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7 Best Heaters For 500 Square Feet – Reviews 2022

Last Updated on December 11, 2021

A popular layout for modern living spaces is the open floor plan. These wide-open spaces provide you with a lot of light, easy communication, and allows a smaller home to have a bigger feeling. One of the drawbacks of this space is heating it during the winter.

Whether you have an open floor plan or a large family room or basement, the cost to heat the space can make you want to move into a shoebox. Fortunately, there are ways you can supplement your comfort by using a space heater.

These handy appliances are great for amping up the warmth without devastating your wallet. The trouble is choosing one that will be worth the upfront expense. Have no fear, though. We have found the seven best space heaters for rooms up to 500 feet.

We will provide you with all the essential info such as performance, wattage, heater component, etc. We have also summed up your shopping trip with a handy buyer’s guide, as well. There is no need to shiver in your home for another day. Take a look below for your solution.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

The 7 Best Heaters For 500 Square Feet

1. Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Heater – Best Overall

 

The Dr. Infrared Heater DR968 Portable Space Heater is our number one pick if you have a 500-foot space that needs some extra warmth. This unit comes in a wooden outer box that has a refined old school feel. It uses 1,500 watts of infrared heat and uses a high-pressure, low-noise blower to warm your space.

The Dr. Infrared has a high and low setting and is a dual heating system that uses a quartz tube and PTC heat. You can set the temperature between 50 and 86 degrees, plus it has a 12-hour automatic shut-off timer.

To keep things safe, this heater has overheat protection and tip protection. It weighs 24 pounds and uses 12.5 amps with a 72-inch electric cord for convenience. Plus, it also has caster wheels so you can easily move it from place to place.

This system also comes with an automatic energy-saving setting and remote control for convenience. The heater has an LED digital display and is designed and serviced in the USA. What’s more, you will not have to worry about kids in the home as the grill is cool to the touch.

With dimensions of 13” x 11” x 16”, the unit has a lifetime washable filter, heats quickly, and is only 39 dB, making this a very quiet product. Overall, this is our favorite heater.

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2. Lasko Ceramic Tower Heater – Best Value

As heating costs can be steep, we understand that an affordable option is always in demand. Therefore, the Lasko 5160 Ceramic Tower Heater is the best heater for 500 square feet for the money. This tall, black, and sleek option is 8.5” x 7.2” x 23” and uses 1,500 watts to heat your space.

This heater comes with an elongated ceramic element that provides more heat and an oscillating fan that distributes the warmth through your space. You will also benefit from the energy-saving mode, plus the overheat protection. What’s more, it has a carrying handle making it easy to transport from one space to another.

The Lasko comes with a multi-functioning remote with on-board storage. It is cool to the touch, quiet, and has a programmable thermostat with two settings. You will also have tip protection, as well. Weighing in at 6.45 pounds, the ceramic heater has a comfort system, and it is quiet. Although this option has a digital thermometer, you should note that it does not heat quite as large of a space as our number one pick.

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3. NewAir Hardwired Electric Heater – Premium Choice

If you are interested in spending a little bit more coin, the Newair G73 Hardwired Electric Heater is our premium option. This small, white, and metal option is great for garages, sheds, or work sites. It has a rugged and durable exterior and is built to last with a G73 hard shell made of stainless steel. You will also be able to mount the heater on rafters or the wall.

The NewAir has a powerful fan and will provide quick and even heat throughout the space. It is ETL certified for safety and has overheat protection. You can also use the adjustable levers to point the heat where it is needed or open them all the way to spread the warmth evenly.

Using 17,000 BTUs, it has a 200 CFM, although, this is a very quiet heater for its power. You will also need 5,000 watts and 240 volts for this unit, which brings us to our one drawback. This heater is a hardwired unit that will require an electrician to install. Other than that, this is a single-pole thermostat and is 9” x 9.5” x 14” and weighs 15 pounds.

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4. LIFE SMART Infrared Heater

The Life Smart LS-6BPIQH-X-IN Infrared Heater is a stylish black house infrared heating system that has three heat settings and a 12-hour timer. This option has easy-glide casters for transport from room to room and is a sleek style that will blend into any home.

The heater has an Eco setting that will keep an even temperature of 68 degrees and only uses 500 watts of electricity. You also will have a digital thermometer with the remote, plus a lifetime washable filter. Cool to the touch, this is a good option if you have kids or pets in the home.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that this heater does not have overheat protection. Also, note that this system is louder than others. Other than that, the 21-pound, 16” x 13” x 16.5” heater will be able to warm 500 square feet without an issue.

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5. Heat Storm Indoor Infrared Space Heater

If you have limited space in your home but still need some additional warmth, the Heat Storm HS-1000-WX Indoor Infrared Space Heater will work for you. This black unit is wall-mounted and comes in gray or white. You can also pick up a heater with Wi-Fi capabilities or the attachment legs for a floor model.

This infrared heater has a safe-touch grill and auto-off tip protection. The adjustable thermostat has a LED display, plus it has a remote and touch screen for your convenience. Small and compact, the heater weighs 7.2 pounds and is 13” x 3.6” x 16.5”.

The Heat Storm is a 1,000-watt heater that uses 110 volts. As a wall unit, you are also able to hide the cord behind the heater if you can place it over an outlet. For another thing, this option has overheat protection, as well

You should be advised, however, that this model does not have an eco-mode or a timer. That being said, this is a quiet unit that is easy to install, although, it is not as powerful as some other options.

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6. TRUSTECH Electric Space Heater

At, 1500 watts, the TRUSTECH Electric Space Heater is in infrared 12” x 10.8” x 14.3”, 15-pound heater. It has three settings you can choose from. The high setting runs on 1,500 watts, the low on 750 watts, and the Eco Mode on only 300 watts.

You have a remote with a LED display, although you should note that if you damage or lose the remote you will not be able to control the heater. There is no touch screen or buttons on the digital LED display. On the other hand, you do have a 12-hour timer and the ability to lock the control panel.

This unit also has overheated and tip protection for safety, and the cord if there is excess. Unfortunately, this is not a quiet unit. It produces a loud rumbling noise and has a considerable amount of vibration. Also, the display only gives you the target temperature and not the current warmth of the room.

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7. Duraflame Portable Electric Infrared Heater

Our last option is the Duraflame 9HM9342-C299 Portable Electric Infrared Heater. This unit comes in a dark cherry wood box and uses an infrared quartz heating mechanism. It is heavier at 26.4 pounds, and is measured at 13” x 16.5” x 14.9” making this not the best option if you plan to use it from room to room.

At 5,200 BTUs, this option is not as powerful as some other models. It will only heat approximately 200 square feet. You should also note that this heater only has one fan speed, yet it does have an adjustable thermostat. The heater also does not have an eco-mode though you can make use of the remote, timer, and overheat protection.

The Duraflame is loud, and it does not have any tip protection. What it does have is concealed casters, however, as we mentioned the unit is rather heavy so they are typically not needed. Although this is not the worst option out there, it is our least favorite option under the best heater for 500 square feet category.

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Buyer’s Guide

Important Things to Know

Having a space heater in your home can save you a considerable amount of money on your heating costs. This is especially true if you have a large room… such as 500 square feet. When it comes to picking out one of these heaters, however, it can be a little bit more difficult. There are so many different types out there like convection ceramic radiant infrared that people can become confused and end up choosing a unit that is not right for them.

In a nutshell, there are two types of heat; convection and radiant. In convection heating, the air is heated and then circulated throughout the space. With radiant heating, the system is using rays of heat to warm a specific object. To give you a better understanding of some of our favorite pics above, let’s take a look at the two most common types of these heating systems.

Ceramic Heater

A ceramic heater is the most common type of confection heat. In the case of an electric heater, the air is sent over ceramic plates that are heated by electricity, and then a fan blows the warm air throughout the space. This type of heater is better for larger spaces where you will be moving around. For example, common spaces like the kitchen, living room, garage, etc work better as you are typically in a movement when you are in this space.

Convection heaters have been around for decades; however, ceramic heaters are the more modern option. Ceramic options are very efficient and because small pieces of ceramic can heat a large space, they are often portable.

Another perk of the ceramic option is that the heat can travel. For example, if you are heating a small bathroom, a nearby bedroom may also feel the effects of the heat. That being said, this type of heater is usually louder than its radiant counterparts.

Infrared Heaters

Infrared heaters use radiant warmth to heat the objects and people within the space. They do not require any airflow at all. In fact, you could leave a window open on a cold day and would still feel the same amount of warmth from the infrared heater as you would if the window was closed.

With that being said, this type of unit is typically better for rooms where you will be more stationary. Bedrooms, offices, and even living rooms are good spaces for this model, as they will only be heating the objects that are directly in front of them.

These units are also great for any drafty areas. Garages, older homes, and workspaces are also good places to utilize one of these models. You should also know that radiant heating is approximately 40 percent more efficient than its counterparts. What’s more, infrared heating creates more healthy air as it does not strip it of its moisture. They are also quieter, although they can be more expensive upfront.

Shopping Tips

Now that you have a better idea of the two main types of heating components, there are a few other factors that you should consider to keep your space nice and cozy. Let’s take a look at some of these below:

• Space: As we mentioned, space that you intend to heat can play a big part in your decision-making process. If you are looking to heat a garage space, office, or a drafty bedroom infrared is the weird way to go. On the other hand, if you want to heat a large kitchen or living room in a newer home, ceramic made be better.
• Kids: If you have kids and pets, you want to consider safety features. Most standard heaters have Ian shut off feature if the unit was to tip over. Also, they should be cool to the touch so little hands and Paws do not get burned. Finally, although overheat protection makes it seem like something not designed with kids in mind, it does. If, for example, a blanket was too far over the heater it will overheat and automatically shut off vs. starting a fire.
• Style: When we talk about style, we do not just mean the outward appearance of the model (though that is important) but the general size and mobility of the product, as well. Depending on your space, you may be better off with a unit that can be mounted on the wall or a rafter. On the other hand, if you have a larger space you may be better off with a floor unit on casters that can be moved about the room as needed.
• Control: Control is another important feature that you should look for. A lot of people like the convenience of having a remote control, but a touch screen can also be helpful especially when trying to adjust the temperature at night the same can be said for Led screens, timers, and adjustable thermostats. in the case of the latter, being able to adjust your thermostat to a specific temperature is a feature that many people cake do not know they need until they do not have it.
• Eco Mode: Finally, many models do come with an eco-mode that will run at a lower wattage. Many people find that they do not always need their space heater going at full blast, however, they still need some additional Heat. an energy-saving mode will allow you to have that extra heat without a considerable cost.

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Conclusion

It is no one’s idea of fun to shiver your way through a solid six months of frigid weather. In an attempt to keep all of our readers comfy and cozy, we have designed these reviews to give you as much knowledge and information on the best heaters available.

We hope that the information has helped you figure out which features you are looking for. If you need a fast decision, we recommend the wing with our first choice. The Dr Infrared Heater DR968 Portable Space Heater is a great option and more than capable of spreading warmth over 500 square feet. If you are on a budget, we urge you to try out the Lasko 5160 Ceramic Tower Heater.