The best space heaters of 2025

Space heater price

Most electric heaters serve this function only (not as dual heaters). Air purifierfor example,) is less than $150, with many of the models on this list costing less than $100. Many smaller, well-regarded budget models can cost you less than $50. The size of the unit, additional features, number of settings, and heating element contribute to the overall cost of a space heater.

Space heater size

There are no standard sizes or shapes for electric heaters, and most of the heaters I looked at did not specify the square footage of coverage, other than stating their ability to heat a “small to medium” space or specifying room types such as a bedroom or office. Space heaters may be referred to as tabletop, floor or bathroom models, and many also come in the form of tall but narrow “tower” models, which may or may not swing, and have a smaller footprint and therefore smaller horizontal space requirements.

Types of space heaters

While this list consists only of electric space heaters (as opposed to models that are heated by water or oil), there are many different mechanisms that electric space heaters may use to generate hot air.

Forced fan: Fan-driven space heaters circulate air by drawing it into the unit, passing it over a heating element, usually metal coils, and expelling the hot air through exhaust vents in the unit.

Infrared: Infrared lamps are those that convert electricity into radiant heat. This is the least common type of heater we’ve listed here, but it’s no less effective.

Ceramic: Ceramic space heaters use electricity to heat a ceramic plate inside the unit, which then emits radiant heat into the air, with or without the additional use of a fan.