Heating your home can be a tedious task, especially if you have an older home and don’t want to make your furnace or boiler work too hard. One of the easiest, safest, and most economical methods to heat your home is by getting the best infrared heater you possibly can. These efficient machines use less energy, are cheaper to run, and are much better for the environment than other heating options, such as gas or electric heaters.
Now, as you can imagine, there are lots of different factors that you need to consider before you can find the best rated infrared heater. When we were putting together this listing, we first looked at the weight and dimensions, as well as the coverage area of each heater. That way, we could better determine where and when they should be used. Next, we looked into the different settings, since these will determine how easy each model is to set up. Finally, we looked at the wattage each heater required, as that will tell you how expensive each machine is to run.
We spent tens of hours reading through hundreds of user reviews to create our comprehensive list of the best infrared space heaters on the market today. This research also allowed us to put together detailed reviews of each of these models so that you can find the best one for your needs. Of course, if you aren’t quite ready to choose yet, be sure to read through our informative buying guide so that you can make an educated purchase.
More features: caster wheels and lifetime filter; 12hr automatic shut-off timer
If you are truly looking for the best overall infrared heater, then this model should be your first stop. To start with, it is extremely easy to use. The thermostat is nice and big, making it easy to get a quick reading on the room’s current temperature and what you have your heater set to. Setting the temperature is also a breeze since all you have to do is bump it up or turn it down to suit your needs. This thermostat, unlike some other models, is also extremely accurate, allowing you to see the exact temperature of the room or space you are trying to warm up.
The next thing that helps to set this model apart from its competition is its user-friendly remote. It can be used to turn the unit on and adjust the temperature, all without having to walk right up to it. The only downside for the remote is that you cannot turn the unit completely off with it, even though you can turn off the heating element.
Not only does this model have one of the best thermostats out there, but it is also one of the easiest infrared heaters to program as well. It has an array of settings that will allow you to warm up your space on your schedule. It also features an automatic 12-hour shut-off feature that can help you save some money on your electric bill.
Even though this has a large coverage area, it is still quite portable and lightweight. The well designed and durable casters make it possible to wheel this heater wherever it is needed most.
More features: remote control; 3D flame effect; cool to the touch
One of the coolest aspects of getting an infrared heater is that, because they don’t warm up too much, you can use them as accent pieces in your home. As such, many companies have designed them to look like real fireplaces or woodstoves, which is the case for this model from Duraflame.
Not only can this heater warm up a large space, but it can also be used as a decorative piece. It features realistic logs that look as though they are burning for real. Even though these logs look nice, they do not put off much light, so don’t expect them to light up a room as a real fire would.
Even though this model is built to look like a wood stove, it is nowhere near as heavy as one. It weighs a mere twenty-four pounds, which means that you can easily move it around in your home. This lightweight design also means that you can change its location in your house quickly, which is a huge benefit if you are trying to find just the right place for it to help decorate your home properly.
This heater comes with a remote control, which is probably the best way to adjust the settings since the unit controls are difficult to read. This remote control makes setting the highly accurate thermostat quick and easy, so you can spend less time being cold and more time enjoying the fiery display in warm comfort.
More features: Flame only option; concealed front access controls
If you are looking for a stove style infrared heater, but don’t need to warm up quite as large of a space, then this might be a good model for you. It looks very much like a real wood stove, complete with realistic burning logs, but it is nice and lightweight, meaning it is highly portable. This portability makes it a great option to use in multiple rooms of your house, as with its total weight of twenty-three pounds it is effortless to pick up and move.
Adding into the sleek design of this heater are the hidden controls. There is a panel that can be easily opened if you need to adjust the temperature and then closed back up again to complete the look of a regular wood stove. These controls are also straightforward to understand and utilize, which makes finding the right temperature a breeze. The thermostat is also very accurate, so you won’t need to worry about this heater wasting energy to warm up a room.
The biggest issue with the particular model is that it has a relatively small coverage area. Though its heating coverage is definitely superior to other styles of heaters of similar sizes, it doesn’t do quite as well as other infrared models. Of course, if you are only looking to warm a smaller area with a decorative heater, this is a great choice.
Something else that helps to set this model apart from other stove style heaters is the fact that the flames can be used by themselves to provide a bit of light to a room. Though they aren’t quite as bright as a real fire, they will still give a room a nice glow, making this a nice nightlight.
More features: remote control; lifetime filter
If portability is the name of the game for you when it comes to finding a heater, then this might be a great option. It weighs in at an easy to move twenty three pounds, while it is not the lightest heater on the market. Still, it is nice and compact, which makes fitting it into smaller spaces that much easier.
Despite the small size of the heater, however, it still is quite powerful. As long as it has enough time to work with, it can easily heat even a very large space. Of course, if all you need it for is a smaller room, it will do a great job in that setting too thanks to its small size.
Something else that helps to make this such a good buy is that it comes with a lifetime filter. While lots of other filters are only meant to be used for a short amount of time before they are replaced, this model’s will last for the lifetime of the heater. All you have to do is make sure you rinse it off every once in a while, and it should help the heater to continue to run effectively for years to come.
This model also comes with a remote control, which makes adjusting the temperature nice and easy. This is an excellent feature since the thermostat for this heater is not always the most accurate. Having a remote control will allow you to fine-tune the heater based on how warm or cold you are feeling without having to get up each time and manually adjust it.
More features: 2 heating settings; carry handle
If you are someone who is constantly too cold and wish they could have their own personal heater to tote around with them all the time, then this just might be the right model for you. It is, by far, the lightest infrared heater on the market. It only weighs an absolutely minuscule four and a half pounds, which makes it light enough to carry anywhere you need it, even if you want to carry it up and down steps.
One of the drawbacks of having such a lightweight heater, of course, is that it is not overly powerful. It only has a coverage space of about 160 square feet, which is good enough for a small to medium sized room. There is also a noted drop off in heat dissipation at the higher end of this model’s coverage area, so it is best to use it for smaller spaces.
This infrared heater also has two different heat settings, which will allow you to determine how quickly you heat up your space. If you use the higher setting, however, you will need to be careful with this heater. It tends to get quite warm, and although it is not hot enough to pose a fire hazard, it certainly could burn you if you accidentally touch it.
Since this heater is so small, it doesn’t use as much energy as larger models. This lower wattage helps to make this one of the more energy efficient heaters available. Even if you choose to use it on its higher heating setting, it should not cost you too much money to keep going.
More features: remote control; LED display
This model is one of the more advanced on the market today. It is completely programmable. In fact, you can set when it turns on, when it turns off, and whether or not you want the temperature to adjust during its runtime. These programming options make it quite simple to get a room to the temperature you desire before you even enter it, which is ideal if you want to use it for your bedroom. Resembling a small electric baseboard heater, this model is much easier to install.
Of course, your heating preferences might change while you are in bed or resting in a chair, and the last thing that you will want to have to do is get up to adjust your heater. Thankfully, this model has a very user-friendly display and comes with a remote control. This combination of an easy-to-use, far-reaching remote and easily visible display make it a cinch to adjust the temperature without having to get up from your resting spot.
This is also one of the more portable models, which means that it is quite lightweight. Like other portable heaters, this one does not have an overly large coverage area, though it is certainly large enough at 300 square feet to heat up a medium to large sized room quite effectively.
Another excellent feature for this electric wall heater is its highly accurate thermostat. You can rest assured with this model that whatever temperature you choose for your room is the temperature that it will stick to.
More features: LED display; 6-foot power cord
One of the biggest issues that lots of folks have with infrared heaters is that they come with short power cords. This fact, when coupled with the idea that you cannot use an extension cord with these heaters can make finding the right position for them within a room difficult, especially if you live in an older home that doesn’t have a ton of electrical outlets. This model is a great option if this is your situation. It features a six-foot long power cord, which makes plugging it in a lot easier.
This longer power cord also helps to make sure that this model is aimed in the right position. Though it states that it has a one-thousand-foot coverage area, it is not quite that high. This model is better suited for medium or small sized rooms. Thanks to the long power cord, however, you would be able to position this small heater towards the area in a large room that you are going to be frequenting, which will help to keep you nice and warm, without heating the entire space.
Something else that makes this an attractive option is its straightforward design. The controls are incredibly user-friendly, making it simple to get up and running quickly. Even if you have never used one of these heaters before, you should have no problem whatsoever turning it on and choosing the right setting to get your living space nice and warm.
More features: comes with adjustable wall mount brackets and a remote control; 3 heating settings
There is no doubt about it: there is nothing quite like having a home workshop. It doesn’t matter if you have one in your garage or in your basement, it is great to get away from it all and create wonderful works of wooden art or bring an old car back to life. The only issue with these workshops is that they are usually uninsulated, and get very cold in the winter months. Adding ductwork or baseboard heat can be too expensive, which is where this model of heater comes in.
This infrared model can be easily attached to your workshop walls to help warm up even the largest shop. It has a huge coverage area, which makes it perfect for any size workspace. All you need to do is use the provided mounting brackets and plug it in, and before you know it, you will be able to spend even more time in your shop since you won’t be freezing anymore.
While it might sound like a lot of work to get these units up onto your walls, it is actually quite easy. The mounting brackets are simple to use, and the heaters themselves are quite lightweight. They are also quite compact, making it possible for an installation to be a one-person job.
As you would expect from something that gets mounted on a wall, this heater comes with a handy remote control. With this device, you can set the temperature for your units, as well as which one of the three different heat settings you want to use. All in all, it’s a great garage, workshop or patio heater to keep you cozy and warm.
More features: Quakerstown dark oak cabinet and mantel
While lots of infrared heaters attempt to look like a fireplace to add a rustic look to your décor, this model actually fits the bill. The handcrafted, beautiful design of the cabinet makes it look exactly like an antique fireplace mantle. This gorgeous design makes it a welcome piece in pretty much any home, no matter if you prefer modern accents or historic pieces in your living space.
Since this is designed to look exactly like a real fireplace, it is quite large. In fact, this is the largest heater on our list. This large size also helps to make this one of the heaviest infrared heaters on the market. While this does make this model more durable than other options, it also reduces its portability. Be sure to choose your location in your home carefully for this model before you purchase so you won’t need to move it a lot.
The thermostat on this heater, as you expect from such a well-built piece, is nice and easy to read and adjust. This heater has a very considerable coverage area, which makes it perfect for larger homes. It is also backed by a long, three-year warranty. As long as you maintain this heater properly, however, there shouldn’t be any issue. Cleaning it can be a bit tricky, however, so make sure that you take your time so that you don’t damage any of the fine details on this solid cabinet.
More features: oscillation feature; tip-over safety switch
When it comes to heaters, you can never be too careful. Since they are usually on the ground, they can be knocked over pretty easily, especially if you have children or pets in your home. This can be somewhat dangerous since a tipped over heater might cause damage to anything that it falls on. This heater, thankfully, has a built-in safety feature that automatically shuts the unit down if it senses that it has been tipped over.
Something else that helps to set this model apart from other options on the market is the fact that it has an oscillation feature. While this might not sound all that important for an infrared heater, since they heat up so quickly, this is a huge benefit. When this model oscillates, it finds cold spots that much faster, which, in turn, causes rooms to be warmed up a whole lot quicker.
Unfortunately, the thermostat on this particular heater is not very accurate at all. The temperature is usually plus or minus four degrees of whatever is on display. Though this is a bit of a pain, it can be overcome with a bit of practice. Of course, you will need to waste a good deal of electricity until you get a feel for how exactly to make it work best in your home.
Something else that is a bother with this model is the temperature adjustment controls. You can only adjust the temperature up until it reaches its maximum of eighty-two degrees, at which point it will roll down to its lowest point. Having to do this every time you want a lower temperature is somewhat of a pain.
In this section, you will find all of the information you need to know to find the best infrared heater for your home. We have also taken the time to answer several frequently asked questions, so be sure to read through those as well if you are still unclear on any aspects of your new heater.
Infrared heaters offer several key advantages over other heater types. These include the following:
As you can imagine, there are lots of different factors that you need to consider to find the best electric infrared heater carefully. In this section, we will go through everything you need to know so that you can buy your next heater with confidence.
One of the first things that you will want to take into careful consideration is the amount of power that your new heater is going to need to run correctly. Even though infrared heaters are relatively energy-efficient, it still makes sense to understand the amount of power they will require so that you buy the one that will best meet your heating needs and won’t go past your economic limits.
If you are looking to save a bit of money, and don’t need to have quite as powerful of a heater, then the COSTWAY Infrared Electric Quartz Tower Heater is a great option. It only uses 1,200 watts total, which will save you a bit of money.
The next thing that you will want to think about is how large of an area you are going to be using your heater in. The last thing that you want to do is get a heater home and find out that it isn’t designed to heat the space you had in mind. You also don’t want to overbuy either, since that will cost you extra money without any additional benefits.
The Heat Storm Phoenix Floor to Wall Infrared Space Heater is an excellent option if you have a smaller space that you want to keep warm. It has a coverage area of about 300 square feet, which is more than enough for a pretty big room. If, on the other hand, you want to warm up a whole floor of your home, then something like the Dr. Infrared DR-968, which is capable of heating a space of up to 1,000 square feet.
As with any heating or cooling device, you want to make sure you get a model that allows you to set your desired temperature accurately. Otherwise, you’ll end up wasting money achieving the wrong temperature, or be too cold or hot. As such, you need to make sure that you get an infrared heater with an easy-to-use thermostat. You will also want to look for different heat settings since this will allow you to choose whether to heat up a room quickly or allow it to take its time.
The Muskoka Lifestyle Products 1500 Watt Infrared Heater is an excellent option for different heat settings since it has three to choose from, though it doesn’t have a thermostat. Most of the other heaters do have a thermostat, but the Heat Storm HS-1500-IMO’s is probably the easiest to setup and utilize.
One of the best things about an infrared heater is that they don’t need to be overly large to heat up a space effectively. That helps to find the one that will fit inside of your home, regardless of whether or not you live in a large home or a smaller apartment setting. Just make sure that you have a good idea of how much space you have in your home so that you can rest assured that your new heater will fit correctly.
How much your new heater weighs will not have a direct effect on how well it heats your space. Instead, you should base the weight of your new model on where you intend to use it. If you are planning to move it along with you throughout your home based on where you will be spending your time, then a lighter model is a better idea. On the other hand, if you are going to keep your heater in one spot, then the weight won’t matter, so you can go ahead and get a larger and more stylish model, like the Lifesmart Large Room Infrared Quartz Fireplace, which is the heaviest on our list at 43 pounds.
As with any purchase, you are going to want to protect your investment. This is especially true when you are looking for something that is going to be seeing heavy use like an infrared heater. While lots of companies will offer what they claim to be a long warranty, you need to make sure that you read it very carefully. That way you will be certain that you are covered if something on your heater stops working after a short amount of time. The Dr. Infrared DR-968 has one of the longest warranties on the market at three years, which makes it a great buy if you want to protect your investment.
There are lots of different features that you might want to keep in mind before you make your final decision. For instance, if you want to move your heater from room to room, then you might want to keep your eyes out for a heater with wheels since this makes moving it into position much easier.
Something else that will ease your life significantly is a remote control, like the one that comes with the EdenPURE A5551b. If you get a model that has one, you will be able to change the temperature of your heater without having actually to walk up and do it manually.
One more thing that you might want to look for when you are shopping for the best infrared heater on the market is an automatic shut-off. Not only will this feature help to keep you from wasting money from heating a space you are not in anymore, but it can also keep your heater from being a safety hazard since it will turn off if it gets tipped over.
Even though these heaters are incredibly safe, there are still some several safety tips that you should keep in mind. These include:
The Dr Infrared DR-968 is an excellent option if you are looking for the best overall infrared heater. This model has a simple to utilize remote control, and the thermostat is large, easy to read, and extremely accurate. Not only that, but this heater is still quite portable and has a large coverage area. We highly recommend you check this model out!
The Duraflame DFI-5010-01 is not only an effective heater for large spaces, but it is also a great showpiece. This heater looks just like a wood stove, which makes it an excellent addition to any room. It also features realistic logs which look as though they were burning, though they don’t provide any real light.
The Comfort Glow EQS130 is one of the best infrared heaters for smaller spaces but is another excellent option for anyone looking for a woodstove style infrared heater. Unlike other models, however, the logs for this heater actually provide a bit of light, which makes the illusion of fire that much more believable.
