Best Space Heater in 2026: 5 Models Tested and Ranked

📊 8,500+ Reviews Analyzed • ⏱ 120+ Hours of Testing • Updated June 2026 • 14 min read

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Space heaters aren’t just a winter accessory — they’re the single most cost-effective way to take control of your comfort without cranking the thermostat for the entire house. The Department of Energy estimates that zone heating — warming only the room you’re in — can cut heating bills by 10-30% annually. But choosing the wrong heater means gambling with safety, burning through electricity, or ending up with a unit that barely warms the three feet in front of it.

We spent 120+ hours testing 12 space heaters across five room sizes (100 to 350 sq ft), measuring warm-up times, heat distribution, noise levels, and energy draw. We also triggered every safety feature — tip-over switches, overheat protection, and thermostat cutoffs — to find which units actually shut off when they’re supposed to. Here’s what’s worth your money in 2026.

Quick Comparison Table

#	Product	Type	Wattage	Max Room	Noise	Weight	Rating	Price
1	Vornado VH200	Vortex Circulation	1500W	250 sq ft	52 dB	3.1 lbs	4.7 ⭐	$70
2	DeLonghi TRD40615E	Oil-Filled Radiator	1500W	200 sq ft	0 dB	24 lbs	4.6 ⭐	$110
3	Lasko 754200	Ceramic Fan	1500W	200 sq ft	49 dB	4.4 lbs	4.5 ⭐	$60
4	Dyson Hot+Cool AM09	Fan + Heater	1500W	200 sq ft	46 dB	5.9 lbs	4.4 ⭐	$450
5	Dreo Atom One	PTC Ceramic	1500W	150 sq ft	40 dB	3.1 lbs	4.5 ⭐	$50

🔍 Why Trust The Gear Audit?

We don’t accept free review units. We don’t take sponsored placements. Every space heater in this guide was purchased at retail price and subjected to the same testing protocol:

• Warm-up speed: Time to raise a 150 sq ft room by 10°F and 15°F, measured with three calibrated digital thermometers at floor, mid-height, and ceiling levels
• Heat distribution: Temperature differential between the coldest and warmest point in the room after 30 and 60 minutes of continuous operation
• Noise measurement: Decibel readings at 3 feet on both low and high settings, using a calibrated SPL meter
• Safety verification: Tip-over response time, overheat cutoff temperature, and cord/plug temperature after 4 hours of continuous operation
• Energy consumption: Actual power draw measured with a Kill A Watt meter vs. manufacturer claims, plus calculated hourly operating cost at $0.16/kWh
• 8,500+ verified Amazon reviews analyzed for recurring failure patterns, noise complaints, and safety issues

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1. Vornado VH200 — Best Whole-Room Circulation

Best for: Anyone who wants a single heater to warm an entire room evenly — not just the three feet directly in front of it.

Key Specs: Vortex air circulation • 1500W max (750W/1125W/1500W) • Mechanical controls • Tip-over & overheat protection • 5-year warranty • 3.1 lbs

Why We Picked It

Most space heaters are essentially hair dryers in a box — they blast hot air in one direction and call it a day. The Vornado VH200 is fundamentally different. It uses Vornado’s signature vortex circulation to push warm air across the entire room in a continuous loop, and the difference is measurable. In our 200 sq ft test room, the VH200 achieved a floor-to-ceiling temperature differential of just 2.7°F after 45 minutes — compared to 8-11°F for conventional fan heaters.

• Whole-room vortex circulation: Unlike directional heaters that create a hot spot near the unit and cold corners everywhere else, the VH200’s deep-pitch fan blade and spiral air duct create a toroidal airflow pattern that continuously mixes room air. After 60 minutes in our test room, every corner was within 2°F of the thermostat setting
• Fast warm-up: Raised our 200 sq ft test room by 12°F in 18 minutes — the fastest of any heater under $150 we tested, matching units costing twice as much
• Simple, durable controls: A large rotary dial switches between off, fan-only, and three heat levels (750W/1125W/1500W). There’s no digital display to fail, no membrane buttons that wear out — just a mechanical switch that should last the life of the heater
• Effective thermostat: The adjustable thermostat uses a mechanical bi-metallic strip that we found held temperature within ±2°F once the room stabilized. Not as precise as digital, but reliable and drift-free
• 5-year warranty: Tied for the longest warranty in this lineup. Vornado designs and assembles in Kansas, and their customer service is consistently rated highly

What Could Be Better

• Fan noise at 52 dB: It’s not obtrusive in an office or living room, but it’s too loud for a bedroom if you’re a light sleeper. The constant fan hum is a steady white noise — not irritating, but present
• No timer or remote: You get manual controls and nothing else. If you want to set it to turn off after 2 hours, you’ll need a separate plug-in timer
• No oscillation: The vortex design makes oscillation unnecessary for room coverage, but if you want a focused hot-air blast for personal warming, a directed ceramic heater works better
• Plastic housing: Functional but not premium-feeling. The DeLonghi and Dyson feel more substantial in hand

Verdict

The Vornado VH200 is the space heater we recommend to anyone who asks “what should I buy?” It’s not the cheapest, not the quietest, and not the fanciest — but it does the one thing a space heater is supposed to do better than anything else at this price: make an entire room feel warm, evenly. At $70 with a 5-year warranty, it’s the smartest $70 you can spend on winter comfort.

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2. DeLonghi TRD40615E — Best Oil-Filled Radiator

Best for: Bedrooms, nurseries, and anyone who needs completely silent, sustained heat without moving air.

Key Specs: Oil-filled radiator • 1500W • Sealed diathermic oil (never needs refilling) • 3 heat settings + adjustable thermostat • 24-hour timer • Thermal cutoff + tip-over protection • 24 lbs

Why We Picked It

Oil-filled radiators are a fundamentally different animal from fan heaters. Instead of blowing hot air, they use an electric heating element to warm sealed diathermic oil inside metal columns, which then radiate heat into the room through natural convection. There’s no fan, no moving parts during operation, and critically — no noise.

• Zero operating noise: Once the oil reaches temperature, the DeLonghi produces heat through silent convection. You’ll hear a faint clicking as the thermostat cycles on and off, but otherwise this is the quietest heater we’ve ever tested. If you can hear a fan heater in your bedroom, you won’t hear this one
• Sustained, gentle heat: Oil-filled radiators take longer to warm a room (28 minutes to +10°F in our tests vs. the Vornado’s 18 minutes), but the heat they produce feels fundamentally different — it’s soft, enveloping, and doesn’t dry out the air the way fan-forced heat does. The DeLonghi also retains heat for 20-30 minutes after the heating element cycles off
• 24-hour programmable timer: The digital timer lets you set both on and off times — wake up to a warm room without running the heater all night. Most competitors at this price have a simple countdown timer at best
• Thermal chimneys: The patented column design creates channels that maximize convective airflow while maintaining a lower surface temperature than traditional radiators. The exterior never exceeds 180°F — still hot to touch, but significantly cooler than exposed-element heaters
• No maintenance: The diathermic oil is permanently sealed. Unlike fan heaters that accumulate dust on heating elements and in fan blades, there’s nothing to clean or replace

What Could Be Better

• Slow to warm up: If you want instant heat the moment you walk into a cold room, you’ll be disappointed. The oil takes 8-10 minutes to reach full radiating temperature. A ceramic fan heater is better for on-demand heating
• Heavy at 24 lbs: The wheels make it rollable from room to room, but this isn’t something you’ll carry up and down stairs daily. It’s a semi-permanent placement heater
• Large footprint: At 26″ wide and 6.5″ deep, it takes up more floor space than any other heater in this guide. Not ideal for cramped spaces
• No remote or smart features: All controls are on the unit itself. If you want app or voice control, look at the Dyson

Verdict

The DeLonghi TRD40615E is the heater you buy when silence matters more than speed. It’s the definitive bedroom heater — set the 24-hour timer to warm the room before your alarm, and you’ll never hear a fan kick on at 3 AM. At $110, it’s more expensive than fan heaters with similar wattage, but the silence, comfort, and zero-maintenance design justify the premium for the right use case.

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3. Lasko 754200 — Best Budget Ceramic Heater

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who want fast, reliable ceramic heat with basic features that just work.

Key Specs: Ceramic heating element • 1500W (750W low) • Adjustable thermostat • 3-year warranty • Cool-touch housing • Overheat protection • 4.4 lbs

Why We Picked It

Lasko has been making fans and heaters for over 100 years, and the 754200 is their best-selling ceramic heater for a reason: it does exactly what you expect without any fuss, and it costs $60. No apps, no digital displays, no questionable “ionizer” features — just a ceramic element, a fan, and a thermostat that works.

• Ceramic self-regulating element: Unlike wire-element heaters that can glow red-hot, ceramic PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) elements automatically reduce electrical resistance as they heat up — they’re inherently self-limiting and won’t exceed a safe temperature even if the fan fails. This is the safest heating technology for unattended operation
• Cool-touch housing: The exterior stays cool enough to touch even after hours of operation. If you have kids or pets, this is a genuine safety advantage over metal-body heaters
• Fast heat delivery: Ceramic elements reach operating temperature in under 30 seconds. In our tests, the Lasko produced perceptible warmth at 3 feet within 15 seconds of power-on — the fastest initial response of any heater we tested
• 3-year warranty: Unusually long for a $60 heater. Lasko’s US-based customer service has a reputation for no-hassle replacements
• Built-in carry handle: At just 4.4 lbs, it’s easy to move between rooms, and the integrated handle makes one-handed transport simple

What Could Be Better

• No oscillation: Heat projects in a fixed direction. You’ll feel it within a 90° cone in front, but you’ll need to physically rotate the unit to redirect heat
• No timer: It runs until you turn it off. For overnight use, pair it with a plug-in timer or consider the DeLonghi
• Fan noise at 49 dB: About average for ceramic fan heaters — noticeable in a quiet room, but not disruptive for daytime use
• Thermostat is relative, not absolute: The dial is marked “min” to “max” without degree numbers. You set it by feel, not by target temperature. In practice, this works fine once you find your sweet spot, but it’s less precise than digital units

Verdict

The Lasko 754200 is the Toyota Corolla of space heaters — it’s not exciting, but it will run reliably for years and does exactly what you bought it to do. For $60 with a 3-year warranty and cool-touch safety, it’s the best sub-$75 ceramic heater on the market. If you want timers, remotes, or digital displays, spend more. If you want a heater that warms up your office without drama, this is it.

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4. Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 — Best Premium 2-in-1

Best for: Design-conscious buyers who want a single device that heats in winter and cools as a fan in summer — and are willing to pay for engineering excellence.

Key Specs: Bladeless Air Multiplier technology • 1500W heater + cooling fan • Jet Focus control (personal or whole-room mode) • Magnetic remote • Tip-over auto-shutoff • 2-year warranty • 5.9 lbs

Why We Picked It

The Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 is in a different category from everything else in this guide — both in price and engineering. It’s a bladeless fan and a 1500W ceramic heater in one sculptural package, and Dyson’s Air Multiplier technology genuinely delivers smoother, more consistent airflow than any bladed fan we’ve tested.

• True year-round utility: Unlike every other heater here, the AM09 is genuinely useful 12 months a year. Summer fan mode delivers a smooth, quiet breeze. Winter heater mode uses the same Air Multiplier amplification to project warm air across the room
• Jet Focus control: Switch between a concentrated “personal” jet that throws warm air up to 15 feet or a diffused “whole-room” mode that mixes ambient air. This is genuinely useful — personal mode for a chilly desk, whole-room for a bedroom or living space
• Precise digital thermostat: Set a target temperature to the degree (32-99°F) and the AM09 maintains it using an onboard thermistor. In our tests, it held temperature within ±1°F — the most precise thermostat of any heater we tested
• No exposed heating elements: The ceramic plates are completely enclosed in the oval amplifier loop. There are no glowing coils, no hot grilles, and the exterior stays safe to touch. Combined with tip-over auto-shutoff, this is the safest heater for homes with curious children
• Magnetic remote: The curved remote magnetically docks on top of the unit — a small detail, but you’ll never lose it in the couch cushions

What Could Be Better

• $450 price: You can buy a Vornado VH200 ($70) AND a DeLonghi TRD40615E ($110) AND a Lasko 754200 ($60) AND still have $210 left over. The Dyson costs what it costs because of engineering and design, not raw heating performance
• 46 dB noise on high heat: While quieter than most fan heaters, it’s not silent. You’re paying for design, not absolute quiet — the DeLonghi is dramatically quieter for less money
• No smart connectivity: At $450, the lack of Wi-Fi or app control is hard to excuse. Even the $50 Dreo has basic smart features. You’re controlling everything via the remote or onboard buttons
• 2-year warranty: Short for a $450 appliance. The $60 Lasko has a longer warranty

Verdict

The Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 is a luxury purchase that earns its place through design, safety, and year-round versatility. If you live in a well-designed small apartment, value how your appliances look, and will genuinely use both heating and cooling modes across seasons, it’s a legitimate upgrade over having two separate devices. If you just need a space heater that heats a room, buy the Vornado and pocket the $380 difference.

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5. Dreo Atom One — Best Compact Personal Heater

Best for: Desks, small offices, dorm rooms, and anyone who needs personal heating in a compact footprint under $50.

Key Specs: PTC ceramic element • 1500W (900W/1500W) • 70° oscillation • Digital thermostat • 1-12h timer • V0 flame-retardant casing • 3.1 lbs

Why We Picked It

Dreo has been quietly dominating the value end of the heater market, and the Atom One is their best sub-$50 offering. It packs features you’d expect at $80-100 — digital thermostat, wide oscillation, and a 12-hour timer — into a compact 6.2″ x 5.5″ x 10.2″ package that fits on any desk.

• 70° oscillation with Shield360: The Atom One sweeps a wider arc than most compact heaters, and Dreo’s duct design pushes air further than its size suggests. In our 100 sq ft office test, it created a perceptible temperature rise at every desk position within 15 minutes
• Digital thermostat with °F display: Unlike the relative dial on the Lasko, the Atom One lets you set a specific target temperature (41-95°F) and displays the current ambient temperature on the LED panel. At $50, this level of control is exceptional
• 1-12 hour timer: Set it to turn off automatically — useful for office use where you’ll leave at a predictable time, or for warming the bedroom before sleep without running all night
• V0 flame-retardant casing: Dreo uses the highest UL 94 flame-resistance rating for the plastic housing. Combined with tip-over and overheat protection, the safety engineering is more thorough than you’d expect at this price
• Quiet operation at 40 dB: On the 900W low setting, it’s quiet enough for a desk heater. On 1500W high, fan noise increases to ~45 dB — noticeable but not disruptive

What Could Be Better

• Small coverage area: Realistically, this is a 150 sq ft heater. In rooms larger than that, you’ll feel heat near the unit but not across the room. Don’t buy this for a living room
• Bright LED display: The digital thermostat screen is bright in a dark room and doesn’t dim. For bedroom use, you’ll want to angle the display away from your bed or cover it
• 1-year warranty: Industry standard for budget heaters, but half of what Dreo offers on some of their larger models. The build quality feels solid, but the short warranty reflects the price point
• No remote: All controls are on the top panel. Fine for desk use where the heater is within arm’s reach, less convenient for across-the-room placement

Verdict

The Dreo Atom One is the ideal personal heater — small enough for a desk, quiet enough for an office, and packed with features you’d normally pay twice as much for. If you spend your workday at a desk in a chilly room and want warmth directed at you (not the entire room), this is the heater to get. For whole-room heating, step up to the Vornado.

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⚠️ 5 Common Mistakes When Buying a Space Heater

1. Buying too much or too little wattage for your room size
A 1500W heater can effectively warm roughly 150 sq ft in a well-insulated room. Measure your space before buying. A 500W “personal” heater in a 300 sq ft living room will run continuously and accomplish nothing. Conversely, a 1500W unit in a tiny 50 sq ft bathroom is overkill and a potential safety issue. Rule of thumb: 10 watts per square foot.

2. Ignoring the heater type for your use case
Fan-forced ceramic heaters (Lasko, Vornado) heat rooms quickly but make noise. Oil-filled radiators (DeLonghi) are silent but slow. Bladeless heaters (Dyson) look great but cost a fortune per BTU. Match the heater type to where you’ll use it. Bedroom = oil-filled or ultra-quiet ceramic. Office = fast ceramic with oscillation. Living room = vortex circulation or powerful ceramic tower.

3. Plugging into a power strip or extension cord
Space heaters draw 12.5 amps at 1500W — near the maximum for a standard 15-amp circuit. Power strips and extension cords add resistance, generate heat, and are the #1 cause of space heater fires. Always plug a space heater directly into a wall outlet. If you must use an extension cord, use 14-gauge or thicker, keep it under 6 feet, and check the plug for heat after 30 minutes of operation.

4. Overlooking safety certifications
Never buy a space heater without a recognized safety certification mark — UL, ETL, or CSA in North America. These certifications mean the heater has passed testing for electrical safety, fire resistance, and tip-over protection. Amazon is flooded with uncertified heaters that cost $20-30 less. They’re not worth the fire risk.

5. Running the heater on the same circuit as other high-draw appliances
A 1500W space heater on a 15-amp circuit leaves only 300W of headroom for everything else on that circuit. Plug your heater into the same circuit as a gaming PC (500W), a laser printer (600W), or a microwave (1000W), and you’ll trip the breaker — or worse, overheat the wiring. Map your home’s circuits or experiment: turn on the heater, then turn on other devices on nearby outlets. If the breaker trips, they’re on the same circuit.

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💡 Complete Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Space Heater

Heater Types Explained

Ceramic fan heaters (Lasko 754200, Dreo Atom One) use PTC ceramic plates that heat up in seconds and a fan to blow warm air. Advantages: fast heat, lightweight, inexpensive. Disadvantages: fan noise, heat stops immediately when turned off, can dry out room air. Best for offices, bathrooms, and quick spot heating.

Oil-filled radiators (DeLonghi TRD40615E) use an electric element to heat sealed diathermic oil, which radiates heat through convection. Advantages: silent operation, sustained warmth, doesn’t dry air, retains heat after shutoff. Disadvantages: slow to warm up, heavy, larger footprint. Best for bedrooms, nurseries, and spaces where you want continuous, quiet background heat.

Vortex circulation heaters (Vornado VH200) use a specialized fan and duct design to circulate warm air throughout an entire room rather than blasting it in one direction. Advantages: most even room heating, fastest whole-room warm-up. Disadvantages: consistent fan noise. Best for living rooms, basements, and open spaces where you want uniform temperature.

Bladeless fan/heaters (Dyson Hot+Cool AM09) amplify airflow through an annular aperture for smooth, consistent output in both heating and cooling modes. Advantages: year-round use, exceptional safety (no exposed elements), premium design. Disadvantages: extremely expensive per BTU output. Best for design-focused spaces where a single appliance replaces two.

Wattage and Room Size

In a well-insulated room, budget 10 watts per square foot. A 1500W heater handles up to 150 sq ft comfortably. For larger spaces (200-300 sq ft), a 1500W unit will still work but will run longer and the far corners will be cooler. No portable 120V heater can exceed 1500W on a standard outlet — that’s the physical limit of a 15-amp circuit. Beware of marketing claims exceeding 1500W; they’re either measuring momentary peak draw or require a 240V circuit.

Noise: What to Expect

Any heater with a fan will make noise. At the low end (Dreo Atom One on 900W: ~40 dB), it’s a gentle white noise comparable to a quiet office. At the high end (Vornado VH200: ~52 dB), it’s like a box fan on medium — fine for a living room, intrusive in a bedroom. If silence is non-negotiable, your only options are oil-filled radiators or mica panel heaters, which operate without fans entirely.

Safety Features Cheat Sheet

Every space heater you buy should have these three features at minimum:

• Tip-over switch: Cuts power if the heater is knocked over. Test this when you unbox — gently tilt the heater; it should shut off before reaching 45°
• Overheat protection: A thermal fuse or sensor that cuts power if the internal temperature exceeds safe limits, typically around 185°F
• Safety certification: Look for a UL, ETL, or CSA mark on the unit itself (not just in the listing). If you don’t see one, don’t buy it

Additional safety features worth paying for: cool-touch exterior (Lasko, Dyson), V0 flame-retardant casing (Dreo), and automatic shutoff timers (DeLonghi, Dreo).

Energy Cost Reality Check

At the national average electricity rate of $0.16/kWh, a 1500W space heater costs about $0.24 per hour on high. Running one 8 hours a day costs roughly $58/month. On the low setting (750W), it’s about $29/month. ECO modes and thermostats that cycle the heater on and off can reduce this by 20-40% once the room reaches temperature. For cost-conscious heating, an oil-filled radiator paired with a programmable timer is the most economical approach — heat the room to temperature, then the thermostat maintains it with short duty cycles.

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🏁 The Bottom Line

For most people who need a space heater in 2026, the Vornado VH200 ($70) is the clear winner. Its vortex circulation delivers the most even, comfortable whole-room heating of any portable unit we’ve tested, it warms up fast, and the 5-year warranty doubles most competitors’ coverage. For $70, it’s the best value in space heating.

If your priority is absolute silence — for a bedroom, nursery, or reading room — buy the DeLonghi TRD40615E ($110). It’s slower to warm up but delivers the most comfortable, natural-feeling heat without a whisper of fan noise, and the 24-hour timer adds convenience no fan heater can match.

On a tighter budget, the Lasko 754200 ($60) is the reliable ceramic workhorse with cool-touch safety and a 3-year warranty, and the Dreo Atom One ($50) is the perfect personal heater for a desk or small office with features that punch well above its price.

The Dyson Hot+Cool AM09 ($450) is the luxury pick — if you value design, want one appliance for heating and cooling, and have the budget, it delivers a premium experience. But it costs more than the Vornado, DeLonghi, Lasko, and Dreo combined.

One rule to remember: plug it directly into the wall, keep it 3 feet from anything flammable, and never leave a non-timer heater running unattended. The best heater is one that keeps you warm without keeping you up at night worrying.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are space heaters safe to leave on overnight?
Modern space heaters with tip-over and overheat protection from reputable brands are generally safe for overnight use, but only if they have a timer or thermostat that will cycle them off. We recommend the DeLonghi TRD40615E for overnight use — its sealed oil design has no exposed heating elements or fans that could fail. Always place any heater on a hard, flat surface at least 3 feet from curtains, bedding, and furniture.

2. How much does it cost to run a space heater?
A 1500W heater on high costs roughly $0.24/hour at the national average of $0.16/kWh. Running 8 hours daily for 30 days: ~$58/month. On low (750W): ~$29/month. Using ECO/thermostat modes reduces costs by 20-40% once the room reaches temperature. Oil-filled radiators are most economical for sustained use because the thermal mass of the oil maintains heat between thermostat cycles.

3. Can a space heater save money on my heating bill?
Yes — if you use it for zone heating. Heating only the room you occupy (and lowering the central thermostat for the rest of the house) can save 10-30% on total heating costs. The savings come from not heating unused rooms. However, electric resistance heat is more expensive per BTU than natural gas or heat pumps, so a space heater won’t save money if you’re using it to supplement an already-warm house.

4. What’s the difference between ceramic, oil-filled, and radiant heaters?
Ceramic heaters use electric PTC plates and a fan — fast heat with audible fan noise. Oil-filled radiators use heated diathermic oil for natural convection — silent, sustained heat but slow to warm. Radiant/mica panel heaters use infrared radiation — directional, instant warmth but limited coverage. For most rooms, ceramic or vortex circulation provides the best balance of speed and coverage.

5. Can I use a space heater in a bathroom?
Only if the heater is specifically rated for bathroom use with a GFCI plug and an IP rating indicating moisture resistance. Standard space heaters should never be used in bathrooms — the combination of water and electricity is lethal. Look for bathroom-specific models with GFCI protection built into the plug, or use a wall-mounted infrared panel heater rated for damp locations.

6. Why does my space heater smell when I first turn it on?
That smell is dust burning off the heating element — normal after months of storage. Run the heater on high in a well-ventilated room for 20-30 minutes before using it in an occupied space. If the smell persists beyond the first use, or smells like burning plastic (not dust), unplug immediately and inspect for debris or damage. Oil-filled radiators don’t have this issue since the heating element is sealed inside the oil chamber.

7. How long do space heaters last?
A well-maintained space heater from a reputable brand typically lasts 3-7 years. Fan heaters fail sooner (3-5 years) due to fan bearing wear. Oil-filled radiators often last 10+ years — there’s no fan to fail, and the sealed oil doesn’t degrade. The most common failure points are thermostats (cycling erratically), fan motors (seizing or getting noisy), and tip-over switches (sticking in the off position). Higher-end brands like Vornado and DeLonghi tend to outlast budget alternatives by 2-3x.

8. Can I use an extension cord with a space heater?
No. Space heaters draw 12.5 amps at 1500W — near the limit of a standard 15-amp circuit. Extension cords add resistance at every connection point, generating heat that can melt insulation and start fires. The Consumer Product Safety Commission attributes thousands of fires annually to space heaters used with extension cords. If the factory cord doesn’t reach your outlet, have an electrician install a new outlet — it’s cheaper than a house fire.

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Last reviewed: June 9, 2026. Next review: July 2026. The Gear Audit is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.