The 8 Best Energy-Efficient Space Heaters Of 2023

If you've ever worked in an office or lived in a building that stays drafty all year long, you're likely familiar with the search for a great space heater. Along with keeping you warm and cozy, these small devices are a great way to cut down your heating costs and save energy while you're at it.

Rather than adjusting your entire building's heat system, the best energy-efficient space heaters will add warmth just to the rooms you use the most.

In general, space heaters can be divided into two main types: convection and radiant. Convection heaters warm the ambient air by passing it over a heating element, whereas radiant heaters emit infrared radiation to warm people and objects nearby, not the surrounding air.

In general, radiant space heaters, commonly referred to as infrared heaters, are among the most energy-efficient options because it takes less energy to emit radiation than heat the air.

There are certainly energy-efficient convection heaters, too, but the EPA doesn't currently label space heaters as an Energy Star–qualified product—which can make choosing an energy-efficient space heater a bit difficult.

If you're in the market for a quality and durable space heater this is a great option, as ceramic heaters are generally a more efficient type of convection heaters. Choose from low or high settings, or opt for ECO mode to maintain your ideal temperature with the least amount of energy. The tower design helps this machine heat large spaces, and it’s also WiFi-enabled—a unique feature that allows you to control it from anywhere.

The Dreo Solaris Max is a great space heater if you prefer a digital thermostat. It allows you to program and control the temperature of the room from 41 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, in 1 degree increments. With overheat protection and the ability to heat up to 270 square feet., this heater is perfect for a variety of smaller spaces. Choose from high (1,500 watt), medium (900 watt), or low (700 watt) heat settings, or save on your energy bills by selecting ECO mode.

This space heater combines the energy-efficiency of infrared technology with the comfort and warmth of convection devices, to heat spaces up to 1,000 square feet. Choose between the energy-saving auto mode, high (1,500 watt), or low (1,000 watt) settings to warm your space to your desired temperature, and rest easy knowing that the dual-heating system produces more heat than other heaters of the same wattage.

With carbon infrared technology to efficiently warm people and objects, this is a great energy-efficient pick that can be used outside or indoors. It has three heating levels: 900 watt, 1200 watt, and 1500 watt—and, while it is on the larger side, this heater is actually quite portable. You can mount it to the wall or ceiling if you want to save space, or stand it up like a tripod as pictured.

Another wall-mountable option, this energy-saving space heater automatically adjusts the temperature and power settings to maintain a consistent and comfortable temperature. The dual-lateral fan offers improved heat distribution to warm any small room quickly and evenly. It’s also more aesthetically pleasing than many others on the market, so you can keep your home the sanctuary that it is.

This heater’s maximum electricity output is only 400 megawatts, compared to other space heaters with outputs of 1,500 megawatts or more. As a result, this space heater can provide consistent warmth in small spaces, using less energy at a lower cost.

The EconoHome convection heater is designed to be mounted to the wall and can even be painted to match the room aesthetic. Although it's lacking digital temperature control, it does offer a plug-in thermostat to help you customize the heat settings to your liking.

While it does get a lot of positive feedback on Amazon, the overall rating is a bit lower than we’d prefer: 3.7 out of 5 stars. It seems any negative reviews are all regarding a smell, but the majority of customers argue that there is no such odor.

Designed to evenly distribute radiant heat throughout the room, this heater is perfect for smaller spaces. Aside from its three basic modes—max (1,500 watt), medium (800 watt), and min (700 watt)—you can also customize your settings with the Anti-Frost or ECO Plus functions, which help save 20% to 40% on energy usage. There’s a digital control panel for setting temperature, along with timer capabilities that are twice as long as many standard space heaters.

You can’t beat the quality for this price point. This ceramic space heater offers two heat settings and an energy save setting, which uses 30% less energy than a typical space heater. While it isn’t suited for larger rooms (most of these aren’t), it's compact size and sleek, modern design make a great, energy-efficient addition to any space.

There is no LED display, but you can use the built-in buttons to select fixed temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Space heaters are a great way to quickly and easily heat a smaller room in your home. They can be especially helpful if you have a drafty space or want to save on energy costs by only heating the rooms you use the most.

On the other hand, if you're looking to heat a large space or multiple rooms throughout the house, our experts advise that space heaters are not the best option.

"Making sure your home is effectively insulated can be an effective way to ensure that heat remains in the home. Invest in attic insulation, weatherstripping or caulking around windows, window insulation sheets, draft excluders, and more to help better regulate temperature at home," says Walter.

Energy-efficient space heaters are an easy, eco-friendly way to warm up a small space. Whether you're looking for a model to take the chill out of your home office or bedroom or you want to sit outside on a chilly night, this list has got you covered.