also set materials like fabric on fire or melt plastic if close enough. 

As comfy as it sounds, we don’t recommend letting your space heater run all night. Instead, set it on a timer for an hour or two to help you fall asleep, and let your blankets do the rest. 

A surprising amount, actually. An incandescent light bulb uses about 60 watts. A convection heater can use up to 1,500 watts or about 25 light bulbs

Whether it’s a radiant heater, infrared space heater, or ceramic space heater, all types can be fire hazards. The safest space heater is one that’s plugged into the wall, supervised, and away from flammable materials. 

Anyone who’s owned a space heater knows how they can make your electricity bill skyrocket. Minimize energy usage by looking for space heaters with an eco-friendly mode or fan to blow out hot air after running the heat. Setting timers or keeping your heater on the lowest setting will also help reduce power consumption. 

How we reviewed the best space heaters

While they’re convenient, space heaters are notorious fire hazards. So while comfort and convenience features are important, we put safety first. The best space heater will shut off when it overheats or falls over to prevent fires.

Other perks we looked for included multiple heat settings, remote controlling, and oscillation. We also found space heaters with energy-saving features like eco-modes and fans to keep the heat coming without wasting energy.

Learn more about how we approach our reviews from our methodology

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

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Katie McEntire
Written by
Katie McEntire
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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