No matter how warm-blooded you are, there will always be a time when temperatures drop below freezing, and you just can’t warm up.
In these situations, buying an electric heater for your home can be just the ticket you need to add a cozy and toasty atmosphere.
Here, we’ve rounded up the best electric heaters for home use, along with their unique features. Keep reading, and choose one that best matches your preferences.
If you are in a hurry, our top choice for the best electric heater is the Duraflame Quartz Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove with 3D Flame Effect.
Our Picks for Best Electric Heaters for Home
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Best Electric Heater Reviews
1. Duraflame Quartz Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove with 3D Flame Effect — Best overall
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Thanks to its fire-like LED lights, and infrared embers, the Duraflame Electric Fireplace is the best electric heater for those who want a natural look.
This electric fireplace gives a realistic feel to your apartment; it uses 3D flame effect technology to make it look just like a real burning fire.
The most fabulous feature of this product is that it has a remote control by which you can adjust the speed of heating and the brightness and color of flames.
This electric fireplace doesn’t dry the atmosphere and maintains the natural humidity of the setting. What’s more, it heats the space using a circulating fan, and the walls don’t get too hot to burn anyone, which makes it the best electric heater for houses with a child.
Pros
- Adjustable thermostat.
- Remote access.
- Cool housing.
- Beautifully glowing design.
Cons
- Hardly visible buttons on the back.
2. Lasko 6221 Flat Panel Ceramic Heater — Best Electric Heater for Small Spaces
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One of the bestselling heaters, this Lasko Flat Panel Ceramic Heater, is more powerful than you would expect from a 15-inch space heater. Its slim, space-conscious design makes it a perfect match for small apartments, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens.
This ceramic heater comes already assembled, so you don’t need to spend hours putting the pieces together.
The Lasko comes with an adjustable digital thermostat, which sets temperatures from 39 to 90 degrees, and heating power from 900 to 1500W. You can customize the heat based on room size and your comfortable heating level. Or, you can set it on automatic mode, and peacefully, use it for chilly nights.
This type of electric heater is equipped with many safety features, such as automatic overheat protection and a cool-touch body, making it a safe option around kids.
Pros
- Usable in all seasons.
- Eight-hour timer.
- Adjustable thermostat.
- ETL listed.
- Safe around children.
- High, low, and auto settings.
Cons
- No tip-over safety.
3. LifeSmart 6 Element Cabinet and Remote — Best Electric Heater for a Large Area
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This luxurious space heater can warm over 1400 cubic feet using quartz technology and is the best electric heater for large setups.
Unlike other infrared heaters, which usually have a hefty appearance, this one takes up little space and is surprisingly powerful for its size.
It has a 12-hour timer, three energy savings settings, and six infrared quartz elements, all involved in a metal heat exchanger.
Instead of circulating the heat through the air, it transfers the warmth via electromagnetic waves and generates a quick, even heat to your surroundings.
The one-year manufacturer’s warranty and durable air filter make it the most resistant product for home use.
Pros
- Ultimate control.
- Dual time setting,
- Stylish wooden appearance.
- One-year warranty.
- Lifetime washable air filter.
- Natural heating like sun rays.
- Quiet and smooth operation.
Cons
- Hot to the touch.
- Rather heavy.
4. Honeywell EnergySmart Electric Whole Room Heater — Energy Efficient Electric Heater
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This type of heater gives a powerful performance without surprising you with a big electricity bill and is our pick for the most energy-efficient heater.
Whether you want to warm a small, chilly area or a larger space such as your living room, the Honeywell EnergySmart is a clever choice that throws out a fair amount of heat. It won’t overheat or underheat your environment.
Compared to other devices in its price range, this oil-filled heater has high safety standards—such as a three-prong grounded plug, heavy-duty power cord, and tip-over Switch—which prevent any potential fires and shocks.
The heater also comes with an adjustable thermostat, timer, easy-pull handle, and smooth-rolling wheels, making it one of the best portable electric heaters.
Pros
- High industry Safety Standards.
- Digital easy set controls.
- Easy-pull luggage-style.
- Equipped with heavy-duty cord.
Cons
- Dim setting lights.
- Flimsy plastic wheels.
5. DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica Panel Heater — Best Electric Heater for Light Sleepers
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With its convenient wall mount option, the DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica Panel Heater gives your apartment a stylish look, and it’s your best bet if you care about your interior appearance.
This heater is no heavier than 16 pounds and has well-designed wheels, so it’s pretty easy to move from one room to another.
Most importantly, the HMP1500 heats the area with an interior plate inside the unit, and since there are no fans involved, it doesn’t produce any disturbing noise. It’s an excellent option for light sleepers or those who want a silent atmosphere in their house.
Its Mica-thermic technology and the multi-directional heat blower make the heat come from a larger area and warm the room more quickly than other portable heaters.
One downfall is that it’s quite delicate; be careful when moving, an accidental knock could put an end to the DeLonghi.
Pros
- Portable.
- Light-weight.
- Completely silent.
- Sleek appearance.
- Customized heat options.
Cons
- Fragile.
6. Coolast Small Space Heater – Best Portable Electric Heater
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Although it might look like a speaker at first glance, the Coolast Small Space Heater is the best electric heater for desktop, personal room, or office use.
It could be the smallest, most light-weight portable heater you can ever find, but it surprises you with its high performance. Powered by PTC heating technology, this 600-Watt heater warms up the area in just two seconds, and won’t produce any loud noise or interrupt you while sleeping.
As a bonus, this product is also an electric fan that automatically oscillates the air and distributes the heat around the room, so it will never overheat one particular area.
It’s equipped with a tip-over safety feature to ensure that the device automatically disconnects itself when it falls on the ground, and won’t cause any accidents.
Pros
- High safety standards.
- Rapid heating.
- Compact design.
- Anti-flamer characteristics
- Quiet operation.
- Smart body sensor.
Cons
- Improper placement of the tip-over feature.
Buying An Electric Heater
Here are a few things to consider before buying an electric heater.
Space
The right heater is one that fits the specifications of your room. If your room is quite small, you should go for smaller heaters. But if you want to warm up a big living room, a larger eye-catching heater may be a better option because it adds an elegant look to your house.
Plus, not all heaters are powerful enough to heat a large area, and high-power heaters aren’t proper for small rooms because they’ll overheat and cause discomfort, and can even cause accidents.
Before buying a space heater, you should measure the room size, and choose an electric heater based on its heating capacity. Generally, every 10 Watts can warm up one square foot. Based on this rule of thumb, if your room is 200 feet squared, you should buy a heater that produces at least 2000 Watts of heat.
Form and Appearance
The physical appearance of a heater also matters. For example, if you intend to move the heater from one room to another, you should pick an easy-carry portable device. The best portable electric heater is a small one with easy-spinning wheels and convenient handles.
Energy Consumption
Aside from saving you money, energy-efficient space heaters are more environment-friendly and will prevent unnecessary waste. Most online retailers mention energy usage in their product description.
Management Options
You should buy a plug in heater only after you check its control mechanisms. Make sure it’s equipped with a thermostat and that you can adjust the heating temperature manually.
A single on and off mode is never enough; the best electric heater should have a timer, remote control, and adjustable controls to maintain your comfort and allow you to program the setting based on your needs.
Noise Level
You’ll never know how disturbing a loud heater can be until you buy one. Heaters are there to give you a comfy, toasty house during the harsh days of winter. However, if you have a noise-making one, it’ll take all your tranquility away while sleeping, watching TV, or reading your favorite book.
Don’t underestimate the silent operation feature, and always go for a quiet heater, like the LifeSmart 6 Element Cabinet.
Types of Electric Heaters
As you can see, not all electric heaters are the same. Radiant, ceramic, convection, oil-filed, panel, and fan are among the best electric room heaters. However, each of these devices has its own pros and cons. So, before you make a decision, you should consider them and evaluate them one by one.
Precautions for Using Electric Heaters
- Buy a heater with tip-over protection. With this feature, the unit will automatically switch off if it tips forward or backward in your absence.
- Do not put the power cords under rugs or other objects because it might heat the furniture and cause a fire.
- Do not place your heater on top of a table, unless the heater’s manufacturer has presented it as a safe option.
- As for units that don’t have a thermostat or smart human identifier, never leave them unattended, especially while you’re sleeping.
- Plug an electric heater directly into a wall outlet. If not possible, get a heater with a heavy-duty cord and do not use extension cords without reading the manufacturer’s guidelines. The Honeywell EnergySmart Electric Heater is one of our safest suggestions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Most Energy-Efficient Electric Heater?
Here’s a list of the most energy-efficient electric heaters we found on the market:
- LifeSmart 6 Element Cabinet and Remote
- Sure Heat Blue Flame Space Heater
- Dyson AM09 Fan Heater
- DeLonghi Gray/Black DCH5090ER Safe Heat 1500W Digital Ceramic Heater
Which Type of Electric Heater Is the Safest?
Infrared heaters are safe for both humans and the planet, being an energy-efficient option. They warm up the room by putting out infrared waves, which work like the sun rays and heat the area more naturally.
Is It Cheaper to Leave the Heating on Low All Day?
There’s no proof that it’ll be cheaper to leave the heating on low all day. In contrast, professionals in Energy Saving Trust say it’s more affordable and also safer to run heaters whenever you need them, not all day long.
Which Type of Heater Is the Cheapest to Run?
The cheapest type of electronic heaters to run are infrared heaters, oil-filled heaters, and storage heaters because they use less energy to provide heat, and their warmth lasts longer in a room.
Is a Ceramic or Infrared Heater Better?
Generally, both ceramic and infrared heaters are great options to take away the chill out of your house. Ceramic heaters usually use strong convection power to transfer heat around, while infrared heaters rely on beams to carry the heat right towards a human body, clothes, and other objects.
Conclusion
Depending on your needs, there are many types of electric heaters, each of which is equipped with specific features. If you’re looking for the best overall heater, the Duraflame Quartz Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove with 3D Flame Effect is a great option.
It’s child-friendly, has adjustable settings controlled by remote; this plus the realistic 3D flame technology makes the Duraflame our top pick.
The Lasko 6221 Flat Panel Ceramic HeaterAir Circulator Fan was a close second. It’s compact yet powerful and has many safety features.
For their price, these units are your safest and most effective choices.
