As the summer sun starts to fade, and those crisp, autumn days start to make an appearance, one of the first things you’ll begin to notice in your home is just how quickly the temperature will suddenly drop. One day you have your a/c turned up and your fans blowing, and the next moment you’re needing to pull your sweaters out of storage alongside your thick socks and pants. But extra layers of clothing aren’t always enough to stave off those chilly fall temperatures, and if you find your house is starting to get too cold to be comfortable, then it may be time to invest in a space heater. 

Designed to warm up your living area quickly and efficiently, space heaters have become a popular solution for staying cozy during the changing seasons, but finding the perfect one for your home isn’t always an easy task. With numerous styles available, and a wide range of sizes to navigate, the shopping process for space heaters can be complex, confusing, and downright overwhelming. Thankfully, this buying guide was created to help you overcome the potential challenges you might face as you browse those store shelves, and by diving deep into the various features and considerations, we can help you settle on the ideal space heater for your needs, your home, and your budget. 

What Size Do You Need?

Before you can even begin considering which brand or model of space heater you think you might want to purchase, the first thing you will need to figure out is exactly what size you’re going to require for your room. Space heaters are available in a huge range of options, and once you start to shop, you’re going to encounter everything from palm-sized plug in units to commercial-sized solutions that could heat an entire warehouse. Which model is right for you will depend mostly on how big of an area you are planning on warming up, and so the first step in the purchasing process is to measure out your room. 

Once you’ve been able to calculate the square footage you’ll now be better equipped to select the perfect space heater for your area, and in general, the square footage will match fairly closely with the wattage of any given unit. For example, if you’re looking to buy a space heater for your 150 sq. ft bedroom, then opting for a 1,500 watt space heater will likely be sufficient. Likewise, if you have a garage or workshop that is closer to 300 sq. ft in size, then you’re going to need to upgrade to a space heater that offers around 3,000 watts of power. 

In addition to finding the correct size for your space, you also want to check to ensure that the model you’re purchasing is energy star efficient, as this can ultimately make a noticeable difference when it comes to your energy bills in the colder months. Running a space heater during the day and at night has the potential to draw on a lot of power if you aren’t careful, but when a unit is energy star rated it has been specially designed to operate more efficiently, and more cost-effectively. This will not only provide you with some much-needed savings on your monthly bills, but it can also allow you to opt for a larger, more powerful space heater without having to worry about excessive energy consumption.

What Style Do You Prefer?

While all space heaters are designed to do the same job, heat your space, they don’t all rely on the same type of technology to accomplish this, and when shopping around you’ll want to take into consideration the different styles and technologies available. Each type will have its own advantages and disadvantages that can directly impact how happy you are with its performance, and the core styles that you’re like to encounter include:

The ideal choice for individuals who prefer a steady, consistent heat source that is quiet and unassuming, convection heaters work by drawing in the cool air from the room and then redistributing it as warm air that is then circulated around the space. The main advantage to opting for a convection heater is that they don’t rely on a fan to move the air, so they don’t make any unnecessary noise and won’t disturb you while you sleep. They also are able to heat rooms more evenly, eliminating potential hot spots and can ensure that your area maintains an ideal temperature, especially if the space is already well insulated. The downside, however, is that convection heaters tend to be one of the slowest methods for heating a room, and if the space isn’t well-insulated and is quite drafty, then it may not be an effective solution.  

Also known as infrared heaters, radiant heaters work a bit differently than other types of units, and instead of warming the surrounding air, they actually heat up objects and people that fall into their direct line of sight. While this unique type of technology is fantastic for quickly heating up specific areas in a room, it can fall short when you’re trying to warm up a general area such as an entire bedroom or living room. With that said, radiant heaters can be a great choice if you want something that is incredibly fast, energy efficient, and silent, and they also tend to be the most compact in size which makes them very portable and easy to move from room to room when necessary. 

One of the most common types of space heaters you’re likely to encounter while browsing, ceramic heaters utilize a special ceramic heating element that is able to warm up rapidly and provide an even temperature distribution in any given space. Impressively energy efficient, and usually cheaper to run than their oil-based counterparts, these popular models are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and styles for you to enjoy. Where ceramic heaters come up a bit short, however, is with their noise-level, as they do tend to be a bit louder than some of the other space heaters on the market. They also are mainly intended to be used in small to medium sized rooms, and they may not be the most efficient or effective choice in larger spaces or in commercial settings. 

Another commonly found style of space heater that tends to dominate the market, oil filled heaters are popular among individuals who are seeking a supplemental heating method that is quiet, energy efficient, and requires little to no maintenance. Although they do take a while to come up to temperature, once they are hot enough they are impressively able to maintain a steady temperature for long periods of time, and even once they are turned off, they will continue to radiate heat without requiring any power. Since they have no fans or internal moving parts, they don’t make much sound beyond the occasional popping of the oil, and since there are no exposed heating elements they don’t need to be maintained in order to work effectively. The biggest downside to oil-filled heaters, however, is that they can be quite hot-to-the-touch even after they’ve been turned off, so you do need to be extra careful, especially if you have pets or small children who might accidentally touch it. 

Does It Include Safety Features?

Most modern space heaters are specifically designed to be as safe as possible, but since you are dealing with an appliance that gets very hot, very quickly, you still want to take extra precautions in order to prevent any accidents from occurring. The best way to accomplish this is to always double-check which safety features are included alongside the model you are considering purchasing, and one of the main ones you want to look for is built-in overheat protection. A crucial safety feature that can stop your space heater from reaching dangerous temperatures that could lead to a fire, overheat protection will automatically shut down the unit the moment it detects that the internal components have become too hot. This is absolutely something you want in your space heater, and it will allow you to run your unit for long periods of time, or even at night, without worrying that it could lead to a fire. 

Another safety feature that is worth having, especially if you have small children or pets, is a cool-to-the-touch exterior that can help prevent burns if the space heater is accidentally touched or bumped into. Even when operating at its highest temperature, this unique feature will make the exterior feel completely cold, and offers an extra layer of protection so that terrible injuries don’t occur. With cool-to-the-touch exteriors, however, you will be limited to only certain styles of space heaters, and this will eliminate options such as oil-filled models or other types that rely on a heated exterior in order to provide warmth. 

Final Considerations

Once you’ve been able to narrow down your search to the specific type of space heater you want, as well as the perfect size for your space, and you’ve ensured it has all of the built-in safety features you require, the final step in the shopping process is to evaluate any other features it may offer. Do you want to be able to set a timer so that you can run your space heater at night while you sleep? Or would you prefer to use a thermostat that can keep your room at the perfect temperature 24/7? Do you enjoy smart technology and want a space heater that can be monitored and controlled using an app? Or do you want a more budget-friendly model that is simple and easy-to-operate? By asking yourself these types of questions, you can narrow down your hunt to a space heater that fits seamlessly into your home and your budget, and in the end, you will be able to enjoy a powerful and efficient solution that can ensure your house stays toasty warm, even on the coldest of winter days.