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Searching for a space heater? After researching over 100 models, we purchased 13 of the top performers for extensive hands-on testing. For our recent update, we ran a comprehensive set of experiments to determine which models are best for personal space, such as under a desk. We also set out to discover which products are better suited for small rooms, which are the easiest to use, and which are the most efficient. If you have cold feet about which space heater is the right choice for you, we have you covered.
The Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower rules the roost for tower-style space heaters. In our tests, this model promptly produced heated air as soon as we powered it up. There were a couple Dyson models that scored higher overall in our assessments, but they are wildly expensive, and you can get the job done for much less with the Lasko. Its controls and user interface are intuitive, and the remote control is ergonomic and easy to use. Even though the unit is tall, it is easy to place in out-of-the-way spaces thanks to the small base.
Unfortunately, this unit has some limitations to consider. The fan can only be used with the heating unit, meaning it won't be useful in warmer weather. It also lacks a tip sensor to turn the unit off in the event it accidentally gets knocked over. Despite these minimal limitations, this design is our favorite for most of our space heating needs. If you want fallover protection and the ability to use the unit as a fan, check out the Amazon Basics 1500W. It lacks some convenience features like a remote and the ability to oscillate, but it's affordable and can work as both a fan and a heater.
Just a few of the many tests on the Lasko. We measured heat output, time to warm a room, electricity consumption and much more.
If you're looking for a small, basic personal heating device, the Amazon Basics 1500W Ceramic is a great option, especially considering the low price. It's very compact, making it perfect for use under an office desk or any other small space. And it performed surprisingly well at cranking out the heat, warming our test room nearly 15 degrees Fahrenheit after 60 minutes, which was even more temp increase than the pricy Dyson models offered (both yielded a 13F increase). A bonus feature of the Amazon Basics model is that it doubles as a fan so that you can use it all year round.
When it comes to bells and whistles, the Amazon Basics 1500W Ceramic falls a little short, as this unit is about as basic as space heaters come. The temperature settings are controlled by a dial, with no way to select an exact target temperature. The unit does not include a remote and a timer and does not oscillate. If it's within your budget to spend a little more, we think the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower is worth the extra expense.
Testing the automatic shut-off of the Amazon heater as well as the time to heat a room and energy consumption.
The Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 Jet Focus is a top of the line option for both heating and cooling. In the first twenty minutes of use, it generated 10.4 degrees of heat, adding up to a total temperature increase of 13 degrees across one hour. Heating is gentle and very customizable, with oscillation, temperature, and intensity all being changed via remote. It also comes with a pretty robust fan-only option. It looks quite futuristic, which is cool — although if you're going for looks, the Lasko Bladeless Heater also has a futuristic design that costs a fraction of the Dyson and still performs quite well.
Despite excellent performance, the Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 Jet Focus does have a couple noticeable drawbacks. It relies on its remote for functionality. While sleek and magnetic (which enables easy storage on the heater itself), the remote is also small and depends on a smaller watch battery. Losing the remote makes the heater much less customizable and even completely loses a few features. This heater is also just pricey. Regardless, if you can make room in the budget, the Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 Jet Focus is an excellent option for both heating and cooling.
The oscillating Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 helps keep the room warm or cold, depending on its setting.
The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 is not only a highly capable space heater, but it also functions as a top-of-the-line air purifier and fan. If you need all three functionalities, the high price of this model becomes easier to stomach. As a space heater, the HP07 was one of the best options for heating a small room. Over 20 minutes, it raised our test room temperature by 8.4 degrees and a full 13 degrees over an hour. The heat this machine generates is a pleasant radiant heat that isn't overpowering, even when you're sitting up close.
There are some significant drawbacks to this unit. First, almost all of the functions are controlled with a remote. Lose the remote, and you're pretty much out of luck. Second, the energy consumption is high. It's not the worst offender in the bunch, but it is above average in terms of operating costs. Then there's the upfront cost. We think most people are going to be served just fine by our favorite model, the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower. However, if you're searching for an air purifier and space heater, having a unit that can do both certainly saves a lot of floor space, and the Dyson HP07 might be just what you're looking for.
Showing the Dyson HP07 in action as well as the process of cleaning the filter.
If bathroom heating and safety are a key sticking point for you, then the Lasko CD08200 Ceramic Bathroom is the space heater for you. None of the other heaters in this category offer an ALCI plug, which is intended to keep you safe from electrical malfunctions. This is especially critical in a bathroom setting, where water-related hazards can be high. If the ALCI unit senses an abnormal change in current, it cuts power immediately to keep the user safe from shorts. In addition to this safety feature, the Ceramic Bathroom also displayed competent heating as well as excellent energy efficiency, all at an incredibly affordable cost.
Despite its merits as a bathroom heater, the Lasko CD08200 Ceramic Bathroom is missing a few nice-to-have options that other space heaters in our test include. Its heating options are limited to 'high' and 'low', and it does not offer oscillation or fan-only use. While it does miss out on some of the more technical bells and whistles, the Lasko CD08200 is still an excellent option for simple heating needs. Low energy usage and comparatively quick heating makes this a great option for both bathroom use and small room heating. If you like the idea of a ceramic space heater but are looking to place it in a larger room, the Honeywell Digital Ceramic is a great option that heats up quickly. This model also includes a handy digital temperature readout.
The Lasko CD08200 is perfect for keeping bathrooms and small spaces warm during those chilly months.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
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The Dr. Infrared is the perfect choice for larger areas, such as a family room or a workshop.
Credit: Laura Casner
How We Test Space Heaters
At GearLab, we purchase all the products we test at full price from the same retailers as our readers. This ensures that bias doesn't leak into our review from accepting promo or demo models from manufacturers. Overall, our team of experts ran more than 96 individual tests to help you find the perfect space heater to suit your needs and budget. We tested these models during a winter cold spell at Lake Tahoe, where the record-low temperatures dropped below -20 degrees Fahrenheit. We tested the heaters inside the lab but wouldn't run any experiments if the outside temperature reached more than 38 degrees. We came up with a series of different experiments to determine the comfort a heater provides under a desk and how much heat each could add to a small room. We also analyzed extra features and calculated how much each one costs to run. We ran each model for several weeks in the office, the lab, and in our homes. In all these settings, we monitored their power consumption, assessed how well they add warmth to the room, and evaluated their features for convenience.
We measured time to heat a room, temperature, energy consumption, and many other variables in our lab tests of space heaters.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Our in-depth testing process of space heaters breaks down into four different metrics:
Personal Heat (40% of overall score weighting)
Convenience (30% weighting)
Small Room Heating (20% weighting)
Power Consumption (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Our testing team is comprised of Austin Palmer, Ross Patton, Craig D'Innocente, and Buck Yedor. Having spent his entire life in the snowy mountains, Ross Patton is no stranger to the various ways that people keep their living and workspaces warm. That, coupled with his formal training in environmental science and more than 15 years of product testing experience, has honed his skills for creating in-depth side-by-side tests. Austin Palmer has extensive experience performing hands-on tests for more than 500 products, and he spent time working on an oil rig where the crew would huddle around a space heater when temps were so low that running water would freeze. As a field worker in natural resource management, Craig D'Innocente hopes to bring a scientific attention to detail to product testing. His time spent as a field worker in the near-freezing alpine watersheds of Tahoe helps emphasize the need for staying warm, whether it be on a field assignment or at home. Buck Yedor not only brings a background in product testing but has lived in more than one freezing apartment with no central heat and knows all too well how crucial a good space heater can be. To verify our results, we consulted our resident mechanical engineer, David Wise, who has a background in heat transfer.
A wattmeter was used to measure each heater's kilowatts per hour usage.
Analysis and Test Results
To determine which space heaters are truly the best, we conducted dozens of hours of market research to sort through the specifications and details of more than 100 of the top models. After much deliberation, we narrowed it down to 13 of the best space heaters and independently purchased them for testing side-by-side.
What's the Best Value?
Space heaters vary significantly in price and performance, and a higher cost doesn't necessarily equate to a better product, especially for specific applications. The Amazon Basics 1500W is an excellent choice if you aren't looking to spend much and you only need a compact heater with basic heating functions.
The Lasko Ceramic Tower would make a good fit if you'd like an oscillating-style tower heater but don't need extra features like a remote. Another Lasko model, the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower, was our highest-scoring machine, but it costs much less than the models it outperformed. The Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 is a bit more expensive than many heaters in our review but affordable for this type. Finally, if you want all of the bells and whistles you can get out of a heater from a designer brand, the Dyson Hot+Cool might be the one for you — but be prepared to drop a significant amount of cash for its futuristic design and additional function as an air purifier.
The Lasko Ceramic Tower is a fantastic choice for an office environment.
Credit: Laura Casner
Personal Heat
Adding warmth and comfort to a living space is a space heater's primary purpose. Accordingly, we allocated 40% of the overall score for this metric. For personal heat, we began by putting each heater under a standard-sized office desk to see how they fit; then, we judged which models were the best at making the office space cozier and more comfortable. We used each heater in a living room and employed a panel of judges to poll the overall feel of how well each model was performing.
The Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower warmed up the underside of a desk noticeably much faster than any other model. This speedy heat-up earned it a top score; in fact, its heat was a bit intense. The airflow feels slightly more direct than other models, but the oscillation setting helps disperse the heat if needed.
The Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower was even more impressive in the living room than the office — this model produces a warm breeze better than any other model we tested.
Measuring heat output from the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Lasko Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat and the Amazon Basics have small footprints, so they tuck nicely under a desk. Both of these models heat a desk area very quickly, but unfortunately, their blowers aren't quite strong enough to be practical for use in a living room.
The AmazonBasics 1500W heats up quickly but is a bit impractical for a larger room.
Credit: Laura Casner
The Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 heats up fast and is excellent for living room use near furniture thanks to its oblong design and tilt option that directs air in a greater vertical gradient than the other models in our review.
The Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 Jet Focus is a slimmer take on the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool 07 and lives up to that model's heating acumen while performing much better in small spaces. The AM09 is well-sized for under-desk use and comes with several options to make personal heating more comfortable.
The Hot+Cool AM09 tucks nicely into any space to provide its heating power.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Lasko CD08200 Ceramic Bathroom presents excellent heating in a small room setting, whether on a bathroom counter or under an office desk. Similar to the Amazon Basics, the Lasko CD08200 struggles in larger rooms, but this is understandable given the intended bathroom use.
Turning on the Lasko is as easy as tapping the large top button.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Convenience
The overall convenience of using a home appliance like a space heater can be a deciding factor when it comes time to purchase. These devices have various controls, temperature displays, remotes, and even the option to use the heater as a fan with the heating element disengaged. Here at GearLab, we appreciate bells and whistles and understand that its these elements that can separate a good product from a great one. We dedicated 30% of the total score to our convenience metric.
It's hard to beat the Dyson Hot+Cool in the convenience department. This model has several innovative features, including 350 degrees of oscillation and a remote that magnetically attaches to the top of the unit. Most impressively, it is also a fan and a fully functional air purifier, similar to those in our air purifier review.
The Dyson's remote stores via internal magnets.
This Lasko Bladeless Heater provides built-in remote storage.
Some models, like the Dyson (left) and the Lasko Bladeless (right), have on-unit remote storage. The Dyson's remote attaches with a magnet.
The timer on the Dyson goes up to eight hours, with options to set it for 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, four hours, or eight hours. The digital thermometer had one of the widest readings, ranging from 33 to 99 degrees. The Dyson is also smartphone-compatible. Due to federal regulations, you can't control the heat via your phone, but you can control and monitor the air purifier.
Much like its predecessor, the Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 Jet Focus scores high on convenience. Its timer has increments for 15, 30, and 45 minutes as well as hours 1 through 9. Heating follows the same 33-99 range. Unfortunately, the Jet Focus is not controllable via Bluetooth, so losing the remote results in the loss of a number of features.
The Hot+Cool AMO9 comes with a handy remote for easily controlling the heating and cooling settings.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Lasko Bladeless Heater and Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 scored well in the convenience metric. These space heaters have a digital readout and a thermostat that goes up and down in one-degree increments.
The Dr. Infrared takes on a unique style approach, appearing much like an end table rather than a space heater.
Credit: Laura Casner
These models come with remote controls, but we found the Dr. Infrared is one of the most straightforward to use. Unlike the remotes for other models, the buttons on the Dr. Infrared are labeled with words instead of symbols.
The Honeywell is equipped with handy safety features like fall protection and a heat proof handle.
Credit: Laura Casner
Out of the remotes that use symbols, the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower controls were the most intuitive to decipher, and this model's controller fits comfortably in your hand. The Infrared is great for those needing to feel the heat for extended periods, as it has a timer that goes up to 12 hours in one-hour increments.
The buttons on the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower have symbols that are easy to understand.
The Ceramic Tower's thermostat increases in increments of five degrees, and it lacks a remote.
The Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower (left) and Ceramic Tower (right) both have digital interfaces.
The Lasko Ceramic Tower has somewhat similar controls to its cousin, the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower. Still, since it lacks a remote, we could only give it a mediocre score for this metric.
Coming in near the back of the pack is the Amazon Basics 1500W; this barebones model has minimal settings and features, although we like that it can be used as a fan without the heating element engaged. While some enjoy having lots of features, others may prefer a basic model that is straightforward and does what it's meant to do.
The Amazon Basics fits just about anywhere thanks to its compact size.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Small Room Heating
We ran each device in the same room for a set amount of time at the highest setting and then measured how much of a positive temperature change each heater was able to cause. We took readings every 20 minutes for an hour.
At the start of each trial, to ensure that our data was accurate, we made sure the inside temperature of the test room was as close to 64 degrees Fahrenheit as possible. We even took it a step further and only ran the assessment when the outside temperature was in the low 30s. We dedicated 20% of the total score to this metric. Some of the heaters did fairly well, but because we feel there is vast room for future improvement in space heaters' overall performance, we didn't give out any high scores for this assessment.
The tools of the test: A thermometer, a stopwatch, and a wattmeter.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The heater that raised the temperature the fastest was the Amazon Basics. Using a total of 1500 watts, this comes as no surprise. After a 60-minute period, this powerful little heater brought the temperature of our testing room up by 14.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The two Dyson models, the AM09 and the HP07, created a 13-degree positive temperature change after an hour.
After the top three models, the Lasko Ceramic Digital Tower, Lasko Bladeless Heater, Honeywell Digital Ceramic, Lasko CD08200 Ceramic Bathroom, and Vornado VH200 all raised the temperature of the room by a temperature between 10.8 and 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit during our controlled testing time period of one hour.
Testing the Dyson Hot+Cool to see the temperature changes.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The rest of the heaters all fell between 8 and 10 degrees, with the lone radiant oil heater, the De'Longhi Dragon bringing up the back of the pack at 7 degrees. But keep in mind, when using a radiant oil model, the unit will continue to stay hot after it has been turned off and even unplugged.
We used a data logging laboratory-grade thermometer to track the heat produced by each model.
Credit: Laura Casner
Power Consumption
We assessed power consumption for the final 10% of our total score. Each device in our review is 1500 watts, but they use surprisingly different amounts of energy. You could easily drive your power bill through the roof if you aren't careful. We ran each heater on high for two hours and took readings with a wattmeter to assess this metric.
From this data, we could see the power consumed by each model in kilowatts per hour (kWh).
Results May Vary
While the power consumption is uniform for each model, testing across different electrical settings may provide different results. For example, a house running off of wiring laid in 1980 will likely be less energy efficient than a brand-new home. Power consumption readings in this review should be treated as relative measurements and not absolute data.
The unit with the lowest consumption for this test was the Lasko CD08200 Ceramic Bathroom, with a two-hour usage test showing only 2.27 kWh used. Units tested for this update all showed less than 3 kWh per two hours, including even the industrial De'Longhi Dragon Radiant TRD40615T.
The Dragon fits nicely under desks and is great for heating up large spaces.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Notably, the De'Longhi Dragon Radiant TRD40615T is an oil-based (rather than radiant) space heater. This means that the oil reservoir will continue to hold heat much longer than the ceramic units, potentially offering energy savings across longer periods of time. For a larger room or even a garage, the Dragon is an excellent option despite its poor performance in smaller spaces.
Over short periods of time, power consumption is comparable for the heaters tested. However, extrapolated to a full day of use, consumption begins to vary more. If you are considering running a space heater in lieu of central heating, we recommend a more efficient model as well as utilizing the timer feature to keep consumption in a normal range.
We hope our testing has helped point you to the model that's right for your needs.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Conclusion
After reading this review, we hope that you will be confident enough in our processes to purchase the best space heater for your individual needs. Our home appliance experts have tested many other products for keeping your home comfortable, regardless of season or climate.
—Ross Patton, Buck Yedor, Austin Palmer, and Craig D'Innocente
