Space heaters are a great way to bring a little extra warmth to cold rooms. But if that room happens to be the bedroom, TV room, or office, a noisy space heater may not be worth the heat it kicks out. That annoying hum can make sleeping, watching your favorite show, or getting work done a challenge.
For these rooms, it’s best to opt for the quietest space heater you can find. To help with that search, we’ve rounded up the best of the best in this category. Below, you’ll find 6 space heaters that put out an impressive amount of heat while producing almost no noise.
Quiet Space Heaters Comparison Table
Use this table to quickly compare the best quiet space heaters. Keep scrolling down the page for more info on our review criteria and in-depth reviews on each item.
Our Top Quiet Space Heater: Dreo Atom One
Meet your new desktop buddy. The Dreo Atom One stands 10.3 inches tall and weighs under 4 pounds, so it sits on a desk or nightstand without taking the space a tower heater demands.
The PTC ceramic element heats up straight away, and a brushless motor moves that heat around at a published 37.5dB. That is the number that earns it the top spot here: quiet enough to leave running through a call or overnight.
What We Look For in a Quiet Space Heater
When looking for the best quiet heaters to feature on this list, we considered a number of aspects. Most importantly, we looked at the heating method utilized by the unit, which tells us a lot about the noise output levels. These noise levels were then compared to the heat output to ensure a quiet unit that would also effectively heat the space.
We also rated our choices based on efficiency, safety features, and extra perks. With all these in mind, we were able to narrow our search to the top 6 quietest, most effective space heaters on the market.
Heating Method
There are 6 different heating methods space heaters can utilize. Each comes with its own pros and cons. And each determines a lot about how much noise the unit puts out.
Ceramic Space Heaters
Ceramic heaters use electricity to heat ceramic plates. This heating method is energy efficient and works fast.
These types of heaters come in two varieties. The first does not utilize a fan, making it longer to disperse heat throughout the room. The upside is that it is nearly silent.
The second type has a fan to blow air over the heated plates, moving the hot air quickly into the room. Unfortunately, the fan feature means that the heater can be noisy.
Related Article: Ceramic heaters vs Fan Heaters
Coil/Fan Space Heaters
These electric heaters work similarly to ceramic heaters with a fan. Here, electricity heats a metal coil. A fan in the back of the unit pushes air over the hot coil to move the warmth through the room.
While these can be effective, affordable, lightweight heaters for small spaces, they tend to be loud.
Infrared Space Heater
These electric heaters use infrared radiation to heat objects rather than the air. This makes them more efficient than other types.
While some models do include a fan that can be noisy, most rely on the direct heating power of the infrared. These types are nearly silent and a great choice for heating large living rooms and bedrooms.
Oil Radiator-Style Space Heaters
These electric space heaters, which resemble old radiators, use electricity to heat oil inside. The oil moves through the connected columns, heating the surface of the unit. The wide surface area works via convection to transfer the heat into the room.
These heaters can be heavy and difficult to control the heat output on, but they are also very efficient and nearly silent.
Panel Space Heaters
These newer space heaters use electrical currents to heat a mica-thermic panel. Convection moves that heat off the surface and into the room.
Panel heaters aren’t as efficient as others but do have the advantage of being mountable. Additionally, they do not utilize any fans and ensure quiet operation while running. However, they do not put off a ton of heat and are best used as a supplemental heater in smaller spaces.
Propane Space Heaters
Since they don’t require electricity to run, propane heaters are highly portable and very affordable to operate. But not all models can be safely used indoors and even those that can, often require ventilation via a cracked window.
In terms of noise, even fanless propane heaters put off some sound as gas moves through the lines. Due to safety considerations and their noisiness, they do not make great options for quiet indoor spaces.
Heat Output
Electric heaters convert about 98% of the electricity used to heat. This means you can quickly estimate a unit’s heating output by converting the wattage of the unit into BTU.
1 watt = 3.412 BTU
BTU tells you how much heat a unit is capable of producing. More heat is good for larger spaces while less heat is more suitable for smaller spaces. Most space heaters come with a room coverage rating that gives you a good idea of how much heat the unit produces.
Note: Matching the room size rating and BTU output to the room you want to use the unit in is more important than trying to find the unit with the highest heat output.
We rated a variety of units with different heat outputs to give you options for different-sized rooms. Units that had a high heat output relative to size scored higher since they tend to be more efficient.
Efficiency
Heaters that put out a high amount of heat relative to the amount of electricity used also scored higher. Additionally, we looked for units with energy-saving features like programmable thermostats, smartphone control, timers, and sleep mode.
Safety Features
Heaters are the leading cause of home fires in America. And space heaters are some of the worst offenders. Built-in safety features help reduce the odds of fire.
When looking at quiet heaters, we paid special attention to safety features such as:
- Tip sensors
- Overheat protection
- Internal thermostats
- Grill covers
- Fire retardant materials
Extra Perks
Newer space heaters come with a variety of different features that make them highly useful. Some bonus features that we looked for included:
- Phone app control
- Multiple modes
- Programmable thermostat
- Remote control
Quietest Space Heater Reviews
If you get cold hands at your desk or want a small heater for the nightstand, this is the one we would put there.
It is small enough for a desktop and still draws up to 1500 watts on its high setting, which is the same ceiling as the full-size heaters further down this list.
Dreo publishes a noise figure of 37.5dB, and that is the whole reason it leads this list. For comparison, the mica-thermic and oil-filled options below run effectively silent because they have no fan at all, but they also take far longer to warm a room.
The controls are the other reason it wins. Most heaters this size give you a low/high switch and nothing else.
This one has a digital thermostat you can set anywhere from 41 to 95°F in single-degree steps, so it holds a temperature instead of cycling between too hot and too cold.
You also get High, Low, ECO and fan-only modes, a 1 to 12 hour timer, 70 degree oscillation to spread the heat, and a remote in the box.
Safety is covered by tip-over and overheat protection. One honest caveat: Dreo does not publish a square-foot coverage rating for this model, so treat it as a personal and small-room heater rather than a whole-room one.
For quiet warmth in a small space, with real thermostat control rather than a two-position switch, this is the pick.
Pros
- Compact, stylish design
- Multiple safety features and flame-retardant material
- Highly portable and lightweight
- Digital thermostat, 41 to 95°F in 1 degree steps
- Remote, 12 hour timer and 70 degree oscillation included
Cons
- Dreo publishes no square-foot coverage rating
- Works best on elevated surfaces
- A personal-sized heater, not a whole-room replacement
DeLonghi TRD40615T Full Room Radiant Heater
DeLonghi TRD40615T Oil-Filled Radiator
- Silent apart from a gentle click when the thermostat kicks in
- Slow to warm up — built for constant heat rather than instant heat
- Sealed oil chambers that never need topping up, plus a 24-hour timer
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Key Specifications
- Heater Type: Oil-filled radiator
- Noise level on highest setting: Silent
- Max power output: 1500W
- Advertised Heating Capacity: medium – large rooms
- Heat Control System: 3 Setting dial thermostat attached to the side of the unit.
The DeLonghi Full Room Radiant Heater will heat a medium-sized to large room, providing constant heat. If you want instant heat, an oil-filled radiator isn’t the right option for you. If you want to create consistent warmth in a cold room in the house, then it’s a great option.
DeLonghi TRD40615T Oil-Filled Radiator
- Silent apart from a gentle click when the thermostat kicks in
- Slow to warm up — built for constant heat rather than instant heat
- Sealed oil chambers that never need topping up, plus a 24-hour timer
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The thermal slot design ensures that the unit maintains a low surface temperature whilst kicking out plenty of heat for the room. Requiring no installation, this radiator will spring to life as soon as you plug it in to the electricity supply at the wall.
Made from rust-resistant metal and permanently sealed oil-filled chambers that never need topping up, this is a radiator that will last for years. The power cord wraps around the front plate, so it’s easy to store when not in use.
The only sound emitted from the unit is a gentle clicking sound when the thermostat kicks in. This is pretty common for all electric heaters and is unlikely to be enough to disturb a quiet room. I imagine only the very lightest of sleepers are going to be affected.
It does feature a timer that runs up to 24 hours but no advanced scheduling features. It’s not great for energy efficiency to heat a room for hours if it’s not in use. However, once the radiator has heated up, it retains its heat energy for longer than an electric coil which doesn’t maintain heat well.
The 3 heat settings allow you to control energy consumption. At the low setting it uses 500W, the medium uses 1000W, and the highest uses 1500W.
Pros
- Eco setting and timer
- Three power settings
- Surface doesn’t get overly hot
- Low maintenance and 3 year warranty
- Multiple safety features
Cons
- Limited advanced functionality
- Clicks on and off frequently at startup
- Noticeable odor during initial uses
DeLonghi HMP1500 Mica Panel Heater
- Mica-thermic with no fan, so it makes literally no sound
- Runs at 1500 W or 750 W from a Min-to-Max slider with no temperature readout
- Held 80 °F in a 200 sq ft bedroom on Low with 20 °F outside
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Key Specifications
- Heater Type: Mica-thermic heat
- Noise level on highest setting: Silent
- Max power output: 1500W
- Heat Control System: Thermostat with a slider scale from Min to Max – no indication of actual temperature.
The HMP1500 works by Mica-Thermal technology. Mica creates electromagnetic waves that negate the need for a fan to distribute the heat into the room, so this unit makes literally no sound at all.
It’s a portable unit that has wheels for easy transportation but can also be attached to the wall for a more permanent heating solution.
This unit is recommended as a supplementary heater, so will be perfect for the room in the house that always seems colder than the rest of the house (let’s not think about ghosts!). With a sliding scale temperature control, this unit can operate at either 1500W or 750W.
Bionaire HMP1500 Mica Panel Heater
- Mica-thermic with no fan, so it makes literally no sound
- Runs at 1500 W or 750 W from a Min-to-Max slider with no temperature readout
- Held 80 °F in a 200 sq ft bedroom on Low with 20 °F outside
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This is a well-built unit that offers great spot heating – so if you need to heat just one room of the house without switching on the full heating system, this is a perfect option. In a 200 sq ft bedroom, this heater can successfully maintain a temperature of 80 degrees on the Low setting when it’s 20 degrees outside.
Panel heaters are great because they take up minimal space. They’re thin and can easily sit in the corner of the room, or you can place them nearby if you want some direct heat. It has a built-in carrying handle and sits on castors, making this a super-portable unit.
Pros
- Can be mounted or used on the floor
- Sliding scale temperature control
- Great for rooms up to 200 square feet
- Silent
Cons
- Takes a while to heat up
- Odor on first use
- Uses a lot of electricity
Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater
- 39 dB at its highest setting — the fan is the only thing you hear
- 1500 W infrared-quartz, rated to around 1,000 sq ft
- Remote sets the temperature by the degree, from 50 to 86 °F
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Key Specifications
- Heater Type: Infrared-quartz
- Noise level on highest setting: 39dB (fan sound)
- Max power output: 1500W
- Advertised Heating Capacity: Up to 1000 Sq Ft
- Heat Control System: Thermostatic range of between 50 to 86 degrees
This heater might not be absolutely silent because it contains a fan to distribute the heat. However, fan-assisted heaters distribute warm air around the room much more quickly than electric-coil convectors, which rely on the natural motion of heat energy to distribute warmth throughout the room.
Fan-assisted heaters can make the air feel a little dry. If you’re particularly sensitive to dryness, there’s a Dr Infrared model available on Amazon with a built-in humidifier which gently mists steam into the air to counteract the effect of the fan.
Dr Infrared Heater
- 39 dB at its highest setting — the fan is the only thing you hear
- 1500 W infrared-quartz, rated to around 1,000 sq ft
- Remote sets the temperature by the degree, from 50 to 86 °F
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One of the best features of this particular heater is the remote control that allows you to change the temperature from the comfort of your arm-chair. You can accurately increase or decrease the temperature by degree. Some of the other models we reviewed have dials going from Min to Max, without any indication of actual temperature achieved, so this is a great feature.
This is a sturdy, little unit. It’s quite distinctly box-shaped, and at 24 pounds it’s not going to easily fall over. However, it has tip-over protection nonetheless, shutting off the power in case of a fall. This is an essential safety feature, but toppling is pretty unlikely with a sturdy unit such as this.
Like most infrared heaters, this one works by the heating objects in the vicinity, rather than the air. Swapping out your traditional space heater with this one could save you up to 50% on your electricity bills thanks to this more efficient heating method.
Pros
- Dial-in thermostat
- Remote control
- Sturdy build
- Tip-over safety feature
- Energy efficient
Cons
- Puts off some noise
- Area immediately in front of unit gets very hot
- Takes a long time to heat large spaces
Turbro HR1500 Mica Space Heater
- Micathermic panel with no fan — completely silent operation
- Warms on all sides, so it works best placed centrally rather than against a wall
- Overheat protection and anti-tip sensors, backed by a 1-year warranty
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Key Specifications
- Heater Type: Mica-thermic heat
- Noise level on highest setting: Silent
- Max power output: 1500W
- Advertised Heating Capacity: Medium – large rooms
- Heat Control System: Min / Max dial thermostat included & 2 heat settings
This lightweight micathermic heater by Turbro is ideal if you need a space heater without a fan for completely silent operation.
It’s quite small, so can hide away in a corner when not being used, but powerful enough to keep a decent sized room nice and warm on even the coldest days. It features totally silent operation, so if the HR1500 is used in a room where people sleep, it won’t disturb the occupants at all.
Turbro Micathermic Heater
- Micathermic panel with no fan — completely silent operation
- Warms on all sides, so it works best placed centrally rather than against a wall
- Overheat protection and anti-tip sensors, backed by a 1-year warranty
We may earn a commission if you buy through this link — it costs you nothing extra.
The micathermic panels are manufactured from mineral mica, which results in a long lifespan – this is backed by Bionaire with a 1 year warranty. And it comes with many safety features such as overheat protection and anti-tip sensors so you can feel safe using it as often as needed.
Unlike your typical space heater, this unit warms on all sides. For best results, place it in the center of the room. Here, it will heat your seating area while also heating the air on the other side for a fully heated room in half the time.
And finally, this heater gets up to temperature FAST – so once you switch it on, it won’t take long to feel the effects and get the room feeling toasty.
Pros
- Small, low profile size
- Heats from both sides
- Dial thermostat
- Heats spaces quickly
Cons
- Metal cage can pop and creak during heating
- Uses a lot of energy
- Easy to knock over
CCC Comfort Zone Baseboard Convection Heater
- 1,500 W baseboard with an adjustable thermostat
- Overheat protection and a tip-over switch
- Stay-cool body and dent-proof end panels
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Key Specifications
- Heater Type: Convection
- Noise level on highest setting: Silent
- Max power output: 1500W
- Advertised Heating Capacity: Not advertised
- Heat Control System: Min / Max dial thermostat included & 2 heat settings
If you’re looking for an out of the way solution to a cold-room, a baseboard heater is certainly a good choice. CCC Comfort has come to the party with a great baseboard heater that requires no installation!
That’s right, it sits against the baseboard, but plugs into a standard power outlet – so it can be moved from room to room. This is a great feature that most baseboard heaters do not have. There is no installation cost for this unit!
There are no moving parts, making this a truly quiet space heater. These baseboard heaters are cheap to buy so using multiple units around the house won’t set you back and arm and a leg.
This model comes with a dual wattage system, which can be used to select between 750w and 1,500w. On top of that it has a min/max dial thermostat so it’s easy to get the room to stay at your desired temperature.
While there is no advertised ideal room size for the CCC Comfortzone baseboard heater, this model is ideal for medium sized rooms – although at this price multiple units could be used in a larger room to great effect.
Pros
- Benefits of a baseboard heater without complex installation
- High temperature shut-off feature
- Works with a variety of baseboard styles
Cons
- Requires separate thermostat for operation
- Not overly energy efficient
- Takes time to heat a room
Specification Comparison Table
| Model | Heater Type | Power Rating | Advertised Heating Capacity | How Quiet? | Portable? | Heat Control System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreo Atom One | PTC Ceramic | 1500W | None advertised | 37.5dB | Yes | Digital thermostat 41-95°F, 4 modes, remote, 12h timer |
| DeLonghi TRD40615T Full Room Radiant Heater | Mica-thermic | 1500W | None advertised | Silent | Yes | Thermostat with a slider scale from min to max |
| Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater | Infrared-Quartz | 1500W | Up to 1000 Sq Ft | 39 dB | Yes | Thermostatic range of between 50 to 86 degrees |
| DeLonghi TRD40615T Oil Filled Radiator | Oil-filled radiator | 1500W | Medium – large rooms | Silent | Yes | Min/Max dial thermostat |
| Turbro Silent Micathermic Heater | Mica-thermic heat | 1500W | Medium – large rooms | Silent | Yes | Min/max dial thermostat |
| CCC Comfort Zone Baseboard Convection Heater | Convection | 1500W | Not advertised | Silent | Yes | Thermostat purchased separate |
Quiet Warmth for Home and Office
When it comes to warming up a cold room, a space heater can be a godsend. But only if the unit is effective enough to heat the entire space, efficient enough to leave running, and quiet enough not to disturb.
For offices and small bedrooms in need of a little warmth, there is no better option than the pint-sized Dreo Atom One. It is small enough to sit on a desk or nightstand, runs at a published 37.5dB, and gives you a real thermostat and timer rather than a low/high switch.
For larger spaces, the DeLonghi Full Room Radiant Heater is an excellent choice. This highly energy-efficient heater is powerful enough to warm large rooms but quiet enough for movie marathons and light sleepers. The intelligently designed thermal slot design kicks tons of heat into the room for lasting warmth while requiring almost no maintenance.
