Best Infrared Space Heaters (Reviews & Buying Guide)

Are you looking for a good infrared heater that can keep you warm and cozy all winter long?

Would you like to find one of the best infrared heaters on the market that come with high energy savings?b

If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Infrared heaters are incredibly efficient when it comes to warming up a room and they’re a great choice to ward off the winter chill.

But, finding the best infrared space heater can be a bit of a challenge.

That’s why we put together this guide: to help you find the top rated infrared heaters that work for your needs and budget.

So, if you want to find the best electric infrared heater that can make your bedroom, living room, office, or apartment nice and warm, then these infrared heater reviews are perfect for you.

Infrared Heaters Reviewed in This Guide

Here’s a quick comparison chart showing the top infrared heaters. We’ll cover each aspect of these units in the reviews section below, but this gives you an idea of what’s available and an easy way to compare them.

Image	Heater Details	Price
	Dr. Infrared Portable Space Heater Most efficient space heater for large rooms Type: Infrared Thermostat Range: 50-85 degrees Coverage: 1,000 sq. ft.	Check Price
	2. Duraflame 5HM8000-O142 Infrared Space Heater Best tower infrared heater Type: Portable Coverage: 1,000 sq. ft. Other: Includes oscillation	Check Price
	Heat Storm HS-1000-WX-WIFI Infrared Heater Best WiFi infrared heater Type: Fixed Coverage: 500 sq. ft. Other: Easily mounts on a wall and has WiFi	Check Price
	Lifesmart Lifelux Series Ultimate 8 Element Infrared Space Heater Best table infrared heater Type: Fixed Coverage: 1,000 sq. ft. Other: Ionizer function purifies the air	Check Price
	Lifesmart 6 Element Infrared Heater Best infrared heater for large rooms Type: Fixed Coverage: 1,500 sq. ft. Other: Modern design with cool-touch housing	Check Price
	Duraflame 9HM8101-O142 Infrared Space Heater Fastest heating infrared heater for large rooms Type: Fixed Coverage: 1,000 sq. ft. Other: Can warm a room in 10 minutes	Check Price
	Optimus H-5511 Infrared Heater Best portable infrared heater Type: Portable Coverage: 300 sq. ft. Other: Good for small and medium size rooms	Check Price
	Amazon Basics Infrared Space Heater Best budget infrared heater Type: Fixed Coverage: 1,000 sq. ft. Other: Comes in two colors: black and wood	Check Price
	Homegear 1500W Infrared Heater Best modern infrared heater Type: Portable Coverage: 1,000 sq. ft. Other: Only weighs 11 lbs.	Check Price

Best Infrared Heater Reviews (Top 9 List)

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Infrared Heater Buying Guide

If you’d like to learn more about electric infrared heaters, including how they work, features to look for, comparisons to other types of heaters, and answers to common questions about infrared heaters, then this section can help.

What is an Infrared Heater?

An infrared heater is a type of heating unit that uses infrared light to warm up a room. This is a different process than other types of heaters, like conventional heating units, that heat up air molecules.

How Do Infrared Heaters Work?

An in frared heater works by converting electricity into radiant heat. Infrared heaters emit electromagnetic waves (invisible light) that are absorbed by your body and objects in the room.

The process of infrared heating is similar to the sun. These heaters use infrared rays at a frequency between 9 to 14-micron meters. These waves heat up particles in the surrounding environment which causes them to circulate. This results in the objects in a room—and you—getting warmer.

According to NASA Science, “the terms light, electromagnetic waves, and radiation all refer to the same physical phenomenon: electromagnetic energy. This energy can be described by frequency, wavelength, or energy.” And infrared heating is 100% safe to be around. It does not cause cancer or harm your health.

When you add one of the best electric infrared heater to your house, office, or apartment, you’ll be able to heat up your entire body with a warmth that feels more natural than a furnace or any other type of space heater.

And because an infrared heater works by heating up both the objects and human bodies that are around it, the process makes infrared space heaters more efficient than even the best ceramic heaters on the market. That’s because those types of heaters warm up air molecules, and the air is a poor conductor of heat.

In fact, the best infrared space heater can help to lower your heating bill by 50% because you don’t have to run it as long or as hot as other types of heating units.

While it’s true that infrared heaters run on electricity, these devices use a quartz tube or ceramic element as the heat exchanger. Since these materials are incredibly efficient and can last for a long time, they have the ability to convert more than 95% of the electricity that’s put into the heater into usable heat.

There are even some infrared heaters that can convert 100% of the input electricity into heat (like our #1 review above), making them some of the best infrared heaters on the market.

As you can see, the way an infrared heater works makes it super-efficient and a great option for warming up any room. If you want to learn more about this topic, visit our page on how do infrared heaters work.

However, there are some infrared heaters that are less mobile than others but are still considered to be portable. These models are generally a bit larger and may be equipped with sliders on their feet to make them easy to push across the floor.

Those types of portable infrared heaters may not be as convenient to move but they can be a good option if you have larger rooms you want to keep warm. They’re also a good option for outdoor patios. To see what’s available for that purpose, check out our best patio heaters page for some good recommendations.

Having a fixed infrared heater can be a great choice if you want a dedicated device in one room to keep it comfortable. These types of infrared space heaters can be a great addition to a living room, bedroom, bathroom, garage, or office space and are considered to be the best energy efficient electric heater for year-round use.

If you’re looking for a good garage space heater, check out our garage heater reviews page.

Features to Look for in the Best Infrared Space Heaters

In addition to infrared space heaters being portable or fixed, they also come with a variety of different features.

Some devices are incredibly simple with only an on/off switch and heat setting, while others are more advanced with WiFi control and scheduling capabilities.

Finding a top rated infrared heater for your own needs will depend on your budget and the options you can’t live without.

Here’s a list of the top features you’ll find in infrared space heaters today:

• Fan: Not all infrared heaters come equipped with a fan. Remember, they function much like the sun. They warm up bodies and any objects around them, so they don’t really need a fan. However, a few models do come with this feature to help speed up the warming process.
• Heat Settings: The heat settings on infrared space heaters refers to the wattage used. Often, there are only two choices: a high and low setting. This might include 1500 Watts for the high setting and 750 Watts for the low setting. On select models, there can be a third setting, usually referred to as “medium”, that gives you an additional layer of heat control.
• Energy Saving Eco Mode: If your infrared heater is equipped with this mode, it will only use enough power necessary to heat up the room. That means that if it’s really cold, then it may use the high setting to bring the temperature in the room up to the desired degree. And once the optimum temperature has been reached, the heater will automatically drop into the lowest setting to keep the room cozy. The purpose of this mode is to use the least amount of energy possible, which translates into the most money saved on your electric bill.
• Thermostat: When it comes to the thermostat on an infrared heater, you have two options: manual and digital. A manual thermostat uses a knob to control the temperature but doesn’t offer specific temperature degrees. A digital thermostat uses push-buttons to dial in a specific temperature degree. It also displays that temperature on an LED screen.
• Air Filter: Some infrared heaters are equipped with an air filter to help improve the quality of air while it heats a room. It accomplishes this by removing airborne contaminants like dust, allergens, and other pollutants.
• Oscillation: Although it’s rare, some infrared heater models do come equipped an oscillation feature that turns the heater from side to side so that the room is heated evenly.
• Timer: A timer lets you set the desired amount of heating time before the unit automatically turns off. Each model is different when it comes to the timer settings, but they typically range from 1 to 24 hours of run time.
• WiFi Control: A few infrared heaters now offer WiFi control. This feature allows you to control the heater from a smartphone or other mobile device. You can also set up a heating schedule just like with a programmable house thermostat.
• Tip-Over Protection: In the past, space heaters were viewed as a fire hazard because if they were tipped over, they wouldn’t stop running. Currently, many infrared heaters incorporate tip-over protection so that if they’re accidentally knocked over, they’ll shut off.
• Overheat Protection: The heating elements inside infrared heaters get incredibly hot. In the past, that could have led to a fire. However, with this safety feature in place, the heater will automatically shut itself off it reaches unsafe temperatures to prevent any chance of it becoming a fire hazard. This is especially important when looking for the best space heaters for bedrooms to keep you safe while you sleep.
• Cool-Touch Housing: Many models come with cool-touch housing which means that the outside of the heater stays cools to the touch to prevent burns. If you have kids or pets in your home, this is an essential feature to look for if they’re going to be playing near the space heater.
• Remote Control: If the infrared heater has a remote control, this means you won’t have to get up to change the heat settings, and this can make staying warm incredibly convenient.

Infrared Heater Safety Tips

When selecting the best electric infrared heater for your home, you should always look for a unit that contains a label of approval from a certification agency. This certification label may be located on the outside of the package and on the unit itself.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you should “only purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features. Make sure the heater carries the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) label.”

In Canada, the Standards Council of Canada recognizes several certifications and marks for certifying electrical equipment approval: CSA, UL and ULC.

Now, here are some of the top safety tips to help you keep your infrared heater from turning into a hazard:

• Don’t Use an Extension Cord: Even though infrared heaters are efficient and can use electricity effectively, it’s important that you plug them directly into the wall. This ensures that they’re pulling the power needed to run optimally and reduces the chances of overheating an extension cord and causing a fire.
• Use a Grounded Outlet: If you’re running your infrared heater on high, then you need to ensure it’s plugged into a grounded outlet. It can use a lot of electricity and if the outlet isn’t grounded it can overload the grid.
• Choose the Right Location: The goal of adding an infrared space heater to your home is to provide supplemental heat during the cold winter months. Even if it’s equipped with safety features, you still want to put the heater where it can’t be accidentally knocked over. It’s also beneficial to place the unit where the heat can flow easily into the space to warm the room quickly and evenly. The best places are generally in a corner pointed out toward the center of the room, next to a wall or even mounted on the wall.
• Keep it Clear: Even with a cool-touch exterior, an infrared heater is still capable of burning you or your pets. Since this heater heats up everything in the room, not just the air, if you or a pet stands too close they could overheat. Remember, an infrared heater functions much like the sun, so being directly in front of the heater could lead to injuries similar to a sunburn. It’s also important to not place anything in the way of the heater. Again, this heater is capable of heating up everything in its path, including furniture, curtains, and flooring. If any of those objects are highly flammable or get too hot, it could result in a fire. To stay warm and safe, it’s advised that people and objects stay 12-18 inches away from infrared space heaters.

Cost of Using Infrared Space Heaters

How much does an infrared heater cost to run each month?

That’s a common concern people have about these devices.

Sure, they provide toasty and long-lasting warmth, but at what cost?

One thing to keep in mind is that these space heaters work best as a supplemental heat source, not a primary heating device in your home. To get the most value out of an infrared heater, you’ll want to use it in conjunction with your furnace.

By doing so, you can lower your overall heating costs each month because you won’t have to rely so heavily on either heating source.

As for how much an infrared heater will cost you to run, here are the details:

The cost to run your infrared space heater will depend on the electricity rates in your area. The national average is 0.13 kWh.

To figure out how much it will cost you to use an infrared heater, you can use the formula below or this handy calculator. (Two examples are also provided below to ensure you understand how the formula works.)

• Step 1: Multiply the number of watts the heater uses by the number of hours per day you plan to use it.
  • (Number of watts X hours of use = A)
• Step 2: Multiply the answer you get from the first equation (A) by the electricity rate per kilowatt-hour for your area. You can find this on your electric bill.
  • (A X electricity rate/kilowatt hour = B)
• Step 3: Divide answer B by 1,000, and this will tell you how much it costs to run an infrared space heater.

Example 1:

A 1500 Watt infrared heater used on the highest setting for 8 hours per day at 0.13 kWh would cost $1.56 per day to use. Here’s the math based on the above formula:

• 1500W X 8 hours = 12,000
• 12,000 X 0.13 = 1,560
• 1,560 ÷ 1,000 = $1.56 per day

Example 2:

A 1500 Watt infrared heater used on a lower setting, like 750 Watts, for 8 hours per day at 0.13 kWh would cost 0.78 cents per day to use.

• 750W X 8 = 6,000
• 6,000 X 0.13 = 780
• 780 ÷  1,000 = 0.78 cents per day

Infrared Heaters vs Other Types of Heaters

Infrared heaters are not the only type of portable space heaters. However, infrared heaters do have some advantages over the competition.

Below, you’ll find how infrared heaters compare to other types of heaters:

Infrared vs Ceramic Heater

When it comes to deciding between an infrared heater vs ceramic heater, an infrared heater is better for your overall health and quieter than ceramic heaters. Infrared heaters don’t dry out the air and many don’t include a noisy fan. An infrared heater is also ideal for heating localized living areas and can accomplish the task in a shorter amount of time than a ceramic heater.

Infrared vs Radiant Heater

Infrared heaters and radiant heaters one and the same. There is no difference between the two because each heater uses the process of radiant heating to warm up a space. Infrared heaters and radiant heaters use electromagnetic waves to spread out there heat and warm up all of the objects in a room as opposed to the air itself.

Oil Filled Radiator vs Infrared Heater

Oil filled radiators can be a great source of supplemental heat in your home but infrared heaters are often a better option for people. The main difference is how each appliance works to heat the surrounding space. Infrared heaters heat bodies and objects around them which produces quick and long-lasting heat. In contrast, oil filled radiator heaters warm the air around them and not the objects in a room which makes them slower at heating up a space.

If you’re interested in learning more about oil heaters, you can view our best oil heater guide.

Infrared Heater vs Propane Heater

Both infrared heaters and propane heaters use infrared rays to heat up a room. However, infrared heaters run on electricity while propane heaters are fueled by liquid propane (LP). A traditional electric infrared heater is safer to use in many ways because it doesn’t use a flame or emit carbon monoxide as some propane heaters do. However, the best indoor propane heaters that have a ventless design don’t emit any toxic fumes.

Common Questions About Infrared Heaters

Can I leave infrared heater on all the time?

Yes, you can, and it’s actually advised that you do this. The best way to ensure your heater is running properly is to get one equipped with automatic temperature settings. This will ensure that the heater turns itself on/off to keep your space at the ideal temperature.

Do infrared heaters use a lot of electricity?

How much electricity an infrared heater uses depends on the heat setting you choose. Most infrared space heaters use anywhere from 750 to 1500 Watts. However, since these appliances are incredibly effective at heating a room in your home, they don’t need to run continuously.

When people ask this question, what they really want to know is “do space heaters save money on the electric bill. And this answer is yes when compared to a central heating system.

If you live in an apartment, you might want to consider investing in an infrared heater to help lower your overall utility bills. Many of the models reviewed here are also listed on our best space heater for apartment guide.

How much does it cost to run a 1500 watt infrared heater?

A 1500 watt infrared heater costs around $0.19 per hour to run based on the national electricity average of $0.13 per kWh. Therefore, a 1500 watt infrared heater will cost around $1.56 per day when run for 8 hours or $48 per month.

See this post for more information on how much electricity does a space heater use.

How effective are infrared heaters?

Infrared heaters are incredibly effective and can heat the room in as little as a few moments. Infrared heaters are also more energy-efficient than other types of electric space heaters. The top infrared heaters use 100% of the heat they produce which creates almost no loss in heat transfer when warming up a room.

Is infrared heater better than electric?

Infrared heaters are better than standard electric heaters when it comes to efficiency and cost-savings. However, electric heaters do have their place, and one type may be better suited for you than the other. It’s best that you compare the features and benefits of an infrared heater vs electric heater to find the right type for your needs.

Both models of heaters are listed on our best electric heater for basement guide. So, if you’re looking for a space heater for downstairs, you’ll be happy with either type.

How many square feet will a 1500 watt infrared heater heat?

As a general rule of thumb, a 1500 watt infrared heater will heat 1,000 to 1,500 square feet. With an infrared heater, you’ll need roughly 1 to 2 watts of heating power for every square foot of floor area in the room.

Where should I place my infrared heater?

You should place your infrared heater in a position that allows the infrared rays to come into contact with as many objects in the room as possible. Placing your infrared heater in this way will ensure that the warmth created will be absorbed and re-emitted by the floor, walls, and furniture.

Can infrared heaters damage furniture?

Infrared heaters cannot damage furniture. Infrared heaters do not emit harmful radiation. And because infrared heaters do not dry out the air, it is a safe heating option for your furniture.

Can infrared heaters cause health problems?

Infrared heaters do not cause health problems. Infrared heating is 100% safe for your well-being as the human body is designed to accept and emit infrared waves. It is ultraviolet radiation that can harmful, not infrared electromagnetic waves.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states, “despite extensive research, to date there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health.”

About Patrick Holmes

Patrick is a Senior Air Quality & Comfort Specialist. He conducts in-depth research and analysis for our product reviews and buying guides in order to offer expert recommendations for people who are seeking to improve their indoor air quality and comfort. (See Full Bio)