Portable Heaters Buying Guide: Choosing One in 3 Simple Steps

You may think that picking a heater is a no brainer. But once you start looking at the wide selection of heaters out there, you'll probably start to wonder how you'll ever pick just one.

Ceramic... radiating... or oil-filled...? And what does Micathermic even mean?

Life is full of difficult decisions, but picking a heater shouldn't be one of them.

If you're certain you're tired of the cold, but remain uncertain about how to keep warm, consider portable heaters, which are the most versatile kinds of space heaters, and a great bang for your buck.

Portable heaters are an ideal solution for most heating problems because they are compact, relatively energy-efficient, and can be taken anywhere--from a garage workshop to a personal cubical. Portable space heaters are the most popular types of heating solutions, and are available to virtually everyone.

Buying Portable Heaters in 3 Steps

Now you know you want a portable heater, but choosing one among the numerous models on the market is the next seemingly overwhelming step. Here's how to narrow down the field one option at a time:

1. Pick your fuel type.

2. Select your portable heater type.

3. Choose the controls.

It's a very straightforward guide, but for all you heater novices out there, perhaps getting into more details would be helpful.

There are a wide range of portable space heaters to choose from, each with its own unique benefits. Our buying guide will help you figure out what to look for in a heater, and explain the different types available. By the time you're done reading, you'll feel confident you can select the portable heater that best fits your needs.

Types of Fuel for Portable Heaters

There are two basic types of fuel for portable heaters: electric and gas. In most cases, electric heaters offer more versatility, but gas heaters are a great option for specific outdoor uses.

Gas

Portable gas heaters are ideal for the outdoors since they're cheap to run and can function without being plugged into an outlet. They heat up quickly and can operate during power outages.

Gas heaters run on external fuel, like a propane tank, and typically cost more than electric heaters. Since gas heaters need ventilation to run, they can only be used in open spaces.

Electric

Electric heaters can be used in enclosed areas and require no ventilation. The heat created from electric heaters is healthier than gas heaters since they don't emit carbon monoxide. They're the overall safer option for space heating.

Portable electric heaters require an electrical outlet so they can't operate during power outages, but in general electric portable heaters are great for warming indoor areas like homes, offices and garages.

Different Heating Elements for Portable Heaters

Unless you plan on using your heater in the backyard only, electric portable heaters are probably what you're looking for. There are various ways to divide up the different types of portable electric space heaters you can buy (size, ideal use, design, price, etc.), and we organize our site so it's easy to find the type of electric heater you want based its heating element and how it operates.

Here's our breakdown on the different categories of portable heaters we offer:

Ceramic: Ideal for heating a specific area

Portable ceramic space heaters are great for widespread, effective heating. Many portable heaters use 1500 watts and can heat spaces up to 150 sq. feet using a fan to distribute heat from the ceramic heating element. They're great as a supplemental heat source for a large house, and the oscillation function found on many units helps circulate warmth evenly throughout a room.

They're inexpensive, and some portable heaters have a fan-only mode, making them ideal for summertime use as well. You will find fan-forced ceramic portable heaters in sunrooms, bedrooms and small offices.

Electric Fireplaces: Excellent source of atmosphere in addition to heat

If you don't want to sacrifice design for comfort, try a portable fireplace! These amazing units are portable electric fireplace heaters, and while they're larger and heavier than most other types of portable heaters, many come with a built-in handle and are made for convenient transportation.

Electric fireplaces plug into a standard outlet and provide a charming faux fire along with their radiating heat. It's a great way to add instant ambiance, and since the heat is all electric, you'll get the look and feel of a fire without the soot and smoke.

These types of portable heaters will match your decor, whether you're looking for something with a sweet vintage feel or something cool, sleek and modern.

Low Watt: Saves you energy as it provides super localized personal comfort

If being green is important to you, low-watt portable heaters are a safe, eco-friendly alternative. If what you need is some personal comfort at your desk or on the couch as you watch TV, save some electricity by using a portable low-watt heater.

Low-watt heaters come with a variety of heating elements. Some ceramic portable heaters offer multiple heat settings so you can set your heater at a lower wattage when not as much heat is needed. Radiant heaters and flat panel oil-filled portable space heaters give off lots of warmth with minimal heat loss and use relatively little electricity.

Oil Filled: Popular choice for bedrooms and children's rooms

Oil filled portable heaters use very little energy and spread warmth evenly. They're safer than traditional fan-forced space heaters since they maintain a low surface temperature. Oil filled heaters use convection technology to heat up the permanently sealed (never-have-to-refill) oil, and heat radiates out into the room.

These heaters provide gentle, consistent heat and are super quiet since no fans are involved. Many models have easy-glide casters and a carrying handle that make it easy to move your unit from room to room.

Flat Panel: Slide it, hang it anywhere

In an office setting, an ideal portable heater is silent and compact-- which are exactly the traits flat panel heaters have to offer! They're sleek and ideal for areas short on space, so you can slide one easily under your desk or mount it to a wall.

If central heating never seems to really cut it in your office, and you're tired of layering on the blankets every day, place a flat panel heater under your desk and get instant personal comfort.

Reflective: Fast, instant heat that warms directly

Reflective portable heaters use infrared technology to radiate heat. These portable space heaters provide heat that is similar to the sun's healthy rays, and they warm objects directly instead of trying to warm the air. As a result, you get powerful and efficient heating instantly.

They're great for outdoor use since they don't waste energy trying to heat the air, and instead heat objects directly. But since reflective heaters don't warm the air, you'll feel cold again once your unit is off.

Peflective heaters are silent, produce clean heat, save a lot of energy and have minimal upkeep. They're ideal for quiet home environments.

Micathermic: Good for entire rooms and long heating times

For evenly distributed heat throughout an entire room, a Micathermic heater gets the job done through a combination of radiant and convection technologies. They provide safe, almost instant heat by relying on mica and nickel alloy.

Micathermic portable heaters offer high temperature stability and won't overheat even though they heat up twice as fast as conventional space heaters. These heaters are ideal for asthma and allergy sufferers because they don't re-circulate dust or other airborne particles.

Control Options for Portable Heaters

Once you choose what type of portable heater you want, it's time to look into the specifics. A number of variables should be taken into consideration to determine the best option for your individual needs. Keep asking yourself, "How am I going to be using my portable heater?"

Coverage Area

Look at the volts, wattage and amps a heater uses, as well as the RPM and BTU it produces. Higher numbers offer more heat, but be sure to pick a heater that fits your specific needs. Generally, a heater will cover 100 feet for every 1000 watts it uses.

If you end up buying a garage utility heater for your living room, you'll be using unnecessary power and the space won't get heated to a comfortable level. One function you may want to look out for is a heater that offers multiple heat settings. Some heaters allow you to adjust the heat output and watt usage whenever you want, and even have a fan-only setting for year round use.

Programmable Thermostats and Timers

One great feature worth considering is how important having a programmable thermostat and/or timer is to you.

A programmable thermostat allows you to set a program to turn the heater on and off to maintain the desired temperature in the room. This can help save you energy since the heater will automatically turn off once the room has reached a certain temperature. It will also help prevent your unit from overheating.

Programmable timers provide convenience and more energy savings. Rather than leaving your portable heater on all day, you can set your unit to turn on and off at specific times. That way, it'll be on when you first wake up in the morning, conveniently turn off once you leave for the day, and turn back on to preheat your room right before you return home.

Safety Features

Portable heaters are notorious for causing fires; however if you use one carefully, they shouldn't cause any trouble at all. Just in case, most models have multiple safety features for a bit of extra protection.

A tip-over switch automatically shuts the unit off if it's been knocked over. Overheat protection shuts the heater off when a sensor detects too high of a temperature. And flame-resistant cases and thermally protected motors provide further fire safety.

So What about Those 3 Steps?

That was a lot of text for three "simple" steps. But now that you know all the ins and outs of portable space heaters, our three steps should make much more sense!