10 Best Space Heaters for an Office in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

This year, your office space could be located in a cubicle in a high-rise building or situated in a closet renovated for remote working. Wherever you get the job done, we’re here to help you heat the space where you generate your ideas—and revenue. Here are the 10 best space heaters for your office today based on factors such as size, price, and decibel levels since you don’t want to disturb your co-workers (or roommates).

A Glance at Our Favorites of 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Ontel Handy Plug-In Personal Heater	Compact design plugs directly into the wall Low wattage Thermostat ranges from 60°-90°	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Amazon Basics Small Space Heater	Compact design for a small office space Under $25 Comes in four colors	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Vornado VMH600 Space Heater	Vortex air circulation technology Includes a remote control 12 hr. timer	CHECK PRICE
		Givebest Portable Electric Space Heater	Under $50 An average 4.4 rating Under 3 lbs.	CHECK PRICE
		Andily Small Space Heater	Under $50 Comes with an adjustable thermostat Power indicator light glows red when unit is plugged in	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Space Heaters for an Office

1. Ontel Handy Plug-In Personal Heater  – Best Overall

If you work in a small area, you might already have cords sprawled over your desk. This Handy Heater Plug-In Personal Heater by Ontel is our best overall choice mainly because you can plug it directly into the wall. You don’t have to worry about accidentally tipping it over. It’s steady and reliable, and actually does a great job at heating a small space, especially considering its low wattage and compact design. Under $40, this handy heater works well with most any budget, but it also includes some more premium features such as a programmable thermostat and a 12-hour automatic timer.

While it has a wide thermostat range of 60°-90°, the downside is that the heater always comes on at 90° so you’ll have to manually change it to your desired temperature every time you turn it on. Some users also don’t like the 3-pronged plug, so you’ll have to make sure your office space is equipped with that type of outlet before you invest. As always, never plug a space heater into a power strip because that will most likely cause it to smoke and may start a fire.

2. Amazon Basics Small Space Heater – Best Value

This 500-watt space heater by Amazon Basics can supply your small office with continuous heat. Under $25, our best value option is the best for the money because it doesn’t compromise on warmth and doesn’t break your budget. This ceramic heater even comes in four colors of your choice to add some liveliness to your space. Although it has a safety feature which will turn the heater off if it’s knocked over, there’s no automatic timer and there’s only one heat setting.

This is a very basic heater that works best if you’re wanting a budget option that will reliably do its one job. Just don’t expect any bells and whistles such as thermostats and filters, and don’t get too close. The heating element is close to the grate since the unit is so small, and some Amazon users say that it will burn you if you accidentally touch it while it’s running.

3. Vornado VMH600 Space Heater – Premium Choice

Much like a furnace, Vornado VMH600 Space Heater uses vortex air circulation technology to heat a room. This model includes a remote control and comes with a 12-hour timer, so you can easily turn your heater on whenever you want, but don’t have to sweat about it if you forget to turn it off at the end of a long work day. Users say this heater is actually quiet, which makes it a great choice for an office space, and it comes with two heat settings. You don’t have to put your heater away from the warmer months, however, because this unit is also equipped with a fan for your summer needs.

As our premium choice, this heater costs a little more than other models on our list. It’s sold on Amazon for around $150, so it’s quite an investment compared to other space heaters which typically hover around $50-$100. The Vornado works for any office space as long as it’s not based out of a mobile unit such as an RV. Weighing ten pounds, it’s a little more difficult to transport and users also say it draws more wattage than advertised.

4. Givebest Portable Electric Space Heater

We’re amazed that a cheap, little space heater has earned such a solid reputation. This Givebest Portable Electric Space Heater has an average 4.4-star Amazon rating with over 60,000 customer reviews. At 3 lbs., it’s lightweight and users say it’s very quiet, two features that make it a great choice if your office space is outside of your home. There are two heat settings, and one fan setting for the warmer months. There’s also an adjustable thermostat, which isn’t always included in space heaters under $50 like this one. There’s no timer, but it will turn off automatically if it overheats. It will also shut off if you accidentally bump it or tip it over. This small unit only heats up to 200 sq. ft., but that should be more than sufficient for a tiny office space.

5. Andily Small Space Heater

We like this Andily Small Space Heater because it’s under $50 but comes with many premium features, such as an adjustable thermostat. It’s also guarded with safety functions like a power indicator light that glows red when the unit is plugged in, and an auto-shut off if it’s tipped over or reaches a certain temperature. You can turn it on the two heat settings or run it on fan-only for cooling. Users say it’s quiet, and some even use it to heat a classroom, although it’s generally recommended for use in smaller areas.

Based on the Amazon reviews, we would stay close to this heater while it’s running and not count on it shutting off once it reaches a certain temperature. Some users say they left their units running and came home to a 90° home!

6. Lasko Small Portable Space Heater

This Lasko Small Portable Space Heater weighs under 3 lbs., and doesn’t take up much space. Its two heat settings take up 900 or 1500 watts, and it also has a fan-only setting. While 900 is a higher wattage than a typical low heat setting, reviewers remark that this heater does an amazing job at warming up a small space. The 8 ft. long electric power cord allows you to plug your heater into another room if your office isn’t equipped with an outlet, but don’t expect the heat to travel very far. This heater is designed to heat small spaces no larger than 100 sq. ft., which is considerably less than other heaters with lower wattage.

The Lasko isn’t the most eco-friendly option, but at $40 or less, it will help out your budget and keep your legs warm. Although it doesn’t have an automatic timer, it does have a thermostat, and will turn it off if it gets tipped over or reaches a certain temperature. Additionally, the ceramic element is supposed to stay cool to the touch so you won’t get burned if you accidentally touch it while working on your project. However, some users say the sides remain cool but the metal grate on the front will burn you.

7. Honeywell UberHeat Small Spaces Heater

Honeywell UberHeat Small Spaces Heater provides a decent small ceramic heater for under $50 that can be used to heat your office or small room. Most users have had a positive experience, but most negative complaints seem to be geared towards the thermostat, which isn’t very accurate. This is a very basic heater with only two heat settings and no automatic timer, but you can expect it to turn off to prevent overheating or if it’s knocked over. Some users have had their unit for years and they say it still works great, so this heater is worth the money if you’re looking for a small heater that will continuously run.

8. Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater with Humidifier

Although it’s a little more expensive than most models we’ve reviewed, we recommend this Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater with Humidifier if your office space suffers from dry, stuffy humid air. The built-in humidifier can run simultaneously with the heater, or run by itself, providing relief from dry winter conditions that can leave you with cracked skin and an itchy nose. A humidifier might also help alleviate symptoms from those pesky winter colds that are always going around the office during the winter months.

There are three heat settings and a thermostat which can be controlled through the buttons on the unit or through the remote, which comes in handy if your space requires you to plug it in across the room. Running at 1500 watts with no eco-setting, this heater isn’t the most eco-friendly option, but users say it does work well and runs quietly. The safety features include overheat protection, tip switch, and 12-hour automatic shut-off. 

9. Lasko Ceramic Space Tower Heater

This Lasko Ceramic Space Tower Heater takes up about as much space as an orchid. It’s best for home offices since the oscillating design requires a larger area than most cubicle desks, but it’s a good choice if you need widespread heat. Equipped with an 8-hour automatic timer, you can turn your heater on at the beginning of your work day and forget about it until tomorrow when it’s time to start over. There are so many ways to customize the two heat settings, with a remote control to set the oscillation, time, and temperature even from your desk across the room.

Although the unit will automatically turn off after the desired temperature is reached or if it overheats, it does not have anti-tipping protection. This is concerning since it’s an oscillating tower that’s easier to knock over than the other space heaters we’ve reviewed, so we don’t suggest using it in areas where children or small pets might knock it over, or without your direct supervision.

10. Lasko Heating Space Heater Compact

Standing at a stout 6 inches tall, this Lasko Heating Space Heater Compact was designed to be your personal heat buddy to take on the go wherever you work or study. Its compact size makes it great for traveling or commuting, and users say it’s very quiet. This ceramic heater comes in several different colors and features cool-touch housing, so you don’t burn your fingers if you accidentally touch it while it’s running. While its budget-friendly basic design doesn’t offer many features, it will automatically shut off if it gets too hot. Other than that, you have to turn it on and off manually since it doesn’t come with a thermostat or timer.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Space Heater for an Office

It’s important to be comfortable while you’re working so you can focus on your tasks. Choose a heater that will give you reliable control over the temperature so you can set it and move on to the rest of your work day. Here are some factors to consider as you’re shopping for your new office partner:

Price

Most of the heaters we’ve reviewed hover around $50, but some are as low as $20 or as high as $200. In general, space heaters for small offices are cheaper than heaters intended to regulate the temperature of a large room, but it depends how many luxury features are added, such as humidifiers and remote controls.

Noise

You don’t want it to sound like an F-22 is coming in for a landing on your desk (and neither do your co-workers). Read the product reviews on Amazon to see whether users found the decibel level annoying, or if it was so quiet, they forgot it was running.

Oscillation

You might want to consider whether you want your heater to turn. While some people may like the widespread heat, others won’t like the fan effect that sends their papers flying everywhere.

Wattage

Maybe your office space requires you to keep your energy consumption to a minimum. We reviewed some space heaters that draw as little as 200 watts. Others pulled as much as 1500, but they might have been more effective at heating a larger space.

Timers and Safety Features

Although you probably want your heater to turn off if it’s knocked over or reaches a certain temperature, you might not want it to turn off every couple of hours while you’re trying to get work done. Or, if you can be a little forgetful, you might want an automatic timer so you don’t have to remember to turn off your heater at the end of your long work day.

Conclusion

We liked the Ontell Handy Heater Plug-In Personal Heater the best overall for offices because it doesn’t take up much space and it’s really efficient at its job. Amazon Basics Ceramic Heater is our best value choice because of its low constraints on your budget and space. If you’re willing to spend a little more, the Vornado VMH600 rated our premium choice because the vortex technology heats the air evenly. All of our other top picks are also suited for office spaces, depending on the particular needs of your work environment and budget.

Featured Image Credit: Dmitry Galaganov, Shutterstock