The 6 Best Infrared Heaters, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove

$300 $230 at Amazon $234 at Wayfair $300 at Target

If your home doesn't have a built-in fireplace, or you want something more functional than a faux fireplace, this charming infrared heater is the next best thing. After testing the Duraflame stove in our lab and using it at home for six months, we're absolutely blown away by how well it heats any room.

One of our favorite features is the ability to control the heat and flame settings independently, which means we can enjoy the inviting glow of the flickering flame without overheating the room. We love how this heater is made to look like a wood stove, complete with fake logs and embers.

During testing, we were not only impressed by how realistic the heater was in replicating the appearance and ambiance of a real firebox but also by how well the heating worked. With 5,200 Btu, it can heat up to 1,000 square feet. It's worth noting that Btu is used to measure heat output, and the higher the unit, the greater the heating capacity. So, it's safe to say that this heater packs quite a punch and is perfect for those cold winter nights.

Assembly was a breeze; all we had to do was screw on the legs. This heater operates at a noise level of only 56 decibels, which is similar to that of a dishwasher, making it a relatively quiet option. The heater has an adjustable digital thermostat and auto-shutoff protection for added safety. To avoid the hassle of tangled cables, it has handy hooks on the back that can corral the cord when not in use.

The heater also has multiple settings for brightness and temperature that can be adjusted using the included remote control. Although we were able to use the remote, we wish the instructions had been written more clearly. Besides all the great features, the heater has also been tested by the Underwriters' Laboratory (UL), which Micetich says is an important consideration.

The timer functionality is also incredibly convenient, as it eliminates any concerns we had about accidentally leaving the heater on. Overall, we highly recommend this heater to anyone who wants the ambiance of a fireplace without any hassle.

_{Dimensions: 23.4 x 24 x 12.9 inches | Weight: 34 pounds | Voltage: 120 volts | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Btu: 5,200 | Safety Certifications: UL-certified}

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater

$150 $130 at Amazon $156 at Walmart View on Wayfair

If you're in the market for a space heater but don't need something as large as our best overall, consider the Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater. We tested this heater in the lab and at home and found it to be as effective as our top option. During testing, we found that our body temperature increased by almost 5°F when the heater was set on high and 1.4°F when it was set on low.

This infrared heater stands out with its two types of space-heating technology: quartz infrared and PTC (positive temperature coefficient), a self-regulating feature that adjusts based on the room's air temperature. The heater boasts high and low modes and an eco mode, which uses a mix of high and low to determine the most environmentally sound way to heat the room. The heater has a remote and digital control pad on the front, making it easy to adjust the target temperature between 50° and 86°F.

Although the heater works well if you're right next to it, we found that it doesn't warm the room as effectively as we had hoped. We weren't too discouraged, as this is a common characteristic of infrared heaters, which emit waves of warmth to heat you and nearby objects directly rather than solely warming the air like electric heaters.

The safety features of this heater are impressive, with both tip-over and overheat protection. During our testing, we found that the tip-over protection worked effectively, shutting off the heater immediately. However, it is worth noting that the heater does not turn back on once it is upright again. Additionally, the unit is quite sturdy thanks to its wheels, making it difficult to overturn in most cases. 

One potential issue we encountered is that the timer can only be set with the remote, which could be problematic if it is ever lost. We recommend storing it somewhere safely or in a remote organizer. There is also no way to turn on the heater from bed on a chilly morning, because you can not use a remote. Despite these shortcomings, we believe this is a solid choice given the handy wheels, reliability, and attractive profile that doesn't look like a tower fan.

_{Dimensions: 13 x 11 x 16 inches | Weight: 24 pounds | Voltage: 120 volts | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Btu: 5,200 | Safety Certifications: UL-certified}

Best Wall-Mounted

Heat Storm Phoenix Space Heater

$120 $100 at Amazon $126 $118 at Walmart $105 at Wayfair

If you are contemplating whether or not to install an electric wall heater, this slim heater, which is ETL certified, gives you the option to mount it on a wall or set it up on the floor, thanks to its removable feet. It's compact and thin, so it doesn't take up much space, making it a great pick for small rooms. During testing, we didn't notice much warmth while using the low setting, but the high setting definitely kept us toasty (we saw a 2° increase in body temperature).

When we tested this heater at home, we tried relocating it to a room with poor circulation that tends to get chillier than the rest of the house. Our dogs noticed immediately, and we noticed them lounging in the warmth.

While we didn't have the opportunity to mount the heater during testing, we used the heating on the floor with the included feet. Even though we had no issues with the heater tipping over, we noticed the feet weren't the most durable.

Like our best overall pick, this heater is not too noisy, at just 55 decibels on low. It offers convenient features such as a washable filter and a front grill that stays cool to the touch, making it ideal for households with young children. We also found the remote control very convenient, allowing us to turn the heater on and off from a distance.

However, during our lab's tip-over test, we found that although the heat shut off as expected and displayed an error message, the fan continued to run. We also found the included remote a bit small and had to push the buttons several times to change the heater settings. Despite this, we value the convenience of controlling the heater with a remote.

_{Dimensions: 19 x 5 x 13 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Voltage: 120 volts | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Btu: 5,200 | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified}

Best Portable

Heat Storm Portable Heater

$140 $106 at Amazon $106 at Wayfair

Don't overlook the importance of portability if you want to bring warmth to any room easily. The heater comes with a top handle, which we found made it simple to transport from one place to another. Despite looking like a toaster, this space heater can produce up to 5,200 Btu of heating power from its four quartz heating elements, making it an excellent choice for an open floor space.

During testing, we placed this heater in our home office, where it can get cold enough for our hands and feet to start feeling numb. We enjoyed a comfy, warm working environment with the heater hard at work, even on the chilliest days.

We set the heater at its maximum setting (99°F), but it wasn't able to get the room that hot. While it never showed anything above 88°F on the thermostat, that was more than enough. The room became pretty hot at that reading, so we didn't feel it needed to be higher.

We noticed that the heater produced consistent white noise during our tests, but it wasn't overly loud and didn't interrupt conversations. We ran the heater for about four to eight hours each day and never had any trouble talking on the phone or watching TV, and we never found the noise distracting.

The temperature can be adjusted from 60° to 99°F through its three primary settings (low, auto, and high). The display also has a temperature lock and three brightness levels to ensure it won't disturb your sleep at night. The heater has an accompanying tiny remote control. However, we discovered that the remote only functions within a 4-foot range and only when you are directly in front of the heater.

Like the others on our recommended list, this model is loaded with safety features meant to keep you safe while using the heater. Overheat protection uses an inside sensor to prevent the heater from becoming too hot, and a child lock function prevents children from changing the temperature.

We noticed that the heater's body and sides did not get hot during our tests. However, we do not advise using this heater unattended around children or pets because the griddle from which the heat emanates gets extremely hot. Despite this, we think it's a great space heater to use in a larger space or even a garage heater.

_{Dimensions: 11.62 x 15.31 x 11.75 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Voltage: 120 volts | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Btu: 5,200 | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified}

Best for Bedroom

EdenPURE CopperSMART

$397 at Amazon

Consider the EdenPURE CopperSMART Electric Space Heater for supplemental heating in large rooms like a bedroom. We tested this infrared space heater in the Lab, and while the low setting only provided slight warmth, the highest setting made us feel immediately comfortable, making it perfect for those chilly evenings. In just 15 minutes, we saw almost a 2° increase from 8 feet away. With 5,000 Btu, this heater can efficiently warm up both small and large rooms.

This electric heater is certified by ETL and boasts an innovative positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element made of copper that never requires replacement. You have the flexibility to choose between high or low mode, and a convenient remote control is included for easy operation. However, we found that you have to point the remote at the front of the heater for it to work.

We also wish there were an LCD screen, like the best overall, runner-up, since other than indicator lights to tell you whether you are on high or low fan, there is no thermostat to show the actual temperature of the heat coming out of the space heater.

While there are no handles to help you move the heater from one spot to another, there are wheels if you just want to roll it across the floor. It's also worth noting that this electric heater includes a washable lifetime filter, like our best wall-mounted pick, that can be cleaned using warm water and mild dish soap.

It also comes with safety features such as tip-over protection, overheat protection, and auto reboot, which help it recover in the event of a power outage or surge. We found that the entire exterior stays cool to the touch, with the exception of the grill, where the heat comes out. All in all, it checks off a lot of boxes when it comes to features and key considerations for infrared heaters.

_{Dimensions: 17 x 13 x 16 inches | Weight: 23 pounds | Voltage: 120V | Wattage: 1,500W | Btu: 5,000 | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified}

Best for Outdoor

Dr. Infrared Heater Carbon Infrared Outdoor Heater

$127 $110 at Amazon $166 at Walmart $110 at Home Depot

The Dr. Infrared Heater DR-238 is our favorite outdoor infrared heater because it starts heating fast and provides a noticeable warming effect to a distance of about 10 feet (if you stay more or less in front of it). We installed one under an overhang on our outdoor patio, and we were able to feel the extra warmth throughout the entire space, where we enjoyed entertaining guests on cooler days.

We like that the heater has nine heat settings to accommodate different outdoor temperatures, but we didn’t feel a lot of heat from it on the lowest setting. The remote is handy as well, since it lets you adjust the temperature without getting up (especially useful if you opt to mount it high on a wall like we did).

This heater is designed to be wall-mounted, but you can also use it with a tripod (sold separately). We opted for a wall mount, which requires drilling, so you may want to go with the tripod option for an easier installation. We also had to find a wrench to tighten it in place once we had it on the wall, as it didn’t feel sturdy when finger-tightened.

With an IPX4 waterproof rating, this heater is safe for outdoor use. This rating means the heater repels splashes of water, but it isn’t rated to withstand water jets, so we recommend mounting it in an area with at least partial protection from the driving rain.

We installed one of these heaters under an overhang, but it might also work well under a pergola, gazebo, four-season room, or other area that is at least partially protected from the elements.

_{Dimensions: 35 x 8 x 4 inches | Weight: 8 pounds | Voltage: 120 volts | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Btu: 5,200 | Safety Certifications: ETL-certified, IP55}