Whether you’re bumming it living the La Vie Boheme life in student dorms, partying it up in a penthouse, enjoying the single life or are married with kids – freezing cold is the great equalizer. We are all subject to cold, and sweaters knitted by grandma and haute couture cashmere scarves can only go so far. Whoever you are and whatever your status, you need a way to combat the cold come wintertime, and that means a quality space heater.
That said, staying warm shouldn’t be a headache. You want to avoid inconveniences wherever possible, and that includes heating fans that are obnoxiously loud. Space heaters should help put you at ease and increase your comfort, and that simply can’t happen if it sounds like you have an airplane engine roaring away in your den or bedroom.
That’s why you’ll want to be on the lookout for space heaters that are as quiet as they are effective.
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Intro to Space Heaters
The first thing to keep in mind when shopping for space heaters is that they come in all shapes and sizes, so you want to make sure you’re getting one that is a good fit for your room, dorm, office, or other areas. That’s why you’ll want to measure the space ahead of time to make sure whatever unit you choose is a good fit.
While you’ll obviously want your space heater to fit into the area snugly, there is such a thing as too snug. It is of the utmost importance to ensure that your space heater’s vents are completely unobstructed. Keeping space heaters too close to walls can cause heat to become trapped between the wall and unit, which in turn can cause heat to build up and pose a fire hazard.
Depending on the amount of wattage, the space heater’s placement in the room can make a big difference in how effectively it is able to heat up the space. The more wattage, the more powerful the heater, which thus makes it easier to heat up the room and keep it warm. That said, more wattage also often means larger and, thus, louder machinery to sustain that process. As such, a space heater that is both effective and quiet takes a delicate balancing act to pull off.
Some make use of infrared heating technology, others utilize ceramic heaters, and others use different oil or convective electric-based heating methods. Some space heaters are tall, powerful towers, while others are designed with a more streamlined approach and portable nature in mind.
Finally, smaller heaters can be great for personal use, heating the area immediately beside you, while larger units can heat whole rooms, keeping yourself and family or friends nice and toasty.
Top 8 Best Quiet Space Heaters
As demonstrated above, there are many different factors to consider when choosing space heaters. A unit that’s perfect in one space may be lacking or cumbersome in another. That said, this all-star list of space heaters has enough options to cover every eventuality.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best space heaters on the market.
1. Dr. Infrared Heater
One of the most important things to consider when selecting a space heater of any kind is how well you can control the temperature settings. Even if you have never used a space heater before, chances are you’re all too familiar with the sensation of being in the shower and being stuck between it being just too hot or too cold. The same holds true for space heaters. The more sensitive and accurate temperature control system, the better – and the Dr. Infrared Heater model has one of the best.
Even better for our purposes, this is one of the most silent heaters on our list. Part of that is due to its small size – 16 x 11 x 13 inches. While it isn’t completely silent, the smaller fans and machinery means less noise, emitting 39 decibels of noise.
What’s more, this unit boasts a bevy of features. For example, not only does it feature accurate temperature control, but it allows you to alter settings via a remote control. No one likes having to leave their warm, cozy bed to adjust their space heater, and with the Dr. Infrared Heater, you won’t have to. That said, it only emits heat from a small vent on the front.
From an aesthetic perspective, this is a nice retro-looking little unit with a lovely cherry wood finish. If you’re looking for a blast from the past, or a unit with a bit more decorative character than your average streamlined space heater, this might be a good choice.
Safety considerations are essential for any space heater, and once again this unit scores highly in that regard. It has overheating protection and shuts off automatically after 12 hours.
Effective, small, retro, and reasonably quiet, this is a great all-around space heater.
2. DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica Panel Heater
With a power output of 1500 watts, DeLonghi Mica Panel Heater is one of the more powerful units on our list, which is what makes it so surprising that it is also one of the quietest.
That’s thanks to DeLonghi’s embracement of Mica-Thermic technology, which allows the unit to radiate heat without the use of a fan, the lack of which is what enables this heater to operate so silently. Mica-Thermic technology works by creating electromagnetic waves, which are what disperses the heat around the room instead of a fan. This means that this unit makes virtually no sound at all.
On the other hand, this unit features a thermostat with Min and Max readings, but no precise degrees, which can make it a bit difficult to get it set for a specific temperature. The sliding scale allows it to operate at either 750 or 1500 watts.
This is also the rare unit that can be used as either a portable or fixed heating unit. The latter is demonstrated via its 1500 watts of power along with the ability to attach it to the wall and comfortably heat an entire room, while the former is aided by wheels on the bottom and a carrying handle, both of which allow for greater mobility.
In terms of safety features, this unit offers automatic tip over protection and overheating protection.
With its unparalleled blend of portability, power, and silent operation, this is easily one of the most versatile space heaters on our list.
3. DeLonghi TRD40615T Full Room Radiant Heater
As with the other DeLonghi unit listed above, this is another example of a space heater that combines 1500 watts of power with near-silent operation. It also does not feature the kind of loud heat-dispersing fans that commonly accompany a heater of this size or wattage.
As opposed to that other unit’s Mica-Thermic heating system, this model makes use of an oil-filled chamber. One of the upsides of this is that oil-based units are often very energy efficient because they are able to retain heat better than other units. That said, they can be a bit heavy, and that’s the case with this unit as well. Even so, its ability to retain heat along with its sturdy build make it a great choice for regular use, and this unit’s wheels can help you move it around the room with greater ease.
What’s more, this heater is remarkably easy to use. No installation is necessary. Simply plug it in, switch it on, and you’re ready to heat a medium to large room with 1500 watts of warmth.
The unit ranks highly from a safety perspective as well. Its oil chamber has an antifreeze setting that can protect the unit from damage, while the unit’s surface is kept nice and cool to the touch. It is capable of operating at 500, 1000, and 1500 watts, and more silently than other models of that power. The unit operates with a slight clicking sound, but other than that it’s extremely quiet.
4. Puraflame 1250W Small Portable Electric Heater
Space heaters can seem a bit streamlined and impersonal, which is what makes this unit’s mockup of a smoldering fire that much cozier. If you are looking for a space heater with a little more personality, this can be a great way to rekindle your interior décor.
Of course, none of that would matter if beneath these flames the unit was stone cold. Thankfully, this unit boasts 1250 watts of power. That’s enough to heat an entire medium-sized room. That’s doubly impressive given the fact that this unit is on the smaller side for a space heater this powerful, measuring 9 x 5.7 x 12 inches.
This is another heater that makes use of a sliding thermostat on a Min to Max scale. As with other units that have this feature, you cannot set this space heater for a specific temperature. Even so, you should be able to find somewhere on the scale that heats your room well.
This heater makes use of a ceramic heating system paired with fans, which produces noise comparable to a soft desk fan, making this one of the quietest space heaters of its type. Like other ceramic heaters, it heats up quickly, reaching its full temperature within five seconds.
5. Vornado VH10 Vortex Space Heater
This unit is on the smaller side, which helps contribute to how quiet it is. This unit has two settings, 750 and 1500 watts. Whichever setting you use, however, the small size combined with small fans makes for a unit that runs nice and silent – as long as you keep the unit on an even surface. It if tilts even slightly, the machinery can start to click or rattle. That being said, keeping the space heater on a smooth, straight surface is pretty easy.
You can take further control over the noise level via dials that allow you to switch between two fan speeds. In addition to their virtually-silent operation, the unit’s fans do a great job of dispersing heat around a medium-sized room without overheating the area.
This unit also makes use of some good safety features, including a cool to the touch exterior, tip over protection and an automatic shutoff.
What is even more remarkable is that this unit is able to do all of that despite its small size. Measuring just 12 x 9 inches, it is one of the smaller options on this list. Nevertheless, it is able to heat whole rooms without causing a ruckus.
6. Mulandd Ceramic Space Heater
This is another space heater with noise levels that can vary depending on what setting you have it on. At its highest setting, this space heater operates at 50 decibels at 1500 watts, which is pretty good, especially for a ceramic space heater. At lower settings, it hums along quietly. Either way, this unit is on the quieter side for a ceramic heater.
As with most ceramic heaters, this unit gets hot in a hurry. That said, the fact that this unit is able to get hot in an astonishing two seconds makes it the fastest zero-to-hot option on this list. Add that to the fact that it’s able to do that while remaining relatively quiet.
This unit measures 10 inches high, and with a built-in carrying handle, it’s a pretty good portable model.
Part of what really sets this space heater apart is the fact that it not only operates reasonably quietly for a ceramic model, but the fact that it is able to do so while dispersing heat at a wide angle. This allows the unit to disperse heat at multiple angles without sounding like an engine turbine.
In terms of safety, this offering from Mulandd features overheating protection paired with an auto shutoff feature that prevents the unit from reaching dangerously high temperatures.
All of these factors make this one of the quieter options on our list that are still capable of heating an entire room.
7. Lasko 4409 Ceramic Portable Space Heater
Here we have another example of a little unit that can go a long way toward providing you with consistent, quiet space heating functionality. Measuring just 8.34 x 6.55 x 11.66 inches, it is a highly compact unit, and with the built-in carrying handle, a very portable one at that.
All of this allows you to take the unit with you and slip it into your dorm, office, or any other room as needed without blocking up the passageways into or out of the home. What’s more, given how lightweight the unit is, just four pounds, it’s something you can easily carry around in your bag.
As with many units of its size, this space heater is comfortably on the quiet side. It features three heat settings, a fan-only setting as well as Low and High heat settings. The unit operates very quietly at each setting, making this one of the quieter ceramic heaters of this kind on the market, which is doubly impressive given its ability to give off 1500 watts of warmth.
In addition, this is a unit that makes use of oscillation to spread that warmth throughout a given space. A knob at the top of the unit makes it easy to control the degree of oscillation, giving you an ever greater degree of control over the heating process.
8. Ivapo 500W Mini Personal Space Heater
Last, but not least, we have the smallest space heater on our list, measuring a comparatively-tiny 10 x 7.2 x 7.1 inches. What’s more, it is able to give off 500 watts of heat while humming along at 45 decibels, a pretty low amount of noise for that amount of power.
These two factors form the basis of this offering’s appeal. It offers just enough power and warmth for one person while being quiet enough to allow you to work or sleep in pace. Both of these factors combine to make it an excellent personal space heater, and certainly one of the most compact and easy to transport ones. If you are looking for a portable personal space heater to take on the road with you, this would be a great option to consider.
One of the distinguishing features of this unit is the fact that it offers 60 degrees of oscillation. This allows it to distribute the warm air it produces over a wider range than other models. This would be impressive for any unit, but that it comes with such a small model is a testament to the surprising versatility of this quiet, efficient option from Ivapo.
More on Quiet Space Heaters
As demonstrated by our list, there is quite a lot of diversity on the space heater market today. On the one hand, the sheer amount of choice can seem overwhelming. On the other hand, armed with the facts, it can be empowering, and enable you to choose the perfect space heater for your setup.
With that in mind, let’s take a more in-depth look at some of the more important features to consider when choosing the right space heater for you.
Types of Space Heaters
To begin with, there are three basic types of heaters:
- Convective: These are the most common types of heaters, and work by making use of convection currents to circulate heat around a room. The currents are created via electronic means, such as electrical coils. Air passes over the heated electrical coils and are then dispersed through the air via a fan. There is a lot to like about these kinds of heaters, including their ability to disperse heat evenly and their overall efficiency. That said, one of the most important things to consider when choosing a convective space heater is the power and noise level of the fans. You want to make sure that you are choosing fans that are powerful enough to disperse the heat around the entire room while not being so noisy as to sound like you’re living in the middle of a factory.
- Radiant: By contrast, radiant heating works by transferring heat to and from a heated mass, which emits and releases it into the rest of the space. On the one hand, because they emit and radiate heat more directly from a heated-up source, rather than creating and dispersing hot air via convective means, their range is often more limited. You need to be close to the heated-up unit, because the unit won’t be dispersing the heat too far away. On the other hand, that makes these units reasonably quiet, and they can be great for personal use.
- Mica-Thermic: These types of heaters are a blend of the two technologies, heating up air and allowing it to radiate outward without the use of fans. This allows it to take some of the best qualities of both types of heaters and combine it into a package that is as efficient as it is silent, as these models often have few to no moving parts.
Heating Technology
In addition to the types of heaters, you’ll also want to consider the heating technology at play:
- Ceramic Heaters: These are your standard space heaters. Electricity inside the unit heats the plate, which radiates heat. Either it emits heat from the electrically-heated source alone, as a radiant heater, or fans blow it out into a room, heating the space via convective measures. Either way, you want to check the power versus the level of noise.
- Infrared Heaters: These are a great example of how to heat a space without making too much noise. They make use of hot tubes that can be paired with fans or other technology to help disperse the heat outward in a silent fashion. That said, those tubes can make these units pretty hot, so they are not ideal for use in tight spaces.
- Oil-Based Heaters: These are just what they sound like, heaters that make use of oil of various sorts in their heating process. They are often paired with Mica-Thermic heating systems, which makes them some of the most silent options on the market. That said, the fact that they have to be filled with oil to function gives them an extra component that users need to look after. What’s more, when full, their oil chambers can make these some of the heavier space heaters.
Finding the right combination of heater and heating technology is critical for choosing the right heater for your needs.
