Best Room Heaters in India - Reviews and Comparison 2022

Heating technology is broadly classified into two types- convection and radiant.

• Convection

This type is the most preferred in Indian households as convection technology distributes warm air evenly and consistently. It functions straightforwardly. The air is warmed up by blowing over a heating element, and this element could be made up of ceramic, electric-element or liquid-filled.

Further, convection heaters come in two types – with fan and without a fan (mainly oil-filled).

• With fan – This type uses a fan to blow warm air. Cold air is passed over the heating element and re-circulated into the room. Heater with fan increases warmth inside the well-insulated space much faster than the heaters without a fan. On the downside, this type of convection heaters makes much noise due to fan.

• Without fan – In this type, the heating element is surrounded by oil or water. The heating process starts with heating the oil or water, and then heat is gradually transferred into the room. You can enjoy the warm air without any noise in this case. However, the heating process is slow in the heater without a fan.

Room heaters are further divided into several types based on their heating abilities including fan, oil-filled, halogen, quartz, radiant, carbon-fibre, PTC and heat convector.

Out of these types, three are the most widely used- fan, oil-filled and radiant.

• Fan

Fan heaters are also called ceramic heaters as the current passes through ceramic heating elements. It quickly heats up the heating element, and at the same time, the cold air is sucked into the base from the surrounding. Further, the sucked air passes the heating elements and makes your room warm with the help of a fan.

• Oil-filled

The oil-filled heater takes a long time to heat up, but otherwise, they are the best kind of heaters. The working is very simple. Power is used to heat the oil; then this heat is passed to metal walls through convection. Oil-filled heaters make zero noise and keep you warm for quite a time even after you have turned them off.

Oil-filled heaters consume less electricity and help in saving power. Moreover, they neither burn oxygen nor reduce humidity. Considering this, they are the best options if you have asthma, dry eyes, or skin rashes.

• Radiant

Radiant heaters are best for small and closed spaces. They work like a campfire and doesn’t cost much. Also known as infrared heaters, they use thermal energy to warm up the room. There is no fan, so no noise. Also, they heat up quickly and provide warmth as soon as you switch them on.

Two types of heating elements used in this are - quartz tubes and tubular heating element.

Size of both heater and the room matter. It is a crucial factor because if you end up buying the wrong size heater, the result will be, either overheated space or less-heated space. Let’s say, a small heater is deployed in a large area; only a small part of the room will be heated up. Similarly, if you put a large heater in a small space, energy will get wasted, and there will be overheating issues.

Room heaters capability is measured in wattage. And the thumb rule followed by heater industry is 10 W power will heat one square foot of area.

So, the calculation is quite simple. Just multiply the room area by 10, and whatever number you bet that should be the room heater’s capability.

Below is the table to make things easier for you.

These values are not fixed. They can change due to factors like heating technology, room heater type, indoor temperature and…

• Radiant heaters – These heaters do not use air to provide heat, and therefore, they consume less power to heat up a large area.

• The ceiling over 8 Feet – If the room ceiling is more than 8 feet, then the formula is
   Total Sq.ft. * Ceiling Height * 1.25 = Total Wattage

• Poor Insulation – If your room lacks proper insulation, then the formula is
  Total Sq.ft. X 12 = Total Wattage

Most of the room heaters come with two or three heat settings to adjust the heat as per the room temperature. There are heaters with no speed setting or single speed setting as well. Their features might look appealing but buy single-speed heat setting heater only when you are cent per cent sure.

Radiant and oil-filled room heaters burn oxygen to provide heat. While in fan heaters, the air is pushed on the hot coil. The oxygen levels and humidity is reduced in case of fan heaters. Less humidity means dry eyes and nasal blockage, nausea, and itchy skin. Consider this feature, especially when you are buying it for a newborn.

Well, you buy a room heater to enjoy the warm air and of course, not noise. But when you are buying a fan room heater, you are paying for noise too. If you want whisper silent, non-fan heaters, i.e. radiant or oil-filled heaters should be your choice. Therefore, it is wise to check the decibel rating before making the purchase.

Electricity consumption of a room heater is measured in wattage.

The room heater is designed for warming up small spaces. If you want to provide heat to the whole room, the central heating system is the thing you should be going for. If you will try to substitute it with a room heater, the electricity bill is bound to shoot up.

Room heaters neither come with energy efficiency ratings and nor they consume power in fix number. Their power consumption varies with temperature, space size, space insulation, temperature setting, etc. However, in general, the oil-filled room heater is the one that consumes the least power - 1000 watts at maximum. Moreover, they work on the basis of heating the oil which remains heated for a long time and therefore, they use very little energy to get heated up again.

The safety feature is one of the essential function to look for while buying a space heater; else there can be a fire hazard.

• Cool to touch surface

The heater is made using such material which makes the outer casing of the heater, heat resistant. So, the heater will not cause any burns when touched accidentally or otherwise. This safety feature is most important if you have kids or pets in the home.

• Tip-over switch

Today, most of the room heaters come with this feature. It is an internal switch in the heater which automatically shuts off the power when the heater is accidentally tipped over, or there is a sudden power cut off avoiding any potential risk of fire hazards.

• Overheat protection switch

Overheat protection is an invaluable safety feature. This is an auto-shut off feature, so, when internal components reach unsafe temperature, the sensors will turn off the heater immediately.

• Mesh/Grille

All three types of room heaters come with some kind of mesh or grille in the front. Check for it especially if you have a home with children and pet.

You are not always at home that you can switch a heater an hour or so before the sun comes down and the air starts to get cold. At times, you come back to home from work, feeling cold and need hot air instantly. Unfortunately, you cannot have that luxury if you have oil-filled room heaters. This type of heaters takes about 30 minutes to bootstrap or start. Radiant and fan heaters are best at this as they produce instant heat when you need.

Auto turn-off feature is a good-to-have feature. It facilitates sound sleep as you can fall asleep without worrying about turning the heater off. Also, the feature lets you save precious energy by setting a timer.

Portability is essential because you might not be using the same heater in just one room. If not that, there are high chances that you will be moving it in the same room. Therefore, if your room heater comes with castor wheels, that is the best. Other things to consider is size, the smaller the size, the better it is. Moreover, many heaters come with a handle to carry them easily. Also, your heater should be lightweight, so that you can move it without stressing your arm.

Fan and radiant room heaters fall in the category of lightweight and compact. They can be moved around freely as compared to oil-filled heaters.

Cord length of the room heater matters a lot. It adds to the portability feature. It gives you the liberty to move it in a room as per your convenience. Plus, you can take it to the areas where outlets are not easily accessible. 1.5 metre is an ideal size for a room heater cord.

A thermostat is a vital feature to maintain the temperature setting. There are two types of setting in this- adjustable and programmable. A programmable thermostat allows you to set the desired temperature and the heater maintains that set temperature by turning itself on and off after particular intervals. However, an adjustable thermostat cannot maintain set temperature but yet controls the heat output depending on the heat settings you have set.

To find out how much electricity does a single type of heater consume, you need to know the wattage of the heater.

Infrared heaters consume 800 to 1200 wattage, fan heaters usually consume 1500- 2000 wattage and oil-filled heaters work well at 1000 watts.

Electricity bill is represented in Kilowatt-hours which refers to 1 kilo-watt energy consumed in one hour.

1,000 is equal to 1 Kilo-watt.

So, if a heater consumes 1500 wattage, it means it consumes 1.5 Kilo-watts of power. And if you use it for 6 hours, power consumption will be = 1.5*6=9 kilo-watt.

In India, average unit rate is Rs.5. Therefore, you will be paying Rs.45 (9 kilo-watt*Rs.5) per day.

And if you use it heater daily for that much hours, you are adding Rs.1,350 to your electricity bill.

Halogen or radiant heaters come with light which emits a constant glow. If you need to use the heater at night, you need to ensure that light isn’t too bright.

The number of the heating element is essential to consider if you are buying oil-filled or radiant heaters. In oil-filled heaters, fins form part of the design and more fins means more heat convection and circulation. Similarly, if there are coils in the heater as a heating element, more coils mean warm air in a wide area.

A heater with smart features and built using high-quality material will come costly. However, a heater with primary elements will cost you around Rs.5,000. All-in-all, the heater must justify its price.

Speaking of warranty, your heater must come with at least a year’s warranty.

Aesthetic is not a vital feature but once you have considered all the above essential features and you are left with a few heaters to choose from, then take aesthetic also into consideration. After all, a room heater is no less than a piece of furniture in your room.

Therefore, your heater should match the style of the interior and complement other furniture. Heaters vary in design and colour, and many fashionable room heaters are available to enhance the beauty of the room.

No. A room heater uses electric current for heat production and convection for circulating the same. Therefore, it doesn’t burn up the oxygen in the air unless something else is burning in the room.

Usually, manufacturers do not recommend using extension cords for room heaters. However, a heavy-duty extension cord with a surge protector is safe to use and take your heater to places where it is hard to take the heater. Read the manual to ensure your desired home heater is suitable to use with an extension cord.

Yes. Room heaters are less expensive and more energy-efficient provided you use it in a defined space and not a large room.

Electric heaters do not emit carbon monoxide. Gas heaters might release carbon monoxide as fuel is burned in there case. Also, it can be poisonous for you. Therefore, you need proper ventilation and chimneys if you are using a gas heater.

It is not safe to leave a room heater unattended, especially when you have children or pets at home. And it does not matter whether you have set the timer or not. As long as a heater is ON, it should not be left unattended.

A room heater should be placed where children and pets can not reach it. Also, keep it at a reasonable distance from wooden furniture (particularly bed during night), flammable elements, window curtains and couch. Therefore, go for a heater that has long cord as that will give you the flexibility to keep it in a safe corner.

Although a room heater comes with all the safety options, however, experts say you should not sleep keeping a heater on all night.

• Whether or not your heater has an auto-off feature; if it has older wiring, it can be risky.

• When you use a heater at night, leaving it unattended is not safe.

• It is not good health-wise as a human body demands cooler temperature as well for quality sleep.

• If you have a radiant or infrared heater and you will use it overnight, it will dry out the moisture from the leading to dry eyes, dry nose and itchy skin, especially in younger ones.

Fan heater usually makes noise, but if you feel the noise is unusual then that could be due to:

• Defective transformer.

• Damaged blower motor which runs the fan.

• Wearing out of the heating coil.

• Improper working of the heating coil.

Halogen heater usually never makes noise. If they do, it could be because there is something wrong about the halogen bulb or quartz in it. Switch it off immediately and get it checked./p>

Reduce the chances of fires and injury in case of heaters with following steps.

• Keep anything that can get burn, like furniture and curtains, 5-6 feet away from a room heater.

• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around space heaters.

• Avoid extension cords.

• Turn off a room heater at the time of sleeping or when you leave a room.

• Never use a heater in a wet area unless it is made explicitly for that purpose.

• Never put a room heater on a countertop unless it is mainly designed for it.

• Avoid using gas- or oil-burning heaters indoors. If you still do, proper ventilation should be there.

• Read and follow all the directions given in the manual that comes along with the room heater.

• Use the room heater on an even surface. The uneven surface may cause a tip over, and ignite nearby items.

• Never dry your wet clothes by placing them over a heater. It can obstruct the air circulation from the heater and ultimately cause a fire.

• Disconnect the cord and let the units cool down properly before you clean the room heater.

• Use a soft damp cloth to clean a room heater.

• Never use detergent to clean the heater.

• When not using, store a room heater in a dry place.

• Connect heater to main supply outlet.

• Keep the heater in an upright position.

• Select the heat setting by rotating the temperature setting knob.

The positioning of a room heater matters; otherwise, you are putting your family in danger.

• Always place the room Heater on a flat surface.

• A room heater should not be obstructed with anything. If it is a wall-mounted heater, still maintain at least 2 to 3 feet distance away from the wall.

• Baseboard heaters should be mounted at the bottom of the wall near the floor. Make sure that the heat flow is not be obstructed by furniture or another wall. A portable room heater should be kept at a place where it cannot be knocked over. Tables and shelves should be your last choice.

• Room heaters work on electricity, and therefore, they should never be placed in damp or wet areas. So, do not keep a heater in the kitchen and bathroom.

• Never place a room heater in the walking path. Not only it will let you walk freely around the house, but also keep your children and pets safe.

Orpat is one of the top suppliers of household electrical products in India and OEF-1220 fan heater is one of their best contributions. 

This is our comparison winner for several reasons. First, more than 11,000 people have it at their home, and a four-star rating proves that users are content with the product. Second, it has all the primary features which are essential for any room heater.

It is the most lightweight heater on our list, and the in-built handle makes it more compatible. 

This room heater is powered by a 2000 W motor and is capable of heating a room of up to 250 sq. ft. It is perfect for spot heating and being a fan heater; you get warm air instantly. 

There are two heat setting in this- 1000 watts and 2000 watts which makes it fit for both cold and chilly winter. Further, it also has two important safety features, namely, cool-to-touch body, and overheat protection. 

If you are looking for an infrared room heater, this is the best one to go for. This 1000 W power-consuming space heater is perfect for a small room of size up to 150 sq. ft. The stainless steel made reflectors radiate may not be able to provide heat instantly, but they are efficient enough to warm the room in a short time by consuming less electricity. Precisely, the corrosion-resistant heat radiating plates takes less than 15 minutes to heat a small-sized space. 

We really admire its aesthetics, especially the tilted legs and curved body. It is lightweight and easy to carry. A radiant heater, in general, gets very hot and should not be left unattended and things are no different with this one. You have to be heedful if you have a pet or children at home despite the fact the heater has safety features- overheat protection and thermal cut protection.

OFR-11 Fin is the only oil-filled heater on our list. Due to its type, it can hold the heat for a longer time and is ideal for larger rooms.

It is a 2500 W power room heater with additional 400 W for the fan. So, you can use it as a convection heater as well for instant hot air. Furthermore, it comes with three settings- 1000, 1500 and 2500 watts and is suitable for room bigger than 250 square feet. Therefore, you get the choice to set the temperature as per the size of the room and your other requirements.

Just like most of the oil-filled room heaters, this one also comes with castor wheels making it super portable. The heater has all the primary safety features, including tip-over switch and thermal protection. The outer built is made of premium quality plastic, so, it has a cool-to-touch-body as well. Last but not least, the dust filter eases your cleaning job by preventing dust particles from entering inside the fins.

Indians trust Usha when it comes to home appliances. It is one of India’s oldest brand and proved its mettle with top quality products.

The 423 N room heater is another best home device from the brand made using excellent quality material. It is a fan-based heater consuming 2000 watts power, and such a higher power consumption makes it fit for 150 sq. ft. room. Very unlikely in case of heaters, this model has three thermostat setting-665, 1330 and 2000 watts. So, not only you can set the temperature but also lower your electricity bill. As far as, fan speed setting is concerned, you have two options in that.

For safety purpose, manufacturers have provided both overheat protection and tip-over switch.  Also, it has a nighttime indicator and side air inlet grills. This is not it. You can also adjust the heater’s height and carry it easily with the help of handle.

Cistar room heater from Havells is the second heater on our list from the brand. This bleach and white colour space heater has a great design and is equipped with basic features. It is lightweight, compact and reasonably priced.

This 2000 watt heater has another heat setting as well i.e. 1000 watts. It is a fan heater capable of heating 200 sq. ft. room. It is equipped with overheat to protect safety feature, therefore, if there is any voltage fluctuation, the product shuts off automatically to prevent any damage in the form of a fuse. Moreover, it has an adjustable height and power indicator. 

Although Havells is a reliable brand and yet you face any issues within a year of its purchase, one year warranty will take care of it.

Bajaj is another trusted brand in India. Its heaters are known for quality, performance, and reliability.

Majesty RX11 is a fan-based heater and consumes 2000 watts power. It is ideal for providing heat to a 200 sq. ft. room. Its fan is not only for delivering heat, but you can use it as a regular fan during summer. Besides, 2000 watts, it is equipped with 1000 watts thermostats settings as well. Hence, you have the choice to adjust the room temperature according to the weather.

It uses a fan to provide warm air, so it does not ensure noiseless operation. However, it is safe for a home with children or pets. From the safety point of view, it comes with an overheat protection feature and cool-to-touch body. However, the tip-over switch is missing.

It is a compact and portable heater which can be installed in two ways- horizontal and vertical. 

Singer is a great brand when it comes to buying a room heater. This is an infrared space heater which makes it suitable for spot heating or providing warmth to one or two people.

Heat Glow Plus is an 800 W power consuming heater, ideal for 100 to 110 square foot space. It uses two heat glowing bulbs made of quartz (nickel and chrome) to provide instant heat.

It has two thermostat settings as well as —400 W for not so cold weather and 800 W for harsh winter. It is known for its noiseless operation and also, has the two basic safety features- tip-over switch and overheat protection.

By putting a handle on top, Singer has proved that portability does matter. Singer Quartz heat glow plus 800 comes with a 1-year warranty for manufacturing defects only. It does not include quartz tubes. Checkout reviews and comparison of Best Inverters, Best Drill Machines, Best Hand Tool Kits, Best Wall Mount Fans, Best Room Heaters, Best Ceiling Fans, Best Pedestal Fans, Best Smoke Detectors, Best Sewing Machines in India.