Are Mini Heaters Worth It? What Is the Best Portable Space Heater?

This is one of the most common questions that we get about mini heaters. Some just believe they are inferior because of their size, while others say their portability and lightweight design make them a good choice.

After all, everyone wants an appliance that is easy to manipulate and move around with, but no one wants to compromise the place of quality. So, are mini heaters worth it? Let’s check!

Are Mini Heaters Any Good?

Yes, mini heaters are good and worth it.

They may not pack the same amount of power as central heaters, but they can hold the forte in specific spaces when the cold bites.

This is what makes them a preferred choice for those small rooms and spaces.

What Is the Best Portable Heater on The Market Today?

The best portable heater on the market will depend on what measures as best for you. However, based on our survey of hundreds of products, consumer needs, spec and functionality comparisons, and user reviews, we’ve picked Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater as best portable heater.

This is based on portability, efficiency, performance, safety, and functionality.

Best Portable Heater for Small and Medium Rooms

The Dreo portable space heater is the perfect fit for rooms between 80 and 250 square feet, per recommendations. A small room is basically a room that measures between 60 and 100 sq ft.

On the other hand, a medium room will usually measure between 110 and 160 sq feet, according to US standards. It is important to put these details into consideration when choosing a portable heater for your small and medium room.

But beyond coverage, this unit is portable enough to fit into small areas, with dimensions of 5.9 x 5.9 x 15.8 inches. This means you’ll only need to be sure there’s enough headroom.

Also, the unit is ETL listed and equipped with several safety features, including tip-over protection, overheat protection, an enhanced safety plug, and flame-retardant materials. At 1,500 Watts of power, you only need 2 seconds for it to heat up the room.

Pros

• Portable and lightweight.
• Easy to use
• Heats up the room quickly
• Sufficient safety features.
• Remote control

Cons

• Requires enough vertical space.

Best Portable Space Heater for Large Room

This is one of the most functional heaters on the market, which is both portable and powerful. This 1,500-watt heater is suitable for large rooms, larger than 300 sq ft.

Typically, a large room would measure between 200 and 350 sq feet, and anything larger than that would be considered extra large. At 13 x 12.5 x 17 inches, the unit is pretty portable, considering its performance.

It offers fast and much more heating, remote operation, and dual heating technology. More importantly, the unit has to overheat protection, tip-over protection, and automatic shut-off timer features.

Pros

• More heating for Large rooms
• Portable and easy to carry around
• Great performance
• Very efficient compared to other units within its range
• Reliable safety features
• Has a lifetime filter

Cons

• Not the most lightweight.

Best Portable Space Heater for Garage

This is a forced air-mounted unit that comes perfectly designed for your garage. This makes it pretty powerful too, providing a maximum of 25,589 BTUs with heat settings ranging from 5,000 to 7,500 watts.

The unit also comes with 6-speed settings and several other amazing features that make the product worth your while. Despite all these amazing features, the unit is extremely portable with dimensions of 10.83 x 12.8 x 13.98 inches.

A unit suitable for your garage should also be one that can be mounted on the wall so it doesn’t pose an obstruction. It also needs to have temperature control and shouldn’t heat up to cause a fire when no one is watching.

Pros

• Power heating and fan
• Easy to place on the wall
• Very portable
• Convenient remote control
• Comes with a convenient timer and thermostat

Cons

• Quite pricey, but worth the cost

Best Portable Space Heater for RV & Camping

The best portable heater for RV should be one that is portable, has an easy-to-adjust thermostat (in case you get to cooler or hotter areas), and is easy to manipulate.

Also, the heater should be powered by other sources apart from electricity in case you go camping. The Mr. Heater Buddy Propane heater offers up to 9,000 BTU on maximum setting, using up only 0.099 gallons of propane per hour.

At its lowest heating level (4,000 BTUs), it uses up only 0.044 gallons/hour. Its easy-grip, practical and convenient design makes it the perfect heating buddy for camping and RVs.

Covering 225 sq ft, this is superb for large camping tents and large RVs, while also maintaining incredible portability at ‎7.7″D x 13.4″W x 15″H in dimensions.

Pros

• Very efficient heating
• Easy carry handle
• Outer safe-to-tough grill
• Simple knob for easy operation
• Portable design
• Clean burning
• Built-in safety features.

Cons

• Cannot run for more than 3 hours at max heating

Best Portable Electric Heater for Basement

This is one of the most portable and functional units you can get for your basement. With dimensions of 5.51 x 6.69 x 10.31, it can sit perfectly on a small table in your basement.

At 1,500 watts of running power and 70° oscillation, this Dreo Portable Space Heater for the basement is, perhaps, the best thing you can do for your basement when winter comes knocking.

With quick and powerful surround heating and energy-saving performance, this unit is also very comfortable to use. The thermostat ranges from 41 to 90°F and the unit also comes with an eco mode that automatically adjusts your heating settings to suit your needs.

Pros

• Very portable
• Wide heating range
• Energy efficient
• Also quite affordable
• Enhanced safety features

Cons

• No carry handle for easy mobility

Comparison Of Above Listed Mini Heaters

Heater	Coverage	Dimensions	Wattage	Safety Features	Best For
Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater	300 sq ft	8.5 x 7.25 x 23 inches	1,500 watts	Yes	Overall
Dreo Portable Space Heater	200 sq ft	‎5.9 x 5.9 x 15.8 inches	1,500 watts	Yes	Small and Medium Rooms
Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater	300 sq ft	13 x 12.5 x 17	1,500 watts	Yes	Large Room
Ventisol Electric Garage Heater	640 sq ft	‎13.98 x 10.83 x 12.8	7,500 watts	Yes	Garage
Mr. Heater Buddy Indoor-Safe Portable Propane Heater	225 sq ft	‎7.7 x 13.4 x 15	0.099 Gal/hr	Yes	RV & Camping
Dreo Portable Indoor Space Heater	200 sq ft	‎15 x 6.69 x 10.31	1,500 watts	Yes	Basement

Final Thoughts:

Mini heaters are fantastic appliances that provide you with the adequate heating option that you need for your space. However, you have to decide what you need, bearing in mind the size of your room and the variety of features that will bring the desired performance that you are looking for.

A comprehensive review such as this will help you find a way around what type of portable or mini space heaters you need. Whatever the case, be sure it is a trusted brand and the product comes with stellar reviews.