The Best Space Heaters for Small Rooms, Tested and Reviewed (The Ones Actually Worth Buying)

Space heaters can take a freezing little room from miserable to livable, but they’re not all equal. Some roar like a shop vac, some barely move the needle on the thermostat, and some are honestly more stress than they’re worth.

Here’s a breakdown of the types of heaters that actually work in small rooms, with specific models people keep going back to because they’re reliable, simple, and safe when used correctly.

Always follow the manual, keep heaters away from bedding, curtains, and furniture, and plug them straight into the wall—not a power strip.

Best overall ceramic heater for most small rooms: Vornado VH200

The Vornado VH200 shows up on “best heater” lists over and over for a reason. It doesn’t just blast hot air in one direction—it circulates warm air around the room, so it feels evenly warm instead of baking your shins and leaving the rest of the space cold.

It has three heat settings, a real thermostat, tip-over shutoff, and overheat protection. For a small bedroom, office, or den, you can turn it on, let it settle into a temperature, and it’ll cycle on and off instead of running full blast nonstop. Noise-wise, it’s more of a gentle fan sound than a roar, which makes a big difference if you’re working or watching TV.

Best budget pick under around $40: Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater

If you just want something that works and doesn’t cost half a paycheck, the Lasko 754200 Ceramic Portable Space Heater is usually the go-to budget pick. It’s tiny, simple, and surprisingly powerful for its size.

You get two heat settings plus a fan-only mode, a basic thermostat dial, and built-in overheat protection. It’s not fancy and it’s not silent, but it warms up a small room or office fast. This is the kind of heater you keep in the hall closet and grab every winter for that one room the central heat never quite reaches.

Best quiet heater for bedrooms: De’Longhi oil-filled radiator

For sleeping spaces, a lot of people prefer something that doesn’t blow air at all. An oil-filled radiator like the De’Longhi TRD40615E (or similar De’Longhi compact models) is great for that. It takes longer to warm up, but once it does, you get a steady, quiet heat.

There’s no fan noise, no glowing red element, and the warmth feels softer and more even. It’s on wheels so you can roll it where you need it, and it has a thermostat plus multiple heat settings. It’s ideal for keeping a small bedroom comfortable all night without the heater kicking on and off loudly next to your head.

Best slim heater when floor space is tight: Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX wall-mount

If your small room barely has room for furniture—much less a big heater—a slim panel style helps. The Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX is a popular wall-mountable infrared heater that doesn’t hog floor space. You can also use it freestanding with the legs if you don’t want to commit to mounting.

It has a digital thermostat, timer, and remote, and it’s designed to warm people and surfaces in the room, not just the air right in front of it. This is a nice option for tiny offices, bonus rooms, or anywhere you don’t want to trip over a heater every time you walk by.

Best under-desk personal heater: Lasko MyHeat

When the whole house is fine but your feet are freezing at your desk, a full-size heater is overkill. The Lasko MyHeat Personal Ceramic Heater is a little 200-watt cube that tucks right under your desk and warms your legs without changing the temperature in the entire room.

It has a simple on/off switch and built-in overheat protection. It’s not meant to heat a whole bedroom, but for one person sitting still at a desk, it makes a big difference. It’s also nice if you’re sharing a space and don’t want everyone else complaining that you turned the room into a sauna.

Best compact heater for kids’ rooms: Honeywell UberHeat HCE200

For small bedrooms where kids or pets are around, stability and safety features matter just as much as heat output. The Honeywell UberHeat HCE200 is a compact ceramic heater with a wide, solid base, overheat protection, and tip-over shutoff.

It’s strong enough to warm a small bedroom but not so huge that it dominates the space. You get two heat settings and a simple thermostat dial. It’s also not covered in bright lights or complicated controls, which is nice if it’s living in a kid’s room and you don’t want them constantly playing with buttons.

Best oil-filled budget option: Pelonis NY1507-14A

If you like the idea of an oil-filled radiator but don’t want to pay top De’Longhi prices, the Pelonis NY1507-14A (or similar Pelonis models) is a good budget alternative. It’s another quiet, slow-and-steady style heater that works well in small bedrooms, offices, or living rooms where you’ll be sitting for a while.

It usually includes three heat settings and an adjustable thermostat. Once it warms up, it keeps the room comfortable without blowing dust around or drying your sinuses out. It’s not the heater you grab for a quick ten-minute warm-up, but it’s great for “let’s keep this space cozy all evening” without constant babysitting.

Best all-around pick if you only want one heater: Dreo Atom One

If you’d rather buy one modern heater that can bounce between rooms and does a little of everything, the Dreo Atom One is a solid all-around choice. It’s a compact ceramic tower with strong airflow for quick warming, a digital thermostat, multiple heat modes (including eco), and built-in tip-over and overheat protection.

It’s small enough for bedrooms and offices but strong enough to pull part-time duty in a larger living room if you’re just trying to take the chill off. The controls are simple, the footprint is small, and it doesn’t look like an eyesore if it ends up living in full view all winter.

Pick your heater based on how you actually use the room—quick warm-ups, all-night comfort, or personal heat at a desk—and match it to one of these. That alone will save you from a lot of “this thing barely does anything” regret.