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Shivering in a drafty house while trying to relax or work is less than ideal. Sure, you could throw on a fleece jacket or switch on the electric kettle for a mug of hot tea, but the only way you'll truly feel toasty is by warming up the air. Rather than crank up the thermostat, a space heater is a much better — and more efficient — solution, as they do an excellent job of raising the temperature in smaller rooms, like a home office.
Luckily, you don't have to spend a ton to be cozy, as there are plenty of cheap space heaters on the market. That said, it's worth paying a bit extra for a model from a top brand, because you don't want risk safety getting an electrical product with a suspiciously low price point, and questionable quality (never mind bogus reviews).
Read on for the best cheap space heaters well worth considering — all $40 or less — plus all the details you need to know before buying.
The Best Cheap Space Heaters
What to Consider
There are several important factors to nail down to find the best cheap space heater for you, including room size, number of settings, safety features, and more. Here's an overview of what to keep in mind while you shop.
Type
Most of the models we write about are fan space heaters, with internal electric coils that generate heat and blow warm air into a room. Some models are convection space heaters, which radiate heat given off by internal ceramic plates and tend to be a quieter option. There are also oil-filled and infrared electric space heaters, but they're typically more expensive.
Coverage
A good rule of thumb to figure out coverage is to allow roughly 10 watts for every square foot. So, if a space heater puts on 900 watts on low and 1,500 watts on high, you can expect it to heat rooms that are 90 and 150 square feet, respectively.
Settings
Compact space heaters on the lower end of the price spectrum typically offer a max of 1,500 watts, and many offer a lower setting that can range from 700 to 900 watts, along with a fan-only setting. Some include eco mode, which automatically switches to a lower setting when the room temperature reaches, say, 75 degrees. Most space heaters also have adjustable temperatures, and many feature optional oscillation.
Safety
You'll almost always find cheap space heaters that include overheat protection. Tip-over auto-shutoff and an exterior that stays cool to the touch during operation are others safety features to look out for, particularly if you have small children.
Warranty
A 1-year limited warranty is somewhat standard, though some brands offer a 3-year or an extended 5-year warranty. While a shorter warranty may not be a dealbreaker for a product in this price range, it's always nice to know you have protection if something goes wrong.
Extras
Topping the list of nice-to-have extras are a remote control, timer, and programmable thermostat. A top handle or an integrated handle in the back of the unit is fairly common. You won't find smart functionality at this low price point, but there are space heaters with digital controls versus manual.
How We Selected
All of the cheap space heaters we write about have an average customer rating of at least 4 stars, and the majority of our picks are 4.5 stars and up. During our research, we only considered models from well-respected, established brands, including Lasco, Vornado, Honeywell, Black+Decker, and Dreo. We also made selections based on first-hand knowledge of space heaters, and considered Popular Mechanic's tested guide on the best space heaters.
Looking for more ways to warm up your home? Check out our stories on the best electric fireplaces, the best garage heaters, and the best fireplaces TV stands.
This space heater takes our top spot for its design and excellent lineup of features, and several nice-to-have extras. For starters, there's a brushless DC motor that generates up to 1,500 watts of power and four settings, including eco-mode and fan-only mode.
We love seeing the digital temperature front and center, which adjusts manually on the top control panel or via remote in 1-degree increments. It also has optional 70-degree oscillation.
Other major highlights include a programmable thermostat, 12-hour timer, and a detachable, washable filter, plus safety features like overheat protection and tip-over auto-shutoff. It weighs about 4 pounds, and there's an integrated handle in the back, plus a 5-year extendable warranty.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 6.7 x 10.3 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 4 |
| Coverage | Up to 200 square feet |
| Warranty | 1-year limited, 5 years |
If you're looking a value-packed cheap space heater, this one from Amazon Basics is a solid choice. It matches much of the competition in terms of features — including 1,500 watts, fan-only mode, an adjustable thermostat, and optional oscillation — all for about $30 at the time of this writing.
The space heater weighs just under 3 pounds and has an integrated handle in the back, plus it comes in black or the metallic silver that's shown. There's also tip-over auto-shutoff and overheat protection.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 7.5 x 6.3 x 10 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 3 |
| Coverage | Not listed |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Black+Decker’s 1,500-watt space heater has nearly all the same specs as our value pick, except its low heat setting is slightly more powerful at 900 watts, and it comes in a sleeker, smaller package.
Top features include two heat settings and fan-only mode, along with an adjustable thermostat and an integrated handle in the back. It weighs only 3 pounds and comes in black or white, plus there’s overheat protection and a tip-over auto-shutoff.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 7.5 x 6.3 x 9.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 3 |
| Coverage | Not listed |
| Warranty | 1 year |
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4
Best for the Workshop
Lasko Stanley Ceramic Space Heater
If your garage or basem*nt workshop tends to be drafty and you don't want to spend a ton to warm it up, this space heater is your best bet. Like many of the models we cover it offers 1,500 watts of power, two heat settings, and fan-only mode, but perhaps the best reason to buy it is its rugged build, with an easy-grip handle and wide, sturdy base.
It also features an adjustable thermostat and overheat protection, plus it comes with a 3-year warranty, but it doesn't have tip-over auto-shutoff.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 8.7 x 6.8 x 11.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 3 |
| Coverage | Up to 150 square feet |
| Warranty | 3 years |
This slim tower space heater from Lasko is a great and cheap choice for a home office or anyplace that lacks square footage. It has a small footprint with 5.5 x 4–inch base and stands 14 inches tall, featuring 1,500 watts on high, optional oscillation, and energy-saving eco-mode that automatically switches the space heater to low when the room temperature hits 75 degrees.
It comes with a 3-year warranty, has overheat protection, and the exterior stays cool during operation, but it lacks tip-over auto-shutoff, which is a definite omission, especially for space heater that’s this tall and thin.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 4 x 14.1 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 3 |
| Coverage | Not listed |
| Warranty | 3 years |
If you're in the market for a cheap and powerful personal space heater for desk that looks as good as it performs, your search ends here.
This adorable model from Honeywell is about as big as an old-fashioned alarm clock, featuring 1,500 watts of power on high, two heat settings, and an adjustable thermostat, plus a tip-over switch and overheat protection. It also has rubber feet to keep it stable, a rear hinge for changing the angle of airflow, and it comes in black or white.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 8 x 6.8 x 5.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 2 |
| Coverage | Not listed |
| Warranty | 3 years |
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7
Best With Handle
Lasko Oscillating Space Heater With Handle
Pros
3-year warranty
Cons
- 300 square feet of coverage is questionable
Here’s another option from Lasko that’s relatively compact and has solid features, including a top handle, oscillating base, and an adjustable thermostat. There are two heat settings, with 1,500 watts of power on high and 900 watts on low, along with fan-only mode.
As for safety, there’s overheat protection and the exterior stays cool while it’s on, though there’s no mention of tip-over auto shutoff. Also, we question its ability to heat rooms up to 300 square feet as listed (it’s likely closer to 150 square feet), and it’s worth noting that the spec isn’t reflected in the product information on Lasko’s website.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 6 x 4.5 x 9.2 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 3 |
| Coverage | Up to 300 square feet |
| Warranty | 3 years |
This mini personal space heater is perfect for a bedside nightstand, work desk, or even a nursery, as it operates using quieter convection technology rather than forced-air heat.
While it doesn't offer features in line with larger models, like multiple heat settings and an adjustable thermostat, it does have tip-over auto shutoff for safety. Plus, if you want to add a pop of color to a room, it comes in hot pink and the bright blue that's shown, along with black or white.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 5.9 x 3.2 x 6 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 500 |
| Settings | 1 |
| Coverage | Not listed |
| Warranty | Not listed |
There's a lot to like about this compact, lightweight Lasko space heater. It delivers up to 1,500 watts of power, offers two heat settings and fan-only mode, and an adjustable thermostat, plus its 8-foot cord is longer than any other model in our lineup.
This inexpensive option features overheat protection and a tip-over safety switch, and like other space heaters we cover from brand, it comes with a 3-year warranty. There's also an integrated handle in the back and weighs less than 3 pounds.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 9.2 x 7 x 6 inches |
|---|---|
| Max Wattage | 1,500 |
| Settings | 3 |
| Coverage | Up to 100 square feet |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Rachel Klein
Senior Commerce Editor
Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend.
