Last but absolutely not least, the Lasko CD08200 is unique among our picks in that its equipped with an ALCI plug.
Like any oil-filled radiator, the DeLonghi TRD40615T does not produce instantaneous heat. Wirecutter editor Joshua Lyons has said that, while he was initially frustrated with OSCTH1s gradual warming in his upstate New York, hes grown more fond of it over time, now that he knows what to expect.
These space heaters come with features like adjustable thermostat, automatic shut-off, built-in thermostat, heat settings, LCD display and more. Or anything flammable, including curtains, papers, furniture, pillows, and bedding (which means keep it off your bed, too). Its also quick to warm the room and incredibly easy to use, with one large button (on the top) that automatically defaults to a one-hour heating timer.
That circulation comes with a catch, however: Because the OSCTH1 moves the air around the room so well, it doesnt raise the overall temperature quite as quickly as the VH200 does. Some Amazon customers have complained about the radiator giving off an unpleasant smell upon initial use, and the company acknowledges this, too. The Vornado MVH, our previous runner-up pick, is mechanically almost identical to our top pick for the best space heater, the VH200. Just turn the right dial to adjust the temperature from Hot to Low and the left dial from Min to Max to control the heats intensity. The Vornado AVH10 was the most powerful space heater we tested, with a few thoughtful details that set it apart from others. The VH200 is more than twice as expensive as other portable ceramic heating options, such as the Laskobut it tends to cost less than other comparable Vornado models. Space heaters are readily available online and easy to find in-person during socially distant errands. This works in conjunction with a GFCI outlet (which you hopefully already have in your bathroom, if its up to code) to prevent the electrical current from going somewhere it shouldntlike, say, into a puddle of water. Although we recommend that you dont leave any space heaters unattended in a room at any time, especially with pets or small children, we stress that even more when living with the Lasko. The VH200 has a slim, lightweight design thats easy to tuck under a desk or in a corner. The TRD40615T has manual controls that are intuitive to use, as well as a 24-hour programmable timer, which comes in handy. It also has four fan modes (including fan-only). We independently review everything we recommend.
Whichever space heater you choose, there are some common safety concerns that many people overlook: You cant use any space heater with an extension cord, and you shouldnt leave a heater unattended. Its not clear to us whether this sound is the result of some damage accrued in shipping or just the way the heater was built; either way, you can easily remedy the problem by picking up the heater and placing it back down again. *At the time of publishing, the price was $84. We recorded a decibel level of 45 dBA at a distance of 3 feet and 44 dBA at 6 feet at the heaters highest setting, levels that are quieter than a fan on its lowest setting. That being said, it lacks the tip-over switch thats included on most of our other space heater picks. Best Buy says this bestseller is equipped to warm up rooms measuring up to 250 square feet. The wheels on the TRD40615T can also be moved underneath the unit to prevent it from rolling. And preferably on the ground. (You dont.). And in our tests, it didnt change the room temperature, even though the grille reached a whopping 170 degrees. The data from the National Fire Protection Association is even more dire, attributing space heaters to 14 percent of all home fires between 2014 and 2018, causing more than a billion dollars in property damage and claiming more than 500 human lives. If you want a heater with the power of a Vornado that also oscillates to spread the heat evenly around the room, get the Vornado OSCTH1. Even its negative owner reviews are less of a red flag than those of some competitors, with reports of responsive customer service from the manufacturer that you rarely see among reviews of other brands.
Scheduled contactless delivery as soon as today. The sound it emits is not unpleasant, per se, but it is gravelly enough that you might find it irritating after a while. Instead of a standard tip-over switch, the Glide relies on a level indicator inside the unit. Sometimes his curiosity gets the best of him, such as when he plugged a space heater and a Marshall guitar amp into the same power strip. Other electric heater models, like the DeLonghi TCH7915ER, had tip-over switches that activated only when they were perfectly horizontal, which means they could possibly fall or lean over and continue running. Some Amazon reviewers have reportedly encountered a similar problem, and even though the manufacturer has typically been responsive and helpful, we think youre better off going with a more reliable Vornado pick. These are a different style of heater than the ones weve previously tested, with floor- or wall-mounted capabilities that make them similar to the built-in electric radiators you might find in some homes; if youve ever seen or used a Rinnai, thats probably a good comparison point. All radiators are hot to the touch, and this DeLonghi model is no exception. We also tested the Portable Digital Radiator from AmazonBasics. Luckily, the buttons on the AVH10 are large and easy to locate, even in the dark. It also made an obnoxious high-pitched whirring sound, and the tip-over switch activated only when it was fully horizontal, which is hardly safe.
In the earliest versions of this guide, we relied on the testing expertise of physicist Jim Shapiro, who tested heaters at his home in the high desert of Colorado and also served as an expert source during our research. If you want something cheap, youre better off with our budget pick from Laskoits quieter, and hotter, with better heat distribution, for the same price.
In 2020, we finally decided to make an exception for the desktop-size Vornado Velocity 1which was fine, but mostly just justified our prior assumptions about personal-size space heaters. We still think it looks nice, and it usually works pretty well for a loud, cheap fireball, but there are better options out there without the same drawbacksthe most troubling of which have been reports of failures within the first few months, on top of the usual complaints of units arriving damaged or inoperable from the start.
The CD08200 has a similar design to our longstanding Lasko budget pick, but this model has a thicker, more-cube-like shape, rather than being a tall, thin rectangle. Tipped-over heaters tend to overheat, and this Lasko models upright stance is not the most stable.
We found the VH200s analog dials easy to handle and intuitive to master, and we appreciate that it has a medium heat setting, whereas most heaters have only low and high settings. The FH500 was the only electric space heater model we tested that required some minor assembly for the base. Weve been covering space heaters since 2011, and in that time weve considered more than 150 different models and tested more than 60 of them. Still, its a great alternative to our top pick if you find it for a good price, or if you prefer its extra features. It takes about half an hour to heat up at all, and even after running on high for an hour, the TRD40615T raised the temperature of our test room by only 2 degrees Fahrenheit from 3 feet away and 3 degrees from 6 feet awaysignificantly less than the Lasko and Vornado models. The Vornado OSCTH1 stands out not only for its stylish appearance, but also because its the rare Vornado that oscillates instead of blasting the heat straight ahead and hoping the airflow fills the room eventually. But if you can aim it directly at yourself (or where youll be emerging from the shower), wed recommend it. Although it did leave the whole bathroom feeling warmer, we also measured about a 10-degree difference on average between our sensor at 3 feet in front of the heater and the one we placed 6 feet away on a diagonal. Whether you are looking for a heater for a small, medium, large or open space, weve got you covered. Oil-filled radiators are silent but slow. But at least its moderately safer than traditionally designed radiators like the Pelonis NY1507-14A and the DeLonghi EW7707CM, which reached exterior temperatures of 225 degrees Fahrenheit when weve tested them in previous years. The Vornado AVH10 has a digital display, which will delight some people and frustrate others, because you have to manually tap a button numerous times to reach your desired temperature, up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to the standard safety features that we look for, such as overheat protection and a tip-over switch, the OSCTH1 also has a Cool Down feature that counts down from 8 when you turn it off, to make sure you dont touch it while its still hot (it was one of the cooler-to-touch models we tested in 2020, but you can never be too careful). Where to find the best affordable space heaters, including models from Black + Decker, Honeywell, Lasko and more. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Velocity 1 had tremendous warming power at 3 feet, raising the temperature by a whopping 16 degrees in just 20 minutes; but from 6 feet away, it only increased the temperature by 2 degrees. At 3 feet tall, its also the largest one we tested, although its nice enough in function and appearance that we wouldnt mind having it stand out in our home. With all this in mind, we prioritized the following features and performance criteria: We follow a similar testing procedure for space heaters every year: placing each space heater in the same location in a 200-square-foot bedroom, with the doors and windows closed. After running on high for 15 minutes, the VH200 raised the temperature by 6 degrees Fahrenheit at 3 feet away, and by 3 degrees at a 6-foot diagonal; after an hour, the VH200 had increased the temperature by 17 degrees at 3 feet away, and by 11 degrees at a 6-foot diagonal. By contrast, the ceramic-plate models we tested (such as our budget pick from Lasko) delivered a narrow beam of heated air that made sweat trickle down our necks when we sat directly in the line of fire. Learn more. Most other oil-filled radiators initially emit this noxious stench because some of the oil remains on the surface of the heater after manufacturing. Sabrina Imbler is a former staff writer for Wirecutter, where they covered kitchen tools and HVAC. You should also try to keep it away from any furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, or fuel. And despite its height, the FH500 actually has only about a 13-by-13-inch footprint, which makes it a great space-saver. Overall, we think the VHEAT is a great choice for anyone interested in aesthetics as well as comfort. He also warns that his cats like to jump on top of the oscillating tower, and that the touchscreen responds to the pads of their paws. In addition to this objective data, we took extensive subjective notes on how warm each electric heater made us feel. The 754200 has had consistently positive owner reviews for years, and many Wirecutter staff members have owned one for multiple winters with few complaints. In our tests, the Lasko CD08200 managed to raise the temperature in the bathroom by an impressive 12 degrees over the course of just one hour. After running on high for an hour, the Lasko raised the temperature of our room from 6 feet away by 10 degrees Fahrenheit, a performance close to that of the Vornado VH200. Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. So we took careful notes on what it was like to rely on and work alongside these heaters. As an added bonus, the Lasko also helped to noticeably reduce the humidity in the room, burning off most of the condensation that otherwise tends to form while you shower. It worked well enough in our tests, steadily building up 10 degrees of heat across the room over the course of an hour. You can order space heaters at Shopping reader-favorite retailers like Wayfair, Target, Walmart and Amazon. Select is editorially independent. We noted both dBA and dBC weightingsthe former cuts off the lower and higher frequencies that most people cant hear, and the latter picks up higher frequencies. Comfort Zones highly-rated space heater is the most expensive model on our list and, at just over two feet tall, also the largest.
Our former upgrade pick, the Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus AM09, was one of the most efficient space heaters we tested and also doubled as a cooling fan, making it a great option for year-round climate control. You can work around that by hooking your thumb around the front side of the heater or supporting it from below with a second hand. For one, its newer to the market, so it hasnt yet proved the test of time like our other picks have. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, portable heaters are involved in nearly 2,000 fires per year, resulting in an annual average of about 80 deaths and 160 injuries. Were looking into when it will be available again, and will update this guide with more info soon. Fortunately, Vornado tends to respond to these critical reviews more reliably than other manufacturers do. The VH10 also has only two temperature settings (the VH200 has three), and it has a concave dial, which we found much harder to manipulate than our picks raised dials. As such, we placed heightened importance on each portable heaters safety measures and track record. In our tests the TRD40615T did this wellstarting at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, then building up to 89 degrees over two and a half hours, without dropping back down to 80 for almost four hours after that. But we were disappointed with it in other ways, including its maddeningly confusing controls and the 15-degree temperature difference between our measurements at 3 and 6 feet. It is capable of heating up rooms as large as 300 square feet. We tested the Vornado VH10, which is a glossier, newer generation of the VH200, but nothing set it apart from our less expensive top pick. If this kind of room heater sounds like something you might prefer, our favorite oil-filled heater is the DeLonghi TRD40615T. Even if you follow all of the instructions and even if you buy one of the models we recommend, all of which boast certified safety features its all too easy to make a mistake that leads to catastrophic consequences. Although space heaters generally shouldnt be used to heat an entire building, they are a great way to supplement the warmth in specific rooms. Thom Dunn is an associate staff writer at Wirecutter reporting on HVAC and other home improvement topics. Laskos ceramic space heater is a Walmart bestseller and boasts a 4.3-star average rating from more than 1,330 reviews. The Lasko FH500 All Season Comfort Control Tower Fan & Heater in One is the best tower heater we tested, directing a vertical column of warm air evenly throughout the room. Others are easy to clean, intuitive to use, and silent, in addition to being effective heaters. Overall, the OSCTH11 is a great choice if you want to share the warmth with other people in the same room, or just want a steady, balanced control of heat across a space. *At the time of publishing, the price was $110. Another benefit of oil-filled radiators is that they make absolutely no noise, unlike ceramic, open-element, or micathermic heaters. These models either had questionable (read: probably fake) reviews or were too weak to meet our power standards. gallagher smartfence grazing pasture
Our research has led us to focus on two prominent types: compact electric heaters with fans and oil-filled radiators. Thats because its fan designwhat Vornado calls a circulatordistributed a gentle, even heat to every corner of the room, similar to what we observed in our testing of Vornado room fans. The single most important takeaway from this research is that space heaters are one of the leading causes of house fires in the US. Of course, thats assuming you dont take advantage of its ability to operate as a fan only. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Your best bet is to place the Lasko space heater right in front of you and to enjoy the direct blast of hot air, then be pleasantly surprised when you find that heat fills the rest of the air around you. The VH200s plastic casing also remained relatively cool, measuring around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with the grille over the heating element topping out at around 140 degrees, making it one of the coolest models we tested. The TRD40615T is the best of its type because its sturdier than competitors, with an exterior that stays cooler to the touch. But even on high, the Vornado VH200 is significantly quieter than the Lasko 754200, which recorded decibel measurements of 52 dBA at a distance of 3 feet and 51 dBA at 6 feet. In previous years, we found it was slower to warm the room in our tests, and that the case was hotter to the touch after an hour. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Prices for space heaters can shift dramatically from season to season, but at Amazon, Walmart, or Home Depot, the 754200 rarely exceeds $30about half the price of the VH200. (The model is ETL certified.) Most space heaters can deliver quick heat to a single person, but oil-filled radiators are better for heating a whole room for a longer duration, and the DeLonghi TRD40615T is the best of its kind. The Lasko also has its own built-in overheat protection. The Vornado VHEAT Vintage Heater heats well enough and looks good doing it. The space heater offers three power settingsone more than the usual low and highand a thermostat dial with seven settings. Like most oil-filled radiators, the TRD40615T warms up much more slowly than a ceramic heater, but it also retains its heat for longer, making it more energy-efficient.
Though the Lasko raised the temperature by only about 7 degrees when measured from 3 feet away, the overall temperature in the room remained fairly consistent across both measurements, fluctuating within about 2 to 3 degrees. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The Lasko is also appealingly simple to use. The OSCTH1 is a sleek tower fan about a foot and a half tall that looks kind of like a miniature (and much less ominous) version of the Monoliths from 2001: A Space Odyssey, with a clear plastic touchscreen display on the top.
Even if you forget to turn the heater off again, the default one-hour heating mode will having the unit shutting itself off soon enough. In order to track the conditions in the room, we placed a Lascar data logger directly in front of the heater at a distance of 3 feet and placed another diagonally, at a distance of 6 feet, to see how well the heat moved around the room. Unlike most other models we tested, the FH500 has three built-in heating settings, so it offers more heating flexibility for maximum comfort.
The Vornado Glide reminded us aesthetically of Prince Robot IV from the comic book Saga. Weve updated this guide every year since 2011, building on our knowledge of and experience with the features that set a great space heater apart from the rest. Bailey Carson, head of cleaning and home improvement at Handy, previously recommended opting for a space heater with auto-shutoff as a safety measure. *At the time of publishing, the price was $124. This means its pretty easy to lift the heater up and immediately drop itmaybe on your foot. One dial controls the power output, the two heat settings (high and low), and the fan-only option, while the other controls the thermostat. Even mid-range models from Ozeri and Lasko designed to warm up rooms that are between 150 and 300 square feet cost more than $100. This can be a little confusing, leading you to wonder whether your heater has stopped working. The Vornado VH200 has every safety feature we look for in a space heater, including overheat protection, a tip-over switch, and UL certification. The space heater boasts a 4.6-star average rating from nearly 430 reviews on Amazon. The VH10 offers a few other perks, such as a ledge to coil the cord around on the bottom of the heater, but we actually found this more annoying than helpful, because our cord kept falling under the heating unit and activating its tip-over switch. Speaking of fansthe Lasko also has a built-in cooling feature, which is a nice bonus. This Vornado model is not as quiet as a radiator, but no other kind of space heater is, and its still quieter than a household refrigerator. And although it doesnt have a cooling feature like the Lasko FH500, the OSCTH1 does have a fan-only mode, which is great for air circulation. Weve been recommending the Lasko as a pick since 2013first as our top pick, and later as a runner-upand we have extensive notes that can attest to its long-term durability. To activate it, simply turn the knob past your ideal temperature setting and then turn it back until you hear a click, and the VH200 will self-regulate to maintain the room temperature where you want it, within about one degree. Its still a decent option overall, if our other Vornado picks are unavailable. Despite its metal exterior, the VHEAT also remained surprisingly cool to the touchonly about 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the sides, and 140 on the grille, and it cooled down even further within minutes of shutting off. But its narrow stream of hot air doesnt feel as comfortable as the heat from models that warm a whole room, and it lacks some safety features. It warms up faster than most fan heaters we tested, and it has a compact, lightweight body thats about the size of a loaf of bread. Black & Deckers space heater boasts this feature and, at 2.8 pounds, it is the lightest model on our list. Weve seen a lot of these convection-style panel heaters popping up in our research, so we wanted to see how well they hold up. In previous years tests, we dismissed the micathermic DeLonghi HMP1500; the oil-filled Pelonis NY1507-14A; the Lasko 5409 Oscillating Ceramic Heater, 5160 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater, and 6462 Full-Circle Warmth Ceramic Heater; Vornados VH202 and ATH1; the Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater (a strange faux-fireplace); the DeLonghi HVY1030; the Honeywell HeatGenius Ceramic Heater HCE840B; and the Crane Digital Ceramic Tower Heater EE-8079. In our portable heater tests, the AVH10 actually provided more heat more quickly than the VH200, but the heat wasnt distributed very evenly. But they are better at holding heat than ceramic models, their heat can feel more comfortable than heat directed out by a fan, and some people prefer their all-metal construction to plastic, since they are small machines reaching high temperatures. It was interesting that the AmazonBasics heater could be positioned as a tower, on its side like a log, and could point the heat upwards on an angle; unfortunately, this feature also meant it lacked a tip-over switch, which made it concerning to use even if it didnt explode on us. Unless your space heater is specifically designed and approved for itsuch as the Lasko CD08200 Bathroom Heater, which we recommenddo not leave it in a wet location like a kitchen or bathroom. This resulted in a 6-degree difference across the room. Disappointing performance and safety concerns make this a quick dismissal. Placing high-voltage electrical equipment where it can get wet is generally something thats frowned upon. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. A few space heater reviews have complained that the timer makes an audible ticking noise, but we did not encounter this issue in our testing. We also tested the AmazonBasics Portable Ceramic Tower Space Heater, shortly before the news broke that various AmazonBasics electronics products had been exploding with concerning frequency; by the time we were finished testing, it had already been discontinued. It's a very comfortable and evenly distributed heat that feels more like a warm blanket instead of a hair dryer pointed at you. The electric heater has three different heat options and a thermostat dial that ranges from 1 to 6. Generally speaking, you shouldnt put them anywhere except for a flat, even, uncovered floor. Within 20 minutes, the room had jumped from the 70s up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (about 8 degrees measured from 6 feet away, or 5 degrees from 3 feet) and slowly crept up toward 90 from there over the rest of the hour. It was our top pick for years, and although weve now found other space heater models that are more powerful, or quieter, or just more comfortable, the Lasko remains a steadfast competitor and a solid choice.
And although the VH200 is not particularly attractive, its definitely not uglya big win in a crowded field of unappealing design. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. Generally speaking, you should try to keep electricity (especially something as powerful as a space heater) far, far away from any situation where it might get wet. Despite its abundant heating ability, the VH200 operated with a quiet murmur that we didnt find distracting or unpleasant. It has a red LED indicator that remains on when the heater is on and turns off when the heater is powered down but still plugged in, such as when the heater is automatically maintaining the desired temperature of a room. If you encounter this issue, we recommend that you contact the manufacturer. Our oil-filled radiator pick, the DeLonghi TRD40615T, is currently out of stock most places. It also features an exterior that stays cool while in use, dubbed Cool Touch Housing. We also measured the noises that the heaters emitted, taking readings with a decibel meter from distances of 3 feet and 6 feet. But overall, its still a nice feature to have. And though its built-in safety feature did switch off automatically, as it was supposed to, we werent able to get the MVH to work again after that. The VH200 was also quieter than every other fan-based heater we tested, emitting a soft whir that was barely noticeableeven on highand generating a comfortably focused blast of heat that evenly dissipated into a room-filling, ambient warmth. The VHEAT was able to raise the temperature in the room by 11 degrees in just 15 minutes when measured from 3 feet in front of the fan. One minor complaint: The grip on the back of the VH200 is a bit shallow and has neither a lip nor a grippy texture, and the heater itself tends to tip forward in a front-heavy imbalance when you pick it up. Look through tabletop heaters, tower heaters, utility heaters, portable heaters, infrared heaters, electric heaters, ceramic heaters, radiant heaters and heater accessories. Weve researched more than 100 models and tested 67 since 2011, and the Vornado VH200 is the best space heater for most people. Instructions often mention not to sleep with one on overnight. The ALCI plug should sense when theres an abundance of electrical heat (if, for example, you accidentally splash the heater while its plugged in and running) and then automatically cut off the current. Plus, its just generally pleasant to live with.
Because it is technically a tower heater, you will need to occasionally vacuum up or blow out the dust that gathers in the OSCTH1s filter over time, as well. It also has a medium heating option (in addition to the standard high and low settings found on most other space heaters), as well as a timer and an auto eco setting for better energy efficiency. That being said, we have noticed that the OSCTH1 occasionally makes a loud grinding sound while oscillatingsomething that a few other Amazon reviews have noted, as well. 2022 SELECT | All rights reserved. In our tests, we set the FH500s bright, easy-to-read digital display to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest possible setting (you can also set the thermostat to display in Celsius). We had previously tested the oil-filled DeLonghi Silent System EW7707CM as well, but we found it also lacking in comparison with the TRD40615T. Weve recommended the Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater since 2013, and its still one of the cheapest and most reliable space heaters you can find. That high current is why you should never use an extension cord with a space heater.
We also factored in customer reviews, especially those from people whove owned a particular space heater for an extended period of time. Your Crash Course in Heaters 101, Newair, Energy Saver: Portable Heaters, US Department of Energy, September 4, 2018, Portable Space Heater Safety Tips, Sylvane, September 4, 2018, Portable and Safe Heaters: What you need to know, Lasko, October 18, 2019, Marina Oster, Space Heaters vs. Central Heating: Essential Question, Stanford Magazine, March 1, 2010, Rosalind Jackson, How Infrared Heaters Work, HowStuffWorks, March 10, 2009.
Like any oil-filled radiator, the DeLonghi TRD40615T does not produce instantaneous heat. Wirecutter editor Joshua Lyons has said that, while he was initially frustrated with OSCTH1s gradual warming in his upstate New York, hes grown more fond of it over time, now that he knows what to expect. These space heaters come with features like adjustable thermostat, automatic shut-off, built-in thermostat, heat settings, LCD display and more. Or anything flammable, including curtains, papers, furniture, pillows, and bedding (which means keep it off your bed, too). Its also quick to warm the room and incredibly easy to use, with one large button (on the top) that automatically defaults to a one-hour heating timer.
That circulation comes with a catch, however: Because the OSCTH1 moves the air around the room so well, it doesnt raise the overall temperature quite as quickly as the VH200 does. Some Amazon customers have complained about the radiator giving off an unpleasant smell upon initial use, and the company acknowledges this, too. The Vornado MVH, our previous runner-up pick, is mechanically almost identical to our top pick for the best space heater, the VH200. Just turn the right dial to adjust the temperature from Hot to Low and the left dial from Min to Max to control the heats intensity. The Vornado AVH10 was the most powerful space heater we tested, with a few thoughtful details that set it apart from others. The VH200 is more than twice as expensive as other portable ceramic heating options, such as the Laskobut it tends to cost less than other comparable Vornado models. Space heaters are readily available online and easy to find in-person during socially distant errands. This works in conjunction with a GFCI outlet (which you hopefully already have in your bathroom, if its up to code) to prevent the electrical current from going somewhere it shouldntlike, say, into a puddle of water. Although we recommend that you dont leave any space heaters unattended in a room at any time, especially with pets or small children, we stress that even more when living with the Lasko. The VH200 has a slim, lightweight design thats easy to tuck under a desk or in a corner. The TRD40615T has manual controls that are intuitive to use, as well as a 24-hour programmable timer, which comes in handy. It also has four fan modes (including fan-only). We independently review everything we recommend.
Whichever space heater you choose, there are some common safety concerns that many people overlook: You cant use any space heater with an extension cord, and you shouldnt leave a heater unattended. Its not clear to us whether this sound is the result of some damage accrued in shipping or just the way the heater was built; either way, you can easily remedy the problem by picking up the heater and placing it back down again. *At the time of publishing, the price was $84. We recorded a decibel level of 45 dBA at a distance of 3 feet and 44 dBA at 6 feet at the heaters highest setting, levels that are quieter than a fan on its lowest setting. That being said, it lacks the tip-over switch thats included on most of our other space heater picks. Best Buy says this bestseller is equipped to warm up rooms measuring up to 250 square feet. The wheels on the TRD40615T can also be moved underneath the unit to prevent it from rolling. And preferably on the ground. (You dont.). And in our tests, it didnt change the room temperature, even though the grille reached a whopping 170 degrees. The data from the National Fire Protection Association is even more dire, attributing space heaters to 14 percent of all home fires between 2014 and 2018, causing more than a billion dollars in property damage and claiming more than 500 human lives. If you want a heater with the power of a Vornado that also oscillates to spread the heat evenly around the room, get the Vornado OSCTH1. Even its negative owner reviews are less of a red flag than those of some competitors, with reports of responsive customer service from the manufacturer that you rarely see among reviews of other brands.
Scheduled contactless delivery as soon as today. The sound it emits is not unpleasant, per se, but it is gravelly enough that you might find it irritating after a while. Instead of a standard tip-over switch, the Glide relies on a level indicator inside the unit. Sometimes his curiosity gets the best of him, such as when he plugged a space heater and a Marshall guitar amp into the same power strip. Other electric heater models, like the DeLonghi TCH7915ER, had tip-over switches that activated only when they were perfectly horizontal, which means they could possibly fall or lean over and continue running. Some Amazon reviewers have reportedly encountered a similar problem, and even though the manufacturer has typically been responsive and helpful, we think youre better off going with a more reliable Vornado pick. These are a different style of heater than the ones weve previously tested, with floor- or wall-mounted capabilities that make them similar to the built-in electric radiators you might find in some homes; if youve ever seen or used a Rinnai, thats probably a good comparison point. All radiators are hot to the touch, and this DeLonghi model is no exception. We also tested the Portable Digital Radiator from AmazonBasics. Luckily, the buttons on the AVH10 are large and easy to locate, even in the dark. It also made an obnoxious high-pitched whirring sound, and the tip-over switch activated only when it was fully horizontal, which is hardly safe.
In the earliest versions of this guide, we relied on the testing expertise of physicist Jim Shapiro, who tested heaters at his home in the high desert of Colorado and also served as an expert source during our research. If you want something cheap, youre better off with our budget pick from Laskoits quieter, and hotter, with better heat distribution, for the same price.
In 2020, we finally decided to make an exception for the desktop-size Vornado Velocity 1which was fine, but mostly just justified our prior assumptions about personal-size space heaters. We still think it looks nice, and it usually works pretty well for a loud, cheap fireball, but there are better options out there without the same drawbacksthe most troubling of which have been reports of failures within the first few months, on top of the usual complaints of units arriving damaged or inoperable from the start.
The CD08200 has a similar design to our longstanding Lasko budget pick, but this model has a thicker, more-cube-like shape, rather than being a tall, thin rectangle. Tipped-over heaters tend to overheat, and this Lasko models upright stance is not the most stable.
We found the VH200s analog dials easy to handle and intuitive to master, and we appreciate that it has a medium heat setting, whereas most heaters have only low and high settings. The FH500 was the only electric space heater model we tested that required some minor assembly for the base. Weve been covering space heaters since 2011, and in that time weve considered more than 150 different models and tested more than 60 of them. Still, its a great alternative to our top pick if you find it for a good price, or if you prefer its extra features. It takes about half an hour to heat up at all, and even after running on high for an hour, the TRD40615T raised the temperature of our test room by only 2 degrees Fahrenheit from 3 feet away and 3 degrees from 6 feet awaysignificantly less than the Lasko and Vornado models. The Vornado OSCTH1 stands out not only for its stylish appearance, but also because its the rare Vornado that oscillates instead of blasting the heat straight ahead and hoping the airflow fills the room eventually. But if you can aim it directly at yourself (or where youll be emerging from the shower), wed recommend it. Although it did leave the whole bathroom feeling warmer, we also measured about a 10-degree difference on average between our sensor at 3 feet in front of the heater and the one we placed 6 feet away on a diagonal. Whether you are looking for a heater for a small, medium, large or open space, weve got you covered. Oil-filled radiators are silent but slow. But at least its moderately safer than traditionally designed radiators like the Pelonis NY1507-14A and the DeLonghi EW7707CM, which reached exterior temperatures of 225 degrees Fahrenheit when weve tested them in previous years. The Vornado AVH10 has a digital display, which will delight some people and frustrate others, because you have to manually tap a button numerous times to reach your desired temperature, up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to the standard safety features that we look for, such as overheat protection and a tip-over switch, the OSCTH1 also has a Cool Down feature that counts down from 8 when you turn it off, to make sure you dont touch it while its still hot (it was one of the cooler-to-touch models we tested in 2020, but you can never be too careful). Where to find the best affordable space heaters, including models from Black + Decker, Honeywell, Lasko and more. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Velocity 1 had tremendous warming power at 3 feet, raising the temperature by a whopping 16 degrees in just 20 minutes; but from 6 feet away, it only increased the temperature by 2 degrees. At 3 feet tall, its also the largest one we tested, although its nice enough in function and appearance that we wouldnt mind having it stand out in our home. With all this in mind, we prioritized the following features and performance criteria: We follow a similar testing procedure for space heaters every year: placing each space heater in the same location in a 200-square-foot bedroom, with the doors and windows closed. After running on high for 15 minutes, the VH200 raised the temperature by 6 degrees Fahrenheit at 3 feet away, and by 3 degrees at a 6-foot diagonal; after an hour, the VH200 had increased the temperature by 17 degrees at 3 feet away, and by 11 degrees at a 6-foot diagonal. By contrast, the ceramic-plate models we tested (such as our budget pick from Lasko) delivered a narrow beam of heated air that made sweat trickle down our necks when we sat directly in the line of fire. Learn more. Most other oil-filled radiators initially emit this noxious stench because some of the oil remains on the surface of the heater after manufacturing. Sabrina Imbler is a former staff writer for Wirecutter, where they covered kitchen tools and HVAC. You should also try to keep it away from any furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, or fuel. And despite its height, the FH500 actually has only about a 13-by-13-inch footprint, which makes it a great space-saver. Overall, we think the VHEAT is a great choice for anyone interested in aesthetics as well as comfort. He also warns that his cats like to jump on top of the oscillating tower, and that the touchscreen responds to the pads of their paws. In addition to this objective data, we took extensive subjective notes on how warm each electric heater made us feel. The 754200 has had consistently positive owner reviews for years, and many Wirecutter staff members have owned one for multiple winters with few complaints. In our tests, the Lasko CD08200 managed to raise the temperature in the bathroom by an impressive 12 degrees over the course of just one hour. After running on high for an hour, the Lasko raised the temperature of our room from 6 feet away by 10 degrees Fahrenheit, a performance close to that of the Vornado VH200. Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. So we took careful notes on what it was like to rely on and work alongside these heaters. As an added bonus, the Lasko also helped to noticeably reduce the humidity in the room, burning off most of the condensation that otherwise tends to form while you shower. It worked well enough in our tests, steadily building up 10 degrees of heat across the room over the course of an hour. You can order space heaters at Shopping reader-favorite retailers like Wayfair, Target, Walmart and Amazon. Select is editorially independent. We noted both dBA and dBC weightingsthe former cuts off the lower and higher frequencies that most people cant hear, and the latter picks up higher frequencies. Comfort Zones highly-rated space heater is the most expensive model on our list and, at just over two feet tall, also the largest.
Our former upgrade pick, the Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus AM09, was one of the most efficient space heaters we tested and also doubled as a cooling fan, making it a great option for year-round climate control. You can work around that by hooking your thumb around the front side of the heater or supporting it from below with a second hand. For one, its newer to the market, so it hasnt yet proved the test of time like our other picks have. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, portable heaters are involved in nearly 2,000 fires per year, resulting in an annual average of about 80 deaths and 160 injuries. Were looking into when it will be available again, and will update this guide with more info soon. Fortunately, Vornado tends to respond to these critical reviews more reliably than other manufacturers do. The VH10 also has only two temperature settings (the VH200 has three), and it has a concave dial, which we found much harder to manipulate than our picks raised dials. As such, we placed heightened importance on each portable heaters safety measures and track record. In our tests the TRD40615T did this wellstarting at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, then building up to 89 degrees over two and a half hours, without dropping back down to 80 for almost four hours after that. But we were disappointed with it in other ways, including its maddeningly confusing controls and the 15-degree temperature difference between our measurements at 3 and 6 feet. It is capable of heating up rooms as large as 300 square feet. We tested the Vornado VH10, which is a glossier, newer generation of the VH200, but nothing set it apart from our less expensive top pick. If this kind of room heater sounds like something you might prefer, our favorite oil-filled heater is the DeLonghi TRD40615T. Even if you follow all of the instructions and even if you buy one of the models we recommend, all of which boast certified safety features its all too easy to make a mistake that leads to catastrophic consequences. Although space heaters generally shouldnt be used to heat an entire building, they are a great way to supplement the warmth in specific rooms. Thom Dunn is an associate staff writer at Wirecutter reporting on HVAC and other home improvement topics. Laskos ceramic space heater is a Walmart bestseller and boasts a 4.3-star average rating from more than 1,330 reviews. The Lasko FH500 All Season Comfort Control Tower Fan & Heater in One is the best tower heater we tested, directing a vertical column of warm air evenly throughout the room. Others are easy to clean, intuitive to use, and silent, in addition to being effective heaters. Overall, the OSCTH11 is a great choice if you want to share the warmth with other people in the same room, or just want a steady, balanced control of heat across a space. *At the time of publishing, the price was $110. Another benefit of oil-filled radiators is that they make absolutely no noise, unlike ceramic, open-element, or micathermic heaters. These models either had questionable (read: probably fake) reviews or were too weak to meet our power standards. gallagher smartfence grazing pasture
Our research has led us to focus on two prominent types: compact electric heaters with fans and oil-filled radiators. Thats because its fan designwhat Vornado calls a circulatordistributed a gentle, even heat to every corner of the room, similar to what we observed in our testing of Vornado room fans. The single most important takeaway from this research is that space heaters are one of the leading causes of house fires in the US. Of course, thats assuming you dont take advantage of its ability to operate as a fan only. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Your best bet is to place the Lasko space heater right in front of you and to enjoy the direct blast of hot air, then be pleasantly surprised when you find that heat fills the rest of the air around you. The VH200s plastic casing also remained relatively cool, measuring around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with the grille over the heating element topping out at around 140 degrees, making it one of the coolest models we tested. The TRD40615T is the best of its type because its sturdier than competitors, with an exterior that stays cooler to the touch. But even on high, the Vornado VH200 is significantly quieter than the Lasko 754200, which recorded decibel measurements of 52 dBA at a distance of 3 feet and 51 dBA at 6 feet. In previous years, we found it was slower to warm the room in our tests, and that the case was hotter to the touch after an hour. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Prices for space heaters can shift dramatically from season to season, but at Amazon, Walmart, or Home Depot, the 754200 rarely exceeds $30about half the price of the VH200. (The model is ETL certified.) Most space heaters can deliver quick heat to a single person, but oil-filled radiators are better for heating a whole room for a longer duration, and the DeLonghi TRD40615T is the best of its kind. The Lasko also has its own built-in overheat protection. The Vornado VHEAT Vintage Heater heats well enough and looks good doing it. The space heater offers three power settingsone more than the usual low and highand a thermostat dial with seven settings. Like most oil-filled radiators, the TRD40615T warms up much more slowly than a ceramic heater, but it also retains its heat for longer, making it more energy-efficient.
Though the Lasko raised the temperature by only about 7 degrees when measured from 3 feet away, the overall temperature in the room remained fairly consistent across both measurements, fluctuating within about 2 to 3 degrees. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The Lasko is also appealingly simple to use. The OSCTH1 is a sleek tower fan about a foot and a half tall that looks kind of like a miniature (and much less ominous) version of the Monoliths from 2001: A Space Odyssey, with a clear plastic touchscreen display on the top.
Even if you forget to turn the heater off again, the default one-hour heating mode will having the unit shutting itself off soon enough. In order to track the conditions in the room, we placed a Lascar data logger directly in front of the heater at a distance of 3 feet and placed another diagonally, at a distance of 6 feet, to see how well the heat moved around the room. Unlike most other models we tested, the FH500 has three built-in heating settings, so it offers more heating flexibility for maximum comfort.
The Vornado Glide reminded us aesthetically of Prince Robot IV from the comic book Saga. Weve updated this guide every year since 2011, building on our knowledge of and experience with the features that set a great space heater apart from the rest. Bailey Carson, head of cleaning and home improvement at Handy, previously recommended opting for a space heater with auto-shutoff as a safety measure. *At the time of publishing, the price was $124. This means its pretty easy to lift the heater up and immediately drop itmaybe on your foot. One dial controls the power output, the two heat settings (high and low), and the fan-only option, while the other controls the thermostat. Even mid-range models from Ozeri and Lasko designed to warm up rooms that are between 150 and 300 square feet cost more than $100. This can be a little confusing, leading you to wonder whether your heater has stopped working. The Vornado VH200 has every safety feature we look for in a space heater, including overheat protection, a tip-over switch, and UL certification. The space heater boasts a 4.6-star average rating from nearly 430 reviews on Amazon. The VH10 offers a few other perks, such as a ledge to coil the cord around on the bottom of the heater, but we actually found this more annoying than helpful, because our cord kept falling under the heating unit and activating its tip-over switch. Speaking of fansthe Lasko also has a built-in cooling feature, which is a nice bonus. This Vornado model is not as quiet as a radiator, but no other kind of space heater is, and its still quieter than a household refrigerator. And although it doesnt have a cooling feature like the Lasko FH500, the OSCTH1 does have a fan-only mode, which is great for air circulation. Weve been recommending the Lasko as a pick since 2013first as our top pick, and later as a runner-upand we have extensive notes that can attest to its long-term durability. To activate it, simply turn the knob past your ideal temperature setting and then turn it back until you hear a click, and the VH200 will self-regulate to maintain the room temperature where you want it, within about one degree. Its still a decent option overall, if our other Vornado picks are unavailable. Despite its metal exterior, the VHEAT also remained surprisingly cool to the touchonly about 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the sides, and 140 on the grille, and it cooled down even further within minutes of shutting off. But its narrow stream of hot air doesnt feel as comfortable as the heat from models that warm a whole room, and it lacks some safety features. It warms up faster than most fan heaters we tested, and it has a compact, lightweight body thats about the size of a loaf of bread. Black & Deckers space heater boasts this feature and, at 2.8 pounds, it is the lightest model on our list. Weve seen a lot of these convection-style panel heaters popping up in our research, so we wanted to see how well they hold up. In previous years tests, we dismissed the micathermic DeLonghi HMP1500; the oil-filled Pelonis NY1507-14A; the Lasko 5409 Oscillating Ceramic Heater, 5160 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater, and 6462 Full-Circle Warmth Ceramic Heater; Vornados VH202 and ATH1; the Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater (a strange faux-fireplace); the DeLonghi HVY1030; the Honeywell HeatGenius Ceramic Heater HCE840B; and the Crane Digital Ceramic Tower Heater EE-8079. In our portable heater tests, the AVH10 actually provided more heat more quickly than the VH200, but the heat wasnt distributed very evenly. But they are better at holding heat than ceramic models, their heat can feel more comfortable than heat directed out by a fan, and some people prefer their all-metal construction to plastic, since they are small machines reaching high temperatures. It was interesting that the AmazonBasics heater could be positioned as a tower, on its side like a log, and could point the heat upwards on an angle; unfortunately, this feature also meant it lacked a tip-over switch, which made it concerning to use even if it didnt explode on us. Unless your space heater is specifically designed and approved for itsuch as the Lasko CD08200 Bathroom Heater, which we recommenddo not leave it in a wet location like a kitchen or bathroom. This resulted in a 6-degree difference across the room. Disappointing performance and safety concerns make this a quick dismissal. Placing high-voltage electrical equipment where it can get wet is generally something thats frowned upon. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. A few space heater reviews have complained that the timer makes an audible ticking noise, but we did not encounter this issue in our testing. We also tested the AmazonBasics Portable Ceramic Tower Space Heater, shortly before the news broke that various AmazonBasics electronics products had been exploding with concerning frequency; by the time we were finished testing, it had already been discontinued. It's a very comfortable and evenly distributed heat that feels more like a warm blanket instead of a hair dryer pointed at you. The electric heater has three different heat options and a thermostat dial that ranges from 1 to 6. Generally speaking, you shouldnt put them anywhere except for a flat, even, uncovered floor. Within 20 minutes, the room had jumped from the 70s up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (about 8 degrees measured from 6 feet away, or 5 degrees from 3 feet) and slowly crept up toward 90 from there over the rest of the hour. It was our top pick for years, and although weve now found other space heater models that are more powerful, or quieter, or just more comfortable, the Lasko remains a steadfast competitor and a solid choice.
And although the VH200 is not particularly attractive, its definitely not uglya big win in a crowded field of unappealing design. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. Generally speaking, you should try to keep electricity (especially something as powerful as a space heater) far, far away from any situation where it might get wet. Despite its abundant heating ability, the VH200 operated with a quiet murmur that we didnt find distracting or unpleasant. It has a red LED indicator that remains on when the heater is on and turns off when the heater is powered down but still plugged in, such as when the heater is automatically maintaining the desired temperature of a room. If you encounter this issue, we recommend that you contact the manufacturer. Our oil-filled radiator pick, the DeLonghi TRD40615T, is currently out of stock most places. It also features an exterior that stays cool while in use, dubbed Cool Touch Housing. We also measured the noises that the heaters emitted, taking readings with a decibel meter from distances of 3 feet and 6 feet. But overall, its still a nice feature to have. And though its built-in safety feature did switch off automatically, as it was supposed to, we werent able to get the MVH to work again after that. The VH200 was also quieter than every other fan-based heater we tested, emitting a soft whir that was barely noticeableeven on highand generating a comfortably focused blast of heat that evenly dissipated into a room-filling, ambient warmth. The VHEAT was able to raise the temperature in the room by 11 degrees in just 15 minutes when measured from 3 feet in front of the fan. One minor complaint: The grip on the back of the VH200 is a bit shallow and has neither a lip nor a grippy texture, and the heater itself tends to tip forward in a front-heavy imbalance when you pick it up. Look through tabletop heaters, tower heaters, utility heaters, portable heaters, infrared heaters, electric heaters, ceramic heaters, radiant heaters and heater accessories. Weve researched more than 100 models and tested 67 since 2011, and the Vornado VH200 is the best space heater for most people. Instructions often mention not to sleep with one on overnight. The ALCI plug should sense when theres an abundance of electrical heat (if, for example, you accidentally splash the heater while its plugged in and running) and then automatically cut off the current. Plus, its just generally pleasant to live with.
Because it is technically a tower heater, you will need to occasionally vacuum up or blow out the dust that gathers in the OSCTH1s filter over time, as well. It also has a medium heating option (in addition to the standard high and low settings found on most other space heaters), as well as a timer and an auto eco setting for better energy efficiency. That being said, we have noticed that the OSCTH1 occasionally makes a loud grinding sound while oscillatingsomething that a few other Amazon reviews have noted, as well. 2022 SELECT | All rights reserved. In our tests, we set the FH500s bright, easy-to-read digital display to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest possible setting (you can also set the thermostat to display in Celsius). We had previously tested the oil-filled DeLonghi Silent System EW7707CM as well, but we found it also lacking in comparison with the TRD40615T. Weve recommended the Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater since 2013, and its still one of the cheapest and most reliable space heaters you can find. That high current is why you should never use an extension cord with a space heater.
We also factored in customer reviews, especially those from people whove owned a particular space heater for an extended period of time. Your Crash Course in Heaters 101, Newair, Energy Saver: Portable Heaters, US Department of Energy, September 4, 2018, Portable Space Heater Safety Tips, Sylvane, September 4, 2018, Portable and Safe Heaters: What you need to know, Lasko, October 18, 2019, Marina Oster, Space Heaters vs. Central Heating: Essential Question, Stanford Magazine, March 1, 2010, Rosalind Jackson, How Infrared Heaters Work, HowStuffWorks, March 10, 2009.