We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products The 8 Best Space Heaters We Tested for Warm and Cozy Homes Meet your new cold-weather must-have By Katie Begley Katie Begley Katie Melynn is a product reviewer for The Spruce who specializes in lifestyle and parenting writing. As a mom of three, she's written about parenting and family life for At Ease Magazine, Legacy, and Monterey Bay Parent, where she was a monthly columnist. People Editorial Guidelines and Cai Cramer Cai Cramer Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE.com with 2 years’ experience in journalism and digital media. She regularly tests the best and buzziest products in the beauty and lifestyle spaces and has researched and written about moisturizers, blow dryers, clothing, and luggage, among many other popular products. People Editorial Guidelines Published on October 4, 2024 07:15AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Others We Tried What to Know Behind the Scenes Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Rachel Marek Whether you deal with chronically cold feet or simply want to bring extra coziness to your home, space heaters are a great way to stay warm as the weather cools — without heating an entire room. Experts Say “When you’re choosing a space heater, you’re trying to heat a volume of air, so you’ll typically want 10 watts for every square foot of space.” —Darren Hudema, director of training and technical services at PuroClean After putting more than 30 space heaters through one of the coziest tests we’ve ever done, we found the best options for every home, including heaters that warm up large spaces, small spaces, and more. Keep reading for the best space heaters PEOPLE tested. Our Top Picks Best Space Heater Overall: Better Homes & Gardens Electric Ceramic Tower Heater at Walmart $65 Jump to Review Best Budget Space Heater: Amazon Basics Small Space Personal Mini Heater at Amazon $20 Jump to Review Best Portable Space Heater: SALE Aikoper Space Heater at Amazon $40 $23 Jump to Review Best Space Heater for Small Spaces: GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater at Amazon $30 Jump to Review Best Space Heater for Large Spaces: SALE Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Space Heater at Amazon $91 $58 Jump to Review Best Space Heater Safety Features: Pelonis Tower Space Heater at Amazon $70 Jump to Review Best Energy-Saving Space Heater: Andily Electric Space Heater at Amazon $24 Jump to Review Best Space Heater for Cold Feet: Kismile Portable Space Heater at Amazon $27 Jump to Review Best Space Heater Overall Better Homes & Gardens Electric Ceramic Tower Heater PHOTO: Walmart $65 $60 at Walmart Star Qualities Large temperature range Oscillating tower sweeps to direct heat across the room Safety features include an automatic tip-over shutoff and timer Red Flags User manual wasn't helpful in figuring out settings Editor's Note: Better Homes & Gardens is owned by PEOPLE's parent company, Dotdash Meredith. Out of all the space heaters we tested, this one from Better Homes & Gardens was our favorite. It heated large spaces quickly and was lightweight enough for us to move it easily from room to room. The 23-inch tower heater can be set between 41 and 95 degrees, an impressive range that is sure to suit every preference. The tower is taller than most other cube-shaped space heaters but can oscillate to circulate heat throughout the room efficiently. We found that the automatic tip-over safety shutoff activated within five seconds of the tower falling over. You can also set a timer in night mode, turning off the heater after you have fallen asleep. There are multiple heat settings that all work well, even in cold rooms. The user manual does not explain what all of the settings are, but once you get this one going, you'll be cozy in no time. How It’s Held Up This powerful space heater came in handy throughout the winter. Even after six months of use through the winter and spring, the fan heater continued to perform well. We did note that the oscillating feature sometimes produced a clicking sound, but it otherwise functioned exactly as promised. Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 1500 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 6.89 x 7.67 x 23.20 inches | Weight: 9 pounds PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek Best Budget Space Heater Amazon Basics Small Space Personal Mini Heater PHOTO: Amazon $20 at Amazon Star Qualities Compact and lightweight Front heated grill emits a cozy warmth Automatically shuts off when tipped over Red Flags Small size won't heat entire room Only one heat setting If you want a small space heater that can provide directed heat for personal use, this affordable option from Amazon Basics is a good choice. It’s compact enough to sit on top of a standing desk and is ideal in a small office setting where it will heat the surrounding feet but not measurably change the overall temperature of the room. The Amazon Basics heater only has one setting but is very intuitive to use. Just press the on button and it starts to heat immediately. If the unit tips over, it shuts off and cools, avoiding fire hazards. While it is budget-friendly, this is a simple space heater that doesn’t have a lot of extra features. Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 750 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 5.87 x 3.2 x 6 inches | Weight: 1.43 pounds PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek The More You Know Hudema tells PEOPLE that you should always plug a space heater directly into an outlet — never an extension cord. Best Portable Space Heater Aikoper Space Heater PHOTO: Amazon $40 $23 at Amazon Star Qualities Super portable with a small handle on the back Heats up instantly We felt warmer within seconds of turning it on Red Flags Doesn’t produce enough heat to drastically change the temperature of a room This little space heater instantly brought the heat — and we mean that literally. As soon as we turned it on, the Aikoper heater made us feel warmer. It has three different heat settings and an automatic shutoff feature that instantly turns the heater off if it tips over. Our favorite thing about this space heater is its portability. A small handle on the back makes the lightweight device easy to carry with you from room to room. Although it was very effective at warming our body temperature, similar to an electric blanket, it didn’t warm our test room up by much, so we wouldn’t recommend this as a full-room heating device. But, for the price and size, this small heater packs a warm punch. Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 1500 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.8 x 9 inches | Weight: 2.7 pounds Best Space Heater for Small Spaces GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater PHOTO: Amazon $30 $26 at Amazon Star Qualities External surfaces do not get too hot Automatic tip-over shutoff Built-in handle makes it very portable Red Flags Requires an outlet for use We set this compact, portable space heater up in a camper, and it got the small space toasty within just a few minutes. You can choose between a high and low setting by using a dial on the heater. Fortunately, the front and rear of the space heater don’t get too hot to touch, and it has a safety shutoff if it tips over. The heat output is ideal for smaller rooms, around 200 square feet. Just don’t expect to pump out enough heat for an entire outdoor space or campsite — for that, you'd be better off with a patio heater. How It’s Held Up Over the next six months, we continued to reach for this portable heater whenever the weather cooled down, which helped to warm up our bathroom and living room without the need for us to turn our HVAC system back on. Because it’s so easy to move around, we even took it outside on the front porch to warm us up while we drank our morning coffee. Heating Element: Forced air | Wattage: 1500 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 6.2 x 7 x 9.2 inches | Weight: 3.2 pounds PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek Best Space Heater for Large Spaces Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Space Heater PHOTO: Amazon $91 $58 at Amazon $58 at Target $11 at Walmart Star Qualities Heats up large rooms faster than any other device we tested Customizable with four temperature settings Multiple safety features, including an auto shutoff if device gets too hot Red Flags Uses a lot of power compared to other units we tested The heating output of this affordable space heater is impressive. We found that it heated the testing room a full four degrees within 30 minutes. It has two settings as well as four additional temperature settings and a fan-only option. The grill on the heater is at the top of the large unit, which helps the heat circulate into the room rather than just on the floor. The safety features of this space heater are some of the best we’ve found. It has an auto shutoff if the unit overheats but keeps the fan running to help it cool down even faster. If it tips over, the unit shuts off. You can also set a timer for it to start and a timer for it to turn off. Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 1500 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 18.5 x 8.43 x 18 inches | Weight: 13.17 pounds PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek The 6 Best Electric Fireplaces We Tested for Cozy Warmth and Ambiance The More You Know Most people like to keep their homes between 65 and 75 degrees, and the World Health Organization recommends 64 degrees Fahrenheit as a safe indoor temperature. To keep your pipes from freezing, most heaters with an auto-turn-on function heat rooms to keep them above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Best Space Heater Safety Features Pelonis Tower Space Heater PHOTO: Amazon $70 at Amazon $77 $11 at Walmart $70 at Lowe's Star Qualities Heats up small- to medium-sized rooms Stays cool to the touch Anti-tip safety feature automatically shuts off if heater falls over 70-degree oscillation spreads heat evenly Red Flags Taller and bulkier than others on the list Not powerful enough to heat spaces larger than 160 square feet The Pelonis ceramic tower heater has anti-tip over protection that shuts the unit off if it tips more than 30 degrees and an auto shutoff feature. Plus, it is also very cool to the touch, making it a good option for those with pets or kids who may brush against or even touch the heater. The heat moves through the room via a 70-degree oscillating tower. This makes it a bit louder and bulkier but helps with overall heat output. It might be too big for small spaces, although the tower design allows it to take up minimal floor space. It works best in rooms up to 160 square feet and may not be powerful enough to heat the largest of spaces. It is a good mid-size tower heater and fan. How It’s Held Up The Pelonis heater is still a mainstay in our arsenal of cold-weather gear, and we continued to use the device to heat our office space in the winter months. But, while it still works exceptionally well to heat up small spaces quickly, we were frustrated that the remote control stopped working consistently. Heating Element: Convection | Wattage: 1500 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 26 x 7.6 x 17 inches | Weight: 6.29 pounds PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek The More You Know If you run a space heater in a room with a fan, the heat output will remain the same, but you can move heated air through the room more efficiently. Many space heaters have a built-in fan to push the warm air away from the unit and into the space. You can add a fan to further this, but it may not be necessary. You may also cool the air with a fan, defeating the purpose of the space heater. Also keep in mind that a space heater can dry out your space, so think about running a humidifier if you use the heater a lot. Best Energy-Saving Space Heater Andily Electric Space Heater PHOTO: Amazon $24 at Amazon Star Qualities Uses the least amount of energy compared to others we tested Small, portable, simple design Automatically shuts off when tipped over Red Flags Wasn’t strong enough to heat up the entire room This small space heater has two settings, low and high, and did exactly what we needed it to do: It made us feel warm and cozy. The features are pretty simple, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking for a basic heater that warms up quickly without using a lot of energy. In fact, compared to all of the other space heaters we’ve tested, this one uses the least energy to power (a big win for your electricity bill and the environment). This space heater may be simple, but its safety features work surprisingly well. As soon as we knocked the device over, it instantly went into its auto-shutoff mode. Though it definitely made us warmer, this portable space heater didn’t do much to heat our test room. But, for the size and price, we wouldn’t really expect it to. How It’s Held Up Six months later, we still love the Andily unit’s ability to take the chill out of our spaces quickly and quietly. We used the portable space heater around the house through spring, especially to warm our feet while sitting at a desk or to take the cold bite out of the air in our bathrooms in the morning. Plus, it still looks as new as the day we unboxed it. Heating Element: Ceramic | Wattage: 750/1500 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 4.74 x 6.2 x 8.3 inches | Weight: 2.64 pounds PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek The More You Know Each heater on our list uses corded electric power. Larger heaters with higher heat outputs tend to use more electricity, increasing overall energy costs. Units that have fans can also use more electricity because they need to power the fan as well as the heating element. Ceramic can heat up faster and more efficiently, making it one of the more economical choices. Best Space Heater for Cold Feet Kismile Portable Space Heater PHOTO: Amazon $27 at Amazon Star Qualities Directs heat straight out rather than to the side Multiple heat settings Anti-tip safety feature Red Flags One of the louder space heaters we’ve tested Small and easy to kick over This portable space heater will get your toes nice and toasty. The heat is directed in front of the unit rather than to the sides, meaning that it heats that small area quickly and efficiently. You can put it under your desk in the winter months to keep your feet from getting cold. (Just don’t expect it to heat the rest of you or your room.) It has good safety features, which is important if it is out of sight. It can be easy to kick over the unit, but it will shut off if tipped over. There are high, low, and fan settings, as well as adjustable temperatures within each. The fan is a bit loud, especially considering it is a small unit and a small fan. For such a small, affordable heater, it really does come with a lot of features to get a custom comfy space. How It’s Held Up This solid, reliable little space heater continued to provide us with immense comfort, and we found ourselves reaching for it constantly. In fact, one tester called the Kismile space heater their “best friend” for the comfort that it provides. Six months later, the little heater still works well to quickly provide warmth, without the device itself ever feeling too hot to the touch. Heating Element: Convection | Wattage: 1500 watts | Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 7.28 x 6.5 x 9.65 inches | Weight: 3.47 pounds PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek The 13 Best Heated Jackets of 2024, Tested by Real People Other Space Heaters We Tried Heat Storm Phoenix Infrared Space Heater: This $120 space heater has the unique ability to hang up or sit on the floor with foldable feet. On the highest setting, it provided some nice warmth and was able to moderately heat the room. But, for its price, we’d expect this unit to have the ability to heat a room more substantially. But that aside, this is a good space heater if you want one that can hang or sit on the floor. People / Rachel Marek What to Know About Space Heaters Heating Ability Not all space heaters provide the same level of warmth, so it’s important to find one that has the right output for the size of your space. If you’re looking for a space heater to warm up a larger room, then look for one with a large fan, like the Better Homes & Gardens Tower Ceramic Heater, or ceramic heating, like the Honeywell ThermaWave 6 Space Heater. For smaller spaces, you can opt for a more portable device that uses less power, like the Amazon Basics Ceramic Space Heater, which is compact and easy to carry from room to room. Design If you plan on leaving your space heater out in your home, you may want to consider its visual design. Do you want something that looks cozy or one that works in a small space but doesn’t draw the eye, like the Kismile Space Heater? Consider the size of your space, if you want an oscillating unit or directional heat, and how you want to be able to adjust the heater. Some are available in multiple colors, although most lean more utilitarian in style. Safety This is one of the most important considerations for most space heater users. All of the top-rated space heaters on our list have safety features, including automatic shutoff if they are tipped over and an auto-off timer. Also, think about how hot the sides, top, front, and back get, especially if you have children or pets who may brush up against the heater. People / Rachel Marek Behind the Scenes We tested 31 space heaters of all sizes and outputs and scored them based on heating performance, design, safety, and value. We put the heaters through the following tests: Safety: Before we began the test, we inspected the parts and safety certifications of each heater. Safety features were put through the wringer to see if they were as effective as advertised. Testers tipped over the space heaters to test the auto shutoff, noted hot surfaces on each heater, and tested connectivity via apps or smart devices when applicable.Temperature and Humidity Changes: We took temperature and humidity recordings in opposite corners of the testing room and measured our body temperatures. We then tested each heater individually by turning it on, measuring the noise level, and recording changes in temperature at five-minute intervals. After that, we put the heaters through additional testing on the high setting, noting the changes in temperature and humidity after 30 minutes of use.Noise Level: We also measured the noise level while each heater was running. Why Trust PEOPLE? Katie Begley is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE, covering all things home-related. Katie has also written for The Spruce, At Ease Magazine, Legacy, and more. Katie wrote this story based on results from tests conducted in the PEOPLE Tested labs that aimed to find which space heaters performed the best across several categories, including their ability to heat rooms, the amount of energy they used, and the cost. This story was most recently updated by shopping writer Cai Cramer, who added more products to this list based on recent tests conducted in the lab and insights from our long-term testing results. Our Expert Panel Darren Hudema, the director of training and technical services at PuroClean, provided insights on safety and how to pick the right space heater for your home. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.