The 7 Best Infrared Heaters of 2023

Best Overall

Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Heating Performance
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Safety
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Versatility
  3/5

If your home doesn't have a built-in fireplace (or you want something more functional than a decorative faux fireplace), this charming infrared heater is the next best thing. We've tested the Duraflame stove in our lab, as well as at home, and it continues to be one of our favorite space heaters due to its good looks; safety features; perks, like the remote control; and the ability to customize settings, such as heat and lighting.

It's designed to look like a wood stove, with a flickering-flame effect (complete with fake logs and embers). "The logs glow to look like a real fire box, so it's also decorative," said our tester. We also appreciated how quiet the heater was and how easy it was to assemble—you simply screw on the legs. It has an adjustable digital thermostat and auto-shutoff protection. You can run it with both lighting and heat or with just the lighting for a cozy ambiance, at any time of year. Handy hooks on the back can corral the cord when you aren't using it.

This heater has multiple settings for brightness and temperature, and a remote control, so you can adjust for your specific preferences without having to leave your couch. (However, we thought the remote's instructions could have been written more clearly.) The heater is also quite powerful: With 5,200 BTUs, it should work well in a space of up to 1,000 square feet.

It's been tested by the Underwriters' Laboratory (UL), which Micetich says is an important consideration. "Both UL and ETL [Electrical Testing Laboratories, also called Intertek] are nationally recognized energy testing standards, and if your heater has one of these certifications, that's a great thing," she says.

Price at time of publish: $290

_{Dimensions: 25 x 29 x 12 inches | Weight: 26.4 pounds | Voltage: 120V | Wattage: 1,500W | Power Source: Corded electric}

Best Portable

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Heating Performance
  5/5
• Design
  2/5
• Safety
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Versatility
  5/5

When choosing a space heater, room size is an important factor to consider. This portable, UL-certified heater on wheels is designed to heat rooms up to 1,000 square feet. We originally tested this box-shape model at home, but have since tested it in our lab along with 30 other space heaters. "It does look a little bit old-fashioned," our lab tester acknowledged, "but I think in the right room, it could be a nice accent piece."

We like that it comes with multiple safety features, including tip-over and overheat protection, and an automatic shutoff timer. We tested the tip-over protection feature and it worked successfully, but we also noted that because of the wheels, the unit is difficult to upend in most cases. Besides high and low modes, it has an eco mode, which uses a mix of high and low to determine the most environmentally sound way to heat the room.

The unit comes with a remote control and uses two types of space heating technology to take the chill out of a space: One is quartz infrared and the other is called PTC (positive temperature coefficient), which means it self-regulates based on the room's air temperature. But one downside we noticed is that the heater doesn't warm as well as we had hoped, and there wasn't a huge difference between the high and low settings.

"The heat does not disperse in the room very well, but it is good if you're right next to it," our tester reported, adding that given the price, they hoped it would be more powerful. However, our home tester disagreed, saying this heater did a good job of heating up her bedroom. "I was very impressed with its performance and its ability to heat my large primary bedroom evenly," they said. "I set the temperature at 70, and the room heated up in less than a half hour, even with outdoor temperatures near freezing."

We noted that the timer can be set only using the remote control, which could be a problem if it's ever lost; also that the unit can be powered on only manually, not via remote (no flipping it on from bed on a chilly morning). Despite these shortcomings, we believe this is a solid choice given the handy wheels, reliability, and attractive profile that “doesn't look like a tower fan," as one of our testers noted.

Price at time of publish: $122

_{Dimensions: 13 x 12.5 x 17 inches | Weight: 24 pounds | Voltage: 120V | Wattage: 1,500 watts  | Power Source: Corded electric}

Best Wall-Mounted

Heat Storm Phoenix Infrared Space Heater

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Heating Performance
  4/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Safety
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

If you are contemplating whether or not to install an electric wall heater, this slim heater, which is ETL certified, gives you the option to mount it on a wall or set up it on the floor, thanks to its removable feet. It's only recommended for smaller spaces of about 300 square feet, so we suggest it for a bedroom or home office. However, it's compact and thin, so it doesn't take up much space on the wall or on the floor, making it a great pick for small rooms. The filter can be removed and washed, and those with small kids can appreciate that even the front grill doesn't get hot to the touch.

We do have good news/bad news about some of this product's features. When we performed the tip-over test in our lab, the heat shut off as expected (and displayed an error message), but the fan continued to run. You can control the heater using a handy smartphone app, but some testers initially experienced some glitches. We found the included remote a bit small and had to push the buttons several times to get the heater settings to change. We also noted that the feet seemed stable, but a bit flimsy. If you choose not to mount it, this is something to keep in mind, as the feet may not hold up over time.

Price at time of publish: $122

_{Dimensions: 18 x 4.5 x 12 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Voltage: 120V | Wattage: 1,500 watts  | Power Source: Corded electric}

Best Design

EdenPure Gen40 Infrared Space Heater & Fan

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This simple-looking, oval-shaped heater can be used to warm a room or as a cooling fan, so you can use it year-round. The streamlined shape makes it less boxy than many of its competitors, and it comes with a remote control. It's designed to heat rooms that are up to 1,000 square feet and uses infrared as well as convective heating, which warms the air. It has cUTLus certification, which means it has passed safety standards in the United States and Canada.

The heater can be set to oscillate to cover a wider area, or be still if you want to target the heat in one direction. Plus, you can adjust the vents so they point upward or downward. There are multiple safety features, including tip-over protection, and some users found it so sensitive that the heater would turn off even if gently bumped.

A common complaint is the heater is noisy when it's running on the high setting. It also doesn't have a thermostat, so it doesn't automatically switch off when the room reaches the desired temperature. However, there is a built-in timer function, and you can choose between 2-, 4-, and 8-hour intervals.

Price at time of publish: $279

_{Dimensions: 20 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 5.3 pounds | Voltage: 110-120V | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Power Source: Corded electric}

Best Splurge

EdenPURE CopperSMART

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This ETL-certified device is named for the copper used to make its positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element, which, unlike traditional heating bulbs, never needs replacing. It has 24 heat settings, so you can play around with it and find your sweet spot. You can operate it in high or low mode, and a remote control is included. At nearly 24 pounds, it's a bit of a beast if you need to bring it from one level to another in your home.

This electric heater includes a washable lifetime filter that can be cleaned using warm water and mild dish soap. The manufacturer claims it heats "small to large rooms," and we’ve noted that it works well even under a vaulted ceiling, despite the manufacturer's recommendation to avoid using it in such a room. It also comes with safety features such as tip-over protection, overheat protection, and auto reboot, which helps it recover in the event of a power outage or surge. The entire exterior stays cool to the touch, making it a nice option for families with young children. All in all, it checks off a lot of boxes when it comes to features and key considerations for infrared heaters.

Price at time of publish: $447

_{Dimensions: 17 x 13 x 16 inches | Weight: 23.9 pounds | Voltage: 120V | Wattage: 1,500W | Power Source: Corded electric}

Best Budget

Black+Decker Indoor Infrared Heater with E-Save Function

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Although this ETL-certified heater is compact—it would be perfect under a desk in a chilly office—it's powerful and packed with features. It has five temperature settings, from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit as well as an energy-saving feature. It's also very lightweight (just over 2 pounds!) and has a convenient carry handle. 

Because of its small size, it's not meant to heat up a massive space, although some users with large rooms said it worked surprisingly well. The fan is not especially noisy, but we’ve noted a buzzing sound on the lowest setting. Note that although the Black+Decker does have overheat protection, it doesn't have tip-over protection, so it might not be well-suited for a home with young children or rambunctious pets.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.4 x 9.2 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Voltage: 120V | Wattage: 1,500 watts  | Power Source: Corded electric}