Space Heaters: Reviews

Updated November 2011

Space heaters are convenient for spot-heating a small area (like under a desk), and some types of heaters can even heat an entire room. Experts say that using a space heater may even help lower heating bills since they allow you to keep the main thermostat at a lower temperature. To recommend the best heaters, we consulted expert reviews and cross-referenced them with user feedback.

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January 19th:
BMW Minis, space heaters, and floor lamps recalled: They can leave you burned
From: ConsumerSearch

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Best space heater with fan

Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater

*Est. $50 Compare Prices

Convection heaters with fans are popular because they heat a small space quickly and efficiently. The Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater is particularly well reviewed because it is quieter than most fan-based heaters,… expandwhich have a tendency to be noisy. The Lasko space heater has two power levels (900 and 1,500 watts) and an adjustable thermostat. Its oscillating fan does a good job of distributing warm air throughout a room, according to reviewers. Users are also impressed with the space heater's many features, including a digital display, eight-hour timer, overheat protection and a remote control. Like most space heaters, the Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater elicits some complaints from users who say their machine broke down soon after purchase. A number of owners also say that the power cord and electrical plug get hot very easily. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Walmart.com: Of the hundreds of space heaters sold at Walmart.com, the Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater receives the best reviews, with more than 550 ratings and an average score of 4.5 stars out of 5.

Amazon.com: More than 300 owners evaluate the Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater at Amazon.com, giving it an overall 4-star rating.

HomeDepot.com: In roughly 50 user reviews, the Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater earns an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.

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Buy from Amazon for $48.00
Buy.com for $52.77	eBay for $61.74	Home Depot for $48.96

Budget space heater with fan

Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat

*Est. $25 Compare Prices

If your budget is tight, reviews indicate that the Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat works just as well as the pricier Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater when it comes to heating a small room. This… expandshort and squat heater gets high marks for its compact design, and owners are impressed with the heat output. However, you will have to sacrifice some features if you opt for this budget model over the Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater. While the Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater has overheat protection and an adjustable thermostat, it doesn't have a digital temperature display, remote control or a timer. It's also noisier than the Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater, but owners agree that the Lasko 754200 is a good value for the price. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: Nearly 700 users contribute to the Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater's average rating of 4 stars out of 5 at Amazon.com.

RateItAll.com: About half a dozen users weigh in on the Lasko 754200 at RateItAll.com, where the heater receives an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5.

NewEgg.com: Roughly 50 owners rate and review the Lasko 754200 at Newegg.com, where it receives an average of 4 eggs out of 5.

Epinions.com: Epinions.com has only a handful of reviews for the Lasko 754200, but all of them are positive.

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Buy from Amazon for $22.49
iAllergy for $30.95	Shoplet.com for $45.37	Amazon for $22.49

Quiet space heater

DeLonghi Oil-Filled Radiator TRD0715T

*Est. $70 Compare Prices

Oil-filled radiators are much quieter than space heaters with fans, but they take longer to heat a room. The DeLonghi TRD0715T Oil-Filled Radiator with timer gets the best reviews in this category for its consistent heat… expandoutput and quiet operation. The DeLonghi heater performs reasonably well in comparative tests, scoring excellent ratings for temperature control and noise. Users agree, saying the DeLonghi radiator runs quietly and has a convenient programmable timer. Like most radiators, it does take awhile to heat a room. We also saw several complaints that the heater gives off an unpleasant chemical odor when it is first used. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org editors compare the DeLonghi TRD0715T Oil-Filled Radiator with four other electric convection heaters, plus five fan-forced convection heaters and two radiant heaters -- ranking all 12 heaters based on ratings for safety, temperature control, noise and ease of use.

Which? magazine: This British equivalent to ConsumerReports.org reviews the DeLonghi Dragon TRD820T, a British equivalent of the TRD0715T, along with 14 other space heaters, most of which are not available in the U.S. It is one of three recommended models.

Amazon.com: More than 375 owners review the DeLonghi TRD0715T Oil-Filled Radiator with Timer at Amazon.com.

Epinions.com: Most of the 20 or so owners reviewing the DeLonghi TRD0715T Oil-Filled Radiator with Timer like the space heater, but there are some complaints about its weight, slow heating and odor when it is first used.

Viewpoints.com: More than 130 owners review DeLonghi oil-filled radiator heaters, including the DeLonghi TRD0715T Oil-Filled Radiator with Timer.

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Buy from Amazon for $83.99
Air & Water for $82.40	Sylvane for $79.95

Radiant space heater

Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater

*Est. $30 Compare Prices

Radiant heaters produce comforting warmth almost instantly, but they have a limited heating range. Reviewers recommend this type of unit for heating a small space, like a cubicle or the drafty corner of a room. The… expandOptimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater doesn't have a built-in fan, and it's effective only within a few feet. However, users praise this quartz heater for its silent operation, effective heating and energy efficiency, but note that the surface can become quite hot when it's in use for long periods. The Optimus heater also gives off a very bright glow, which can be distracting for some owners. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: More than 300 reviews at Amazon.com combine to give the Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater an average rating of 4 stars out of 5.

Real Simple: Real Simple magazine only has a few sentences on the Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater, but editors say it is "ideal for warming up an office cubicle, small bedroom or half-bath." They also appreciate safety features like the automatic tip-over switch.

Cheapism.com: Cheapism.com contributes this article on the best cheap space heaters for NBC's The Today Show.

Northern Tool and Equipment: About 60 owners rate and comment on the Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater at Northern Tool and Equipment's website, where the heater receives an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.

RateItAll.com: About half a dozen owners contribute to the Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater's 4.4-star rating out of 5 at RateItAll.com.

Epinions.com: Epinions.com has only a handful of reviews for the Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater.

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Buy from Amazon for $28.53
Amazon for $28.53	eBay for $28.49

Honeywell HZ-385BP Digital Tower Ceramic Heater *Est. $80

2 picks including: Amazon.com, Slate.com…

Lasko 751320 Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote *Est. $50

2 picks including: Amazon.com, Sears.com…

Lasko 6435 Oscillating Ceramic Heater with Remote *Est. $50

2 picks by top review sites.

DeLonghi DCH1030 Ceramic Heater *Est. $30

2 picks by top review sites.

Lasko 758000 Cyclonic Ceramic Heater *Est. $70

2 picks by top review sites.

Honeywell HZ-7200 EnergySmart Cool Touch Heater *Est. $60

2 picks by top review sites.