In this section
The one fact that matters
Every plug-in electric resistance heater turns 100% of its electricity into heat. A 1,500 W ceramic heater, oil-filled radiator and infrared heater all make the same 5,100 BTU an hour for the same cost. Claims of a “miracle” heater that cuts your bill in half are marketing. What differs is how each one spreads heat, its noise, and its safety features.
| Type | Feels like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fan or ceramic | Fast, directed warm air | A desk or a cold bathroom |
| Oil-filled radiator | Slow, even, silent | Bedrooms |
| Infrared or quartz | Warms people and objects in its line | Drafty rooms and garages |
| Air circulator | Whole small room, quickly | Living rooms |
When a space heater saves money
Only when you turn the central heat down. If you heat one room to 70°F and let the rest of the house drop, you can come out ahead, especially with gas heat in a big house. If you have a heat pump, a space heater often costs more per hour than the heat pump does. What one costs to run.
Heat the person
An electric blanket, heated mattress pad or heated throw uses under 100 to 150 W, about a tenth of a space heater, and lets you turn the thermostat down overnight.
Safety rules
From the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which estimates portable heaters are involved in about 1,600 home fires and 70 deaths a year:
- Keep it at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, including bedding, curtains and furniture.
- Plug it straight into a wall outlet. Never an extension cord or power strip.
- Choose one with tip-over and overheat shut-off, listed by a recognized lab (UL, ETL or CSA).
- Turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Don’t run the cord under a rug.
- Keep it away from water, unless it’s made for bathrooms.
Picks
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De'Longhi Dragon oil-filled radiator
Steady, silent bedroom heat
- 1,500 W maximum
- Oil-filled, no fan
- Thermostat and timer
Holds heat and cycles quietly, so it feels even and makes no noise.
Watch for: Slow to warm a room.
Vornado MVH Vortex heater
Warming a whole small room quickly
- 1,500 W, three settings
- Tip-over and auto shut-off
The fan circulates heat across the room instead of just in front of it.
Watch for: A fan heater is louder than a radiator.
Lasko 754200 ceramic heater
Cheap heat at a desk
- 1,500 W ceramic
- Overheat protection
Small, inexpensive and aimed at you, not the whole room.
Watch for: Basic controls.
Dr Infrared Heater DR-968
Larger rooms, with a thermostat
- 1,500 W
- Digital thermostat and remote
A good thermostat stops the heater from running flat out all evening.
Watch for: Big and heavy for a space heater.
Heated mattress pad with dual controls
Turning the whole house down at night
- Typically under 100 W per side
- Auto shut-off
Warms you for a fraction of a space heater's running cost, so the thermostat can drop at night.
Watch for: Follow the maker's rules; don't use over or under other bedding it warns against.
Heated throw blanket
Evenings on the sofa
- Typically 100–150 W
- Auto shut-off
A heated throw costs pennies an hour. A space heater on high costs much more.
Watch for: Look for a UL or ETL listing and an auto shut-off.