Top 10 Best Small Space Heater – Reviews
One of the simplest solutions to the problem of being cold is using a space heater.
But be careful! Some space heaters are loud, unsafe, and worst of all, don’t even do a very good job of warming you up!
To solve the problem of being cold for myself, I dove deep into research and testing the smallest space heaters.
I found plenty of duds but also some really good heaters.
Here are the ten best ones that I found, including ones for rooms that are a bit larger and ones for smaller rooms and personal spaces.
In making this list, I considered things like size, portability, & efficiency for the size, as well as overall safety, effectiveness, and noise level.
Table of Contents
Heating elements for small rooms & offices
Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater, 1500-Watt – Even For Larger Rooms
The combination of PTC and the quartz infrared element is what makes this heater so effective and especially why the speed of heating is so rapid.
This heater provides 60% more heat and at a faster rate than comparable heaters with the same wattage. The Dr Infrared delivers around 250°F at 3.5m/s to your room.
In addition to offering high-efficiency convector heat, this heater has a few other things going for it.
The dual heating system helps the room retain air moisture, so you don’t have to worry about uncomfortable dry air like you’ll get with many space heaters.
It’s durable and should last for at least 80,000 hours of use. It’s quiet. The 7-inch blower generates a higher pressure and moves larger air volume at a lower speed, resulting in much quiet operation than you might expect.
It’s fairly easy to use and it comes with a remote. There are three settings: Auto, Low 1000W, and High 1500W.
The auto setting is particularly useful as it offers big energy savings by automatically choosing the right mode based on your desired temperature. You can select temperatures ranging from 50° to 86°F.
- energy-saving auto mode
- dual heat technology results in fast heating
- quiet
- long-lasting
- helps the room retain air moisture
- wheels are a cheap plastic
- it’s one of the larger and heavier small space heaters
- if you run it all the time, you will see a spike on your energy bill
- the controls could be easier to use
NewAIR AH470 – Unique Narrow Design
It has more heat-releasing surface area and it might be easier to store and place in more challenging spaces.
The heater is lightweight and comes on smooth-rolling caster wheels. Both radiant and convection heat are used as well as Micathermic Heating Technology.
It puts out 5,120 BTUs of heat and does so efficiently. That said, it’s going to heat most effectively in rooms of 150 square feet or less.
The NewAIR AH470 is easy to use, with simple button controls and a bright and clear LED display screen. There are high and low power settings as well as the ability to adjust to a certain temperature.
There is also an optional 18-hour timer. You can control these settings using either the controls on the front panel or with a remote control.
- narrow design and cord wrap great for storage
- large surface area for maximal heat distribution
- 18-hour timer
- easy to adjust settings with control panel or remote
- quiet
- thermostat doesn’t accurately report ambient temperature
- can’t effectively heat large rooms
- some quality control issues
- a bit overpriced given its limitations
Heat Storm Quartz Infrared Heater – Small With Attractive Classic Design
It might just be a quality control issue but several people do report that it doesn’t work quite as advertised.
Despite this possible pro and possible con, this nice-looking heater does have quite a bit to offer.
It uses infrared heat combined with HMS technology, meaning that you won’t have to deal with super dry and uncomfortable air.
The built-in thermostat with LED screen clearly displays the temperature and it’s easy to adjust this using either the display screen or the included remote control. Although parts of this heater feel a bit cheaply made, it looks quite nice, with a dark walnut finish and a simple front panel.
It is quite compact, measuring 12.5 x 11.1 x 14 inches. It’s also rather lightweight, weighing only 15 pounds. There are optional castor wheels included as well so it’s easy to move it around to different locations.
- 1-year warranty
- optional wheels included
- remote control
- HMS Technology prevents air from drying out
- simple dark wood design
- long power cord
- will struggle to sufficiently heat really large rooms
- temp sensor and auto-shutoff function is spotty
- a bit loud
- a bit overpriced
DeLonghi DCH5090ER Safe Heat – Compact With Attractive Modern Design
This silver and black beauty does more than just look good. Heat comes from a ceramic heating element.
It is a very safe heater to use, as it has a thermal cut-off that prevents overheating and an internal tip-over safety switch that turns the machine off if it gets knocked over.
There are three modes: Minimum, Boost, and EcoEnergy.
The EcoEnergy function saves you money by automatically adjusting heat and power settings for the most energy-efficient heat production.
In addition to the affordability and the nice design, one of the best features of this heater is the oscillation ability. Many small space heaters don’t let you change the direction of the heat at all.
This heater lets you direct the heat where you want it and it also features side-to-side motorized oscillation that means heat will reach more areas equally. This is also one of the easier to use space heaters.
A digital control panel with LCD display and simple buttons is very intuitive, as is the full-function remote. For added convenience, there is even a 24-hour timer.
- affordable
- attractive modern design
- easy to use
- directional heat and oscillation
- ECO mode saves money
- safety features
- some quality control issues
- it’s rather loud
- won’t be able to heat really large rooms effectively
PureHeat Snug Cordless – Plug-In Convenience
The combination of PTC and the quartz infrared element is what makes this heater so effective and especially why the speed of heating is so rapid.
This heater provides 60% more heat and at a faster rate than comparable heaters with the same wattage. The Dr Infrared delivers around 250°F at 3.5m/s to your room.
Safety is an important part of this heater. There is an auto-shutoff timer and the housing of the unit is always safe to the touch. The fan speed can be set to low or high and the temperature can be set to 60-90°F.
This will do a decent job of warming you up if you are very close to the unit but it will struggle to make much of a difference in a larger space. As it only uses 1000 watts, this heater consumes less energy than other space heaters so it will result in some cost savings.
- plugin convnenience
- energy savings
- 1-year limited warranty
- safety features
- fairly quiet
- good amount of heat if you are close to it
- does not work with GFCI outlets
- will struggle to make much difference unless you are nearby
- won’t work with older or less sturdy outlets
Mini Heaters For Cubicle, Desk, Personal Space
Tenergy 900W/1500W PTC Ceramic Heater – Best For Personal and Small Spaces
It has a convenient portable design that can rest on a side table or on a desk.
In addition to this personal-size design, you have the option of adjusting a 15° degree fan tilt so you can angle the heat where you want it.
Ceramic is the heating element at work here. One of the advantages of ceramic is that it heats up really quickly, as soon as 3 seconds.
You can choose between Fan-Only, Low-Heat (900W), and High-Heat (1500W) functions. You can also use the adjustable thermostat to set your desired room temperature. Safety is paramount with this heater and there is an automatic shutoff feature to prevent overheating.
- 2-year extended warranty and lifetime support
- convenient portable size
- can adjust fan angle
- automatic shutoff feature
- ceramic heats up quickly
- attractive modern design
- has a loud whine at first
- need to be careful not to put anything too close to it
Honeywell HCE100B Heat Bud – Perfect for Personal Desktop Office Use
For office use, safety is pretty important and this heater fits the bill. It’s cool to the touch. It has a tip-over switch and overheating protection.
There is a light that shows you when the heater is turned on. It’s also made from flame-retardant materials. Another advantage to this heater for office use is that it is very energy efficient and it only uses a maximum of 250 watts.
The heating element in this unit is ceramic which means that it heats up really quickly. This is not a unit that will heat a full office but it does do a very good job at heating a small personal space.
The design is nice if not particularly remarkable and it’s nice that you have a choice of colors.
- compact, portable desktop design
- available in different colors
- safety features
- energy efficient
- quiet operation
- very affordable
- won’t heat area much bigger than a small personal bubble
- not as durable as other units
- construction feels a bit cheap
Holmes Desktop Heater – Overpriced But Powerful Desktop Unit
Luckily, it is more durable than other desktop heaters which makes the price easier to take.It is a desktop unit with a conveniently compact size, making it easily portable.
A carry handle makes this even easier. The 1500-watt maximum output offers more power than most desktop units. While this is nice in some ways, it also means that it’s not quite as energy-efficient as it could be, especially for a desktop unit.
There are some good safety features like tip-over and overheat protection plus cool-touch housing. There is an adjustable thermostat, a high heat setting, and a fan only setting.
- very powerful for a desktop unit
- quite durable
- safety features
- convenient portability
- loud
- a bit inefficient
- design is outdated
Vornado DH202 – Effective Vortex Design
Deep blades get the air moving quickly. The inner enclosure shapes that air until the spiral grill distributes warm air in a remarkably even fashion.
One thing about this heater that is nothing like a tornado, though, is the noise factor. It’s actually a rather quiet unit.
This miniature heater is nice-looking and has a compact size that works well on a desktop.
The settings include high and low heat as well as a fan-only mode. There are safety features like tip-over protection and an auto-shutoff function to prevent overheating. With a maximum output of 750 watts, this desktop heater also offers good energy-efficiency.
- 3-year warranty
- vortex technology extends reach of heat
- energy efficient
- quiet
- convenient desktop size
- safety features
- cannot adjust angle or set air direction
- some motor vibration
- performance not as reliable over time
- customer service could be better
Lasko #100 MyHeat – Energy-Efficient With Cute Design
This is a very small unit that is designed for just heating a small personal area. If you’re right by it, it will do a pretty good job of warming you up. You don’t have many choices as far as settings go on this unit. There is only one heat setting.
A low power usage of only 200 watts means that this teeny tiny fan is an energy-smart heater that won’t cost you much to run. It also means that if several people in your office run these heaters, the circuit breaker isn’t going to trip.
There are also some additional safety features like overheating protection and a cool-touch exterior. Unfortunately, there is not a tip-over protection and this made even worse by the fact that the base is not as stable as it could be.
- very affordable
- 3-year limited warranty
- energy-efficient with low power usage
- safety features
- cute design with choice of color
- quiet
- plastic construction looks a bit cheap
- won’t heat area outside of personal bubble
- no tip-over protection
- only one heat setting
Small Space Heaters Buyer’s Guide
What small heater do you recommend for bathroom use?
The average home bathroom has a square footage of around 40 feet so most of the small heaters on this list should work to some extent. Even some of the small desktop heaters will be able to add a fair amount of heat to a room this small.
The DeLonghi DCH5090ER Safe Heat small space heater might be the best choice for bathroom use because of its compact size, affordability, and overall feature set. The PureHeat Snug Cordless is another good option for bathroom use, as the wall unit with outlet plugin means you don’t have to give up any floor space.
Which one is the most quiet?
For a heater for larger rooms, the Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater is the quietest option with the NewAIR AH470 in the runner-up position.
For personal sized space heaters, all of the choices on this list are fairly quiet, though the Honeywell HCE100B Heat Bud might be the quietest.
Do they use a lot of energy?
Some of the small space heaters on this list use a fair amount of energy but most are at least somewhat energy efficient. Many of the personal-sized desktop heaters have very low energy usage, like the Lasko #100 that only uses 200 watts.
But even a larger unit like the Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater that uses a maximum of 1500 watts overs a high degree of energy efficiency.
How can I make sure my small-sized heater won’t cause a fire?
If you’re worried about fire prevention, it’s a good idea to buy a small-sized heater that has safety features. Important safety features to look for are tip-over protection and overheating protection. Tip-over protection will automatically shut the heater off if it gets knocked over.
Overheating protection automatically shuts the heater off if it is at risk of overheating. In addition to buying a unit that is designed to be particularly safe, you can be careful not to place anything directly in front of the heater.
You should especially careful not to place combustible materials like furniture, clothing, and paper in front of the heater. Other good ideas for preventing a fire include placing the heater on a flat and even surface, never using an extension cord, and to not leave the heater running when you aren’t in the room.
Which one do you recommend to heat a cubicle?
Good options for heating a cubicle are the Lasko #100 MyHeat, the Honeywell HCE100B Heat Bud, and the Tenergy 900W/1500W PTC Ceramic Heater.
When using a small heater in a cubicle, you generally need to consider things like the noise level and the overall energy consumption since your heater usage might affect others in the office as well.
These three options are good because they offer a nice amount of heat in a small personal space while not being excessively loud or using too much energy.
A space heater can eliminate or at least reduce the annoyance of being cold and all of the options on this list are good choices.
Do you know someone who is always complaining about being cold? Consider sharing this list with them! Are you yourself always cold? Which one of these heaters are you thinking about buying?
Let me know in the comments. Feel free to ask any questions about small space heaters here as well.
Related Buying Guide
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.