One fact makes space heater shopping easier: almost every plug-in heater sold in the US tops out at 1500 watts, because that is what a standard household outlet can safely supply. A $20 heater and a $130 heater at 1500 W turn the same electricity into the same amount of heat. What you pay for is how the heat is delivered, how quiet the unit is, how good the thermostat is and how much safety hardware is built in.
We compared the 29 electric space heaters in our catalog and kept five, one for each common need. These are comparisons of listed specifications and owner ratings. We did not measure room temperatures, noise or surface heat ourselves, and the decibel figures below are the makers’ own. Prices change daily and are not printed; each button opens the live Amazon page.
How we picked
- Owner ratings of 4.4 stars or higher, each with more than 12,000 ratings.
- One pick per heating style. Two ceramic fan heaters at different prices, an oscillating tower, an infrared cabinet and an oil-filled radiator.
- Safety features named in the listing. We note overheat protection, tip-over protection and any safety certification the listing states, and we say when one is not mentioned.
- A thermostat on every pick, so the heater cycles instead of running flat out.
The picks
The DREO packs the features of a larger heater into a body 11 inches tall. The thermostat is the main reason to choose it: you set a temperature between 41 and 95°F, and the heater adjusts itself instead of blasting until you turn it off. It has full-heat, ECO and fan-only modes, a 12-hour timer, a child lock and a mute setting. DREO states 34 dB, the lowest maker-stated figure on this page. On safety, the listing names a tilt-detection sensor, overheat protection, V0 flame-retardant materials and ETL certification. It sold for about $40 when we checked, and 21,000 owners rate it 4.6 stars.
- Digital thermostat with one-degree steps and an ECO mode
- Tilt-detection tip-over sensor, overheat protection and ETL certification
- Remote, 12-hour timer, child lock and mute
- 21,100+ ratings at 4.6 stars, the highest average here
- No oscillation in the listing
- A fan heater warms the air in front of it first, so large rooms heat unevenly
- No warranty term stated in our listing data
Lasko 23 Inch Ceramic Tower Space Heater with Remote Control, Silver, 751320
The Lasko tower is the heater with the most owners on this page: more than 40,000 ratings at 4.5 stars. Its advantage over a small box heater is reach. The tall ceramic element and oscillating base sweep warm air across a seating area or a bedroom. A remote handles the two heat settings, the thermostat, oscillation and a 7-hour timer, and the thermostat is set in degrees between 60 and 85°F. Lasko lists overheat protection, a self-regulating ceramic element and a cool-touch housing, and backs it with a 3-year limited warranty. Lasko describes it as a heater for medium-sized rooms, which is realistic for 1500 W.
- Oscillation spreads heat across a room instead of one spot
- Remote controls heat, oscillation and timer
- Cool-touch housing, overheat protection and ETL listing
- 40,600+ ratings, the most of any pick here
- The listing does not mention a tip-over switch
- Timer stops at 7 hours
- Two heat settings only
Dr Infrared Heater DR-968 Portable Space Heater, 1500-Watt, Cherry
The DR-968 is a cabinet-style heater in a cherry finish, built to sit in a living room all winter. Inside are an infrared quartz tube and a PTC element, with a blower the maker rates at 39 dB to push the warmth out. Dr Infrared puts the output at about 5200 BTU and the listing quotes coverage of 576 square feet; treat that as a best case in a well-insulated room. The electronic thermostat runs from 50 to 85°F, and in auto mode the heater switches between high and low to hold the setting. It rolls on casters and has a 6-foot cord. Owners rate it 4.5 stars across more than 28,000 ratings.
- Two heating elements and a blower move heat through a bigger space
- Tip-over and overheat protection, UL certified per the listing
- Remote, 12-hour shut-off timer and an auto energy-saving mode
- 28,200+ ratings at 4.5 stars, with a 3-year warranty
- 19 lb and furniture-sized, not something to tuck under a desk
- Costs several times what a small ceramic heater does
- Still limited to 1500 W, so it cannot replace central heating
De'Longhi Oil filled Radiator Heater, 1500W Electric Space Heater for indoor use, EW7707CM
An oil-filled radiator works differently from the others. The element heats sealed oil inside the fins, and the fins warm the room by radiation and natural convection. There is no fan, so it runs without fan noise, which is why many people choose this style for a bedroom. De’Longhi says the heat is gentle and, with no fan, does not stir up dust or pollen. The ComfortTemp button keeps the room at a set level, and the maker claims up to 20 percent better efficiency than running the same unit at maximum. An anti-freeze setting switches it on when the room nears freezing; the listing quotes 41°F in one place and 44°F in another. It has wheels and a 3-year warranty.
- No fan, so no fan noise and no air blowing dust around
- Thermal slot design keeps the surface temperature low
- ComfortTemp holds a set temperature and power level automatically
- 12,900+ ratings at 4.4 stars
- Slow to warm a cold room compared with a fan heater
- The most expensive pick here when we checked
- No remote or timer in the listing
If you need heat under a desk or in a spare room a few weeks a year, this is enough heater. It has the same 1500 W ceiling as every other pick, a 900 W low setting, a fan-only mode and an adjustable thermostat. Tip-over and overheat protection are both listed. Amazon states 43 dB and warns against using it in bathrooms or laundry rooms. What you do without is convenience: the listing mentions no remote and no timer. It sold for about $20 at the time of writing, and more than 29,000 owners rate it 4.4 stars.
- Full 1500 W output for about the price of a takeout meal
- Tip-over and overheat protection
- Low 900 W setting for small spaces
- 29,000+ ratings at 4.4 stars
- No remote or timer in the listing
- Loudest maker-stated figure of the fan heaters here
- Not for bathrooms, laundry rooms or other humid areas, per the listing
Compare the picks
| Product | Heat type | Thermostat | Stated noise | Owner rating | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DREO Space HeaterDREO | Ceramic fan | 41 to 95°F, digital | 34 dB | 4.6 / 21k+ | 9.2 | See price |
| Lasko 751320 TowerLasko | Ceramic tower, oscillating | 60 to 85°F | Not stated | 4.5 / 40k+ | 9.0 | See price |
| Dr Infrared DR-968DR. INFRARED HEATER | Infrared + PTC, blower | 50 to 85°F | 39 dB | 4.5 / 28k+ | 9.0 | See price |
| De'Longhi EW7707CMDe'Longhi | Oil-filled radiator | Adjustable + ComfortTemp | No fan | 4.4 / 12k+ | 8.8 | See price |
| Amazon Basics 1500W CeramicAmazon Basics | Ceramic fan | Adjustable | 43 dB | 4.4 / 29k+ | 8.8 | See price |
What to look for in a space heater
Pick the heat type for the room, not the wattage. Ceramic fan heaters warm up in seconds and suit a desk, a small office or a quick top-up. Oscillating towers spread that heat across a seating area. Oil-filled radiators are slow to start but silent and steady, which is what you want overnight. Infrared cabinets combine radiant heat with a blower for larger living spaces.
Size the room honestly. A common rule of thumb is 10 watts per square foot, which puts a 1500 W heater at about 150 square feet, the size of a typical bedroom. Bigger claims assume good insulation. In an open-plan space, a heater takes the chill off the area you sit in, no more.
A thermostat saves more than an “eco” label. A heater that cycles off at the set temperature uses less power than one running constantly. The DREO, the Lasko and the Dr Infrared let you set a temperature in degrees, and the DREO does it in one-degree steps; the De’Longhi and Amazon Basics have adjustable thermostats without a stated degree scale.
Check the safety list. Look for overheat protection, a tip-over switch and a certification mark such as ETL or UL. The DREO, Dr Infrared and Amazon Basics listings name tip-over protection, and the De’Longhi lists a thermal cut-off. The Lasko listing names overheat protection and a cool-touch housing but not a tip-over switch.
Plug it straight into the wall. A 1500 W heater draws 12.5 amps, most of a 15-amp circuit. Do not use an extension cord or a power strip, and do not run it on the same circuit as a microwave or an air fryer. If you want to control or measure a heater with a smart plug, use one rated for a full 15 A, such as the energy-monitoring plug in our smart plug guide; 10 A plugs are not suitable.
Work out the running cost. At full power a 1500 W heater uses 1.5 kWh every hour. Multiply that by your electricity rate: at 15 cents per kWh it is about 22 cents an hour, whichever heater you buy.
More home picks are in the home and kitchen shop.
Which type of space heater is best for a bedroom?
An oil-filled radiator such as the De'Longhi EW7707CM is the quiet choice because it has no fan. If you want faster heat, the DREO ceramic heater has a stated noise level of 34 dB, a thermostat from 41 to 95 degrees F and a 12-hour timer.
Do more expensive space heaters give more heat?
No. All five picks are 1500 W, the practical limit for a standard US outlet, and 1500 W of electricity produces the same amount of heat in any of them. Higher prices buy quieter operation, better thermostats, oscillation, remotes, timers and sturdier construction.
How much does it cost to run a 1500 W space heater?
A 1500 W heater uses 1.5 kWh per hour at full power. Multiply 1.5 by your electricity rate per kWh. At 15 cents per kWh that is about 22 cents an hour, and less if the thermostat cycles the heater off once the room is warm.
How big a room can a 1500 W heater warm?
A common rule of thumb is 10 watts per square foot, so about 150 square feet. The Dr Infrared DR-968 listing quotes 576 square feet, which is a best case for a well-insulated room. In a large or drafty space, expect to warm the area around you, not the whole room.
Are space heaters safe to leave on overnight?
Use one with overheat protection, a tip-over cut-off and a thermostat or timer, keep it clear of bedding and curtains, and plug it directly into the wall. Of these picks, the DREO and Dr Infrared have 12-hour timers, and the De'Longhi radiator has a thermal cut-off and a low surface temperature by design.
Bottom line
The DREO is the heater most people should buy: precise thermostat, quiet fan, full safety list and the best owner rating of the five, at a low price when we checked. Choose the Lasko tower to spread heat across a room, the Dr Infrared for a big living space, the De’Longhi radiator for silent overnight heat, and the Amazon Basics when you just need 1500 W for the least money.
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