Best Space Heater for 2023 – CNET
Best Space Heater for 2023 - CNET
A space heater is a no-brainer if you’re looking to save money on your energy bill this winter.
Honeywell
If you’re looking ahead to save on your energy bill this winter, one option is to make sure to keep the thermostat set to a low temperature. You can also invest in a good space heater. During the winter months, these budget-friendly hot boxes don’t just prevent frozen feet, the best space heater can also save you serious money on your energy bill by lowering your dependence on heavy furnace use. It also gives you cozy, ambient heat in any room you’re actually occupying without wasting energy.
If you’re someone who shares a home with a cold-tolerant person, a quality space heater can also help create your own personal comfort zone without threatening your significant other with hot flashes. If cold feet are specifically what you’re trying to avoid, a space heater can ensure that you never have to get out of the bed or shower without a toasty landing pad.
Space heaters come in several varieties, with the easiest being electric models that simply plug into the wall and start delivering heat via a number of various mechanisms. And if you’re wondering if space heaters are safe to use, the answer is yes, if used properly. However, there is some risk of fire, so we encourage you to read this space heater safety guide before you plug one in. Below, we’ve rounded up the best space heater models for 2023 for all of your ambient heat needs this season.
Read more: Ready to Pull Out Your Space Heater? Here’s How Much It’ll Cost You
Best space heaters
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Vornado’s models topped just about every best list out there where space heaters are concerned, so you can’t go wrong with a variety of Vornado products, no matter your space or heat needs this season, with the VH2 being its most consistently singled-out performer. This whole-room space heater circulates heated air throughout a medium-size room, like a furnace in miniature, maintaining a consistent temperature without a significant space requirement. It is reported to be among the quietest models available, with several users remarking that it was quiet enough to sleep with while operating. Its plastic exterior stays comparatively cool to the touch, making it among the safest bets for households with pets and children. Vornado also offers a 5-year support term, making it easy to address technical issues should any arise.
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At a fraction of the space imprint of the Vornado model above, and about a third of the cost, Lasko’s Ceramic Heater 754200 is an excellent starting place if you’re still in a trial mindset where a space heater is concerned. Lasko also had a preponderance of mentions for several models among review sites. Its compact size is better suited to smaller spaces such as small bedrooms or home offices, or even desktop or counter use rather than an entire room. If you live with a perpetually warm person, as mentioned above, this may be an ideal model for creating different heat zones within the same room. Otherwise, users report that it warms up quickly and reliably — ideal for helping you get out of bed on a chilly morning — and its lightweight nature makes it especially easy to move around the house with you as your additional heat needs dictate.
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While the previous two models were the most singled-out among product testing sites, this Honeywell model had one of the highest user ratings on retailers’ sites. The feature here that significantly sets it apart from every other model is its 360 degrees of air circulation, relying on top and bottom vents to pull in air, in order to circulate warm air around its circumference. Several users mentioned that because of its multidirectional airflow, it made it especially useful for bedroom use to create ambient warmth in a medium-size space without an intense, one-directional flow.
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While several space heaters here have a fan-only option for cooling during the warmer months, Dyson offers one of the few models that not only has both of these features but works as a HEPA air purifier as well. Dyson’s products typically demand a higher price, and this is no exception, but it is perhaps worth it, given its one-and-done functionality and sleek design. This dual model had the highest user satisfaction rating among retailer sites, with many people pointing out that it was especially ideal for allergy sufferers, as well as lauding its year-round utility.
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Tower-style space heaters, and especially those that oscillate like this DeLonghi Ceramic Tower Heater model, are some of the best options for heating a large space such as a larger bedroom or living room. Their radiant heat is capable of reaching more space both vertically and horizontally because of its size and functionality. This model also had one of the highest user ratings among retail sites, with many users mentioning how quiet it ran, and singling out the utility of the remote control and digital display, which is a less-common feature among the space heaters I researched. Several also commented how this space heater felt like it was capable of heating the whole room, rather than just delivering heat to its immediate surroundings.
