Most Efficient Space Heater: Our Top 9 Picks

Staying warm and cozy doesn’t have to be expensive. Our top pick will only cost you an extra $9 per month – that’s cheaper than a month’s worth of coffee! It is even equipped with safety features so you can keep your worries at bay.

So, what are you waiting for? Beat the cold weather with these nine energy-efficient space heaters.

9 Energy Saving Electric Heaters For Your Home

Space heaters are a quick and easy way to warm up your bedroom, office, or other chilly space in your home. From ultra-compact to wall-mounted and everything in between, here are our 9 top picks for the best space heaters out there.  

Still uncertain which space heater is the best for your family? Read our detailed review to learn more about each product. Let’s dive in with our top pick from Dr. Infrared:

Our best energy efficient space heater, the Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater, can shield you from the winter chill while being energy-efficient and without compromising safety.

This unit has a programmable timer, an energy-saving auto mode, and a range of safety features. All of this comes in an attractive package, at a great price. So it’s no wonder this is our pick for the best space heater on the market. 

What really caught our attention is how Dr. Infrared can keep you warm like the sun. Dr. Infrared uses an infrared tube and a PTC to provide you with dual heat sources. Its radiant heat warms your room in the same way the sun warms the Earth. Combined with a 7-inch blower, this gentle heater also makes sure that there are no cold spots in your room. 

Don’t worry. The blower, while large, is extra quiet. It’s subtle enough that it won’t disturb you even while you sleep. And with overheat protection, you don’t have to worry about fires either. The heater will automatically turn off if the unit gets too hot. 

Plus, the space heater will look great wherever you want to put it. It is perfect for a living room, office, or even your bedroom. It is even fitted with casters, so you can easily move it around your home. You can put the unit out of the way thanks to its extra-long power cord.  

Use the remote control to set the temperature from your bed, and then you don’t need to worry about anything all night long. The heater will automatically cycle between high and low modes to keep the temperature constant while conserving power.

Want to warm your home without breaking the bank? then check out the GiveBest Space Heater; our budget pick. This small heater packs the same power as a larger heater but at a more affordable price. And it has a fan to cool you off, so you can use this unit year-round, making it an even better value!

With two heating settings and a thermostat, you save money and easily set the temperature to keep you warm and comfortable in winter. The heater will automatically turn off when you reach the desired warmth and turn back on when the space begins to cool down. 

If the heater gets too hot, the automatic overheat system will kick-in, keeping you and your family safe from a potential fire hazard. Don’t worry about knocking this little unit over either. It also has built-in tip-over protection. 

If you are looking for style, this heater probably isn’t the best choice. The design is practical but not pretty. And it doesn’t have all the features some of the other heaters do. But you will find it gets the job done.

If you are cold wherever you go, maybe you need the Andily Space Heater. This ultra-portable heater only weighs 2.4 lbs making it easy to take with you anywhere. It even heats up in just 2 seconds!

Bring it to the office. It’s small enough you can tuck it away under your desk to keep your toes warm. Then bring it to your bedroom at the end of the day. And it’s quiet enough to use while you are sleeping.

The small size doesn’t impact the heat output this little unit can produce. At high heat, some people complain that it can be almost too warm! There’s no need to worry, though. The automatic overheat system will turn it off before it gets dangerously hot. 

Limited floor space? Want a modern, sleek space heater? The DeLonghi Mica Thermic Panel hits two birds with one. It has an all-black style with a slim profile, allowing you to enjoy the warmth without sacrificing space and appearance. 

With smooth-moving casters, you can easily move it to any area. If you know exactly where you want it, you can mount it directly to the wall and out of the way. If you prefer your heater to be wall-mounted, check out our electric wall heaters reviews.

Despite its compact size, this heater has a large surface area. That’s because this heater uses micathermic heat. Micathermic heat gives you the benefits of both radiant and convection heating. The large panel means you are getting multi-directional heat even without the help of a noisy fan or blower. Being blower-free, you can keep dust and other sneeze-inducing particles out of the air too. 

The adjustable thermostat allows you to set the room temperature to make sure you are efficiently using your heat. You don’t have to worry that it will get too hot, though. It will automatically activate the thermal shut-off function for safety. 

If it accidentally tips over, don’t worry. Its alarm system goes off and shuts down the system entirely.   

While more expensive than other energy-efficient space heaters on our list, the EdenPURE CopperSMART 1000 Heater is worth every penny. Designed to last for years, this heater features over 4.5 square feet of copper surface area and a copper Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heating element. 

What do these features mean? Well, this space heater can generate radiant heat without drying the air or burning healthy oxygen.

This electric space heater stays cool to the touch, so you don’t have to rush to the emergency room whenever your active child or curious pet attempts to inspect the heater. Also, the heating element monitors the temperature to ensure it never gets hotter than the set temperature. Combined with a dual high limit sensor and tip-over protection, you can sleep soundly knowing that this space heater won’t cause a fire. 

The PTC Copper element has a temperature range from 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit. And the unit features two heat modes. This flexibility lets you set the heat to maximize your energy savings. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money.

If you are looking to add a furniture quality space heater to your home, the Duraflame 9HM8101-O142 Infrared Quartz Heater is made from real hardwoods and wood veneers. This attractive unit will look great wherever you want to put it, even in the living room.

It’s an excellent option if you have a family. The solid construction means this heater can withstand the knocks and bumps of everyday life with children and pets. And the tip-over switch will ensure it turns off if those knocks and bumps get a little out of hand.  

The unit stays cool to the touch, using infrared technology to heat the air. All you need to do is unpack the box and turn it on. Then, simply set the heater to whatever temperature you want the room to be. The heater will cycle on and off to keep the temperature constant, making it more efficient than a heater that runs constantly. And efficiency saves you money. 

The German-made Stiebel Eltron 074058 Fan Heater is an excellent option when you want a permanent heating solution for your household.

Unlike other space heaters, you’ll need to hardwire the device to your house’s power line. It’s small enough to fit in a bathroom and quiet enough to even use in your bedroom. Since you’ll fix this unit directly into the wall, you can rest easy knowing that it won’t top over – a great feature if your kids or pets are always running around the house. 

You can connect the Stiebel Eltron 074058 model to your room’s central thermostat for better temperature control.

For even greater peace of mind, the internal thermostat has a frost protection setting. It keeps the room temperature above freezing, which is perfect for preventing pipes from bursting. Now when you go away, you have one less thing to worry about.

Inspired by the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the PELONIS PH-19J Space Heater adds European style to your home while protecting you from the cold. But unlike the Italian tower, the heater’s tilt is intentional. The unique angle increases heat dissipation by 20 percent! That means you can warm up in under 3 seconds. 

Of course, you can stay warm and cozy by choosing High or Low Heat. Then decide if you want the fan to oscillate or not. The oscillating fan evenly distributes heat throughout your room, helping to eliminate any cold spots.

This high-quality heater is made of durable materials. And even if the angle may seem precarious, don’t worry about the heater falling over. There’s a tip-over switch that automatically turns off the heater.

Cool to the touch, the Lasko 751320 Space Heater safely brings all-over warmth to your home. The tower heater’s widespread oscillation helps distribute the heat to all corners of your space. 

Even if the heater is far away, you can use the included remote control to set the heat. Choose from high, low, or automatic. The auto mode will be the most energy-efficient. Simply select your desired room temperature, and the heater will keep it constant for you. 

Some people complain that the temperature selection is only in 5-degree increments making it difficult to get the ideal temperature. So if you want your room to be exactly 72 degrees, this may not be your best choice. 

Things to Consider When Choosing the Most Energy Efficient Space Heater For Your Home

It can be difficult to balance staying warm and saving energy. While wood stoves can be a good option if you are using off-grid power like home wind turbines or solar, they can be a lot of work. An energy-efficient electric space heater is an easy, affordable solution to chase away the winter chill – if you pick the right one.

We know that you want to be eco-conscious and safety-conscious. So, we’ll explain what features to look for in a space heater to make sure your family is warm and safe without breaking the bank.

Energy-Saving Features 

Electric space heaters are not known for being the most energy-efficient way to heat your house. However, if you are looking to heat a small space, they can be very effective. 

One of the benefits of buying a space heater is that you are only heating a small space rather than a whole house. So that uses less energy, which in turn costs you less money and helps save the planet (1).

Eco-Tip: Looking for other ways to save the planet? Try collecting your rainwater in rain barrels. 

Many different features cut down on a heater’s energy consumption making it more efficient. So let’s explore the most common energy-saving features.

a. Thermostat

With a thermostat, you can set the temperature you want your room to be. You don’t need to worry about turning the heater off yourself or the room getting too hot. Once it reaches the selected temperature, the heater turns off. When your heater isn’t running, you’re not using energy.

The Stiebel Eltron heater allows you to connect to the internal room thermostat for even greater control and more energy savings.

A great way to be more efficient is to set the thermostat as low as you can. That way, your heater runs less time. And less running time also means it will cost you less, as we explain later when we talk about power consumption and cost.

b. Auto-off feature

Making sure your heater isn’t running when you aren’t there is a great way to save energy. But while we try to be conscious of how much energy we consume, we sometimes forget to turn something off. The auto-off feature remembers, so you don’t have to. A thermostat or a timer usually controls this feature. 

c. Timer

A timer is a super convenient feature for your space heater to have. It lets you decide exactly how long you want your heater to run. The best space heater, Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater, offers a programmable operation time from 1 to 12 hours.  

This feature is perfect if you are heating your bedroom at night. Set the timer before you go to bed, and it will turn off after you wake up in the morning. 

d. Heat settings 

Most energy electric efficient space heaters will have at least two heat settings – low and high. These settings are measured in watts. The more watts something is, the more power it uses. When running on a low setting, you consume less energy. 

Some heaters like the Dr. Infrared Heater have an automatic mode so you can maximize energy efficiency while still staying warm. Just set the desired room temperature, and the heater automatically adjusts between the high and low settings. 

Heat Output and Room Size 

You know you want your room to be warm. But what you don’t know is how much heat that will take. Don’t worry. You are not alone. It is overwhelming to figure out how much heat you need to heat your space. If anything resembling math makes you want to run for the hills, don’t desert me yet. There is an easy way to calculate how much heat you need.

First, you need to know how big your space is. 

To keep our math easy, let’s say you want to heat a 10 foot by 15-foot bedroom. Your bedroom is a rectangle. To find the area, you will multiply the length of your room X the width of your room (1). It doesn’t really matter which side you decide is which. The equation looks like this:

Length x Width = Area

10ft x 15ft= 150 sq ft. This is your area.

If you are confused, watch this quick video that explains how to calculate the area of a room in square feet.

Once you have your area, you can use this number to figure out how many watts it will take to heat that space. Watts is the unit we use to measure the power required for electrical heating. The rule of thumb is you want 10 watts for every square foot (2). 

If your ceilings are an average of eight feet, you can multiply your area by ten to find out how many watts you need to heat the room. So let’s go back to the bedroom example. Your area is 150 square feet. So,

150 sq ft X 10W= 1500 Watts

Once you know how many watts you need, you can make sure the heater you are looking at will produce enough heat. In this example, even the ultra-portable Andily space heater generates 1500 watts on high and could heat this room. 

Now, if your ceilings are taller than eight feet, you will want to use a different formula. The rule of thumb, in this case, is 1.25 watts per cubic foot. So this is the formula: 

Watts= Area X Height X 1.25

Knowing your room size and how many watts you need should help you realistically assess your heating needs and narrow down your selection.

Safety Features 

If we are buying a product, we want to know it is safe. And let’s be honest. Space heaters don’t have the best reputation when it comes to safety either. And that’s not without reason. Space heaters can causes fires and injuries (3)

You don’t want to be a statistic! That’s why safety features on your space heater are so important. Modern heaters are much safer than heaters in the past. But you need to do your part to keep your family safe.

One of the easiest things you can do is always to make sure you plug your space heater into an appropriately rated outlet. DO NOT use power strips or extension cords. They are not rated to handle that much power and could potentially overheat and melt. If this happens, a fire could start.

You can also look for these features to keep your family and pets safe.

a. Tip-Over Protection

Tip-Over protection is what it exactly sounds like. A built-in sensor detects when the heater is no longer upright. If you have a heater with Tip-Over Protection, like the EdenPURE CopperSmart 1000, if you, or your child, or pet, accidentally knocks over your heater, it will automatically turn off. That way, you don’t have to worry about it accidentally catching something on fire.

b. Cool-to-the-Touch

Kids love to touch everything. So the last thing you want is a unit that can burn your child if they touch it. If you have young children, you will want to look for a heater that stays cool to the touch, like the Duraflame 9HM8101-0142 Infrared Quartz Space Heater. A heater like this won’t feel hot no matter how long they run. So you can have one less thing to worry about. 

c. Overheat Protection Switch

We all forget to turn things off once and a while. But if you fail to turn off your space heater, it could overheat and start a fire. That’s why an overheat protection switch, like the one found in the Lasko 751329 Space Heater, is such an important feature for you and your family’s safety.

Power Consumption And Calculating cost 

If you are looking to save power and money, you will want to compare your current heating solution’s consumption and the cost of running a space heater. As you will see, there is a direct correlation between your power consumption and your energy costs.

The first step is to figure out how many hours a day you plan to be running your space heater. Let’s say you want to heat your living room every evening when you come home from work until you go to bed. You plan for those hours to be from 6 pm until 9 pm. So, that is three hours a day. 

That number is your usage time. 

Once you know your usage time, you want to know how much power the heater will consume during that time. To do this, you need to know the wattage of your space heater – remember, we talked about watts in relation to heat output. We said watts are the unit we use to measure how much power is needed to heat your room. Your heater should tell you how many watts it uses in both high and low modes.

Now let’s use our top pick, the Dr. Infared Space Heater, for our example. On the low setting, it uses 1000W. So to find out how much power it consumes, we use this formula:

Watts x usage time = power consumed

So we have 1000W x 3 hr = 3,000Wh 

If we want to figure out our costs, it’s best to figure out our consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh) rather than watts per hour (wh) because power costs are billed in kWh. But that is easy math. 1000W= 1 kW. So, 3000wh/1000=3kWh 

Once you know how many kilowatt-hours you expect to use, it is simple to figure out the cost to run the heater. Simply take the power consumed and multiply it by your cost per kWh for energy. You should be able to find that number on your monthly power bill.

Again let’s make our math easy, and say it costs $.10/kWh for energy. The equation looks like this: 

3kWh X $0.10/kWh= $0.30 per day.

You can multiply by 30 to figure out monthly costs. $.30 X 30= $9

Using the formulas, you can make an educated decision if a space heater will lower your energy costs or not. Once you have figured out the costs of using the space heater, compare that with your current bill to heat your home. Don’t forget to figure in the cost to buy the heater.