8 Best Small Space Heaters in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Even if you have a decent heating and cooling system in your house, it’s tough to escape drafts when winter hits its hardest. A small portable space heater helps you stay warm and provides a back-up source of heat if your house is run on gas. Here are our reviews for eight of the best small space heaters this year, based on quality and price.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites (2024)

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Handy Heater Space Heater	3 power settings Ceramic technology doesn't dry out the air Removable air filter	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Amazon Basics Small Space Mini Heater	Small frame Under $25 Comes in four colors	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Heater	Includes an eco-setting as one of the three heat settings Creative design Remote controlled	CHECK PRICE
		Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Heater with Humidifier	Two-in-one technology heats and humidifies the room Three heat settings Remote controlled	CHECK PRICE
		TRUSTTECH 2 in 1 Cooler & Heater	Average price 2-in-1 system heats and cools with a fan Efficient heater	CHECK PRICE

The 8 Best Small Space Heaters

1. Handy Heater Pure Warmth Space Heater – Best Overall

Heating up the air without drying it out, the ceramic design relies on convection technology to take the chill out of the room. The removable air filter traps debris as the heater draws air, making sure the air being released is cleaner than when it came in. At under $50, Handy Heater Pure Warmth Space Heater is our best overall choice for a small space heater because it’s listed for an exceptional price especially considering it has three heat settings and multiple features.

It doesn’t have a thermostat, which may bother some users, especially considering it doesn’t shut off automatically. However, some people may actually like this feature since you don’t have to remember to turn it back on.

We like how you can see the cozy orange glow through the grate. The small box design makes this heater sturdy and easily portable, letting you bring warmth with you no matter where you are in the house.

2. Amazon Basics Small Space Personal Mini Heater – Best Value

Perfect for offices, dorms, or keeping your electric bill under budget, Amazon Basics 500-Watt Ceramic Small Space Personal Mini Heater is our best small space heater for the money. It’s under $25, which makes it our best choice for the money, and highly effective at fighting winter drafts. It comes in four different colors to match your décor or personality. A minimalist by design, this heater only has one heat setting, but thankfully it includes safety features. It will shut off if it’s tipped over or placed on an uneven surface. Unless it’s interrupted, it will continue to run until you manually turn it off.

Because of its compact design, the heating element is located relatively close to the hot grate, so don’t let your hand graze across the surface while it’s on or will probably burn you. Additionally, you should be extra careful to not run the heater near furniture, curtains, or other surfaces that might catch fire, and don’t forget to turn it off since it doesn’t have an auto-shut off feature except for if it’s knocked over.

3. Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater – Premium Choice

We like how Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater heats the room with style. The cherry wood and visible “flames” resemble an old fireplace. It feels cozy, retro, and yet modern at the same time. We’re impressed with the three settings: low, high, and eco. It will shut off automatically after 12 hours, when the room reaches your desired temperature, or if it’s accidentally knocked over. The remote control gives you the ability to change the temperature without moving your seat.

At over $100, it’s definitely a premium choice, but if you’re looking for a basic yet sophisticated heater that’s as much a part of the décor as it is functional, then Dr. Infrared is our best option.

A word of caution: this heater isn’t meant to be used outside or on power strips. It’s intended for indoor use directly into the outlet. Some reviewers have complaints that it burnt out their power strips, but that’s why, folks.

4. Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater with Humidifier

Similar to our premium choice, this Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater with Humidifier is also equipped with a humidifier to fight two of winter’s toughest weapons: harsh temperatures and dry air. We like the dual-purposed design because it’s a good choice for small areas that might not have enough room for two appliances, such as a tiny bathroom or baby nursery.

Additionally, there’s a 12-hour automatic shut-off function, and legs to help prevent your space heater from tipping over. If it is accidentally knocked over, it will turn off automatically, which makes it an ideal choice for a home with pets and small children who may bump it. You can use the remote control across the room, convenient for cold weather snuggles when you may not want to leave your couch.

Unlike our premium choice however, there’s no eco-setting. The three settings are high, low, and automatic. You can run the humidifier and heater simultaneously, or individually, which means it’s adaptable for summertime needs as well if you live in a dry climate. Just don’t run it outside or plug it into any power strips.

5. TRUSTTECH 2 in 1 Cooler & Heater

This TRUSTTECH 2 in 1 Cooler & Heater is available for a moderate price. You can use this heater to keep your house warm in the colder months and switch it to cooling mode in the summer. It should be noted that the “cooler” mode doesn’t actually contain coolant; it’s really a fan mode. Combining electronics can save you space and money by covering your temperature regulation needs even for the in-between days of spring and autumn when the nights might be chilly, but the days can get warm.

Some users complain that the fan is too loud and isn’t very cold, but most agree that the heater works great. TRUSTTECH sounds like a wise winter investment, but not a substitute for AC during the summer months. This device is probably best at creating movement for a stuffy room rather than cooling it off with AC.

6. Ontel Handy Heater Plug-In Personal Heater

Surprisingly effective, compact, and low-wattage, this Ontel Handy Heater Plug-In Personal Heater will please the budget-conscious consumer who’s looking for a cost-efficient way to warm up a small space. You don’t need to carve out extra space for this sleek heater because it plugs directly into the wall outlet. When you turn the heater on, the thermostat is automatically set at 90°, but you can adjust it as low as 60°.

The only downside is that it seems to start at 90° automatically every time it’s turned on. There aren’t any other heat settings, and your heater will only cut off when the air reaches the desired temperature, or after 12 hours of run-time.

Since it plugs into the wall, you don’t have to worry about someone bumping it and knocking it over, eliminating some of the fire hazards posed by other small heaters. Some users complain about the 3-prong plug since not every outlet is equipped with one, so that’s something to consider when shopping for the best heater for your space.

7. Dreo Portable Space Heater

This Dreo Portable Space Heater contains a filter that cleans the air as it heats or cools, depending on the setting. There are three heat settings (1500W, 1000W, or eco), or there’s a fan mode if you need to cool down. Oscillating to 70°, Dreo makes sure you’re comfortable at every angle. There’s a programmable 1–12-hour timer if you’d like to cut off the power at a given time, and a digital thermostat. If you don’t set a shut-off time, it will automatically turn off after 24 hours.

Some customers complain that the thermostat isn’t very accurate and can be off by ~10 degrees. However, it averages 4.5-star reviews on Amazon, so most buyers are fairly pleased with their purchase.

Based on the specs and customer reviews, we conclude that this is a good quality item for an average price.

8. KopBeau Space Heater

This KopBeau Space Heater has three different heating modes and one fan setting for cooling. The safety features will turn the heater off automatically if it’s tipped over or if the unit reaches a dangerous temperature, making it an ideal choice for homes with small children. The only negative we can find is that users say it only heats a small area (around 6 ft.) despite the high wattage.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Small Space Heater

Winter’s coming, so if you’re like us you want to be prepared with a hardy heater before the coldest temperatures settle in.

Conclusion

Our best overall choice, the Handy Heater Pure Warmth, supplies your space with clean, warm air that doesn’t feel dry. Amazon Basics 500-watt Ceramic Space Heater is deceitfully tiny for how well it works in a small area, making it the perfect gift for someone who works in an office or lives in a dorm. Dr. Infrared makes our 3^rd and 4^th favorite choices depending on whether you prefer to have an eco-setting or a built-in humidifier, but these cost a little more than the average price of the products on our list. When making your top choice, remember to consider factors like wattage, automatic timers, thermostats, and whether you want extra features like an air purifier or humidifier to find the best heater for you.

Featured Image Credit: Gorloff KV, Shutterstock