The 7 Best Baseboard Heaters of 2020

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Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Cadet 240-Volt Electric Baseboard Heater at Home Depot

"With its versatile appearance, even heating, and quiet operation, this easy-to-install heater suits all types of needs."

Best Budget:

Fahrenheat Electric Baseboard Heater at Lowe's

"At 1000W, this under-$50 heater isn't the most powerful, but it's efficient enough keep your living space warm during cold spells."

Best Electric:

Stelpro Bella Electric Baseboard Heater at Home Depot

"This sleek, modern-looking heater is best used in smaller spaces, though you can pair it with another for greater heat output."

Best Hydronic:

Cadet Hydronic Electric Baseboard Heater at Home Depot

"Quieter, safer, and generally more efficient than an electric heater, this hydronic model is a good choice for just about any room."

Best for Large Rooms:

Fahrenheat Hydronic Baseboard Heater at Home Depot

"While a bit pricier, this heater's longer length and higher power output means that it can heat spaces up to 300 square feet."

Best Portable:

Lasko Portable Baseboard Heater at Wayfair

"Besides being portable, this model also stands out for its silent operation, automatic overheating protection, and timer."

Best 120V:

King 120-volt Baseboard Heater at Home Depot

"If your home isn't wired to support a 240V heater (that is, if it has only one circuit), this 3,413 BTU model will be a good fit."

Baseboard heaters are a typical solution for warming up drafty rooms or removing the chill from any living area in your house. While not often used as a primary heat source, electric baseboard heaters are a great option for supplemental heat.

Available in varying lengths to fit different room sizes and with 1,000 to 2,000 watts of power, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to finding a baseboard heater to fit your needs. Typical convection baseboard heaters draw cool air over a heating element and release warm air in exchange. Hydronic baseboard heaters are slower to warm up but use a sealed heating element inside of oil to release heat into the room. The advantage of this type of baseboard heater is very quiet, even heat, but they typically cost more than convection baseboard heaters.

For toasty temperatures in any room in the house or to save money with zone heating, consider these top options for the best baseboard heaters.

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For reliable, even heating and quiet operation, this 1,500-watt baseboard heater from Cadet is a popular pick. Like most residential baseboard heaters, this model requires a hardwired connection to a 240-volt electrical supply. Installation is simple and straightforward, thanks to universal wiring—which allows for installation at either end of the heater.

Designed with a frills-free look and a powder-coated finish for durability, this baseboard heater uses convection heating to warm rooms up to 200 square feet in size. Reviewers consistently comment on how quiet and effective this baseboard heater is, making it a go-to choice when shopping for heating solutions.

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Spend less but stay warm with a budget baseboard heater, like this 1,000-watt model from Fahrenheat. Measuring 48 inches long and with a 3,413 BTU rating, this heater is not the most powerful on the market but is an affordable option for a baseboard heater under $50. Some reviewers mention it’s noisier than a hydronic baseboard heater—which is to be expected, but it’s well-suited for heating up living areas, bathrooms, kitchens, and more.

If you find that you need to increase heating power in your living space, you also might choose to install a pair of these budget baseboard heaters to amplify the impact. In any case, this model is an affordable but efficient option for apartments, homes, or offices that battle to maintain heat during spells of cold weather.

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The best thing about this electric baseboard is its sleek look. When compared to other conventional baseboard heaters, the Stelpro Bella stands out with a smooth façade and slim profile. Like other electric baseboard options, it must be hardwired to a 240-volt electrical supply. It has 600 watts of power and a heat output of 2,048 BTU. It’s best suited for smaller spaces, or use a pair of these high-end baseboard heaters for a modern-looking heating solution.

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You might choose a hydronic baseboard heater for energy efficiency, quiet operation, or safety features—or all three. This type of baseboard heater, while more costly, uses an enclosed element that heats the oil, an excellent conductor of heat. Even after shutting off, the mineral oil inside the Cadet SoftHeat continues to radiate warmth—maintaining room temperature while conserving energy usage.

A hydronic baseboard heater like this one means there are no exposed heating elements that might be touched by children or pets. It’s a good choice for just about any room in the house, but because it is so quiet compared to other types of baseboard heaters, it’s often used in bedrooms.

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For large rooms, it makes sense to shop for baseboard heaters in longer lengths and with higher outputs of power to really distribute heat throughout the space. This 94-inch baseboard heater from Fahrenheat makes a good option and has 2,000 watts of power and an impressive heat output of 6,826 BTU, which is more than many other residential models on the market. In addition, this is a hydronic baseboard heater and it operates very quietly according to reviewers.

Users have installed this baseboard heater in rooms between 200 and 300 square feet with good success, and recommend it as an efficient, quiet means of heating any space in your home. However, you’ll pay more for this model, due to its larger dimensions and hydronic heater technology.

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If you don’t have the ability to hardwire a baseboard heater, or you’re looking for a more portable option, consider this model from Lasko. With 1,500 watts of heating power and 5,118 BTU, this baseboard heater can handle heating up to 300 square feet of space. Unlike conventional baseboard heaters, there’s no need to hardwire this heater into place, and it operates in a standard 120-volt outlet.

Aside from being a portable baseboard heater, this model also stands out for its virtually silent operation and convenient features, like a timer. Reviewers rave about the lack of popping, clicking, or hissing noises from this quiet baseboard heater. And while it may be easy to forget that this baseboard heater is operating, a timer, automatic overheating protection, and tip-over safety shutoff provide peace of mind.

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While most baseboard heaters require a 240-volt connection, not every home is wired to support it. If you’re shopping for 120-volt baseboard heaters, your options will be more limited, but this 1,000-watt model from King is one to consider. Keep in mind that 120-volt baseboard heaters are not necessarily more energy-efficient than their 240-volt counterparts but might be necessary for the type of wiring you have.

With a length of 48 inches and 3,413 BTUs, this baseboard heater will do a good job of warming up smaller rooms. While it still needs to be hardwired to an electrical supply, the 120-volt requirement only requires a single circuit versus the two circuits needed for 240-volt models. The convection heater works in much the same manner as typical 240-volt baseboard heaters but allows for greater flexibility when it comes to installing this source of supplemental heat.