Is your bathroom colder than the rest of your house? Perhaps the tiled floor sends shivers through you if you need the loo in the middle of the night?
Sounds familiar?
You need an electric bathroom heater.
Electric bathroom heaters can be expensive to run, but sometimes your home heating isn’t sufficient; especially for fully tiled bathrooms. There’s nothing worse than shivering while waiting for the water to warm up – you’ll forever rush your ablutions if the bathroom remains frosty and unwelcoming.
We have put together a list of the best bathroom heater solutions, including portable bathroom heaters, wall mounted bathroom heaters and bathroom ceiling heaters.
If you’re wondering how you can turn your hyperthermic hovel into a heated haven, read on.
Article Contents
Best Bathroom Heater Comparison Table
Use this table to quickly compare the best bathroom heaters. Keep scrolling down the page for more info on our review criteria and in-depth reviews on each item.
Our Top Pick
Taking everything into account, we think that there are two winners here. Is that a cop-out?
Because of the need for a professional installation with come of these units, we’ve decided to break this down into best “installed” heater and best portable unit.
Obviously, the best portable bathroom heater is the Lasko CD08200 Bathroom Electric Compact Heater. We thought that this heater provided great versatility for heating a smaller bathroom, but with the added convenience of being able to move the heater around the house whenever needed.
- Small, space saving design
- Quickly heats areas up to 225 square feet
- Automatic overheat protection
- 1 hour shut off
- Push button controls
We think that the best “installed” heater is the Stiebel Eltron CK 15E heater. It has the best design of all the heaters featured in this article; it has thermostatic control; and the grill blades can be pointed in the desired direction, which is a feature we really liked for tiled floors.
It is also a very modern looking heater, so it won’t clash with your bathroom reno.
Electric heaters for bathrooms can be expensive to run, but the Stiebel Eltron CK15E has a built-in thermostat that means that you can get the temperature of your bathroom just right, saving electricity by not over-heating an empty bathroom.
- Surface mount design
- Quality construction
- Quiet operation
- Built in thermostat for maximum comfort
- Reliable performance
Lasko CD08200 Bathroom Heater Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Simple, portable and occasional heating around the home.
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Ceramic
Max power output: 1500W on high heat
Heat Control System: On/Off and timer
The Lasko CD08200 has a simple control interface that allows you to choose either high heat, low heat or 1-hour timer on high heat. This makes turning on the heater simple and hassle free with no need for complicated settings.
Because of it’s design, the heater is cool to touch even when heating so there is no risk of burns to children or pets.
The Lasko Bathroom Heater features include:
[x_icon_list][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Two power levels – high and low[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Easy to use control panel[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]One-button control[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Cool to touch technology[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Portable design[/x_icon_list_item][/x_icon_list]
Despite it’s small size, this heater will warm up even a larger sized bathroom in no time at all. And because of its compact size and its portable design, it can be easily tucked away in a cupboard or corner to keep the bathroom neat and tidy.
The Holmes Portable Heater is available from Amazon.
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Stiebel Eltron CK15E Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Heating a bathroom quickly and safely
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Fan assisted
Max power output: 1500W
Heat Control System: Thermostatic control
The Stiebel Eltron CK15E wall mounted bathroom heater is fan assisted, runs on a 120 Volt electricity circuit and requires professional installation. This 1500W heater will heat an average-sized bathroom quickly and quietly, but there’s also a 2000W version for larger bathrooms.
The fan directs the heat down towards the floor which is perfect for floor-tiled bathrooms as it will bring warmth underfoot. The CK15E is ideal for bathrooms but also recommended for kitchens and hallways.
The Stiebel Eltron CK15E features include:
[x_icon_list][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Thermostatically controlled temperature[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Wall mounted bathroom heater[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Dial control thermostat[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]1500W heating power[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Nichrome Wire heating element[/x_icon_list_item][/x_icon_list]
The installation could be done reasonably simply by a confident DIYer, but for added safety, it would be recommended to hire a registered, qualified electrician to ensure that the installation is safe in wet environments. The unit, when correctly installed, comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
The compact design fits directly onto the wall and could make an attractive addition to your bathroom furniture. The painted steel and plastic housing provide a stylish aesthetic.
The built-in thermostat offers good control over the heat output, controlled via a dial on the side of the unit. You can’t choose specific temperatures, but it doesn’t take long to get the heating level right for your bathroom.
The unit dimensions are 18” x 13” x 4.5” (Height x Width x Depth)
The Stiebel Eltron CK15E is available from Amazon.
More Info
View Stiebel Eltron CK15E Installation Manual
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Broan Model 157 Ceiling Heater Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Permanent bathroom heating. Good energy-saving heater. Recommended as a supplementary heater, rather than the primary source of heat.
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Radiant, Fan assisted
Max power output: 1250W
Heat Control System: Optional wall-mounted thermostat control
The Broan 157 ceiling heater for bathrooms has a 1250W element that radiates heat from behind a metal-sheath. The low-profile housing will subtly fit into your existing bathroom furniture. The housing includes an aluminum grill, with a satinized finish.
When affixed, the entire unit protrudes just 2 3/4 inches from the ceiling, leaving plenty of headspace.
A minimum 15 amp circuit is required for this unit, and it’s recommended that hard-wired heaters are installed by qualified, professional electricians.
The Broan model 157 features include:
[x_icon_list][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]1250W of heating power[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Subtle aluminum grill distributes the heat efficiently[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Automatic heat shut off[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Simple ON / OFF heating action[/x_icon_list_item][/x_icon_list]
The basic unit is a simple ON / OFF unit which provides instant heat but does need to be switched off manually. An optional wall-mounted thermostatic control unit is available.
The motor powering the fan is permanently lubricated, meaning that maintenance is minimal. The automatic overheat protection function stops the room from becoming too hot and prevents overheating of the unit and damage to the ceiling.
The enclosed and sheathed solid wire heating element powers up immediately, providing a fast solution to a chilly bathroom.
The unit comes with a 1-year warranty.
The The Broan 157 Cieling Heater is available from Amazon.
More Info
View Broan Model 157 Installation Manual
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Panasonic FV-11VH2 Whisper Warm Ceiling Fan and Light Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Permanent ceiling heater for bathrooms. Features a light. Quiet unit.
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Fan
Max power output: 1400W
Heat Control System: Always on
The Panasonic FV-11VH2 is a super-quiet unit that you may very well forget is switched on. The large fan blades rotate at a low rpm, producing less sound than a smaller fan which needs to rotate more rapidly to distribute the heat.
This North American built unit should be professionally installed, no more than 8ft away from the floor.
The integrated light has a nightlight feature which is useful if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
The tubular heat element is made of stainless-steel sheathing, featuring a Nichrome wire, coupled with magnesium oxide for maximum heat transfer.
The Panasonic FV-11VHW ceiling heater with light features include:
[x_icon_list][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Light and nightlight facility[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Super-quiet fan operation[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Enclosed condenser motor with permanent lubrication, requires no maintenance[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]Suitable for 30,000 hours of continuous running[/x_icon_list_item][x_icon_list_item type=”check”]1400W heating element[/x_icon_list_item][/x_icon_list]
The unit features two 18W fluorescent tubes, which provide the equivalent of 100W of light, in comparison with traditional globe bulbs. The 4W nightlight offers a comfortable light during the night-time.
The fan’s condenser motor is totally enclosed, providing a guaranteed long life – it should run for 30,000 hours continuously. The high-quality Panasonic parts will last for many years – the larger fan blade is designed to run more slowly and quietly than a smaller fan, creating less friction within the fan motor. This should ensure that the unit will have some longevity in the home.
The Panasonic FV-11VH2 is available from Amazon.
More Info
View FV-11VH2 Installation Manual
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The Best Bathroom Heater - What We Look For
Safety First
Electricity and water aren’t the best bed-fellows, so if you want to prevent some serious electrocution and fire hazards, it’s imperative that you get the right type of heater.
Bathroom heaters are either hardwired into your electricity circuit or come with a dedicated safety plug that is suitable for use in environments where water and moisture are likely. An ALCI Safe Plug is the general standard in North America.
Heating Speed
Infrared bathroom heaters provide heat via light radiation. Bathroom heat-lamps heat up the space quickly and efficiently but do cast an orange glow in the room, which may not be to everyone’s taste.
Installation Requirements
Bathroom ceiling heaters are a permanent solution to a cold bathroom – they do require professional installation, however, as they are hard-wired into your home’s electrical circuit and controlled by a wall switch.
Hard-wired heating is safer (as long as it’s correctly installed) and more energy-efficient.
Portable bathroom heaters are a good option for those who require temporary heat in the bathroom – to prepare the room for a bath, for example. They do need to have an ALCI Safe Plug or equivalent.
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Pricing last updated on 2018-08-21 at 22:14 / affiliate links - Details
