11 best portable heaters to try this winter
Warm up in a flash this winter with $38 'perfect' heater.
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There’s nothing worse than shivering through a WFH day because your house is freezing.
While Aussie winters are nothing to write home about (as those from the northern hemisphere will often remind us), most homes aren’t equipped for the plunge in temperature that the colder months bring.
Thankfully, there are plenty of portable heaters on the market that can fix this, from desk heaters perfect for home offices (yes please) to column heaters you can use to heat up your bedroom all night (double yes please).
Read on for our round up of the best portable heaters you can buy. And the best bit? Every heater on this list is under $200, with the most affordable being only $62. The portable electric floor convector heater from big brand Dimplex is a great bargain buy, with shoppers saying it's "worth the price" and perfect for long lasting warmth.
Another "must have for winter" is the De'Longhi Radia S Column Heater, which reviewers agree is great at creating a cosy room without feeling "too toasty".
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BEST PORTABLE DESK HEATERS
De'Longhi Capsule Fan Heater, $68.80 (down from $99) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This easy to operate heater uses ceramic technology that self-regulates to ensure heat gets evenly distributed. Featuring a mechanical control panel, sturdy handle to move it around easily and two power settings, plus it automatically turns off when it tips over.
“This little box packs a punch when it comes to heating a small room,” one five-star reviewer wrote.
“I have only been using this a few days, but so far I’m very happy with it. It’s efficient and quickly warms up the room. The two heat settings mean you can have it on reduced heat if you want. It looks nice and the handle makes it portable for carrying between rooms, although I like it so much I’ve bought another,” another wrote.
Bitzong Energy Efficient Portable Electric Ceramic Heater, $109.95 at Amazon Australia
Bitzong Energy Efficient Portable Electric Ceramic Heater
What You Need To Know
This quick-heating portable ceramic heater has an energy efficient design that can heat a space up to 4m by 4m in size — perfect for home offices. Features include wide-angle automatic swing, cold and hot air mode and a safety power off if the heater falls over.
Shoppers who wrote five-star reviews say it is a “great little compact heater” and the “perfect alternative to heating a whole house when you need one room”.
“I was disappointed at first, seeing the size and considering the price … now, I’ve realised the tiny little heater is absolutely wonderful and so powerful. It heats up a medium sized tiled room beautifully,” one five-star reviewer says.
Handy Heater Pure Warmth, $79 at The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
This heater uses advanced ceramic technology to heat spaces while also cleaning the air. With three adjustable heat settings, the 1200w heater operates quietly and has a built in LED night light that can change between seven different colours.
“I’m amazed on how this small portable heater really works! Very handy indeed and keeps an average sized room warm!” one five-star reviewer wrote.
“Cute design, colours nice and best of all efficient,” another wrote.
BEST PORTABLE OIL-FILLED COLUMN HEATERS
De'Longhi 1500W Radia S Oil Column Heater, $134 (down from $179) at Amazon Australia
De'Longhi Radia S Radiant Heater 1500W
What You Need To Know
This noiseless heater gives off instant warmth and is on wheels for ease of movement from room to room. With a control panel that allows you to select three different settings, it also features a safety thermostat and 24 hour timer.
“Great for bedrooms, love the timer function. I usually have this one every morning for a couple of hours and every night for three hours. The thermostat helps keep the room at a nice but not too toasty temperature. Planning to purchase one more so each bedroom has one each. A must have for winter,” one satisfied shopper wrote.
BEST PORTABLE RADIANT HEATERS
Heller 2400W Quartz Radiant Heater, $139 at Betta
Heller 2400W Quartz Radiant Heater
What You Need To Know
With 2400W, four power settings and dual heating, this is one mighty portable heater. Features include an adjustable thermostat and fan assisted heating, as well as four castor wheels for ease of movement.
One five-star reviewer wrote, "Great heater, fantastic, it has a fan simple to use and belts out the heat".
BEST PORTABLE CONVECTION AND PANEL HEATERS
De'Longhi Portable Convection Heater, $77 (down from $89) at Amazon Australia
De'Longhi Portable Convection Heater
What You Need To Know
This no-frills appliance is ideal for spot heating and will provide instant warmth. Featuring an adjustable room thermostat, and safety features like an overheating cut-off, automatic tilt switch, anti-frost function and double insulation, it can also be wall mounted.
Reviewers say it is a “good little heater for small rooms”, with one shopper writing: “It’s not fancy, exciting, or decorative, but it does the job, works well and is light and portable.”
Dimplex Portable Electric Floor Convector Heater, $62 (down from $89) at Big W
Dimplex 2000W Convection Heater
What You Need To Know
This portable heater is ideal for small to medium sized rooms with its 2kW heat output. With an integrated turbofan – meaning super fast warm up time, and it features two different heat settings, carry handles and thermostatic controls.
One customer left a review saying, "Bought it a year ago for our living area and it definitely warms the area up, approx 30sqm. I use it in my room to heat it up before going to bed and it stays warm! worth the price."
BEST PORTABLE CERAMIC FAN HEATERS
De'Longhi Digital Ceramic Tower Heater, $189 at The Good Guys
Delonghi Digital Ceramic Tower Heater
What You Need To Know
With 2200W power and a safety thermostat that turns off if overheating, this is a great all-rounder portable heater. Features include a cool touch handle for ease of movement, anti-frost function, a removable anti-dust filter that’s also washable and an extra silent system.
“Small put packs a punch. Really impressed with this heater. Totally would recommend,” one five-star reviewer wrote.
Pronti 2000w Electric Heater Remote Fan Tower, $129 at Myer
Pronti Electric Remote Fan Tower Heater
What You Need To Know
This fan tower heater has an oscillating base that ensures even heat distribution, while its timer allows you to set it to run for between one to eight hours. It features a touch pad function with a blue indicator light as well as an adjustable thermostat and remote control, with two heat settings of either 1200W or 2200W available. Plus, it automatically switches off once the desired temperature is reached.
One Myer customer left a review saying, "Good slimline heater that works well, heats the room nicely and is easy to use."
Kambrook 2400W Upright Fan Heater, $99 at The Good Guys
Kambrook Upright Fan heater
What You Need To Know
This fan has 2400W of heating power, making it a powerful portable heater. With two heat settings, it spreads heat evenly thanks to its oscillating design.
The heater is suited to small spaces and is “easy to move anywhere”, says one five star reviewer.
Omega Altise 2400W Ceramic Tower Heater, $189 at Betta
Omega Ceramic Tower Heater
What You Need To Know
This tower heater uses ALETA+ technology to quickly heat up a room and with 2400W energy it sure is powerful. Other features include an LCD display with soft touch controls, oscillating fan to heat rooms, a remote control and a 7.5 hour timer.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A PORTABLE HEATER
When choosing portable heaters for this list, we looked at the following factors:
Heating Method: Heaters vary in the way they heat and this will depend on the size of the space and what you want it for. Do you want a slow long lasting heat for a medium space that an oil heater provides, or you do want the instant heat of a fan heater for when you hop out of the shower on a cold morning?
Room size: Each heater usually has a recommendation of the size of space it will effectively heat.
Portability: Is the heater easy to move from room to room? Check for easy-to-use (non hot) handles and castors on the bottom for wheeling around.
Dimensions: Size really does matter as it needs to fit neatly into your living room or bedroom. Weight is also a consideration if you're transporting it around the house.
Power: How many watts does it offer? Do you need a very powerful heat of around 2400W to cover a larger space or something more low key to keep your feet warm under your desk.
Budget: How much do you want to spend? These heaters are all under the $200 mark, some even under $100, which makes for affordable winter heating.
Noise level: Is it noisy? Can you work with it in your study or office space, will it distract you while relaxing or watching television?
Features: Heaters come with a range of features, such as a safety cut-off switch, adjustable thermostat and 24 hour timer.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products that are worthy of including in articles. We discover out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews – as well as scrolling through TikTok and Instagram to see what’s trending.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF A PORTABLE HEATER IN WINTER
CHOICE shared some heating mistakes to avoid to keep you home toasty warm with a heater during the warmer months.
CHOICE stresses that the most expensive portable heater isn’t always best, however, you should also do your research when buying a more affordable model.
Other ways you can optimise your portable heater is by using your ceiling fan (if you have one) in reverse mode so it runs clockwise. This helps push hot air around a room for better heating distribution.
Bazerga Under Door Draft Stopper, Amazon Australia, $30.04
Another tip from CHOICE is not to use electric heaters to dry clothes — this prevents even heat distribution in a room, no to mention being a potential fire hazard.
You should also avoid letting draughts around doors and windows as well as covering any gaps in flooring with rugs. A door snake like this one from Amazon can be a great way to prevent heat from escaping, saving you money on your energy bill in the process.
Finally, don’t ignore bad insulation. Up to 35 per cent of an insulated home’s warmth is lost through the ceiling, so maybe consider getting ceiling and underfloor installation installed if you don’t have any.
WHAT PORTABLE HEATER CAN YOU LEAVE ON ALL NIGHT?
According to CHOICE, convection heaters like panel or oil column heaters are safest for leaving on at night. But you should also consider getting one with a timer that switches off after a certain time period.
Heaters to avoid for overnight use include any that could tip over easily and radiant heaters because they have exposed hot surfaces that could become a fire hazard if something fell on it during the night.
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