If you have lived long enough, and in cold enough climates, you probably have memories of old tin box space heaters. The ones that were too hot to touch, rattled and banged and sometimes squealed, and maybe kept your feet warm–on a good day.
Not any more. Modern space heaters are cool, quiet, and efficient–warming about one square foot of floor space for every 10 watts of power. Here are some of the best, quietest, and most efficient heaters available.
| Top 6 Quietest Space Heaters | Why It's Best | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater | Ceramic heater. Less than 45 decibels. 3 speed fan. Thermostatic control. Heats up to 200 sq. ft. in minutes. | ★★★★★ |
| Aikoper Oil Filled Portable Space Heater | Silent operation. 2 dial easy control. Keeps 200 sq. ft. warm. Cool surface temperature. | ★★★★★ |
| Dr Infrared DR998 Space Heater | Whisper quiet 39 decibels. Electronic thermostat. Remote control. USA designed. 3 year warranty. | ★★★★★ |
| De'Longhi HMP1500 Mica Thermic Panel Heater | Silent operation. Wall mount or floor mount. Heats up to 300 sq. ft. Produces 5120 BTUs. 3 year warranty | ★★★★★ |
| Dreo DR-HSH003 Quiet Fast Portable Space Heater | Ultra quiet 40 decibels. 70 degree oscillation. Heats up to 200 sq. ft. Remote control. 5 year warranty. | ★★★★★ |
| Lasko #5586 Ceramic Tower Space Heater | Ceramic heating element. Oscillating tower. Remote control. 100 year old USA company. 3 year warranty. | ★★★★★ |
The 10 Quietest Space Heaters
All of the following space heaters are 1500 watt units, making them capable of heating at least 150 square feet. Some claim to do better than that. All of them are quiet–some virtually silent, such as the oil filled units.
1) GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater
The GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater is 2-speed 1500 watt/750 watt powerhouse ceramic heater. It is thermostatically controlled and can be set for temperatures between 0 degrees Fahrenheit and 158 degrees Fahrenheit (Just in case you need to fry eggs, I guess.), enabling it to cycle on and off as required. It also has three fan settings–fan only for cool air, warm (750 watts), and hot (1500 watts).
For safety reasons, it is manufactured of flame retardant ABS plastic, and will also turn itself off if knocked over. Automatic overheat protection turns the machine off if any part of it reaches 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
Compact (7.9″ x 6.2″ x 10.2″) and light (2.9 lbs.), it comes with a convenient handle making it easy to move around. It heats rooms quickly and efficiently, while producing less than 45 decibels of noise (somewhere between the sound of a babbling brook and your refrigerator.) making it a great heater for bedrooms, and offices. Or use it anywhere else that needs a little quick heat like bathrooms, exercise rooms, etc. Takes only minutes to warm up a 200 square foot room. It is available in 2 colors – silver and black.
The Good
- Exceptionally quiet ceramic heater – under 45 decibels (quieter than a refrigerator)
- 3 speed fan (cool air, warm air, really warm air)
- Thermostatically controlled – 0 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit
- Flame retardant ABS construction
- Automatic overheat and tipping protection
- Heats up to 200 square feet in minutes
- Available in silver or black
The Not so Good
- Virtually nothing
2) Aikoper Oil Filled Portable Space Heater
The Aikoper Oil Filled Portable Space Heater is a silent oil filled radiant heater that uses convection to heat rooms. It operates totally silently, making it perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, and offices. The company claims the simple operating system allows them to focus on product performance. It uses 2 dials. Set the temperature (41 F – 95 f). Set the power (600 watts, 900 watts, 1500 watts). Get warm. The power dial is also the on/off switch. It produces a large amount of heat but little surface temperature making it safe for kids and pets. It should heat a 200 square foot room quickly and effortlessly keep it warm.
Besides the low surface temperature, it has many other safety features including flame retardant ABS and rust resistant steel construction. Permanently sealed oil reservoir, automatic tip-over, and automatic overheating protection all work together to make this a safe heater.
This Aikoper heater weighs less than 20 lbs. and sits on four sturdy 360 degree castors, and has a molded handle–making it easy to unplug, and move to another room.
The Good
- Silent operation
- Simple operation – temperature dial and power dial
- Thermostat keeps temperature constant
- Quickly warms 200 square feet and easily keeps it where set
- Cool surface temperature
- Permanently sealed oil reservoir, tip over protection, overheating protection
- 360 degree castors for easy moving
The Not so Good
- Virtually nothing
3) Dr Infrared DR998 Space Heater
The Dr Infrared DR998 Space Heater produces only 39 decibels on the highest fan setting. The 1500 watt heater will easily heat a large room using dual heating elements–Infrared Quartz Tubes and ceramic PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient). Not only does the DR998 produce radiant heat and convection heat, it uses oscillating forced air to move it around the room for better coverage. It also can be used as a humidifier–with, or without the fan. (Fan can be run independently to help with cooling the room when the weather gets hot.) The humidifier uses a water bottle, not a tank, making cleaning simple.
The electronic thermostat can be set from 50 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. A lifetime filter is easy to remove, clean, and replace. It is child and pet safe and sits on 4 durable castors making it easy to move its 26 lbs. from room to room. Comes in 2 wood colors–cherry or walnut.
This versatile space heater control system includes a 12 hour timer and a remote control for ease of operation. It is designed and serviced in the USA and has a 3 year parts and labor warranty with a 30 day money back guarantee.
Note: I linked to a definition of Positive Temperature Coefficient if you are interested in learning more. Other than the fact that it is impossible for them to overheat, almost all of it went over my head, so I am not going to try fool anyone by pretending to explain it.
The Good
- Whisper quiet operation at 39 decibels (quieter than a babbling brook) on highest setting
- 1500 watt heater features dual heating elements–Infrared Quartz and ceramic PTC
- Radiant and convection heat
- Multi-speed fan c/w oscillating fins
- Electronic thermostat c/w 12 hour timer
- Remote control
- USA designed and serviced
- 3 year parts and labor warranty c/w 30 day money back guarantee
The Not so Good
- Virtually nothing
4) De’longhi HMP1500 Mica Thermic Panel Heater
The De’longhi HMP1500 Mica Thermic Panel Heater operates without any noise. With 2 included mounting options–floor and wall (all parts included)– you can be certain to position this heater where you want it and/or need it. If you do not mount it on a wall, it is portable and lightweight–easy to move from room to room with 4 castors and handle.
It is an easy to operate 2 dial heater–one dial for temperature, one dial for power, 750 watts or 1500 watts. At 1500 watts, it puts out 5120 BTU of heat. The heater has a safety thermal cut-off to prevent overheating and an internal tipping switch that turns off the machine if it gets knocked over.
Note: This is a slim heater that measures 27″ x 22″. The manufacturer calls it stylish and sleek. I obviously do not understand stylish and sleek, because it kind of looks like my truck’s radiator.
The Good
- Silent operation
- Wall mount or floor mount on castors
- Mica panel heat
- 1500 watts produces 5120 BTU of heat
- Heats up to 300 square foot room comfortably
- Thermal cut off and tipping switch turn off
- 3 year warranty
The Not so Good
- Some suggestions of faulty cords overheating
5) Dreo DR-HSH003 Quiet Fast Portable Space Heater
The Dreo DR-HSH003 Quiet Fast Portable Space Heater lives up to its name; it heats up in seconds and only makes 40 decibels of noise–about the sound of a babbling brook. It is manufactured of flame retardant materials along with other safety features including built in tip over protection, overheat protection, 24 hour automatic power off if no adjustments are made, and a 6′ long flat cord with flame retardant plug. All for safe, worry free all day use.
PTC ceramic construction heats up in seconds and the fan wheel uses oblique technology to reduce wind noise by 12% compared to traditional heater fans. The unit uses smooth quiet 70 degree oscillation to move the warm air around the entire room quickly and efficiently. (Oscillation system has a lifespan of over 750,000 cycles.)
This Dreo will heat up to 200 square feet using one of 3 power settings–high (1500 watts), low (900 watts), or ECO mode which automatically adjusts the power based on ambient air temperature. It is controlled by an LED touch screen on the top of the machine or by a remote control (so you can turn it up without getting out of bed). Or you can set the 1 – 12 hour timer instead. The thermostat can be set from 41 degrees to 95 degrees in 1 degree increments. It is compact and easy to carry with the built in handle.
The Good
- Ultra quiet 40 decibel operation – about the sound of a babbling brook
- PTC ceramic heats up in seconds
- Smooth quiet 70 degree oscillation
- Heats up to 200 square feet
- Remote control
- 12 hour timer and 24 hour auto shut off for safety
- Free warranty extension up to 5 years
The Not so Good
- Virtually nothing
6) Lasko 5586 Digital Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote
The Lasko #5586 Ceramic Tower Space Heater is one of a many heaters made by this hundred year old USA company. The ceramic oscillating tower heats up quickly and effectively. This is self regulating ceramic element with automatic overheat protection. The digital thermostat/fan speed has 3 quiet settings–high, low, or automatic control. All of the control buttons are located on top of the machine with the large LED display on the face making it easy to operate and easy to see. Or you can use the remote control, which will perform all of the same functions.
It also comes with a built in electronic timer that can be set for 1 – 8 hours in one hour increments and auto shut off. The built in carry handle makes moving this 30″ tall machine around the house quite easy. The oscillating tower of this 1500 watt machine helps warm a room quickly and the cool touch housing makes it safe for children and pets. A 3 year limited warranty protects your investment.
The Good
- Quite 3 speed thermostat/fan settings
- Oscillating tower
- Ceramic element
- Remote control
- Electronic timer – 1 to 8 hour settings
- USA company over 100 years in business
- 3 year limited warranty
The Not so Good
- 30″ might be a little tall for some situations
- No tip-over safety switch mentioned anywhere
7) Vornado VH10 Vortex Space Heater
The Vornado VH10 Vortex Space Heater operates somewhat like a forced air furnace, heating the room air with gentle heat without using intense heat. It has 2 heat settings–low (750 watts) and high (1500 watts) and several safety features including overheat protection, tip over protection, and a cool touch case to keep children and pets safe. An adjustable thermostat allows you to control your room’s heat and the 5 year hassle free warranty with a Kansas based customer service center provides peace of mind that your heater will be taken care of in the event of something going wrong.
The vortex action of the VH10 warms air in the room with fast and gentle action. This is an easy to operate machine with only 3 controls located on top, a built in carry handle, and cord storage on the back. A high output machine that just does its job.
The Good
- Quiet vortex 2 speed fan/heat settings
- Safety features include overheat protection, tipping protection, cool touch case
- Adjustable thermostat control
- USA based customer service center
- 5 year hassle free warranty
The Not so Good
- Please note that most of the horrible reviews on Amazon are for the AVH10, not this VH10 machine
8) De’longhi Oil Filled Radiator Space Heater
The De’longhi Oil Filled Radiator Space Heater is manufactured with a patented high quality steel assembly system providing a permanently sealed oil reservoir that never needs refilling. It runs silently, and at 1500 watts, will easily heat a 150 square foot room. The unique patented thermal slot design maximizes the amount of radiant heat getting into the room while keeping surface temperatures cool and safe.
This radiant heating system is simple to control with a 24 hour programmable timer, an adjustable thermostat and 3 heat settings. ECO mode function will automatically adjust heat and power settings for the most economical and comfortable warmth.
For safety and peace of mind the heater is equipped with overload protection, an anti freeze setting that will turn it on when the temperature gets down to 44 degrees Fahrenheit to protect pipes from freezing, and a 3 year warranty.
The Good
- Silent operation
- Permanently sealed oil reservoir – steel construction
- 1500 watts comfortably heats 150 square feet
- 24 hour programmable timer
- Adjustable thermostat with 3 heat settings
- Overload protection
- 3 year warranty
The Not so Good
- Virtually none
9) Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX Wall Mount Space Heater
The Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX Wall Mount Space Heater produces 42 – 47 decibels of sound–depending on selected fan speed. A 1500 watt patented heat exchanger puts out up to 5200 BTUs of heat. Enough to heat up to 300 square feet as the primary heat source and up to 1000 square feet as the secondary/supplemental heat source. It has 2 power modes–low (750 watts) and high (1500 watts), along with an ECO mode that automatically cuts power in half to save electricity while keeping the room warm. The infrared bulb life is over 20,000 hours of use.
It is WiFi enabled and with a free app from Google Play or Apple Store you can control your heater with your phone from any where. The HS-1500 makes sure your safety is taken care of with tip over shut off protection (for non wall mount units), over heat protection and safe touch grill and housing to keep kids and pets safe. It also has a digital thermostat, child lock, lifetime cleanable air filter, and power outage memory of previous settings when re-started. If the unit is installed over the electrical outlet, the excess cord can be hidden in the back of the unit.
Manufactured by a USA owned and operated company, it has a 1 year warranty c/w a 30 day money back guarantee.
Note: Wall mount units do not come with feet. They can be ordered separately but are not compatible with the WiFi model. Before ordering the Heat Storm, make sure you decide on the model you want/need.
The Good
- Very quiet at 42 – 47 decibels – less sound than your refrigerator
- 1500 watt infrared heat producing up to 5200 BTUs
- WiFi enabled – can control heater with phone app
- Overheat protection, safe touch grill, child lock
- Power outage memory
- USA owned and operated company
- ETL and CSA certified
- 1 year limited warranty c/w 30 day money back guarantee
The Not so Good
- Some suggestions about melting plugs
10) Ballu Apollo Mica Infrared Space Heater
The Ballu Apollo Mica Infrared Space Heater does not have a fan, allowing it to operate at under 25 decibels, and still heat up to 300 square feet. It can be mounted on feet that come with wheels for easy moving, or it can be wall mounted. The thermostat provides precise temperature control from 41 degrees Fahrenheit to 96 degrees Fahrenheit c/w 3 power modes-comfort, ECO, and anti-freeze. It will automatically reduce energy use while maintaining room temperature at the set level.
A 7 day/24 hour timer/calendar function allows you to set on/off times weekly or monthly. Safety features include anti-tipping protection, overheat protection, a child lock, and class 1 electric shock protection. It also comes with open window detection that will shut down the machine to preserve energy.
The Good
- Ultra quiet 1500 watt heater operates at under 25 decibels – less sound than a whisper
- Heats up to 300 square feet with convection heat
- Floor mount on wheeled feet or wall mount (All hardware included for both options)
- 41 degree – 96 degree thermostat c/w 3 power modes
- Easy to set 7 day/24 hour timer/calendar
- Anti-tipping protection, overheat protection, child lock, electric shock protection
- 1 year warranty c/w 24 hour service
The Not so Good
- Virtually nothing
How We Chose The Best Quiet Space Heaters
Space heaters will be among the quietest appliances in your house or office. The noise made by the ones we have on this list range from silent to a maximum of 47 decibels, which is quieter than the average refrigerator. We chose a cross section of different types of heating elements, styles, designs, and costs to ensure enough variety that there should be one that suits most needs.
Space Heater Technology
Space heaters have come a long way from the old timey ‘run electricity through a wire coil, stick a fan behind it, and hope it does not burn down the house’ system. The most popular heat sources are:
- Convection Heat. Convection heaters use electricity to heat oil, coils, or wires and then use fans to circulate the warm air throughout the room. They are probably the most common types of heater.
- Radiant Heat. Generally electricity heats infrared heaters such as lights, rods, or bars which, in turn, warm the objects around them instead of the air.
- Micathermic Heat. This technology enables heaters to use smaller heating elements surrounded by Mica stone. Once the stone is heated to a certain level it begins emitting electromagnetic rays. Which warm the objects in the room–not the air. Because the rays travel until they hit something, Micathermic heaters tend to heat everything in the room at the same time. The heat produced by these heaters does not dry out the room’s air–making them a great choice for people with allergies,
Space Heater Heating Capability
All of the heaters on this list produce 1500 watts of power. I chose that size because generally, it requires 10 watts of power to heat 1 square foot of area. A reasonably sized bedroom is around 150 square feet (about 12′ x 12′) meaning that every heater on the list should be able to keep the room warm. A few manufacturers claim their heaters will warm up to 200 square feet; some even 300 square feet.
Any room larger than 200 square feet, or one that is an open concept, will need a more powerful heater, or more than one 1500 watt unit.
Space Heater Safety
Almost all space heaters get hot. That is their job. Almost all heaters are equipped with one, or all, of the following features.
- Tip Over Protection. No one wants a hot space heater getting knocked over on the rug and continuing to run. So, almost all heaters will have a tip over protection switch that turns the machine off when it reaches a certain angle off vertical–usually well before it hits the floor. Almost every heater will restart when set back on its legs.
- Overheating Protection. Occasionally, space heaters will become too hot and an overheating switch will shut them off to prevent fires or heater damage. Although most heaters will restart as soon as they cool down, some may require you to press a reset switch.
- Cool Touch Surfaces. Many, if not most, newer space heaters are manufactured with cool touch surfaces to prevent injury to children and pets–not to mention a clumsy old guy I know.
Note: A few safety features the operator should keep in mind:
- No Extension Cord. Most manufacturers recommend plugging the unit directly into the wall outlet. The average residential extension cord is made to power a couple of 60 watt light bulbs. A heater drawing 1500 watts for hours could make an extension cord hot, or even melt it.
- Keep the Area Clear. Don’t place anything within 3 feet of the heater.
- Inspections. Look at the heater–specially the cord–regularly. Inspecting it every time you take it out of storage is a good habit to get into.
Space Heater Energy Use
Any appliance that is made to produce heat, such as a space heater or electric range, will use quite a bit of power. Knowing what your heater will cost you before buying it is a good way of avoiding a shock when the power bill arrives. Here is a quick way to estimate your costs.
- Multiply the heater power (in watts) x the price per kilowatt hour = hourly cost
- Then multiply the hourly cost x the hours used per day = daily cost
- Then multiply daily cost x the days used per month = increase in monthly power bill
Example:
- 1500 watts x 11 cents/kilowatt hour = $0.165 per hour
- $0.165 x 8 hours/day = $1.32 per day
- $1.32 x 30 days/month = $39.60 per month
Note: 11 cents/kilowatt hour is about what I pay for power. You will have to check your bill to get your cost.
FAQs About Quietest Space Heater
Here are answers to a few questions that people ask when considering a quiet space heater?
How big should a quiet space heater be for a large room?
Space heaters heat 1 square foot of floor area for every 10 watts of power used. So, a 1500 watt heater will comfortably warm a 150 square foot room. For larger rooms you will have to find a more powerful heater, or use multiple machines.
Is there such a thing as a silent heater?
Oil filled space heaters use radiant heat to warm rooms. They do not have fans–making them silent. Keep in mind that metal expands and contracts and you may hear occasional popping sounds as the unit warms or cools. Also, the thermostat may make clicking sounds as it turns the heater on and off. These are usually very minor noises. So, calling it silent is not very misleading.
Do quiet small space heaters give off enough heat?
Yes. The size of the space heater does not necessarily translate to heat production. A 1500 watt heater in a small package should produce the same amount of heat as a 1500 watt heater in a larger package. The amount of heat you feel that it produces may be influenced more by the delivery system–fan driven or radiant.
Which quiet space heater makes heat faster?
A ceramic space heater produces heat almost instantly. A model with a fan will distribute that heat throughout the room quickly and efficiently–making these heaters the best units to warm a room quickly.
