Winter is a very divisive season; people either love it or hate it. But no matter what people feel about winter, everyone can probably agree that keeping warm on the cold days is a must. And to achieve this, you need a working and efficient heating system. But heaters aren’t fool-proof, nor are they always efficient, which is why it’s important to have a backup plan in the form of an electric heater.
Luckily for you, we’ve gathered the best electric heaters on the market, so you won’t need to spend too much time looking for the perfect heater. You just need to know what to look for in a good heater and compare your best options.
- How to Pick the Right Electric Heater
- Top 10 Best Electric Heaters 2023
- 1. Best Overall Pick: Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
- 2. Best Premium Pick: LifePro 3 Element Heater
- 3. Best for Small Rooms: Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater
- 4. Best Budget Pick: Andily Space Heater
- 5. Most Stylish: GAIATOP Space Heater
- 6. Best Wall-Mounted: Heat Storm Infrared Heater
- 7. Best for Large Rooms: LifeSmart 6 Element Heater
- 8. Best Electric Fireplace Stove: Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove
- 9. Best Oil-Filled: De'Longhi Oil-Filled Comfort Temp Heater
- 10. Best Mica Heater: De’Longhi HMP1500 Panel Heater
- Guide to Buying the Best Electric Heaters
- Final Thoughts
How to Pick the Right Electric Heater
There are a variety of factors you need to consider before you start looking at electric heaters. Knowing what type of electric heater you need, as well as the features you’d want in an electric heater, will make finding the right electric heater so much easier.
Before we dive in, you should know that there are different types of electric heaters, and depending on your needs, you might be inclined to pick one over the others. You’ll learn more about them later in the article.
Space Requirements
An electric heater isn’t meant to heat an entire house unless it’s one of those tiny houses that are 100 to 400 sq ft. They’re mostly only capable of heating one room, although some heaters are able to heat multiple ones, provided that they’re small and the house has good insulation.
If you’re looking to heat a regular-sized room, like a bedroom or a home office, you don’t need a heater that can heat large rooms—something like the Dr. Infrared Heater would be more than enough.
If the room has bad insulation, or if the ceiling is high, you might actually need one that can heat larger spaces, such as the LifeSmart 6 Element Heater.
Safety Features
The safety features are a very important consideration when it comes to choosing an electric heater. Depending on how hot a heater gets, it can burn your skin if you graze it, and can cause a fire if it gets knocked over and touches flammable objects. To prevent this, you should get a heater that has overheat protection, so it shuts off when it starts overheating.
Heaters that are prone to tipping should also come with an anti-tip shut-off, so it doesn’t melt or burn anything on the floor when it tips over.
Other safety features include a cool-touch exterior and a programmable timer that will shut the unit off after some amount of time. If you value safety more than anything else, you might like the Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater and its superb safety features.
Now that we’re done with the basics, let’s take a look at the most highly-rated electric heaters today.
Top 10 Best Electric Heaters 2023
1. Best Overall Pick: Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Infrared
- Wattage: 1500
- Dimensions: 13 x 12.5 x 17 inches
- Weight: 24 lbs
- For: Medium to large rooms
This reliable space heater from Dr. Infrared uses an advanced heating system that combines infrared and convection heat to provide better heat output. It’s able to efficiently heat larger rooms without stripping them of moisture.
Performance
It’s significantly better at heating rooms than other 1500W electric heaters. Apart from being able to heat rooms of up to 1000 sq ft, the air it puts out also feels comfortable and natural and won’t dry your skin at all.
What’s even cooler about it is that it has an auto mode feature. If you set the thermostat to your desired temperature and then set it to auto mode, it will cycle on and off to maintain that temperature.
But like many things, the Dr. Infrared Space Heater isn’t perfect and comes with faults as well. It can be somewhat loud when it’s running, and it may also raise your electric bill lightly more than some smaller options.
Portability
At 24 lbs, it’s a little bit awkward to move around since it doesn’t have a carrying handle, but it does have casters like the LifePro 3 Element Heater.
Safety Features
This heater has some of the best safety features you’ll find on electric heaters. Not only does it have overheat protection, automatic tip-over shut-off, and a cool-touch exterior, but it also comes with a programmable timer that will automatically shut the unit off after 12 hours of use. However, keep in mind that the metal grates are hot to the touch—that’s where the hot air comes from, after all.
Controls
On the front of the unit are the thermostat and the controls. There’s a power button (which you need to press before you can start using the remote), a standby button, two thermostat buttons, and a button to change the mode (auto, high, or low).
Quality
This heater is pretty sturdy and should last a long time. But that’s a given, seeing as it’s over three times more expensive than several of the heaters we’ve featured here. Just one very important thing to note: plug it into proper electric receptacles, so it doesn’t catch on fire.
Pros
- Really good safety features
- Great heat output
- Convenient auto mode feature
- Doesn’t dry the air out
Cons
- Has a rattling noise
- Not very portable
- May increase your electric bill
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Infrared
- Wattage: 1500
- Dimensions: 28.3 x 10.7 x 22.6 inches
- Weight: 49.7 lbs
- For: Medium to large rooms
The LifePro 3 Element is an infrared electric heater from smart home company LifeSmart. It’s a beautiful fireplace heater with very realistic looking flames that could fool almost anyone. But because it’s the best of its kind, it will break the bank at over $340 each.
Performance
The LifePro 3 Element heats pretty quickly, but its performance depends on various things. LifeSmart claims that the heater can heat an area of up to 1800 sq ft, but that’s a bit misleading as it can only efficiently heat a room that’s 1000 sq ft or less—with emphasis on “less” if your home is poorly insulated or has high ceilings, or if you’re trying to heat multiple rooms instead of one big room.
If you’re looking for something to heat a medium-sized room, this will definitely do the job. Just know that if you’re going to be using it in a large room, there’s a chance it won’t heat the area as well as you want it.
The good thing about this heater is that, because it’s infrared, it won’t really dry out the air so you won’t have to worry about getting dry skin or an irritated nose or throat.
Portability
At almost 50 lbs, this electric heater is rather heavy, so it’s not the best option if you’re looking for something that can be easily lugged around. It does come with caster wheels though, and they glide easily over most surfaces.
Manual Controls
At the top right corner of the heater is a digital LED display, as well as the controls for adjusting the brightness of the flame image, the two heat settings, and the thermostat. You also get two remote controls, which is an added benefit. Even if one of them disappears into a wormhole, you’ll still have the other left. Just hope it doesn’t get sucked in as well.
Safety Features
The LifePro 3 Element is designed with three safety features. It has overheat protection, a tip-over shut-off feature, and a timer you can set to make sure the unit shuts off when not in use.
Quality
The quality of this fireplace heater is top-notch. It looks and feels sturdy and high-end (as it should, seeing as it costs an arm and a leg). And as mentioned before, the artificial flames look very realistic. They don’t flicker, nor are there crackling noises, but you can make the flames brighter or dimmer to create your desired ambiance. You even have the option of turning the flame image on without the heat.
Pros
- Sturdy and nice-looking
- Doesn’t dry the air out
- Comes with two remotes
- Comes with adequate safety features
Cons
- Expensive
- May not heat up to 1800 sq ft of space as advertised
- Not very portable
3. Best for Small Rooms: Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Ceramic
- Wattage: Up to 1500
- Dimensions: 6 x 3.7 x 9.2 inches
- Weight: 1 lb
- For: Small rooms
One of the more recognized manufacturers of electric heaters, Lasko offers several highly-rated electric heaters, including the Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater. A reliable option for small rooms, it’s easy on the wallet at less than $30 per unit.
Performance
The Lasko 754200 works by releasing a stream of hot air into the area directly in front of it. Because of how small it is and the way it heats a room, it can only efficiently heat smaller rooms.
If you put it in a small room, it’ll warm up the area rather quickly, and can raise the temperature to about 80°F. But if you think that’s too hot, no worries—you can easily manipulate it so that it’s at a temperature you’re comfortable with.
The heater only emits a minimal hum when it’s running, so it won’t bother you when you’re working or keep you up at night.
Portability
Lasko had portability in mind when they designed the 754200 Ceramic Heater. It weighs around a pound and comes with a carrying handle to make transporting it really easy. You can put it on a table or a countertop without worrying about it taking too much space, as it’s only 9 inches in height and 6 inches in length.
Manual Controls
The control mechanism of the Lasko 754200 is very intuitive and easy to find. At the top, it has a dial for adjusting the thermostat with 11 temperature settings, as well as another dial for the heat settings, which can be set to fan only, low heat, or high heat. Mix and match the settings to reach your desired temperature.
Safety Features
This heater comes with overheat protection as well as a cool-touch exterior, so you won’t get burned even if you accidentally touch the sides of the heater. It also has a firm base, so it won’t tip over easily. However, when it does tip over, it won’t automatically turn off, so you’ll need to find a safe location for it, away from children, pets, and objects that can melt or burn.
Quality
The price of this heater really reflects the quality of the build. It’s not very durable, and in some cases, it might even end up melting a little on the sides. If not handled carefully, other parts may easily break as well.
Pros
- Portable
- Has overheat protection
- Cool-touch exterior
- Heats up fast
- Quiet
Cons
- Doesn’t come with tip-over shut-off
- Not very durable
4. Best Budget Pick: Andily Space Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Ceramic
- Wattage: 750 / 1500
- Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.74 x 8.3 inches
- Weight: 2.42 lbs
- For: Small rooms
The Andily Space Heater is a ceramic electric heater that’s perfect for small rooms. It looks a bit similar to the Lasko 754200 electric heater, but is a bit bigger and heavier. Costing less than $25 per unit, it’s the cheapest option among the best electric heaters on the market right now.
Performance
When it comes to heating a space, the Andily Space Heater performs about the same as the Lasko 754200. It heats pretty fast, and you’ll start to feel warm and comfortable within minutes. However, it doesn’t distribute heat evenly throughout a space. On top of that, it makes a loud, rattling noise when running, so it’s not a good option if you need a quiet space.
Portability
Although this heater is slightly bigger and heavier than the Lasko 754200, it’s still more compact and lightweight than many of its competitors. It’s easily transportable and comes with a carrying handle at the back.
Manual Controls
The controls of this heater are found at the top. There’s a dial to change the heat setting from power off to fan only, low heat (750W) or high heat (1500W), and another dial to regulate the temperature.
Safety Features
The Andily Space Heater comes with an overheat protection feature, which is good, but it tends to overheat itself. That means it might shut itself off before the room reaches your desired temperature. You might have to walk over to it multiple times to turn it back on.
But unlike the Lasko 754200, it comes with an automatic tip-over shut-off feature, so you won’t have to worry about it melting or burning things when it tips over. This feature is pretty sensitive, however, so you’ll find that even the slightest of movements will turn it off.
Quality
As with any other cheap option, the Andily Space Heater breaks easily if not handled with care, so you’ll have to be more careful when using it.
Pros
- Portable
- Heats up fast
- Has an automatic tip-over shut-off feature
- Has overheat protection
Cons
- Not very durable
- Tends to overheat a lot
- Loud
5. Most Stylish: GAIATOP Space Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Ceramic
- Wattage: 500 / 1000
- Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.9 x 7.3 inches
- Weight: 1.61 lbs
- For: Small rooms
The GAIATOP Space Heater is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Rocking a hip, futuristic style, the heater almost looks like it belongs in a spaceship. The most attractive electric heater around, it’s the best option if you value form as much as functionality.
Performance
The GAIATOP Space Heater may be small, but it packs a punch when it comes to heating a space. It warms up quickly, and the air it pumps out is so hot that you most likely won’t even really need to put it on the hottest setting (there are three).
The heat it puts out feels really comfortable too, but watch out for the metal grates. It will burn you if you touch it, so try to keep the heater away from children and pets. You’ll hear a little bit of noise coming from it, but it’s not as loud as its competitors.
Portability
This heater doesn’t come with a carrying handle, but it’s so small and light that you’ll be able to move it really easily. The non-slip triangular wooden stand is also removable if you ever need to detach it for any reason.
Manual Controls
The controls on this heater are among the most basic you’ll see on the best electric heaters. The power button is at the back, and at the top is a single button to set the heat settings. There’s a 1000W high heat mode, a 500W low heat mode, and a fan to cool you down in the warmer months.
Because it doesn’t come with a thermostat, you’ll have to operate it manually so that your space will be at your desired temperature.
Safety Features
The heater automatically shuts off after six hours of use to prevent overheating. It will do the same when it gets knocked over, but the wooden stand is pretty stable so it shouldn’t tip over easily.
Quality
As you’d expect with any heater less than $30, the GAIATOP Space Heater isn’t made with expensive, sturdy materials. It breaks easily and may not last a year, depending on your usage.
Pros
- Attractive
- Puts out a lot of heat
- Has adequate safety features
- Easy controls
Cons
- No thermostat
- The metal grates can burn you
- Not very durable
6. Best Wall-Mounted: Heat Storm Infrared Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Infrared
- Wattage: 1500
- Dimensions: 18.8 x 4.5 x 12.8 inches
- Weight: 9 lbs
- For: Small rooms
If you’re worried about your kids and/or pets knocking over your electric heater, then the wall-mounted infrared heater from Heat Storm is your best option. It looks attractive and will complement most interior designs, and being a smart appliance, you can operate it using the Smart Life app on your phone.
Performance
The coverage isn’t as good as the Dr. Infrared Space Heater, but it can efficiently heat areas of up to 500 sq ft. It works well in insulated garages and basements as well, and the thermostat does a great job of regulating the temperature. It’s quiet, but it may take a little longer to heat a room than its competitors.
Also, even though it claims to be energy-efficient, the operating costs are a little higher than some options, so you may see a bump in your electric bill. It might be a small price to pay if you really want to be able to set schedules and control the temperature from your phone. It’s even compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa.
Safety Features
This heater doesn’t have a tip-over shut-off feature for obvious reasons, but it does have overheat protection. The grill shouldn’t be hot enough to burn you, but you should still avoid touching it with your bare skin.
Controls
The thermostat and power buttons are on the front. It comes with a remote control, and as previously mentioned, you can also operate it from your phone.
Quality
The materials aren’t the best (the unit somewhat feels like cheap plastic), which is a shame since it costs over $120. But then again, it comes with smart technology, so the higher than average cost may be worth it if you intend to use these features.
Pros
- Won’t tip over since it’s wall-mounted
- Can be operated from your phone
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa
- Has overheat protection
Cons
- Heats slower
- Cheap construction
- May raise your electric bill
7. Best for Large Rooms: LifeSmart 6 Element Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Infrared
- Wattage: 500 / 750 / 1500
- Dimensions: 16 x 13 x 16.5 inches
- Weight: 21 lbs
- For: Large Rooms
A reliable product from LifeSmart, the 6 Element Heater is the best electric heater for larger rooms. And while people usually buy this heater to heat large rooms, it does have 500W Eco Setting if you ever need to heat a smaller room efficiently.
Performance
This heater puts out a lot of heat, which you’ll notice right away after turning it on. The heat spreads quickly throughout the room, and evenly, too. With good insulation, it can heat areas that are over 1200 sq ft. However, it can be noisy when running at full capacity.
Portability
Like the Dr Infrared Heater, the 6 Element Heater is boxy and kind of heavy, so moving it around isn’t the easiest, but it comes with casters so you can at least push it around the room.
Safety Features
It comes with the standard safety features, like overheat protection and tip-over shut-off, and it also comes with a timer which you can set for up to twelve hours. Unfortunately, no thanks to the overheat protection feature, it may shut itself off before the room is at your desired temperature.
Controls
The LifeSmart 6 Element is easy to operate and even comes with a remote, but it has more buttons than the other best electric heaters. Apart from the usual power button and programmable thermostat, it also has a child lock button, a button to switch from Fahrenheit to Celsius and back, and a timer button.
One important thing to know about this heater is that the LED display is rather bright, so you might have trouble sleeping with it if you like to sleep in total darkness.
Quality
The heater is a bit lacking in this department. It looks sturdy, but it’ll break much faster than the Dr Infrared Heater. Perhaps it’s because you can literally keep it running 24/7, and that can’t be good for it.
Pros
- Can heat small, medium, and large rooms
- Has good safety features
- Comes with a remote
- Comes with a child lock feature
Cons
- Loud
- May shut off before the desired temperature is reached
- Breaks easily
- LED display too bright
8. Best Electric Fireplace Stove: Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Infrared
- Wattage: 1500
- Dimensions: 13.07 x 24 x 23.4 inches
- Weight: 28.6 lbs
- For: Small to medium rooms
The Duraflame 3D Electric Heater is for you if you want a fireplace heater but aren’t willing to shell out over $300 for it. It’s a beautiful fireplace stove with a timeless design that will complement any room. What’s more, it’s available in six classy colors.
Performance
It takes a while for the Duraflame 3D Electric Heater to heat a room, but you’ll feel warm and toasty even in a medium-sized room once it has put out enough heat.
The fan in the heater has a humming noise which can be annoying when there aren’t other sounds in the room, but it’s almost unnoticeable when you have music or the TV on.
Portability
As a fireplace stove heater, the Duraflame 3D Heater isn’t meant to be moved around. It’s pretty weighty at 28.6 lbs and it’s not on casters so you won’t be able to push it around. The good thing is that, because of its shape and weight, it won’t get knocked over easily.
Safety Features
The unit comes with an auto shut-off feature and overheat protection, which is good, but there’s a chance it will overheat and shut off before the target temperature is reached. But you’ll be happy to know that the flame effect will stay on unless you explicitly turn it off.
It also gets pretty hot on top, so it’s best not to put anything on top of the unit. Even the metal grates where the heat comes from gets hot, so you’ll have to avoid touching that part as well.
Controls
The controls are actually hidden from view, which makes the heater look even more authentic. But because the display is also hidden, there’s no way for you to know what the current temperature setting is until you open the door and see the display and controls at the bottom-right corner.
As for the actual controls, there are buttons for adjusting the thermostat, manipulating the flame effect, and setting the timer (30 minutes to 9 hours).
While it does come with a remote, it doesn’t work very well. You’ll most likely need to press the buttons on the heater itself.
Quality
Apart from being really pretty, the electric stove heater has a sturdy construction. If you take good care of it, it will surely last a long time.
Pros
- Beautiful fireplace stove
- Realistic flames
- Has auto shut-off and overheat protection
- Sturdy and looks high-quality
Cons
- The metal grates and the top get pretty hot
- Remote control doesn’t work well
- May overheat and shut off before the desired temperature is reached
9. Best Oil-Filled: De'Longhi Oil-Filled Comfort Temp Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Oil-filled
- Wattage: 1500
- Dimensions: 9 x 13.78 x 24.9 inches
- Weight: 23.2 lbs
- For: Medium to large rooms
The only oil-filled option we’ve included in this guide, this product from De’Longhi comes with all the usual benefits you’d expect from an oil-filled electric heater. It got its name from its Comfort Temp technology, which automatically maintains the optimal temperature with a press of the ComforTemp button.
Performance
The De’Longhi Comfort Temp Heater works great at heating medium to large rooms, and can even heat really cold basements in the middle of winter. As with any oil-filled option, it can take a while to heat the room to your desired temperature, so you’ll need to remember to turn it on before it gets too cold.
Because it’s not as drying as other electric heaters, the air it puts out feels natural and comfortable. But one major drawback is that it emits an unpleasant smell on the first few uses. The smell should subside over time, however.
Portability
The heater isn’t easy to carry around because it is heavy and doesn’t come with a carrying handle. Thankfully, it comes with four well-balancing wheels that help prevent it from getting knocked over.
Safety Features
While this heater comes with overheat protection and a cool-touch exterior, it doesn’t have a timer. The good thing is that it’ll continue to put some heat out for some amount of time after you turn it off.
Controls
The user-friendly panel is on the front of the heater. It doesn’t have an LED display like many other electric heaters, but there’s a dial for the thermostat, two switches to change the heat settings, and the ComforTemp button below the switches.
Quality
There’s a chance of receiving a defective unit, so you’ll need to test the heater right away when it arrives.
Pros
- Can heat medium to large rooms
- Puts out comfortable air
- Has overheat protection and a cool-touch exterior
Cons
- Takes longer to heat spaces
- Smells on the first few uses
- Not very portable
- Poor quality control
10. Best Mica Heater: De’Longhi HMP1500 Panel Heater
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Mica
- Wattage: 750 / 1500
- Dimensions: 27 x 10 x 22 inches
- Weight: 15.43 lbs
- For: Spot heating
This electric heater from De’Longhi comes in two colors (black or white), and can either be set on the floor or mounted on the wall.
Performance
The HMP1500 Heater generates heat pretty fast after turning it on. It’s not powerful enough to heat larger rooms, but it does the job when it comes to spot heating—just make sure you’re within three to five feet of the heater.
One of the quieter electric heaters around, it only emits a light hum, which isn’t noticeable unless you’re actively listening to it. It also doesn’t dry the air out.
Portability
It may not be as light as some other options, but the De’Longhi HMP1500 is still very portable thanks to its slim design, carrying handle, and caster wheels. Because of how compact it is, it can easily fit in tight spaces. Plus, it conveniently comes with a mounting kit in case you want to mount it on the wall.
Safety Features
It comes with the usual overheat protection and anti-tip shut-off, but like the De’Longhi Oil-filled heater, it doesn’t come with a timer.
Controls
On the left side of the panel is a dial for the thermostat and another dial for the heat settings. You can choose between the 1500W high setting and the 750W low setting.
Quality
The casters can break off easily if you accidentally hit the unit while moving it, but the panel itself is pretty durable and should last longer than its competitors.
Pros
- Heats quickly
- Quiet
- Doesn’t dry the air out
- Portable
- Durable panel
Cons
- Can only mostly do spot heating
- A bit pricey considering the lower heat output
- Casters may break off easily
Guide to Buying the Best Electric Heaters
The electric heaters featured above may be excellent in many ways, but not all of them will meet your specific needs and preferences. It’s important to learn more about them so that you don’t end up buying the wrong one. You don’t want to deal with having to return an item as big as an electric heater.
Types of Electric Heaters
We’ve only included the types of electric heaters that have made it to our top 10 so you don’t get overloaded with information.
Ceramic Heaters
Ceramic heaters are a pretty popular choice since they heat rooms pretty fast. Despite their name, they’re not necessarily made entirely from ceramic. They got their name from their heating element: Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) ceramic. Ceramic heaters heat cold air using the heated ceramic plate, then distribute it into the room.
While the majority of ceramic heaters are convection heaters that use a fan to blow the hot air out, there are also radiant ceramic heaters that heat a room by heating the objects in it.
If you want to get a ceramic heater and you value a heater’s performance the most, you should get the Dr. Infrared Heater. But if you care more about style, then the GAIATOP Space Heater would be the ideal option.
Oil-Filled Heaters
An oil-filled heater is more what you’d expect a heater to look like, but it doesn’t actually use up any oil, so you won’t need to refill it. What it does is that it heats the oil inside the unit then radiates it into the room. But the process is rather slow, and it can take an hour or more to heat a room to your desired temperature.
However, the heat it produces is often more comfortable, and it’s really good at retaining heat. It’ll continue to put out heat for a while after you turn it off, unlike a ceramic heater, which cools off almost immediately. Additionally, it doesn’t make as much noise as the other types, so it’s perfect for those who want a quiet space. On top of that, they’re also safer in that they don’t have any exposed heating elements.
Infrared Heaters
Infrared heaters are radiant heaters. They heat rooms immediately like ceramic heaters, but the heating process isn’t the same. They emit infrared rays to heat the objects in the room.
One coveted feature of infrared heaters is that they don’t take away the moisture in the air, so your home or office won’t feel like a desert. But because of the infrared rays it emits, this type of heater is kind of bright, so you probably won’t want it in your bedroom at night.
When it comes to performance, the Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater is unbeatable, but if you’re looking for a fireplace heater that uses infrared, your best bet is the LifePro 3 Element Heater.
Mica Heaters
Mica heaters, also known as micathermic heaters, use layers of mica sheet to heat a room. Each sheet is made up of the mica stone, which is a good conductor of heat. Mica heaters use this heating element to radiate heat into the room, warming the objects in the room instead of the air. A mica heater is kind of like an infrared heater in that regard. It doesn’t use a fan, so it’s usually quieter than other types of heaters. It doesn’t dry out the air in the room, either.
Fireplace Heaters
The majority of electric fireplace heaters work like a traditional heater in that a blower sucks in cold air, heats it using some kind of heating element, then blows it out in the room. But the only fireplace heaters we’ve included here are the infrared kind since they’re the best under this category.
Made to look like actual fireplaces, electric fireplace heaters are big and pleasant to look at, and they’re usually fitted with a technology that mimics real flames.
Factors to Consider When Buying an Electric Heater
Checking out the factors below should narrow down your list if you’re still unsure which electric heater to get.
Performance
When it comes to a heater’s performance, there are two main things you need to take into account: how much heat it puts out and how fast it heats a room.
In case you didn’t already know, wattage doesn’t have anything to do with how much heat a heater puts out. It only refers to how much electricity a heater needs to do its job. Even the best electric heaters in the 1500W range vary a lot in terms of heat output. But if that’s what you care about the most, then the LifeSmart 6 Element Heater is the best in this department. It can heat large rooms pretty quickly and evenly.
Noise Level
Electric heaters are noise machines. Some of them emit a light hum, while others rattle so much they’ll keep you awake at night. Unfortunately, some of the best performing electric heaters are pretty loud, so you’ll have to find a good balance between performance and noise level. If you do want something that emits minimal noise, go for the Heat Storm Infrared Heater or the De’Longhi HMP1500 Panel Heater.
Air Quality
Heaters are notorious for drying out your skin. If you’re prone to getting a rash when you have dry skin, you definitely need one that doesn’t suck moisture out of the air. But if you do end up buying a heater that dries out the air, you don’t necessarily have to return it. You could just run a humidifier when your heater is on.
Portability
Since these heaters aren’t built into your home, you might as well get something that you can move around easily in case you feel like doing so. Take into account the size, shape and weight of every heater you’re considering. Some of the best electric heaters come with carrying handles and casters to improve portability.
Controls
It’s 2021 — there’s no reason for you to pick anything with controls that are hard to find or operate. If it has a LED display, good. If it has a programmable thermostat, even better. A couple of nice-to-haves are a button to change the heat settings and a timer button.
Appearance
Unless you’re looking to heat a garage, it might be a good idea to pick a heater that won’t stand out for the wrong reasons. If you don’t want an ugly-looking heater, pick the GAIATOP Space Heater. It’s a lovely heater that will add style to your home.
Product Quality
This is often tied to the price of the unit. Cheaper units tend to be made with cheaper materials, and heaters with cheap construction don’t last very long. It might be worth spending a little bit more on something that looks high quality and is durable.
Care and Safety
Running an electric heater can be dangerous in certain situations, so it’s extremely important that you know how to use it. Follow these recommendations from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure an accident doesn’t occur while using your electric heater.
The image above is a good example of where you should put an electric heater: on a flat, even surface at least three feet away from combustible material.
Final Thoughts
Once you finally get the perfect electric heater that meets your needs and wants, you’ll finally be warm and toasty come wintertime. However, you mustn’t forget one crucial thing: electric heaters run on electricity. If there’s a power outage, you won’t be able to use it, which is why it’s a good idea to also have a portable generator. You never know when your area might get a power outage.
As long as you get the right electric heater—and you don’t lose power—being miserable in your own space on cold days will be a thing of the past.