Can You Put Space Heaters Under Desk? [Top 5 Under Desk Heaters]

You might wonder if it is safe and optimal to put space heaters under the desk or not. While it is safe and a good idea to keep space heaters under the desk, you should keep a few very important things in mind.

Keeping a space heater below the desk brings immediate comfort as it warms up your feet and desk as well. However, given the potential hazards of the space heater, is it safe to keep them under the desk?

This article will help you understand the basics when it comes to heaters to keep under the desk.

Can You Put Space Heaters Under the Desk?

Space heaters are a potential fire hazard, and they have been responsible for many fire cases. Some space heaters overheat and catch fire.

Many floors are covered in carpets that can catch fire easily if the heater overheats. So, it may seem that it is not safe to keep space heaters under the desk.

However, we are here to tell you that you can keep space heaters under your desk. Modern space heaters come with many safety features that prevent potential fire hazards.

Required Safety Features for Space Heaters to Use Under the Desk

1. Tip-over protection

Most portable space heaters come with tip-over protection. One of the potential dangers of space heaters is that if they are tipped, the heating element may burn the floor carpet and cause a fire. However, tip-over protection shuts the heater off when it is unstable. 

2. Overheating protection

Second, most heaters also come with overheating protection. This feature shuts the power source of the heater if it is overheated. It means that the heater will never catch fire itself by overheating. 

3. Cool to the touch design

Modern heaters are designed to stay cool while heating the room around them. They do get warm on the outside, but that is the extent of it. At most, they will be as hot as a cup of coffee which is not likely to burn your skin. 

So, now that you know that you can keep space heaters under the desk, you might be wondering which ones are the best. We have brought the list of the five best space heaters to keep under the desk.

Yet first, let us have a look at the features you should look for before buying a space heater to keep under the desk. 

Top 5 Space Heaters to Use Under Desk: By Best Performing Feature

Guide To Select the Best Space Heater to Use Under Desk

1. Size

Pay close attention to the dimensions of the heater if you want to use it under the desk. Some space heaters occupy very little floor space but are very tall. Ideally, you should buy a heater that could fit under the desk, and there is at least 2 feet distance between the tabletop and the heater.

Such a heater will also be easy to carry around. If you work in an office, you are most likely to carry the heater around when you go home.

2. Wattage

The maximum power of the space heater should be 1500 watts. Although you will not need 1500 watts of power, it’s good to have a little extra. There is no need of spending extra bucks for power above 1500 watts that you will not use.

Also, it is highly unsafe to have very high-power electronic equipment running under your desk. 

3. Safety certifications

Many heaters will come with a safety certification. It means that the heater has been tested in a laboratory for its durability. The most common safety certification is ETL. A heater that is ETL certified will put all your worries at ease.

4. Portability

Portability is a combination of size and weight. If you will be moving your space heater a lot, you might also want to consider the ease of moving it around. While all space heaters are portable, it is better to move a 2-pound heater as compared to a 6-pound heater. 

5. Features

Space heaters come with a variety of features. Some let you choose the power output you want. Some space heaters are loaded with safety features such as the ones we mentioned above.

Some have LCD installed for better functionality. If you want to take the maximum benefits out of your heater, look for the one that has the most features. 

Top 5 Space Heaters for Under Desk Usage

1. Life Plus Electric Utility Heater

Best Safety Features

If you are looking for a heater to keep under your desk with the most features, a Life plus Electric utility heater is your best bet. The heater has a compact size. It has a height of about 5.3 inches, so it can easily sit under your desk.

It has all the safety features you need to ensure it is safe to keep under the desk. The heater is made up of high utility flame-resistant materials. It means that it will never catch fire and will always be cool to the touch.

The heater comes with an anti-scalding metal mesh in front of it. The metal mesh prevents the combustibles from falling outside the heater. It is also very easy to carry the heater as it weighs around 4 pounds.

One of the best features of this heater is that it offers quick heating. It comes loaded with a high-performing centrifugal fan that delivers heat as soon as it is turned on.

The heating method that it uses is radiation and forced air. It uses ceramic as a heating element. Safety features in the heater include tip-over protection and overheating shut-off.

It comes finished in industrial design. It looks and feels durable. The maximum power of the heater is 1500 watts, but it can be configured to work at 750 watts as well. The heater also comes with a carry handle to help with portability. 

Pros

• Easy to carry 
• No safety worries as it comes with Overheating protection and Tip-over protection 
• Choose from two power settings according to your needs
• Fits easily under the desk
• Offers quick heating 

Cons

• Price is on the higher side 

2. Lasko Ceramic 

Portable Space Heater

The Lasko ceramic heater is the most portable space heater you can get your hands on. It weighs around 1 pound. The total height of the heater is around 9 inches. It means that apart from being extremely portable, it can fit easily under the desk.

The heater comes with a built-in overheating safety switch. It lets you work in peace, knowing that the heater is not likely to create a fire hazard. The heater comes with a thermostat.

Instead of choosing power, this helps you choose the temperature of the surrounding. The heater adjusts power according to the difference between the current temperature and your required temperature.

The heater also has impressive coverage of 300 square feet. This is enough for a whole room, so it will keep you toasty when you use it under the desk. It also has a cool-touch exterior. So, even if your feet touch the heater, it will not burn it. 

The only downside to this heater is that it does not come with tip-over protection. While the heater does shut down when it is overheated, it will keep on running even when it is tipped. So, you will have to be wary about not tipping it over. 

Pros

• Extremely light and compact so easy to carry
• Fits under the desk easily 
• Keeps you at ease knowing that it has overheating protection 
• Ease of choosing the desired temperature rather than power setting 

Cons

• You will have to be careful not to tip it over as it lacks tip-over protection

3. Sengoku Desk Mini Panel

Very Compact Space Heater

It is no secret that the space under the desk is very limited. Ideally, you would want to go for heaters that occupy very little floor space. The Sengoku Desk mini panel is the most cm[pact heater that you can keep under your desk.

The best thing about this heater is that it is designed for the sole purpose to be kept under the desk. The total width of the heater is 1 inch. It is around 15 inches tall that makes it suitable for all sorts of desks.

The heating mechanism of the heater is radiation. It is a panel that does not come with any fan. So, it is also a very quiet heater. It is a wonder that the surface of the heater never gets hot.

The heater is energy efficient. It has a built-in thermostat that allows you to select your desired temperature instead of power settings.

The heater is designed to work optimally under the desk. So, it has a power output of 150 watts only. While this may be seen as a disadvantage, it is enough to cover the area under the desk. 

Pros

• Easy to fit under the desk
• Allows you the maximum leg room under the desk
• You can set the desired temperature

Cons

• Relatively pricey

4. Epabina Electric Portable Heater

Value for Money

This heater comes at a very attractive price range. It is compact and lightweight, which makes it perfect for keeping under the desk. The heater works with two power settings.

These two settings are 750 and 1500 watts. It is also one of the fastest space heaters on this list as it heats the surroundings within 3 seconds. It is very easy to set up and operate the heater. The heater weighs around 3 pounds that also makes it very easy to carry. 

Epabina portable heater comes with two essential safety features. Tip-over protection stops the heater from working as soon as it is unstable. The heater also comes with overheating shut down feature.

It shuts the heater down as soon as it is overheated. It is also one of the energy-efficient heaters. It produces more heat while consuming less energy.

The heater is also one of the silent ones as it makes very little noise. Heaters that do come in this price range tend to be alot louder than this one. 

Pros

• Value for money
• Packed with all essential safety features (ETL, tip over, overheating) so you do not have to worry about fire hazard
• Ideal for offices as it makes very little noise
• Easy to carry 
• Fast heating so you do not have to wait long

Cons

• None as such 

5. Andily 500 W Electric Heater

Best Price

Andily 500 watts electric heater comes at an unbelievable price. The heater is compact and lightweight. It weighs around 1.42 pounds and has a width of 3.63 inches. It makes it the perfect budget option to place under the desk.

The power of 500 watts is a little low, but it is enough to cover at least 50 square feet of area. It makes it a suitable option to keep under the desk.

The heater is truly a mini heater. It only has one power switch, and so there isn’t much you can do with it. The only option in this heater is to turn it on or off. However, the best thing about the heater is that it is ETL certified.

It also comes with an automatic overheating system that shuts it down when it gets overheated. 

Pros

• Best price
• ETL certified so keeps you at ease about fire hazards 
• Lightweight 

Cons

• You cannot adjust power or heat

Comparison of Above Listed Under Desk Space Heaters

	Dimensions (inches)	Weight (pounds)	Max Power (Watts)	Overheat  Protection	ETL Listed	Tip-over protection
Lifeplus	9.8 x 5.3 x 13.9	4.21	1500	Yes	No	Yes
Lasko Ceramic	6 x 3.7 x 9.2	1.00	1500	Yes	Yes	No
Sengoku Desk Mini Panel	15 x 1 x 21	6.0	150	No	No	No
Epabina Indoor Space Heater	9.45×5.51×5.90	2.81	1500	Yes	Yes	YES
Andily 500 watts Space heater	4.33’’L X 3.63’X 6.39	1.42	500	Yes	Yes	No

Final Words:

The answer to the question that can you put space heaters under the desk is yes. However, you have to be a little more careful when you are looking to buy a heater to put under the desk.

The heater should have some sort of safety features. The heater should also be compact enough to fit easily under the desk.