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Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The 8 Best Infrared Heaters of Warm up your space in an instant. By Erica Puisis. Erica Puisis. Erica Puisis writes about home products for The Spruce and specializes in interior design and plant care.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. Its dual heating system combines PTC and quartz infrared elements to provide even and efficient heat distribution. Best Design:.
The classic wood stove look and realistic looking flames will add cozy ambiance to spaces up to 1, sq. Best Budget:. Though lacking in some higher-end features, it'll keep you warm with its simple, straightforward operation.
Best for Garages:. For draftier spaces like your garage, opt for this heavy-duty heater, which has an output of up to 5, watts. Best Wall Mounted:. This compact heater is a great option for smaller rooms where you might not have much floor space. Best Splurge:. Unlike your usual infrared heaters, this model uses a long-lasting and efficient copper element to produce heat.
Best Small:. Similar in size to a tabletop fan, this electric option allows you to choose between a low W and high W power setting. Best Portable:. The compact size and carrying handle of this lightweight model make transporting it to another room a cinch. In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look for. Why Trust The Spruce. Best Overall: Dr. They project waves of heat outwards from the surface of the appliance, which is then retained by the fabric of your home to provide an enduring form of warmth throughout the day.
Infrared heaters come in many shapes and sizes, from slimline panels that are great for standard interiors, all the way to electric patio heaters, which are superb for spot heating outdoors. Infrared is a game-changer in the heating industry and has quickly gained traction as a low energy, eco-friendly heating solution.
But even without these environmental plus points, there are still plenty of reasons why infrared is beneficial for homes and businesses. This is why:. In terms of aesthetics, infrared products are also worlds apart from the heaters you might already be familiar with. There are no boxy white housings here — infrared heaters are the epitome of modern home heating and have sleek, ultra-slim designs that barely take up any room at all.
As electricity flows through the wire, it heats up and conducts warmth through the front surface of the panel and out into the room. This same basic heating principle is also used in some types of patio heater, such as ceramic heaters and wire-element heaters, however they use a much higher wattage compared to radiant panels to compensate for colder outdoor conditions.
Infrared panels have a simple construction and no moving parts which is why they tend to have exceptionally long lifespans compared to other electric heating systems. Electric outdoor heaters need to produce a much stronger form of radiant heat in order to offset the feeling of being out in the elements and glowing patio heaters do this by using an infrared lamp. These lamps use a tungsten or carbon filament inside a quartz bulb filled with halogen gas, and when switched on, produce an exceptionally high heat for instant warmth you can feel even on a breezy day.
Traditional heating systems usually rely on convection, which is the circulation of warm air throughout a space. Both forms of heating actually come with their own distinct benefits but you may find that infrared is particularly useful in a variety of different scenarios.
Here are the main differences between convection and radiation:. Circulates the air, with warm air rising towards the ceiling, then falling to the floor as it cools.
Convection involves heating the air volume of a room and appliances that use this method usually achieve quick results that can make spaces cosy without too much waiting around. This, in turn, decreases their efficiency and means you have to use more energy. Another common complaint of convection is that it can create a cold floor as warm air naturally rises toward the ceiling, meaning that living levels receive less of the benefit.
This temperature difference can be so great that the ceiling may often be a couple of degrees warmer than the floor, meaning more energy is used trying to bring living levels up to the same temperature. This is a particularly pronounced issue in rooms with high ceilings — all of the heat rises up into the rafters and leaves the spaces that really need warmth at a noticeably lower temperature.
Infrared involves heating the surface area of an interior space rather than the air volume; this is because radiant heat is absorbed by objects and travels through the atmosphere until it comes into contact with something solid. Once infrared is absorbed by an object — e. Infrared takes a lot longer to heat up spaces on initial start because it warms deep into the fabric of the building, but once heated up, rooms are uniformly warm from top to bottom.
This often allows users of an infrared system to turn down their thermostat by a few degrees and still achieve the same level of comfort compared to if they were using a conventional heating system. An essential part of using infrared heaters correctly is getting their positioning right. If you want to know more, here are the types of infrared used in our products:.
This form of infrared is used in our heating panels and is best used in properties with a standard ceiling height, e. Products that use this form of infrared are sometimes called far infrared heaters or FIR heaters. Longwave infrared is very similar to far infrared in terms of how it feels, so by and large, the two terms are used fairly interchangeably.
However, longwave infrared is slightly stronger than far infrared, transmitted at a higher temperature which allows it to have an effect from a greater distance. Our longwave infrared products include ceramic heaters, such as the Herschel Aspect range , as well as wire filament heaters like the Ecostrad Thermostrip.
Mediumwave infrared is used in our carbon element patio heaters and provides a mid-point between the gentle, long-lasting effects of far infrared, and the more intense immediacy of shortwave radiation. This type of radiant heat is powerful enough to keep you warm in outdoor conditions and products that use this form of warmth will give off a red, rosy glow.
However, as mediumwave heat is gentler, it does mean that the sensation of this warmth can be offset by gusts and breezes so they tend to work best in sheltered outdoor spaces. Mediumwave infrared heaters are also good for spot-heating in hard-to-heat interiors such as workshops and garages. Shortwave or near infrared heaters are ideal for outdoor heating, providing additional light and strong heat all from one source.
Shortwave radiation is best used for on-demand heating outside because its robust warmth is enough to keep you comfortable even when temperature levels drop. Unlike longwave and far infrared, shortwave infrared will never be able to provide a lasting feeling of warmth and is another reason its use tends to be limited to occasional spot heating. Infrared surrounds us constantly. Our bodies keep warm by absorbing the ambient infrared radiation given off by surrounding objects: walls, ceilings, people, and, most significantly, the sun.
But infrared offers a more elegant and efficient solution: the heated panels raise the average temperature of objects in the room, directly addressing the chilly ambient temperatures that were keeping you cold and raising them to a comfortable level.
One of the concerns we do hear at Infrared Heaters Direct is whether infrared radiation can be dangerous. But while these are all types of electromagnetic radiation, the key is the temperatures required to produce them. As an object gets hotter, the more types of radiation it starts giving off. Cooler objects just give off infrared. So, you see, you can heat like the sun without burning like the sun. The invigorating warmth of a patio heater, known as near infrared, is great for taking the edge off a cold evening breeze but can feel rather too intense after a long time under the glow.
All of our infrared heaters are CE marked, undergo rigorous testing and conform to British safety standards so you can purchase with total confidence. Infrared heating panels are designed to be used as a main heating system and are perfectly safe to use overnight provided they have been securely attached to the wall or ceiling. Infrared heaters do use less electricity compared to other traditional heating methods and you can see this by comparing their wattages.
The main reason that infrared heaters have such low wattages compared to many other heating methods is that they rely on warming spaces using radiant heat. Infrared moves through the air to deliver heat rather than using the air itself to raise the temperature of the room. This has three distinct benefits:. In contrast, convection-based heating systems which rely on circulating warm air are far more prone to heat loss, meaning they need to work harder to bring rooms back up to comfort levels.
In older, draughtier properties with poor insulation, this can lead to inflated energy bills as convection heaters can struggle to keep rooms adequately heated. Thermostats allow you to program your heating hour by hour, day by day, so your heating schedule can perfectly match your lifestyle. As mentioned in the section above, infrared heaters are able to slim down your heating bills because the radiant heat they produce is so efficient and effective.
From a commercial point of view, infrared heating can be a far more cost-effective way to keep properties warm. In spaces like garages, warehouses and industrial units, it can be difficult to keep work areas adequately heated due to their high ceilings and large air volume. Not with infrared, however. Why heat the whole volume of an industrial unit when only the workbenches need warmth? Infrared provides targeted heating that keeps staff and customers warm no matter how large the space.
You can either use one thermostat to act as a central controller for your entire system, or you can use multiple thermostats for zoned heating. Zoning your heating means you can set programs and temperature levels on a room by room basis, which gives you much greater control over your energy usage. For example, rather than heating your spare bedroom to the same level as your main bedroom, you can turn the temperature down by a few degrees and save money long term. Digital thermostats monitor your room temperature with total precision and prevent comfort levels straying too far away from the target.
As with any heating system, running costs will vary depending on a range of factors about the property, such as its level of insulation, location, age and construction. There is, however, a way you can estimate potential running costs with just a few simple details. We would calculate it like so:. In this case, it would be 0.
When used with a thermostat, your infrared panels will only need to switch on a fraction of the time to top up heat levels in your room. Infrared heaters are also used at schools, workplaces, offices, and even factories to reduce the cost of heating bills. Since infrared heaters are cost-effective, a lot of companies like to place these units in each office room - which helps cut down the need to invest in a central heating system for the whole building.
The amount of heat an infrared heater delivers depends upon how much wattage it can support. This might not be the case for all types of heaters out there, but it's a general rule for these units. Infrared heaters that support a wattage of can easily warm up a small to medium-sized room. Other than this, some units also support up to to watts - these are suitable for large offices and warehouses.
When it comes to heaters - safety features are a must. All the best infrared heaters are not only equipped with high-quality safety features, but are also certified. If the infrared heater you purchase does not come with any certification, you must use it very carefully. Every year, numerous house fires are caused due to leaving heaters unattended.
Stats from the Consumer Product Safety Commission show that every year, more than 25, house fires are caused due to heaters. Therefore, always try to look for a heater that comes with an automatic shutoff feature. Portable heaters usually come in compact sizes and are easily carried from one place to another. Moreover, you can even take these heaters with you if you are traveling from one place to another. Though not necessary, this feature can be very useful in the long run.
The capacity rating of a heater refers to the measurement of the area that can be heated by a heater. This area is usually measured in square feet and the rating is mostly mentioned on the unit itself. It can help you determine whether or not the infrared heater you are purchasing would be sufficient to warm up your house or office or not.
As compared to space heaters, infrared heaters are much more cost-effective and safer to use. Also, the best infrared heaters are designed to keep heat loss as low as possible, hence they warm up rooms much quicker as well. Since infrared heaters use less energy, they help to reduce the amount of bills that you would otherwise need to pay with using traditional heaters.
Yes, infrared heaters are quite safe for your health. Search Query Submit Search. Best Infrared Heater Overall. See Full Review. Runner Up. Honorable Mention. Best Infrared Heater. Buyer's Guide Best infrared heaters buying guide Infrared heaters are one of the most popular types of heaters available in the market these days. What is an infrared heater? What are the uses of an infrared heater? Changing Seasons The most common use for an infrared heater is to provide warmth during the cold months.
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