We tested 12 electric space heaters. These are the seven safest space heaters to keep you warm all winter long.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
The 7 Safest Space Heaters: Tested and Reviewed
Published on Dec. 05, 2024
Safest Space Heater Overall
Dreo Space Heater Solaris 718
Pros:
- Powerful fan
- Convenient cord management
- Specific temperature control
- Good value
- Has a child lock
Cons:
- Not as many features as Dyson
When it comes to the safest space heater, it doesn’t get much better than the Dreo Solaris 718. This tower heater comes in three colors and is loaded with safety features. A child lock, cool-touch housing, tip-over protection and overheat protection make it safe for use in a house with little ones. Plus it’s made of flame retardant materials. In addition to its many safety features, this space heater boasts a powerful fan and precise temperature control.
“The Dreo Solaris comes with not only five heat settings but also specific temperature control,” says associate product tester Dylan Fischer. “It’s very convenient for fine-tuning a specific heat level for your room.” And once it’s finished heating, you don’t have to worry about getting scalded if you accidentally bump into it. Dylan points out that while the heating grates themselves took a few minutes to completely cool off after operating in high-heat mode, most of the model was cool to the touch after heating.
While Dylan didn’t particularly care for the conical shape of this heater, he was impressed by its overall performance, noting that its fan was noticeably more powerful than its pricey competitors. “The fan is much more powerful, and I could actually feel the difference even in the far corners,” he explains. “During the high-mode test, there was a 10-degree difference by the end (in the center of the room).” And in spite of its power, this space heater is incredibly quiet. In fact, Dylan points out that it makes virtually no noise when on low.
Another callout feature is the unit’s convenient cord management system. “Always gotta call out nice cord management when we see it. Any unused cord can easily be wrapped around the bottom of the base,” raves Dylan.
Best Budget Safe Space Heater
Dreo Space Heater Atom One
Pros:
- Affordable
- Consistent temperatures
- Cool to the touch after use
- Adjustable oscillation
- Includes a remote
Cons:
- No cord management
- Didn't shut off right away when tipped over
The Dreo Atom One has over 15,750 five-star reviews thanks to its heat output, quietness and value, so we knew we had to test it for ourselves. Our team described this heater as well-made and easy to use with a sleek, modern profile that will blend seamlessly into any space. And after a bout of rigorous testing, our product testing team agrees that this budget-friendly space heater is a smart purchase.
While it doesn’t have a cord management system, it features five settings including a fan-only setting and adjustable oscillation. Better yet, it worked just as well as we hoped it would. During testing, product tester Sydney Manning found that this space heater increased the temperature a full 8 degrees Fahrenheit. “The room went from 72 to 80 degrees on low mode, then from 80 to 88 degrees on high mode,” notes Manning. “The room was hot throughout, with it being a little colder in the far corners.”
This space heater has several safety features including an overheat sensor, tip-over protection, flame retardant materials and a fused safety plug. During testing, Manning knocked over the unit in order to assess its tip-over protection feature. “I ‘knocked over’ the space heater by setting it on its side, and immediately it started beeping,” she explains. “After about two minutes, it completely shut off.” Manning was disappointed that it didn’t shut off right away, but still insists that this is a durable heater that will last for years to come. And at $50, you can’t go wrong!
On Sale
Best Infrared Safe Space Heater
Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater
Pros:
- Programmable thermostat
- Quiet operation
- Four 360-degree pivoting wheels
- Eco mode
- Small footprint
- Remote included
Cons:
- Will not start heating if temps are 68° or higher
Associate product tester Sheri Kaz was immediately taken with this Dr Infrared space heater thanks to its vintage-looking design. “It reminds me of an old stereo or radio,” she says. Sheri also liked the unit’s large, easy-to-read buttons and remote control. It’s a contender for the safest infrared heater, and is equipped with a blower and built-in thermostat. It has 5200 BTU which is good for larger spaces like a basement. Speaking of basements, Sheri points out that the thermostat on this space heater is supposed to keep a cold basement at an even temperature to avoid frozen pipes. While Sheri’s pipes weren’t in danger of freezing during testing, this space heater did warm things up quite a bit. According to Sheri, this machine raised the temperature 14°F in 90 minute on the highest setting.
“As a ‘side quest,’ I used this one in my 1300 sq. ft. basement that’s divided by a panel wall that doesn’t go all the way to the ceiling and has two open doorways. The ambient temp was 65,” explains Sheri. “I used the ‘ECO’ mode with a target temp of 72°F, and set the timer for one hour. The space came up to 68. The temp on the other side of the wall was 66. Pretty impressive for a huge open space in one hour.”
Even more impressive was the fact that this space heater was cool to the touch both during and after heating. Not that you have to touch it since the machine’s features take away all of the guesswork. According to Sheri, you can see the red heat coils when the machine is working. The coils go dark if the unit is paused, but the other lights stay on so you know it’s still plugged in and ready to kick in if needed.
“If you’re looking for a space heater that will keep the room at a constant temperature, the Dr Infrared Heater lets you set a target temperature, and the machine does the rest, monitoring the room every four minutes and kicking on if it needs to,” explains Sheri. The only thing you may want to consider is that this space heater will not kick in on its own if the room temp is 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Users must set the desired temperature, and the thermostat monitors and shuts on or off as needed to maintain the temp. Likewise, the maximum temperature you can set the thermostat to is 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
And although it’s on the pricier side, we’re sure this infrared space heater will keep you warm all season long. No buyer’s remorse here!
On Sale
Best Portable Safe Space Heater
Vornado MVH Whole Room Heater
Pros:
- Compact design
- Onboard cord management
- Intuitive controls
- Quality construction
- Ultra-quiet
- Heats evenly
- Long warranty
Cons:
- No fan function
This Vornado space heater may be small, but it heats evenly and can easily be moved from room to room. It has tip-over protection, overheat shutoff, a cool-touch case, and is flame-retardant. According to product testing manager Annamarie Higley, this space heater is larger and heavier than other portable models she tested, but it’s still light enough to tote around from room to room. “Of the three I tested, this is seemed like the highest quality unit, which checks out due to its higher price point. It’s substantial in size and weight, and the controls are all worthy,” she raves.
During testing, Annamarie ran this space heater on low and high settings. She found that while it didn’t generate a ton of heat, it heated evenly. “Temps didn’t even reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit. That said, no one would want a room to be much hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit at the absolute max so I don’t think this is a huge issue,” she explains. “Plus, the corners and center of the room read the same temps at almost every checkpoint.”
Annamarie was also impressed by how quiet this space heater was as well as the fact that it never got too hot. “I was actually able to touch the grates, the emblem on the front, and the sides of the unit while it was still blowing hot air. Though the grates were a little warm, it was nothing dangerous or concerning,” she says.
In addition to touching the unit while it was running, Annamarie also turned it over to assess its tip-over protection. While the manual claims that if this unit tips more than 10%, it will shut off, she found it was more sensitive than that. “If it’s even almost imperceptibly tipped, you can hear the shutoff feature click,” she explains.
And finally, Annamarie couldn’t ignore the cord management on this space heater. “Although a space heater is an appliance that is often used continually for months, the cord management is still great for off-season storage and easy transport. The testing team is always going to thumbs-up this feature,” she raves.
On Sale
Safe Space Heater with the Best Features
Black + Decker Portable Space Heater
Pros:
- Stays cool to the touch
- Fan-only setting
- Tabletop friendly
- Heats evenly
- Ergonomic dials
Cons:
- Small handle
While all of the space heaters on our list are safe to use, the Black + Decker is specifically designed for use on countertops and tables. “This unit is explicitly stated as safe for countertop or tabletop use, which makes it a nice selection for a workspace,” points out Higley. However, it’s worth noting that according to the manual, this unit is not safe for use in bathrooms or laundry areas, and the cord shouldn’t be covered by rugs or cord hiders.
While it’s not the sleekest unit on the market, Higley insists it’s small enough where it won’t make much of a statement in any space. It’s also comparatively quieter than other models she tested, so it will really go unnoticed in any home or office. What won’t go unnoticed, however, is how evenly it heats a room and its safety features.
“The auto shutoff feature is super reliable,” raves Higley. “If its base tips even a few millimeters off the surface, the unit will stop operating. Once it’s upright and stable again, it’ll resume operation.” It also has overheat protection and stays cool to the touch during and after use. Higley was able to touch the exterior of the unit as well as the grates after the standard fan setting had been running for 30 to 60 seconds.
“Within seconds of switching this machine into fan mode after hours of heating, the grates were completely cool to the touch, as was the exterior plastic. Paired with the sensitive auto-shutoff feature, this unit feels super safe,” says Higley.
The only thing Higley didn’t like about this space heater was the handle. She describes it as shallow and embedded into the backside of the unit. “I wouldn’t rely on the handle,” she says. “It’s not very ergonomic or secure to hold.” That said, it is small and light enough to pick up and move around without the handle.
Most Energy-Efficient Safe Space Heater
DeLonghi Mica Panel Heater
Pros:
- Energy efficient
- Soft, radiant heat
- Flat panel design can be wall mounted or on wheels
- Silent operation
- Affordable
Cons:
- Manual thermostat to maintain an even temperature
- No remote
If you plan on running your space heater for long periods of time, then you’ll want to be sure you get one that is energy-efficient. The DeLonghi Mica Panel space heater converts 100% of the electricity into heat when it’s switched on with no wasted electricity. And unlike other space heaters on our list, this one doesn’t have a fan. According to our testers, the lack of a fan led to a completely silent operation. Another plus? This heater won’t be blowing dust and dander around your home.
“The heat that radiates out of the mica panel is soft, gentle and cozy. Rather than hot air blowing on you, it warms surfaces for a deep, soothing warmth,” raves product tester Sheri Kaz. “I love that this machine doesn’t use a fan to dry out the space; rather, it’s unobtrusive and silent. The face stays dark while it is on, so there are no distracting hot red coils, plus it’s relatively cool to the touch.”
While this unit is a bit bulky to pick up, it has a lightweight design and wheels so you can easily move it from room to room. “The four wheels rotate 360 degrees for ease of movement. It can also roll over a thick shag rug,” she says. Sheri adds that the wheels are very stable. So stable, in fact, that she believes this heater would be almost impossible to tip over.
When it comes to the overall performance of this space heater, Sheri was impressed by how well and how quickly it was able to heat her room. On low, her room temperature rose 6 degrees in 90 minutes. On high, the temperature rose a whopping 12 degrees in 90 minutes. “I was surprised by how quickly it heated up the bedroom. It can be mounted to a wheel base or hung on the wall making this a versatile, energy-efficient heater. I highly recommend.”
On Sale
Best Air Purifier Combo
Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool
Pros:
- Has an air purifier
- Remote attaches to the top of the heater
- Automatically detects the temperature of the room and adjusts heat accordingly
- Warms the entire room
- Nice look and feel
Cons:
- Expensive
Looking for warmer, cleaner air? Thanks to Dyson’s Purifier Hot + Cool, you’ve got it. This innovative machine is a space heater, cooling fan and air purifier in one. “The addition of an air purifier with this model is pretty great. The LED screen displays the current air quality, and you can even set it to function solely in purifier mode,” says product tester Dylan Fischer.
The air purifier automatically works in the background during heating and cooling, but it can also be activated on its own without blowing any cold or hot air out. It features auto mode which detects air quality and adjusts the fan speed accordingly.
When heating a room, the Dyson automatically detects the temperature in the room and sets the heat to adjust to a couple degrees higher. At the highest setting (99 degrees Fahrenheit), Dylan notes that the heat really didn’t feel that hot.Â
“It’s hotter up close but drops significantly as you take a step or two away from the heater. A bit disappointing in that sense,” he says. “But overall, this model performed much better than the original Dyson Hot + Cool (without the purifier). I found my entire room warming up more with this one.” He adds that the heater automatically goes into standby mode once it hits the target temperature and most of the machine stays cool to the touch.Â
Overall, Dylan deems this a great machine for smaller spaces. “Similar to the other Dyson, this one unfortunately has a weak fan. However, if you’re planning on using it in a smaller setting for more direct heat, you will find a lot to like with this model,” he says.
What to Look for When Buying a Space Heater
Safety Features: Look for built-in safety features such as tip-over protection and over-heat shutoff. Timers and adjustable thermostats also make operating space heaters less of a concern or risk, according to Brad Roberson, President of Aire Serv, a Neighborly Company.
Long Power Cord: Most space heaters advise keeping a clear, three-foot radius around your space heater. Additionally, extension cords are not recommended and power cords should never be covered by rugs or cord hiders. Look for a space heater that has a cord long enough to reach your power outlet while maintaining three-feet of space on every side.
Style: If you’re going to have this space heater on display in your home, then choose a style you like. Though the aesthetics of each space heater don’t have affect the overall performance, you don’t want to spend money on something you can’t bear to look at.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our team of expert product testers has years of experience testing products. Many of them also happen to be based in the midwest where temperatures can range from frigid to freezing several months out of the year. Therefore, they understand the importance of having the safest space heater in your home. We also consulted with Brad Roberson, President of Aire Serv, a Neighborly Company that provides HVAC services to residential and commercial clients, and Andrew Hancock, President of Gilman Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. The offered their expertise and additional safety tips to ensure we bring you the most accurate and up-to-date information.
How We Found the Safest Space Heaters
As shopping experts, it is our duty to help you find a winning product. We started by researching the highest rated space heaters on the market. We paid special attention to each unit’s safety features, size and price point. Next, we sent 12 space heaters to our expert product testers who spent an estimated 100 collective hours on this test.
Our testers ran each space heater for four to six hours in rooms ranging from 169 to 196 square feet. They performed 12 tests on each unit and collected approximately 450 data points. Once their testing was complete, we combed through all of their findings and recommendations. Of the 12 space heaters they tested, they found the seven units on our list to be the safest space heaters.Â
FAQ
Are any space heaters safe to leave on all night?
Both Roberson and Hancock agree that in spite of built-in safety features, you should never leave a space heater on all night unless you’re staying awake and can keep an eye on it. “Even such features as automatic shut-off, timer, or tip-over switch don’t make a space heater completely safe for overnight use,” explains Hancock. “Electrical malfunctions can happen or safety mechanisms can stop functioning. If you have to use a space heater all night for some reason, it’s better to use an oil-filled radiator.”
Are radiator space heaters safer?
According to Roberson, radiator space heaters do have a lower surface temperature, which can help reduce the risk of burns. He also adds that heat is distributed evenly without exposed heating elements, helping to reduce fire risks.
Hancock agrees that oil-filled radiator heaters are the safer choice for homes. In addition to not relying on exposed heating elements, he points out that radiator heaters are designed to hold heat longer. “You don’t have to keep them running nonstop, which not only reduces the risk of a fire but also helps avoid dry air,” he explains.
What is the difference between radiator heater and space heater?
Radiator heaters use oil or water to generate radiant heat, which provides steady, long-lasting warmth. They tend to be quieter and are efficient when it comes to heating a room. When shut off, a radiant heater will continue to heat the room for an additional one to two hours, making it the more efficient option.
Conventional space heaters, on the other hand, use blowers and heating coils for faster warmth. They heat smaller areas quickly but aren’t effective for heating larger areas and can cost more to operate. Space heaters stop heating the room as soon as they are shut off.
