The Best Portable Heater

Pest Strategies

When the temperatures drop, portable heaters offer a convenient and flexible way to stay warm. To help you find the best portable heater, Pest Strategies researched the available options on Amazon. Keep reading to learn more about our top selections.

1 Best space-saving design
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QHG97RZ

Lasko Portable Heater

Length: 41.9 inches | Width: 12.5 inches | Height: 12.5 inches

What We Like: Great for heating open, spacious living areas with vaulted ceilings, this indoor portable heater uses a vertical design to push hot air from wall to wall without the need to place it on top of a table or counter. This heater is a versatile option if you experience cold winters and warm summers, as its fan design also allows it to produce cold, refreshing air when the temperatures are high. The space-saving design allows it to subtly fit in the corner of rooms or adjacent to furniture, houseplants, or anywhere else without taking up a lot of room.

2 Best for outdoors
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002G51BZU

Mr. Heater Portable Heater

Length: 7.7 inches | Width: 13.4 inches | Height: 15 inches

What We Like: The durable construction, lightweight portability, and ease of use make this heater ideal when you need a retreat from the cold air without going inside. It uses two different heat settings to pull from a one-pound propane cylinder, which is safe and easy to replace, even when your fingers are cold. The heavy-duty wire guard will shield people and pets from the heating element. For added versatility, this portable heater is also rated to be indoor-safe.

3 Easiest to maneuver
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MMN75G

De’Longhi Portable Heater

Length: 27 inches | Width: 10 inches | Height: 22 inches

What We Like: Unless you want to waste unnecessary energy and incur a massive electric bill, it makes sense to concentrate heat to the areas that you’re in. This portable heater is designed to do just that, as it’s mountable on a rolling track so you can easily roll it from one room to the next. Its micathermic system is designed with quiet operation in mind without the use of a fan, but is powerful enough to heat medium-to-large-sized rooms around 300 square feet. There’s also a wall-mount kit included to securely elevate this portable heater off the ground.

4 Most stylish
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N22JX6

Lasko Ceramic Portable Heater

Length: 8.3 inches | Width: 8.3 inches | Height: 16 inches

What We Like: If you frequently host guests or showcase staged homes as a realtor, you want people to be comfortable inside during the colder months. Whatever your situation is, this designer-series portable heater will put out 1,500 watts of warmth to keep everyone toasty without looking like an eyesore. Its adjustable thermostat, multiple safety features, and widespread oscillation make it a worthwhile contender for a versatile and robust indoor space heater.

5 Most compact
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWZ12GK

Honeywell Portable Heater

Length: 8 inches | Width: 5.8 inches | Height: 9 inches

What We Like: A great entry-level portable heater for college students, office employees, or those who want to stay toasty in a small area, this lightweight space heater offers 1,500 watts of power for reliable performance in a compact package. It has two low wattage heat settings for energy efficiency, non-slip rubber feet for stability, and 360-degree tip-over protection for assured safety, even in highly trafficked areas.

Buying Guide

All portable heaters are a great alternative or complement to central heating, but there are a few notable differences to keep in mind. Here’s what you should know before making a decision.

Type: The most common portable heaters are compact space heaters with fans in them. These are straightforward options that heat small areas effectively and safely and use minimal electricity. Other portable heaters use ceramic plates or coils as their heating element. Ceramic plates are self-regulating to avoid overheating, while heaters that use open coils can present obvious safety hazards to pets or children. Oil and propane heaters are generally designed for open-air or outdoor use and are very effective at heating larger spaces, but they’re typically more expensive and have fewer safety features.

Versatility: Some space heaters double as a fan, meaning you can use them to cool or heat the air any time of the year. Many space heaters have an oscillating function to help evenly circulate air throughout a room, and some even feature a remote control for convenient operation.

Safety features: Make sure to look for a portable heater with built-in safety features — especially if you’re planning on using it indoors. These safety features include automatic shutoff, tip-over protection, a shutoff timer, and an adjustable thermostat.

Style: Portable heaters for indoor use are generally more attractive than outdoor portable heaters, which are designed to look rugged and may be weather-resistant. While a propane-powered outdoor heater may be suitable for the garage, consider a sleek, ceramic-style indoor heater if you enjoy hosting and want to keep your guests comfortable during the winter months.

FAQs

Why should I use a portable heater over central heating?

Central heating will produce a greater volume of heat, reaching multiple rooms at a time — however, a portable heater uses less energy, and can concentrate heat to one desired area. This makes using a portable heater sensible if only one person in the house sleeps cold, while others naturally stay warm. A portable heater can also be used as a complement to central heating to create a concentrated area of warmth.

Is it safe to leave a portable heater on overnight?

Most indoor, electric-powered portable heaters have built-in safety features that allow them to run overnight without overheating or causing a fire. In general, we recommend monitoring your portable heater, but if you do run it overnight, make sure it has the standard safety features listed above.

How much heat will a 1,500-watt portable heater produce?

A 1,500-watt heater will produce enough heat to comfortably heat a 150 square foot area. The standard rule of thumb dictates that for every one square foot, about 10 watts of power is necessary to consistently warm that area.

Pest Strategies provides reviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, and other objective criteria. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for non-professionals. Because pest control products can be dangerous to your family if mishandled, we always recommend consulting with an exterminator, even if just to ask for advice on how to apply pest control products yourself.