I started looking for a small infrared heater when our basement reached sub-zero temperatures.
I wanted a small and portable infrared space heater to bring pleasant warmth to the room – without increasing my heating bills.
While researching I found that an indoor infrared heater is the most cost-effective way to heat a small space.
Zone heating through electric infrared heaters allows you to heat the air in the room and every living object in it – for an affordable price.
(In fact, I’ve calculated how much a portable infrared heater is going to cost me: about 21 cents per hour).
👉 In a hurry? see our top picks below, or jump to our Infrared Heaters reviews
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Overview
- How Does an Infrared Space Heater Work?
- How to Choose a Small Infrared Heater
- How Much Does an Indoor Infrared Heater Cost?
- The 5 Best Small Infrared Space Heaters
- What is the Smallest Infrared Heater?
- What is the Best Infrared Heater for a Small Bathroom?
- Do Infrared Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity?
- Can You Leave an Infrared Heater On All the Time?
How Does an Infrared Space Heater Work?
Infrared heaters emit a precise beam of heat that warms you directly by throwing out a steady stream of heat particles. It is the same form of natural heat radiated from the sun and your body.
Infrared space heaters directly transfer heat to the objects in the space – without heating the air around them.
Infrared heaters warm you by radiating infrared rays rather than the convection of hot air. Some people get concerned when they hear the word “radiation”, and immediately link it to cancer.
However, infrared heat is a low-energy and non-ionizing radiation – which is harmless and does not affect the DNA.
How to Choose a Small Infrared Heater
Other than it being easy on the eyes, here are important features to look for in a small indoor infrared heater:
1. It can warm up to 1000 square feet fast (infrared heat warms the people rather than the surrounding air) and requires 1500 watts (or 5200 BTU)
2. It has a built-in thermostat and control that is easy to use
3. It’s safe for children and pets (cool to the touch, with overheating and tip-over protection)
4. It’s portable, lightweight, and easy to carry around
5. It sells for an affordable price (usually under $100)
How Much Does an Indoor Infrared Heater Cost?
Small infrared space heater price ranges from $50 (for a small desktop unit) to $300 for a decorative fireplace-like unit. For a decent model with thermostat control, you can expect to pay about $100-$120.
A higher price does not guarantee better heat distribution or energy savings, which is buy you should compare infrared heaters to get the best bang for the buck.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a 1500-Watt Infrared Heater?
The price of electricity is set per kilowatt-hour and is about $0.15 on average.
When you run a 1500 W infrared heater for an hour, the cost will be $0.15 x 1.5 kW x 1 hour = $0.225.
However, infrared heaters that have an auto energy-saving mode, such as the Dr. Infrared Heater, will cost no more than $0.20 per hour. Another way to reduce the cost is by lowering the thermostat.
The 5 Best Small Infrared Space Heaters
Here are our top 5 choices with their pros and cons:
1. Duraflame Electric Fireplace Best Design
- Size – 25” H x 13.07” D
- Weight – 28.6 lbs.
- Coverage – 1,000 sq. ft.
- BTU – 5200 (1500 W)
✅ $249 on Amazon
The Duraflame 3D infrared fireplace (with thermostat) has an awesome 3D fire experience (with 5 brightness levels) you can see behind the beveled glass door and durable metal construction.
The infrared quartz heat doesn’t dry out the air and spreads the heat up to 1000 square feet – without reducing the humidity in the air.
It comes with a remote control but can also be operated via the control panel on the heater, and is very easy to assemble, operate and move around (relatively lightweight and portable).
You can set the temperature via the thermostat (increments of 2 degrees from 62 F to 82 F).
The Duraflame infrared space heater fireplace is a good choice for a medium-sized room and has high consumer ratings.
Duraflame Infrared Heater Pros
- Overheat protection and automatically shuts off if tipped over
- Beautiful and durable design
- Zone heating saves money
- Only about 12 cents per hour cost to operate
- The flame effect looks real and great
- Noise is unnoticeable in normal circumstances (TV sound/conversation)
Cons
- Some users find the fan a bit noisy (when the room is completely silent)
✅ Available on Amazon ($249)
2. Dr. Infrared Portable Space Heater Best Value
- Size- 13 x 11 x 16 inches
- Weight – 23.5 pounds
- Temperatures – 50-86 F
- Coverage – 1,000 sq. ft.
- BTU – 5200 (1500 W)
✅ $121 on Amazon
The Dr. Infrared portable space heater (with a dual heating system: infrared quartz tube + PTC) has a very nice wood finish and is perfect for any small to medium room. Its wheels make it super easy to move around the rooms in your home.
The heater’s auto temperature ranges from 50 to 86 degrees and can warm 1000 square feet relatively fast while being perfectly safe for kids and pets.
It has three power settings: Auto, Low 1000W, and High 1500W. The auto energy-saving mode keeps the cost to run per hour under $0.20!
A unique feature of this popular space heater is you can upgrade it to include a humidifier. Winter dries the skin and our lungs and this option can relieve dry skin, dry eyes, a stuffy nose, and an itchy throat.
Here are the pros and cons of the Dr. Infrared space heater, according to consumers:
Dr. Infrared Pros
- Safe for kids and pets – overheat and tip-over protection
- Energy-saving – auto energy-saving mode
- Super quiet
- Has a remote control
- Built to last for 80,000 hours in operation.
- 12-hour automatic shut-off timer
Cons
- Not very lightweight – 23 lbs.
- The preferred setting is not saved
The Dr. Infrared heater is pretty much what I was looking for. It heats the space I wanted it for perfectly. It’s easy to adjust the temperature and its good looks don’t detract from the rest of my furniture. It is also highly energy-saving.
✅ Available on Amazon ($121) and at Walmart ($148)
3. Lifesmart 1500W Infrared Heater Most Portable
- Size – 12.4 x 7.5 x 13.5 inches
- Temperatures – 50 F – 97 F in the current version. ECO is locked to 68 F
- Coverage – 1000 sq. ft.
- BTU – 5200 (1500 W)
✅ $90 on Amazon
The Lifesmart infrared heater (with 3 infrared heating elements) is the most lightweight heater I’ve found (weighs only 11 pounds).
The new model has a digital remote control with a backlit LCD screen, and there are 3 energy-saving heat settings – high, low, and eco. The eco setting will heat smaller areas to 68 degrees using only 500 watts.
Surprisingly, the unit “remembers” the temperature and mode (high/low/eco setting) when turning the unit off. You can just turn it on and it heats with your previous settings.
Lifesmart Infrared Heater Pros
- Compact and portable – easy to move around
- Safe – cool to the touch (the front grill gets a little warm but that’s it), overheat, and tip-over shut-off
- 1-year warranty
- Lifetime washable air filter
Cons
- The fan inside can be a bit noisy if you are right next to it.
The Lifesmart infrared heater is a compact and energy-saving infrared heater that is safe and works very well. It’s quiet, the exterior stays cool, and it heats fast.
✅ Available on Amazon ($90)
What is the Smallest Infrared Heater?
The smallest infrared heater you can find is the Heat Storm Portable Infrared Heater, which is only 15 inches high, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. It can heat a 300 sq. ft. room in 2 hours.
- Dimensions – 15” H x 12” W x 12” D
- Weight – 9 pounds
- BTU – 5200 (1500 W)
The 4 quartz heating elements deliver up to 5200 BTU of heating power (small yet powerful), and the digital control pad makes it easy for temperature adjustment.
It weighs only 9 pounds and has a handy carrying handle that you can use to easily move it around.
✅ Available on Amazon ($106)
What is the Best Infrared Heater for a Small Bathroom?
A wall-mounted infrared heater for the bathroom creates a spa-like climate and is space- and energy-saving.
It can be mounted on the wall as a wall heater or on the ceiling as a ceiling heater and creates a pleasant feeling of warmth when in operation.
Through our research, the best infrared heater for a small bathroom is the wall-mounted Heat Storm 1,000-Watt Infrared Quartz Portable Heater:
The Heat Storm 1000W quartz heater is ideal for the bathroom because it uses less than 2 sq. ft. of wall space, won’t interfere with other electronics, is safe to touch (in all areas), and has two power modes (1000W/500W).
With a large digital display and remote control, it’s super easy and convenient to use, and the price is also fair enough.
Right now, you can get it on Amazon for $81.
Do Infrared Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity?
Infrared heat takes just as much electricity as conventional heat to produce it. For example, In California, where residential electricity costs about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour, it costs about 25 cents to run a 1500-watt heater for an hour.
Can You Leave an Infrared Heater On All the Time?
When using infrared heat, the most efficient way to set it up is to work with the temperature settings. Use a specific temperature setting for when you use the space and a different temperature for when you’re not using the space.
To warm and cozy winters,
Meital