What is the most energy-efficient space heater?

None of them is more efficient than the others. Every electric resistance heater — ceramic, oil-filled, infrared, convection — converts essentially 100% of the electricity it draws into heat, so at the same wattage and thermostat setting they use the same energy. An accurate thermostat, a timer and the lowest wattage that keeps you comfortable are what lower the bill.

How much does it cost to run a space heater all day?

A 1,500W space heater running 24 hours costs about $6.64/day at the US average residential rate of 18.44¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, May 2026). Running 8 hours costs about $2.21/day, or $66.38 over 30 days.

Is a space heater cheaper than central heat?

Only if turning the central thermostat down saves more energy than the heater adds. Electric resistance heat costs about $0.054 per 1,000 BTU delivered, versus roughly $0.016 for a 92% AFUE gas furnace and $0.019 for a heat pump at COP 2.8. The saving is largest when your central system is also electric resistance.

What size space heater do I need?

About 10 watts per square foot of well-insulated space, or roughly 34 BTU/hr per square foot. A 1,500W heater is 5,118 BTU/hr and suits a room of about 150 sq ft. A 300 sq ft room needs about 3,000W — two units or a 240V model.

Updated August 22, 2026

Best Space Heaters 2026

Our picks for the best electric space heaters — covering every use case from small offices to large garages. Running costs are calculated from the current US average residential electricity price, and coverage figures use the 10 watts per square foot sizing rule rather than manufacturers' marketing numbers.

Best Overall Small Rooms Large Rooms Garages Steadiest Heat Budget Picks

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Best OverallDr Infrared DR-968 Best BudgetLasko 754200 Best for GarageFahrenheat FUH54 Steadiest HeatDe'Longhi Oil Radiator Best SmartDreo Space Heater WiFi

*Monthly cost is the heater running at its full rated wattage for 8 hours a day over 30 days, at the US average residential electricity price of 18.44¢/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, May 2026). A thermostat cycling the element off will cut this; your own rate will move it up or down. Coverage figures use the 10 watts per square foot sizing rule these guides recommend — where a listing advertises a larger number, it is shown as the manufacturer's claim. Affiliate disclosure: links use tag hcost-20 and we earn from qualifying purchases.

Best Overall Space Heater

★ Top Pick

#1Best Overall

Dr Infrared Heater DR-968

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Wattage

1,500W (120V)

Coverage

~150 sq ft (mfr. claim: 1,000 sq ft)

Monthly Cost*

$66/mo

Pros

✓Dual infrared quartz + convection heating

✓12-hr auto shut-off timer & remote

✓Thermostat range 50–85°F, tip-over shutoff

✓Rated 39 dB — quieter than most fan heaters

Cons

–Larger than compact models

–No WiFi/app control

Bottom Line: A well-built all-rounder. At 1,500W it draws 5,118 BTU/hr, which by the 10 W/sq ft rule suits a room of about 150 sq ft — the 1,000 sq ft figure in the listing is a marketing number, not a heating capacity. The thermostat and timer are what keep the bill down; the dual element mainly changes how quickly the room feels warm.

Best Space Heater for Small Rooms

#2Best for Small Rooms

Vornado MVH Vortex Heater

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Wattage

1,500W

Coverage

~150 sq ft

Monthly Cost*

$66/mo

Pros

✓Vortex circulation distributes heat evenly

✓Compact footprint

✓1–5 hr auto shutoff timer

✓Cool-touch exterior

Cons

–Not ideal for large rooms

–Louder fan than infrared models

Bottom Line: Vornado's vortex airflow spreads warmth around the room instead of blowing it in one direction, so you get fewer cold corners. It draws the same 1,500W as every other heater here, so it costs the same to run — what you are buying is even distribution in a room of roughly 150 sq ft.

Best Space Heater for Large Rooms

#3Best for Large Rooms

Lasko 5775 Ceramic Tower Heater

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Wattage

1,500W

Coverage

~150 sq ft (mfr. claim: 500 sq ft)

Monthly Cost*

$66/mo

Pros

✓Widespread oscillation

✓Digital thermostat + remote

✓8-hr programmable timer

✓Slim tower design

Cons

–Takes 10–15 min to warm a cold room

–No infrared component

Bottom Line: The best tower option for living rooms, but be realistic about capacity: 1,500W is 5,118 BTU/hr, enough for about 150 sq ft at the 10 W/sq ft rule. In a genuinely large open-plan room it will run continuously and still not reach setpoint. Oscillation spreads the heat it does produce; it does not add any.

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Best Garage Heater

#4Best for Garages

Fahrenheat FUH54 Electric Heater

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Wattage

5,000W (240V)

Coverage

~500 sq ft

Monthly Cost*

$221/mo

Pros

✓5,000W / 17,065 BTU/hr for garage-scale heat

✓Wall or ceiling mount

✓Rugged all-metal construction

✓Built-in thermostat

Cons

–Requires a dedicated 240V circuit

–Professional install recommended

–Costs over three times as much per hour as a 1,500W unit

Bottom Line: Purpose-built for garages and workshops, and the only unit here with enough output to matter in one: 17,065 BTU/hr covers about 500 sq ft of insulated space, or roughly 250–330 sq ft of uninsulated garage at 15–20 W/sq ft. Note the running cost — 5,000W is 3.3× the draw of a 1,500W heater, and the monthly figure above reflects that.

Best for Steady, Silent Heat

#5Steadiest Heat

De'Longhi TRD40615T Oil-Filled Radiator

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Wattage

700 / 1,000 / 1,500W

Coverage

~150 sq ft

Monthly Cost*

$66/mo

Pros

✓Thermal mass smooths out temperature swings

✓3 heat settings (700/1,000/1,500W)

✓24-hr timer

✓Silent — no fan

Cons

–Slow to reach temperature (20–30 min)

–Heavier than convection units

Bottom Line: The best choice for a bedroom you heat all night. The oil stores heat and keeps releasing it after the element cycles off, so the room temperature stays steadier — but it uses the same electricity per watt as any other electric heater. The monthly figure above is for full 1,500W draw; on the 700W setting the same 8 hrs/day costs about $31.

Best Budget Space Heater

#6Best Budget Pick

Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater

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Wattage

1,500W / 900W

Coverage

~150 sq ft

Monthly Cost*

$66/mo

Pros

✓Lowest purchase price of any pick here

✓Built-in thermostat

✓Overheat protection & cool touch

✓ETL listed for safety

Cons

–No timer or remote

–Plastic housing heats up slightly

Bottom Line: The cheapest way into zone heating. It draws the same 1,500W as heaters costing ten times as much, and it has the one feature that actually controls your bill — a thermostat. The purchase price is small next to what a heater costs to run: at 18.44¢/kWh this unit burns through its own price in electricity in well under a month of daily use.

Best Smart Space Heater

#7Best Smart Heater

Dreo Space Heater with WiFi & App

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Wattage

1,500W

Coverage

~150 sq ft

Monthly Cost*

$66/mo

Pros

✓WiFi + Alexa/Google Home

✓App scheduling from anywhere

✓Usage monitoring in app

✓Tip-over & overheat shutoff

Cons

–Requires 2.4 GHz WiFi

–App setup needed initially

Bottom Line: Best for people who want the heater to switch itself off. Scheduling does not change the cost per hour — it changes how many hours you pay for, which is the only lever that matters. How much you save depends entirely on how many hours it removes; a plain $15 mechanical timer plug does the same job.

Best Wall-Mount Space Heater

#8Best Wall-Mount

Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX WiFi Heater

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Wattage

1,500W

Coverage

~150 sq ft (mfr. claim: 750 sq ft)

Monthly Cost*

$66/mo

Pros

✓Wall-mount saves floor space

✓WiFi + app control built-in

✓Out of reach of children and pets

✓Infrared quartz element

Cons

–Requires wall installation

–Cover gets warm to touch

Bottom Line: The cleanest option where floor space is at a premium — bathrooms, hallways, small offices. Being infrared, it warms you before it warms the air, which is genuinely useful in a bathroom. It is still a 1,500W resistance heater: 5,118 BTU/hr, about 150 sq ft at 10 W/sq ft, and the same cost per hour as everything else on this page.

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