Best energy-efficient heater 2023

The best energy-efficient heater can keep you warm without costing too much, and that's something we all need, especially right now.

The ideal of an energy-efficient heater is to heat up the space you're in, without costing loads of money, and ideally not taking long to warm up either. That's not always the case with some heaters though, but it's certainly what you should be aiming for.

For this reason, we've included some of the best infrared heaters on our list, which are perhaps the most energy-efficient option as they're said to convert almost all the electricity they consume into heat and can warm up objects directly instead of the air for more effective use of their energy.

Also included in our selection are oil heaters, which can be up to 99% efficient when it comes to converting their energy, and ceramic fan heaters featuring automatic climate control and low power modes to help reduce energy consumption.

Ultimately, we've considered a range of different factors for this list including price, overall power, and of course how much energy they use to make our election. So, let's jump into our list of the best energy-efficient heaters.

Best energy-efficient heater

1. Dr Infrared Heater
2. Vornado TAVH10 Electric Space Heater
3. Heat Storm HS-1500-ILODG
4. Dreo Radiator Heater
5. GiveBest Portable Electric Heater

Credit: Dr Infrared

1. Dr Infrared Heater

Best energy-efficient heater overall

This Dr Infrared Heater seems to be one of the best all-round energy-efficient solutions for heating your home.

With a power level of 1,500W, this heater should be able to give off enough warmth for essentially any-sized room, even if the area you want to heat up is quite large.

And, because it uses infrared technology, it should be able to provide direct heat straight to your body, so as long as you're sitting near it, you should warm up in no time at all.

Also, it has a low and high mode, as well as an eco mode, which is one of the reasons why we feel it's one of the best options for saving money on your bills. The eco mode essentially lowers the wattage of the heater after a period of heating your room to conserve energy.

Moreover, it can be conveniently operated by remote control, so you can adjust the temperature from the comfort of your own sofa, plus it has a decent temperature range of between 50 and 85 degrees to ensure you remain toasty.

The device is also designed to be portable as it comes with caster wheels to make it easy to wheel it from room to room without having to pick it up.

Another bonus is that it has tip-over protection and overheat protection, both of which can potentially prevent dangerous electrical fires from occurring if the heater were to fall over or overheat.

All in all, we'd say this Dr Infrared Heater looks like a great all-rounder if you're searching for a heater for your home that can help you save on your energy bills.

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Credit: Vornado

2. Vornado TAVH10 Electric Space Heater

Best energy-efficient electric heater

The Vornado TAVH10 seems like a great consideration if you’re looking for an energy-efficient electric device.

It comes with automatic climate control that cleverly senses exactly how much heat and circulation is necessary to maintain the temperature you set it at. It will then adjust itself accordingly based on its findings.

This technology has the potential to help the heater save on energy because, once the room reaches the correct temperature, the device should automatically turn itself off and not consume any electricity until the temperature drops again.

It also has two different power settings, including low, which operates at 750W, and high, which delivers 1,500W. Being able to put it on a lower heat mode can also help you save on energy usage.

Furthermore, to provide you with the best possible heating efficiency, the appliance has a unique airflow system called Vortex Action, which is engineered to deliver fast, warm, and gentle airflow throughout the room.

Safety features are also something Vornado has considered. The heater comes with a cool-touch exterior to avoid any accidental burns by touching it, plus tip-over protection and an automatic safety shut-off to help prevent an electrical fire if it falls over or overheats.

On the whole, this Vortex appliance seems as though it can seriously save on your energy bills whilst keeping you warm in winter. So, make sure you check it out if it's an electric heater you're after.

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Credit: Heat Storm

3. Heat Storm HS-1500-ILODG

Best energy-efficient infrared heater

We've already touched on how infrared heaters can be some of the most energy-efficient appliances out there. For that reason, we’d say this Heat Storm product is definitely worth considering.

In fact, this heater actually comes with a dedicated Energy-Efficient mode that reduces the power output from 1,500W down to 750W whenever it can, allowing it to consume less energy where possible.

For instance, if it detects that your room is already quite hot, it should automatically lower the wattage without you having to do it yourself.

With a maximum power level of 1,500W, though, you should find it can heat up a pretty large area. This should make it an ideal pick for almost any room in your home.

In our opinion, one of the best features of this heater is that it makes use of HMS technology in its patented heat exchanger. What this means is it works with the humidity in the room to provide heat without making the air too dry.

It also comes equipped with an LED display, so you can easily see what the temperature of the room is, plus its remote control operated for added convenience.

This product definitely looks like a great infrared heater to efficiently heat your home with.

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Credit: Dreo

4. Dreo Radiator Heater

Best energy-efficient oil heater

Oil heaters are another energy-efficient form of heating, and this Dreo Radiator Heater looks like a great pick if an oil heater is something you're after.

As mentioned before, oil heaters can offer up to 99% energy efficiency in some cases, and they tend to offer longer-lasting heat as well because they don't cool down immediately when you turn them. This means you shouldn't need to run an oil heater as long.

Plus, this heater comes equipped with an ECO mode that adjusts the power levels based on the room temperature. So, if the room is already warm, it should then lower its output to, in turn, save electricity.

The manufacturer also claims that its spindle-shaped openings and Dual U-shaped heating tubes allow it to more effectively and evenly distribute heat around the room. Moreover, it emits heat from both sides, as well as from above, providing a 360-degree circulation of hot air.

Dreo also boasts its heater can warm up a large area, which, given its 1,500W power level, we'd say seems accurate.

Safety-wise, it comes with a cool-touch design to help minimise the risk of burning yourself once you turn it off as the heating elements and fins aren't directly exposed.

So, in our opinion, this heater seems like it has all the quality's you need from an oil heater if you're looking to save energy.

Read more: Best water heaters

Credit: GiveBest

5. GiveBest Portable Electric Heater

Best budget energy-efficient heater

Looking for a relatively inexpensive device to help you save on your energy bills? Well, this GiveBest Portable Electric Heater could be your answer.

This heater comes with three different modes: high, low, and cool air fan. This makes it multifunctional as you can use it to warm yourself up in winter as well as cool down in summer.

The low mode gives off a heat level of 750W, while the high mode provides you with 1,500W, meaning it should be suitable to use in almost any sized room.

It also comes with thermostat control to help you save energy. What this means is it will turn off once it reaches the temperature you set it at, and then back on again when the temperature goes back below preset.

The heater is also fairly compact, so it should be able to fit anywhere in your home without taking up too much space. It comes with a handle too, meaning it should be easier to carry around and comparable to some of the best portable electric heaters on the market.

In terms of safety features, it's made from flame-retardant material to prevent it from catching on fire, and it comes with tip-over and overheating protection, which should reduce the risk of electrical fires as it's designed to switch off if it falls or overheats.

Overall, this seems like a very capable budget heater, and one we'd definitely recommend checking out for winter.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

There are probably a few questions you have in mind about the best energy-efficient heaters. Fortunately, we've helped you out by answering some of the most common queries about them found online.

What type of heater is the most energy-efficient?

Infrared heaters appear to be the most energy-efficient devices available today. This is because they're said to be able to convert almost 100% of the electricity they use into heat.

They also work by warming up objects rather than the air around you. Thiis direct form of heating should result in a more even distribution of heat, as well as minimising the potential for the heat to escape through any gaps in your windows or doors.

All of this should make infrared red heaters extremely effective at doing their job and means you shouldn't have to run them for as long as other types of heaters, therefore potentially saving you money on your energy bills.

Do oil heaters use a lot of electricity?

Oil-filled heaters are another energy-efficient form of heating. In fact, as touched on earlier, they're said to be up to 99% efficient when it comes to saving energy.

Similar to infrared heaters, this is thanks to the fact they directly convert almost all of the electricity they consume into heat energy without much going to waste.

They can also be very effective at heating up a room and providing you with long-lasting heat because they usually take longer to cool down, meaning you don't need to run them as long as they still provide warmth when switched off.

As a result, you can potentially save a ton of energy by using an oil heater in short stints rather than leaving a heater on all day.