Luke Cuenco 01.03.25
Space heaters have saved me from hours of uncomfortable typing over the years throughout the various places I’ve lived. I’m a fairly frugal person when it comes to heating my own home, so most of the time I don’t have the heat running through the whole house at a comfortable level—just enough to keep it livable. For comfort, I often turn to portable heaters so I can keep myself comfortable in my office, the laundry room, shop, and even the garage sometimes. There are larger, more efficient space heaters out there for bigger rooms or more permanent heating solutions, but all of these portable space heaters here are meant for those looking to give whatever small space they’re in a small boost in heat for the winter. So let’s check out some of the best cheap portable space heaters I’ve used within the last couple of years.
The Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater is a favorite and an easy last-minute pickup for anyone feeling a little chilly in a small space. The roughly toaster-sized 120v heater Features a ceramic heating element that can put out a good amount of heat very quickly. Whether you’re warming up a drafty bedroom or a small home office, the Lasko 754200 is widely praised for its blend of efficiency, quiet performance, and simple controls and design (no remotes or programming).
What Makes It Stand Out
- Ceramic Core for Quick Heat: The ceramic heating element warms up fast, so you feel the heat almost immediately after switching it on.
- Adjustable Thermostat: You can dial in your preferred temperature to maintain steady warmth without constantly toggling it on and off.
- Compact & Lightweight: Weighing only a few pounds, you can easily transport it from the study to the living room, or even tuck it under your desk at work.
- Safety and Practicality: In addition to overheat protection—an essential feature—the Lasko 754200 has a cool-touch exterior that helps prevent accidental burns. Its unobtrusive size makes it a good fit for smaller spaces where you don’t want a bulky appliance sticking out.
Some Drawbacks
- Not designed to heat large rooms (best for smaller spaces or spot-heating)
- No remote control or advanced programmable features, which may be a deal-breaker for some
- Somewhat noise for its size and intended proximity to the user
Perfect For
If you’re dealing with a chilly corner in your apartment, want quick warmth in a study room, or need a simple heater for supplemental heat on particularly cold days, the Lasko 754200 checks all those boxes at a wallet-friendly price and is probably available for same-day delivery from most larger cities.
Perfect for bigger rooms like living rooms, small kitchens, and large offices, the Realsmart Portable Electric Infrared Space Heater delivers up to 1500W of infrared heat to warm these bigger spaces more efficiently. The rather large heater has a built-in UVC air purification function that gives it some more year-round utility beyond just heating, as well as helping to reduce airborne particles as it circulates its warmth. The heater comes with an LCD display, remote control, and three distinct heating modes.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Infrared Technology: Provides fast, even heat that penetrates the air for consistent warmth without significantly drying it out.
- UVC Air Purification: Helps neutralize certain airborne impurities, adding an extra layer of functionality beyond basic heating.
- Multiple Heating Modes & LCD Display: Switch among three heat settings for different levels of warmth; the bright LCD makes monitoring and adjustments straightforward.
- Convenient Remote & Safety Features: Control temperature and modes from across the room and don’t worry about tipping the unit over with its auto-off tipping feature.
Some Drawbacks
- Higher price tag than simpler ceramic heaters, which may be overkill if you only need spot heating just at your desk or at your personal seat
- Infrared heaters work best in enclosed spaces; large, drafty areas like garages and small shops may see slower results
- The UVC feature might be unnecessary for users just seeking a quick and simple heat boost
Perfect For
If you want a robust, feature-rich heater capable of warming a bigger room—and appreciate bonus perks like UVC air purification—this Realsmart 1500W Infrared Space Heater delivers. Families, home-office workers, and anyone seeking a more comprehensive air-care solution may find it especially appealing, given its blend of infrared technology and multi-layered safety.
The Brightown Ceramic Space Heater is an ultra-compact device that still packs enough punch to keep you comfortable. It’s perfect for fitting under a desk, in a cramped dorm room, or tucked away in a small bedroom corner. Despite the budget-friendly cost, it’s often given positive ratings for having quick heating, and a decent amount of overall heat output compared to similar budget models.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Rapid Ceramic Heating: Warms up almost instantly, offering a quick source of heat for your hands or feet
- Easy Controls: Typically outfitted with a simple set of dials for heat settings (high/low) and thermostat adjustments—no complicated screens or extra features.
- Space-Saving Design: The heater has a fairly small footprint (about the size of a .30 caliber ammo can) and comes with a convenient carrying handle.
Some Drawbacks
- Limited to heating very small or enclosed areas; not effective for larger living rooms
- Fewer bells and whistles than pricier competitors (e.g., no timer or remote control)
- Users report fairly noticeable white noise as well as somewhat fragile mounting between the power cable and the unit.
Perfect For
If you need a quick heat boost for your immediate area—like warming your feet at a desk or taking the edge off a chilly RV nook—the Brightown Ceramic Space Heater shines as a simple, affordable choice. Once winter’s over, it’s easy to store away due to its petite size.
This modern, tower-style heater from GiveBest offers five distinct operating modes—High, Low, ECO, Fan, and Freeze—so you can tailor your indoor climate control year-round. The sleek, upright design helps save floor space, while the built-in touch panel and included remote simplify day-to-day use. It’s designed for rooms that need efficient yet varied heating and cooling options in one convenient device.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Five Operating Modes: High and Low for heating, Fan mode for mild conditions, ECO to balance warmth and energy savings, and Freeze mode for frost prevention.
- Tower-Style with Oscillation: The tall, slim design rotates to deliver warmth throughout the room without taking up much surface area.
- User-Friendly Touch Panel & Remote: Seamlessly control temperature, mode, and oscillation with either the top-panel display or a handy remote.
- Timer & Safety Features: Includes an adjustable timer (up to 8 hours) plus tip-over and overheat protection, giving you peace of mind for extended use.
Some Drawbacks
- Higher initial cost compared to basic compact heaters
- The tall form factor may feel less portable for frequent room-to-room moves
- Not ideal for extremely large spaces, as it’s still best suited for medium to smaller rooms like a small den, office, or bedroom.
- Touch controls can be a bit finicky depending on the ambient temperature and the temperature of your hands
Perfect For
If you’re after a sleek, modern tower heater that offers multiple ways to warm (or cool) a space, this GiveBest Touch Panel Tower has a lot more options than many of the others on this list but it will come in at about twice the price as well (at least if you buy direct). Its combination of robust safety features, versatile settings, and very modern controls makes it particularly appealing for multi-purpose areas that could use some more direct climate control than what your space currently offers.
Replacing older discontinued models like the HCE100B Heat Bud Heater, the Honeywell Two Position Heater And Fan (HHF250) offers flexible positioning and year-round utility as well as some much-needed convenience updates. Its two-position design makes it easy to direct heat where you need it most, and the integrated fan mode can be manually switched on without the heater to provide a small personal breeze in warmer months. The heater comes with more modern safety features than its smaller predecessor and also sports a modern streamlined look, making it a worthy pick for small rooms or personal workspaces.
What Makes It Stand Out
- 2-in-1 Heater & Fan: Enjoy cozy warmth in cold weather and simple air circulation during hotter days.
- Adjustable Tilt & Two Positions: Tilt the unit or set it upright for directed heating or cooling exactly where you need it.
- Enhanced Safety Features: Includes overheat protection and cool-touch housing, providing extra peace of mind during extended use.
Some Drawbacks
- May not be powerful enough to heat larger areas, especially open-concept living spaces
- Limited settings compared to more advanced models (no remote or digital thermostat)
- Plastic construction may not appeal to those seeking a more premium build or for something that fits with a specific aesthetic
Perfect For
If you’re looking for a personal heater that also offers fan functionality in a compact form, the Honeywell HHF250 is one of the newest options on this list and is great for cubicle spaces, small bathrooms, bedrooms, or reading nooks that will benefit most from its direct, targeted heat and the ability to redirect airflow according to your comfort needs.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the best budget-friendly electric heater often depends on your specific space and preferences. For those who need quick, high-powered warmth in a small living area, the Lasko 754200 or the very inexpensive Brightown option – both of those are less than $40 and that makes them cheap enough to replace if you accidentally break one or it fails for some reason.
If desk-level or personal heat is your main concern, the now discontinued Honeywell Heat Bud used to be my go-to suggestion for people due to its size, but now I’d probably recommend the HHF250 from Honeywell as it fills roughly the same role while only being marginally larger. Finally, if you’re looking for a more versatile, year-round option, the Realsmart 1500W Portable Electric Infrared Space Heater is a style of heater I’ve used for years and is a fairly hassle-free way to heat a small 10×10 room up quickly. I hope some of these options that I’ve recommended work for you, please let us know what other sort of lifestyle product roundups you’d like to see here at OutdoorHub.com!
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