Winter might be the time of holiday cheer, but between running your oven to cook up a Thanksgiving feast and the 40,000 kilowatts you’re using to power up that giant neon menorah decoration on your front lawn, it’s pure murder on your utility budget. Fear not for your poor battered wallet, there is hope, and it comes in cheap, compact packages. Hail the small room space heater and be saved!
Every guide to reducing your heating bills says one major thing: Avoid heating up large spaces or using a centralized system to warm up rooms you aren’t using. Instead, be a cunning sniper with your heat, precisely warming just the places you need while letting the freezing elements hold sway over rooms you aren’t using. Freestanding space is what drains your coffers, so stop keeping the ballroom at a balmy 81-degrees and start using these 13 space heaters for small rooms to keep you warm where you are. You’ll actually find when used properly, they’ll help prevent frosty fingertips and icy toes. They’re also excellent for keeping you warm at work and avoiding thermostat wars.
What Is a “Small Room”?
So you know what you’re getting, it’s helpful to know that a small room is one that generally runs to about 100 to 150 feet or less. If your room is 10 feet by 10 feet, approximately, with doors closing it off to other areas of the house, then these will work for you. Also, if you’re trying to “spot heat” – that is heat just where you’re sitting – these are excellent for rooms of any size, so long as you’re careful about placement. They’re not good for raising the temperature in a room much bigger, and can quickly waste electricity doing so.
Stay Safe
Before you run any kind of space heater, it’s best to be aware of the dangers these can pose, so take a moment to check out this space heater safety guide so you don’t accidentally torch your home.
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater
Such a popular item it often sells out when the mercury drops, this little ceramic wonder is controlled by a pair of knobs on that top that allow it to go from fan to a few heat settings, as well as using a basic thermostat knob. It’s not so quiet you’ll forget it’s on, but pretty close. Purchase: $25
Honeywell Uber Heat
A little on the loud side, but incredibly fast, the Uber Heat is what you need if you can’t wait to get a room hot. The tiny frame is easy to move around as much as you please, so it can spot heat as easily as warm up a small room. It has a pair of constant heat settings, or an adjustable thermostat that lets you pick the toastiness you want with just a twist. Purchase: $35+
Lasko 6435 Designer Series
As casually stylish as a potted plant, you never again need to worry about hiding your heater under a bushel with this tasteful ecru-colored ceramic warmer. It oscillates to keep the heat moving, blends in with most home decor, and bears a timer and automatic shut-off to keep power drain out of sight, out of mind. Purchase: $46
Honeywell 360 Degree Digital Forced Heater
This miniature marvel is easily the top of the line for heating up a room. Though the fully circular construction makes it terrible for spot heating, it can get a small space toasty and keep it that way without fail. Add in a remote, timer, plenty of settings, and user-friendly interface, and you’ve got a solution to your winter woes. Purchase: $50
Honeywell HZ-7300 Cool Touch Oscillating Heater
That oscillation is a handy way to spot heat a pair of people in a cozy workshop, or you can turn it off to get better directional warmth in a single area. The LED lights on the top are a handy feature for determining exactly what the temperature is, so you can help keep plants or animals at a specified setting that goes beyond a mere turn of the knob. Purchase: $50+
Broan-NuTone 6201
Broan’s stainless steel design isn’t just for show, it’s meant to survive in a workshop, garage, shed, or bunker, and operate safely under questionable conditions. Loaded with safety sensors and cool to the touch, it’s better at directed heating than warming up a room, and as portable as it gets. Purchase: $53
DeLonghi DCH5090ER Safe Heat
A lot of features go into the DCH5090ER, which has remote controlled setting for the lazy, and an ecologically friendly option for those looking to conserve energy while still staying warm. Able to be read from a distance, the big, friendly, LED display is at-a-glance cooking, for a pretty penny. Purchase: $60
Presto Heat Dish
Most effective at spot heating where you need it, this isn’t so much for small rooms as it is for keeping a single person warm, since the directional dish shape specifies where the warmth goes. Good for couples where one party is forever frosty. Purchase: $72
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy
Though you won’t want this propane-fueled badass to be running full-bore day and night, when camping or suffering from a winter power outage, it’s precisely the companion you want for staving off the freezing weather. Also not a terrible car gift for those who prepare for the worst case scenario. Purchase: $85
Crane Mini Fireplace Heater
Now even your studio apartment can have a quaint fireplace-like aesthetic built right into it. Naturally it won’t be confused for an actual fire, but the look is as effective as the impressive room-filling heat and extremely quiet operation. Purchase: $85+
Vornado AVH10 Vortex Heater
Very quiet, the AVH10 uses Vornado’s skill with air circulation to keep currents flowing for greater effect over a wide area. While the flow can be a little tough to determine, and the AVH10 doesn’t do a great job of heating a whole room, finding the circulation patterns can make all the difference. Purchase: $100
Honeywell HZ-980 MyEnergySmart Infared Whole Room Heater
Capable of cutting heating costs right to the bone, the infared heater is a quiet, quaint solution for those who are looking to limit fan noise while increasing ambient temperature levels. Certainly not a spot heater, this little black box is as smart and safe as space heaters get, particularly in homes with kids and pets. Purchase: $141
Stiebel Eltron CK 15E
Ordinarily space heaters are simple, but this requires a bit more know-how to get it up and running. They are permanent wall attachments intended to replace outdated heaters, each with their own thermostat. Though more complex, they provide permanent warmth wherever it’s required. Purchase: $149
