8 Best Infrared Heaters – 2024 Top Picks & Reviews

Technology is constantly accelerating at a fast pace, and even space heaters are no exception. The latest in heating technology is infrared heaters that provide focused heat to people and objects without wasting energy while heating the air. If you are interested in upgrading your old space heater to a space-age marvel, look no further than our reviews below. Let’s find out what the best infrared space heaters are and where to find them.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

The 8 Best Infrared Space Heaters

1. Dr. Infrared Portable Heater with Humidifier – Best Overall

The Dr. Infrared Heater has distinguished itself as the best heater on our list, with a unique humidifier function that sprays a cool mist while heating. Most other heaters simply push out hot air, but they do little to combat dry winter air. Combined with the infrared quartz tube that produces more heat faster than other models, you won’t want to leave your room.

The heater’s design is an attractive cherry-like wood that would be at home next to a custom subwoofer, and the buttons are clearly marked and easy to use. You can adjust the thermostat from 50°F to 8°F, turn the humidifier on, and the heater does the rest. The only real downside to this heater is that it’s shockingly heavy and reviews indicate the company provides poor customer service. However, the former is remedied by four caster wheels.

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2. Costway Quartz Infrared Heater – Best Value

If you don’t need the bleeding edge in heating tech, Costway’s Quartz Infrared Heater is possibly the best bang for your buck. At 22 inches tall, it has a larger heating surface than most infrared heaters, although its high setting is only 1200 watts. The quartz heating element isn’t as harsh as some other heaters, providing comfortable radiant heat.

This heater’s controls are relatively simple, and it doesn’t have a thermostat. Instead, it only has a low and high setting, with a dial to stabilize temperature once it heats up. We do like the tower design, which takes up very little floor space. This is far from the fanciest heater on our list, but it’s an affordable and effective choice.

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3. Duraflame Electric Infrared Quartz Fireplace Stove – Premium Choice

If you’re looking for a stylish infrared heater, look no further than Duraflame’s realistic fireplace heater, which provides radiant heat with a quartz heating element that doesn’t mess with the room’s humidity levels. You can also adjust the flames’ color, light level, and speed level to match your room or mood.

As to be expected with a premium heater, it comes with useful features like a remote control and cool-touch case that makes it safe around kids and pets. Despite seeming like a primary heat source, it’s ultimately still a space heater that’s best for supplemental heat. Some users noted that for the price, they’d expect it to crackle and pop like a real fire, but that’s just nitpicking and not a flaw.

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4. Heat Storm Wi-Fi Infrared Wall-Mounted Heater

For something a bit fancier yet still utilitarian, the Heat Storm Wi-Fi Wall-Mounted Heater is a powerful and convenient option. The heater mounts directly on the wall and can hide its cord if placed above an outlet, so you lose no space. The heater connects to Wi-Fi, and you can control the temperature and scheduling via your smart device.

Notably, this heater does not come with feet, so it can only be wall mounted. If you want to use it on the floor, you must buy feet from the manufacturer online. For the sake of energy efficiency, it fully shuts down when the ambient temperature reaches your chosen setting. This can leave larger spaces cycling uncomfortably between cold and warm.

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5. EdenPure Electric Portable Heater

EdenPure is a new name in the heating industry, but they’ve quickly developed a reputation for creating high-quality, premium-feeling products. It has a wide range of temperatures, from 40°F–9°F, which you can control from across the room with the included remote control. The PTC copper heating element provides more than enough extra heat for most rooms.

This heater is quite expensive, and the 1-year warranty is allegedly difficult to actually make a claim with. However, it’s a powerful space heater with a huge range of control and even includes protection from blackouts.

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6.  Heat Storm Portable Infrared Heater

If you’re tired of all these super-heavy infrared heaters (wheels or not), Heat Storm’s Portable Infrared Heater is the one for you. It’s lightweight at just 10 pounds and has a convenient carrying handle that allows you to bring it wherever you need a bit of heat. The unit doesn’t compromise on the heat for portability either—it has four quartz infrared elements that offer a premium heat level. For extra convenience, it’s also Wi-Fi compatible.

Some downsides are that it does little to heat spaces without primary heat sources and that many users note that it’s very loud compared to other heaters. However, you could argue that’s the tradeoff for the heater’s extra portability.

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7. Amazon Basics Infrared Quartz Tower Heater

I think most of us are familiar with Amazon Basics, an economical product line from Amazon. This heater has an expectedly affordable price and comfortable heat. That’s thanks to the large quartz heating element, and the tower design also saves floor space in your home. It doesn’t put out the most heat, but it’s perfect for home offices and other small spaces.

The temperature controls are disappointing, with just five settings: low, high, fan-only, oscillating, and eco mode. They’re also relatively unintuitive, requiring some work the first couple of times you adjust the settings. For a budget heater, though, it’s one of the best choices available today.

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8. Dr. Infrared Garage Heater

Garages are typically hard to heat with traditional electric heaters that heat the air, but infrared heaters help to make up for the lack of insulation with direct heating. This offering from Dr. Infrared has a special plug that lets it output up to 5,600 watts, which can heat a garage or even living rooms or workshops.

The cons of this heater are that the temperature dial is imprecise, and the plug requires a 208-volt or 240-volt outlet. If you’re planning to use this indoors, make sure you have one of those outlets before buying this heater. Some users also note that extended use can cause fires, so beware.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Infrared Heater

When you’re buying an infrared space heater, it’s crucial that you know what key characteristics to look for. From safety features, size, location, and portability, there are numerous things to look for in your perfect infrared heater. Let’s check them out below in more detail.

Safety Features

Most heaters these days have several safety features that help prevent home fires, like tip-over switches, overheat protection, and automatic shut-off timers. Cool-touch exteriors are also must-haves if you have kids or pets in your home. ET-, UL-, and CSA-certified heaters are more likely to have multiple safety features included.

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Size

Infrared heaters put out more heat with larger surface areas, and they also tend to be relatively small. Tower-style heaters can increase your total heating element surface area and provide heat at a faster pace than small portable heaters. Larger heaters are usually heavier and less portable, although wheels can help compensate for that.

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Location

You should put infrared heaters directly in front of whatever area you want to heat because it heats directly instead of heating the air. Traditional electric heaters are best placed in a central location, but infrared heaters should be closer to where you are in a room. Infrared heaters also excel at heating outdoor and uninsulated areas like decks, patios, garages, and workshops.

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Portability

Smaller infrared heaters are typically lighter and may have a carrying handle for added convenience. Wheels can help make heavier heaters more portable, but lighter heaters are recommended if you have stairs in your home.

Conclusion

Infrared heaters are the latest way to repel harsh winter air, heating you more effectively than regular electric heaters. These reviews have hopefully given you an idea about which one to consider for heating your room. Consider replacing your old space heater with the Dr. Infrared Heater if you want the best of the best or the Costway Quartz Infrared Heater for a more wallet-friendly option.

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Featured Image Credit: RoberioJr, Shutterstock