Gear

The Best Space Heaters For Large and Small Rooms

You'll stay warm and toasty with our top picks.

by Elizabeth Alterman
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
The Vornado VHEAT Space Heater in sage green and gold

When it’s frigid outside and annoyingly drafty inside, nothing warms your home (or feet) faster a small space heater. On the flip side, the best space heater for large rooms can make your entire home, or large swathes thereof, feel just toasty enough that you forget it’s sleeting outside. But careening kids and fragile heat-emitting appliances don’t mix, so keep a few things top of mind before buying one.

The biggest concern is, of course, safety. You need a space heater with a sensor that shuts off if it overheats and you’re not home to do it yourself (or if you can’t control it remotely with an app). And if you have pets or toddlers, who tend to mess with things that are potentially hazardous, make sure it won’t tip over. If possible, look for one with a timer, a temperature setting and a remote control, so you can monitor it from afar (or rather, another room, without ever leaving your bed).

Vornado VHEAT Space Heater

So on a purely superficial level, the retro design is super-cool. But this heater totally delivers. It features vortex technology that circulates warm air evenly throughout a room, two heat settings, and auto shutoff function and tip-over protection. It's best for smaller rooms, like a bedroom.

$159.99
Vornado MVH Vortex Space Heater

This heater from Vornado isn't winning any design awards. But it does its job and does it well. It has 3 heat settings, tip-over protection, and auto-shutoff. Plus it has an adjustable thermostat. And because of its output, it's best suited for small- to medium-sized rooms.

$49.43
Lasko FH500 Space Heater

The exterior of this space heater remains cool to the touch, so it won't scald any curious little hands. It has a 3-speed 1500 watt ceramic heater and 4 fan speeds. At 42 inches tall, it's great for long, narrow rooms, or simply for people who are short on space. Plus it has a tip-over safety switch, and overheat protection. It has digital controls and an 8-hour timer.

$128.99
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Heater and Fan

This bad boy both heats, and cools, your space, so you get twice the bang for the buck. It has a HEPA filter that removes 99. 97 percent of allergens and pollutants from the air you breathe. It's WiFi-enabled, so you can control it from the app from anywhere. It has no spinning blades, so it won't injure any fingers, and it automatically shuts off if your child tips it over. When used as a heater, it's self-regulating; it monitors the air in the room and adjusts its heat output accordingly so you're never too hot or too cold. It's pricey, yes, but beautifully designed and can warm spaces of any size.

$899.99

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