The 10 Best Infrared Heaters
Stay Warm in Colder Weather with an Infrared Heater to Supplement your Main Heating System.
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Infrared heaters use the latest technology to produce lovely radiant heat that will keep you nice and warm during cold weather. These heaters use quartz heating elements that radiate the heat outwards so that you can feel it instantly – it’s just like sitting out in the warm sunshine! These infrared heaters are ideal for heating single rooms such as bedrooms, but some effective space heaters will heat a larger area.
Because infrared space heaters are designed to warm up the area directly in front of them, they’re more energy-efficient and will save you money on your power bill. Another thing to consider when deciding whether an infrared heater will suit your needs is its portability. Although some of these units can be mounted on the wall or even on the ceiling, many models are free-standing.
This means you can easily move them from room to room. You may have a lovely fireplace in the living room that heats up the area beautifully. But does it also heat the bedroom? If you have a large house, this may not be the case. And, it can be very difficult to get out of bed in the morning when the room is freezing cold.
This is where having a supplemental heating source in the bedroom can be very beneficial. Not only will the room be toasty and warm when you get out of bed, but an infrared heater won’t add too much cost to your energy bill either.
View the Best infrared heater, Below.
- Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968H Portable Space Heater with Humidifier
- Dyna-Glo IRSS30NGT-2N Infrared Vent Free T-stat Wall Heater
- Heat Storm Deluxe HS-1000-WX Mounted Space Infrared Wall Heater
- Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988A Garage Shop
- Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater
- TURBRO Suburbs TS25 Electric Fireplace Infrared Heater
- Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 Outdoor Patio
- COSTWAY EP22618 Infrared Heater
- Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove
- Comfort Zone 1,500-Watt Electric Digital Quartz Infrared Cabinet Space Heater
1. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968H Portable Space Heater with Humidifier
Best Overall Dual Heating Infrared Heater
This good-looking infrared heater includes a humidifier to add some moisture to the dry winter air. You can also turn this off if you don't want to use it. The heater just plugs into a power socket - it also includes a remote control! As it's on wheels, the unit can be rolled from room to room. It can heat a large area with its dual heating system that incorporates an infrared tube and PTC (positive temperature coefficient).
Why We Liked It: This portable infrared heater has a super quiet blower that easily moves large volumes of warm air around the room. It's also safe to the touch and has a shut-off safety feature if it accidentally gets knocked over. The heater is a great addition to any room in your home, providing energy-efficient heating. It features a dual heating system as well as a humidifying function.
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2. Dyna-Glo IRSS30NGT-2N Infrared Vent Free T-stat Wall Heater
Best Overall Gas Infrared Heater
This infrared heater is powered by natural gas and doesn't require electricity. It's designed to be installed on a wall, but you have the option to stand it on the floor by purchasing base legs separately. It has a built-in adjustable thermostat and oxygen depletion sensor. The appliance will shut off automatically if the sensor detects carbon monoxide in the air.
Why We Liked It: This is the best wall-mounted natural gas infrared heater. It includes all the hardware needed to install it. It includes a thermostat control and easy push-button ignition. It will heat a large room up to 1000 square feet easily.
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3. Heat Storm Deluxe HS-1000-WX Mounted Space Infrared Wall Heater
Best Infrared Heater if You Don't Have a Lot of Floor Space
This electric infrared heater is one of the best wall-mountable heaters. It includes all the necessary hardware and easy instructions. It's ideal for the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, or home office. Being safe to touch means this heater is ideal for families with small children or pets. The automatic overheat protection means that the unit will shut off if it gets too hot internally. This can happen if something has been accidentally placed over the grill.
Why We Liked It: This infrared heater can be mounted on a wall in rooms where there's not much floor space. It's completely safe to touch and will not burn little fingers. The digital built-in thermostat is touch-controlled. The heater also includes a washable lifetime air filter.
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4. Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988A Garage Shop
Best Infrared Heater For The Garage Or Workshop
This is an industrial portable infrared heater designed to be used in your garage, basement, or workshop. It includes an electronic thermostat that you can adjust from 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The heater features a fan that gives you continuous warmth when it's running.
Why We Liked It: This portable infrared heater is a great addition to warm up your workshop or garage quickly and efficiently. It's thermostatically controlled and has both high and low-temperature settings. The in-built handle makes it easy to move from one area to another.
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5. Heat Storm Phoenix HS-1500-PHX, Infrared Space Heater
Best Portable Infrared Heater For Small Rooms
This Heat Storm infrared heater can either be wall-mounted or sit on the floor. It includes removable feet and wall mounting points for easy installation. It's the best portable heater for any small room in your house. The heater will comfortably heat an area up to 400 sq ft.
Why We Liked It: This is a compact infrared heater from Heat Storm that's cool to the touch. It's ideal for heating small rooms, such as a bedroom or home office. It also has a removable filter you can wash - this helps to keep the air in your room clean.
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6. TURBRO Suburbs TS25 Electric Fireplace Infrared Heater
Best Infrared Heater With Fireplace Appeal
There's nothing quite like the warmth you feel from an open fire and this infrared electric fireplace heater will give you the same effect without the mess and smoke you get from having a fireplace. The flames are adjustable to 3 brightness levels. The unit runs entirely on electricity and has a visible LED panel.
Why We Liked It: This vintage-style infrared heater looks like a real fireplace and lets you control the glow of the flames. It's a free-standing model that you can move from room to room and will heat up instantly. The remote control allows you to adjust the heat settings from the comfort of your sofa.
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7. Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 Outdoor Patio
Best Infrared Heater For The Patio
This patio infrared heater can be wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or mounted on a tripod. It's suitable for both home use and in the office, garage, or workshop. The design of the appliance means it can heat at a wide angle. It's made from weatherproof anodized aluminum, and can even be used on your patio.
Why We Liked It: This is the ideal infrared heater to install on your patio or in your garage as it's made from weatherproof aluminum. It can be mounted either horizontally or vertically on a wall or the ceiling. The remote control allows you to control the heat settings. This means you can mount it up high and not worry about having to get a step ladder to adjust the settings.
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8. COSTWAY EP22618 Infrared Heater
Best Budget Infrared Heater
This portable infrared quartz heater is ideal for small areas and produces quartz radiant heat. It has a built-in handle so that you carry it easily from room to room. It's the perfect tower heater for when you need some additional radiant warmth, whether working at your desk or sitting on the sofa.
Why We Liked It: This radiant infrared quartz heater will keep you nice and warm while you're in front of it. Being a radiant heater, it's not meant to heat the entire room but is a good choice for when you want that extra bit of warmth. It's also very portable and can easily be carried to another room or spot in your home.
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9. Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove
Best Overall Large Room Infrared Heater & Fireplace Stove
If you like the radiant glow of a real fireplace but don't want to put up with the mess, then this electric infrared quartz fireplace heater might be just what you're looking for. The stove features a 3D flame effect behind the logs - you can adjust the brightness and speed.
Why We Liked It: The infrared heat provided by this portable space heater not only keeps you warm but also maintains the natural humidity in the air. It's a portable infrared space heater, so you can use it to warm any room in your home.
Check Price on Amazon ➞10. Comfort Zone 1,500-Watt Electric Digital Quartz Infrared Cabinet Space Heater
Best Budget Infrared Heater
This digital quartz infrared heater is great for heating any medium-sized room in your home. It uses quartz bulbs to produce radiant heat. The quartz bulbs are protected by a tough metal safety grill, ensuring that the heater stays cool to the touch.
Why We Liked It: This infrared heater that emits radiant heat will keep you nice and warm in the colder weather. It has a thermostat that can measure the temperature in the room; this will cycle off the heater when your desired temperature has been reached. It's portable, so you can move it around your house.
Check Price on Amazon ➞VIEW ON HOME DEPOT ➞
Best Infrared Heater Buying Guide
If you’re looking for the best infrared heaters available, there are certain features you need to consider. We’ll go into each of these in greater detail so you know exactly what you should be looking for when choosing the right model for you.
How Does an Infrared Heater Work?
An infrared heater uses a heating element to produce the required heat. This could be a quartz bulb, ceramic heating elements, or sometimes a carbon heating element. The most efficient infrared heat comes from quartz bulbs – these are most commonly used in infrared heaters.
Sometimes quartz heating element heaters are supplemented with a fan, which allows the heater to warm up a greater space. You not only benefit from the heat but also the warm air circulating around the room. Of course, a fan-assisted heater will consume more power, but it’s a good choice to heat up a larger room.
Heating Area
One of the first things to think about is the amount of space you want to cover with the infrared heater. Some heaters will only heat small rooms – or even just a small space directly in front of the heater itself. Remember, we’re talking about radiant heat when we refer to infrared heating.
However, other infrared heaters will comfortably heat a larger space, such as living rooms or even garages. Some heaters are designed for outdoor use, so you can use them on your patio or deck in cooler weather.
To decide which infrared heater is the best choice for you, consider the square footage of the area that requires heating. This will give you some idea of which infrared heater will suit your needs.
The Power the Heater Uses
The number of watts that an infrared heater runs on generally determines the amount of heat that the unit can produce. Most infrared heaters average between 300 and 1500 watts. Infrared heaters that run on electricity are capped at 1500 watts because that’s the maximum output for a standard 110-volt power outlet.
To work out the amount of heat required, you need to multiply the square footage of the area you want to heat by 10. For example, a room that measures 15 feet by 10 feet will have a square footage of 150. If you multiply this by 10, it means that you’ll need an infrared heater capable of using 1500 watts.
Where you Place your Infrared Heater is Important
Remember that an infrared heater is designed to heat up the object directly in front of heat waves. It’s best to place the heater in an open space so that the heat can radiate outwards. If you place the infrared heater in an alcove, the walls will absorb all the heat. Similarly, if there pieces of furniture in front of the heater, these will absorb the heat also.
Along the same vein, infrared heaters are particularly suited if you have high ceilings. This is because the heater doesn’t heat the air, which will then rise to leave your living space cold.
You’ll also want to consider whether you want a free-standing model or one that you can mount on the wall. A free-standing infrared heater is generally easier to move around. This is particularly useful for heating the living room during the day and the bedroom at night.
On the other hand, a wall-mounted heater will take up no floor space and you have full control of where the heat output is directed.
The Portability of the Heater
Whether you choose a wall-mounted heater or a free-standing one also affects the portability of the heater. The best choice will depend on the areas that need to be heated.
Purchasing a portable heater will allow you to move it from room to room. If this is your intention, it’s best to choose a lightweight model that has an inbuilt carry handle or one with added caster wheels. Generally, these types of infrared heaters are referred to as small space heaters.
Portable infrared heaters are also more convenient if you’re renting because you can take them with you to another home. Some of these smaller models of infrared heaters are even suitable to use in motor homes – especially if you have a solar power unit.
Consider the Safety Features of Infrared Heaters
When looking at infrared heaters, it’s really important to consider the safety features of each heater, especially if you have young children and pets in the home. Most of the heaters we’ve reviewed incorporate a number of features that promote the safe use of the heater. Some of the features to look for include:
- Tip-over safety. This ensures that the heater will automatically shut off if it’s accidentally knocked over.
- Overheat protection. This feature also ensures that the heater shuts off if the internal workings become too hot.
- Automatic timer. This allows you to set the timer so that the heater shuts off automatically when you’ve forgotten to turn it off yourself.
- Cool to the touch exterior. This is vitally important to avoid small fingers being burned. If your child accidentally touches the exterior of the infrared heater, they won’t hurt themselves. Additionally, pets often seek out the warmth of an infrared heater – this will save them from getting scorched.
Does the Heater Have a Thermostat?
Another important feature to consider when looking at infrared heaters is whether the heater has a thermostat. The heater will automatically switch off when the room reaches the desired temperature. You can adjust your preferred temperature at any time.
Once the room cools down, the heater will automatically switch back on again. This is a great way to save on your energy bills because the heater won’t constantly be running when it doesn’t need to be.
Does the Heater Have Variable Infrared Heating Settings?
The best heaters will have variable heat settings. This allows you to maximize the energy efficiency of your heater. In turn, this will help you to have better control over your infrared heating costs. It allows you to control the heat output as you move the heater from room to room.
Consider the Aesthetics of the Heater
When making a selection from the best infrared heaters available, you’ll also want to consider the heater’s appearance. You may want to match it with the style of your home decor or use it as a feature.
Some infrared heaters follow a modern style and can be quite unobtrusive. On the other hand, others can really stand out and make a statement.
Consider infrared fireplace heaters with simulated flames. These almost look like a real fireplace and add a certain amount of ambiance to your home. In fact, for some people, seeing the flames can almost make you feel warmer.
It really depends on your personal preference as to whether you choose a slim, sleek design that blends in with your decor or whether you want a heater that is a focal piece of your living area.
Conclusion
When selecting the best infrared heater for your home, there are a lot of features you should consider before making a purchase. To recap, these features include:
- The area you want the heater to cover. Remember that infrared heaters heat the objects in front of them and not the air. So, the best heater for your needs depends on the size of the room and where you plan to put it.
- How much power the heater can put out. The maximum output for an electric heater is 1,500 watts.
- Do you want a free-standing heater or a wall-mounted one?
- How portable is the heater? If you want a heater that you can use in the living room during the day and in the bedroom during the night, go for a highly portable model.
- Safety features. If you have young children and pets in the home, you have to consider the safety aspects of the heater. The best infrared heaters incorporate auto-shutoff functions for when the heater tips over or gets overheated. Most will also feature a cool-touch exterior.
- Does the heater have a thermostat and variable heat settings? These features will indicate that you can get the best energy efficiency from your appliance. Most of the best infrared heaters will include these features.
- Do you like the look of the heater? The infrared heater you purchase will be a central point within your home. It’s best to choose one that either compliments your decor or one that provides a focal point.
We hope you’ve found our reviews of the best infrared heaters useful! For each of our selections, we’ve included the major features to consider. Ultimately, this will make your selection much easier without having to do hours of research yourself.