CBS News
Best space heaters in 2024 to fight winter’s chill
Dyson/Walmart
On icy winter nights, sometimes central heating just doesn’t do the trick. One room in your home might be extra chilly, even when the others are warm. If you want to warm up a room fast, invest in a space heater to place nearby. While running a space heater can use a lot of electricity, it may actually save you money on your home heating bills if you lower your home’s thermostat.
When shopping for a space heater, consider the square footage you want to heat, whether you want other features too (like a simple unheated fan function) and the heater’s strength in watts. There are space heaters that purify your air, look like a fireplace, offer voice control and so much more. It all depends on your budget and needs.
Below, the best space heaters in 2024 to fight winter’s chill from Dyson, Amazon, Walmart and Wayfair. There’s an option for all budgets ahead. Don’t forget to turn these reviewer-loved space heaters off before leaving your home or going to sleep for safety.
The best space heaters in 2024
Consider these space heaters from Dyson, Black + Decker and more. Some are even on sale now.
Best high-end space heater: Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool
Dyson
The Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool air purifier not only keeps you warm, but it will also clean your home’s air this winter. The True HEPA air purifier automatically senses and traps pollutants in the air — 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size. It offers voice and app control and has a quiet night mode. It oscillates up to 350 degrees.
“I love this air filter,” a Dyson reviewer says. “I bought it for my craft space to warm me up next winter. But I had no idea how much I was throwing into the air with my polymer baking and trimming. Everything shows up in my history on the Dyson app. And the fact that my Dyson cleans these toxins out of the air is amazing!”
Best overall space heater: Givebest portable electric space heater with thermostat
Amazon
The Givebest portable heater is designed to heat spaces up to 200 square feet. It has an easy-to-use thermostat control and automatic shut-off for safety.
The heater offers two heat levels, 1500 watts or 750 watts. You can use it year-round — it also works as a cool air fan.
“I am incredibly impressed with the Givebest portable electric space heater,” an Amazon customer says. “This little powerhouse has exceeded all my expectations! Its compact size makes it perfect for my office, and despite its small frame, it delivers an impressive amount of warmth.”
The 4.4-star-rated heater is currently on sale for 50% off. But you can apply the added 10% off coupon at Amazon for even more savings, bringing the final price down to $27.
Most affordable space heater: Mainstays ceramic fan-force electric space heater
Walmart
This affordable 1,500-watt space heater offers three heat settings. In warmer months you can use it as a fan.
This space heater features overheating and tip-over protection, plus has a cool touch carrying handle for when you switch rooms.
“It heats our living room in a matter of a few minutes,” a Walmart reviewer says.
This great space heater is even on sale now, for $20, reduced from $23. Find it in two colors.
Best space heater for larger spaces: ChimneyFree electric fireplace personal space heater
Walmart
Don’t have a fireplace? Then how about this affordable, fireplace-lookalike space heater? It heats up to 400 square feet and has two heat settings.
You can operate its flame effect with or without heat and this heater remains cool to the touch for safety.
“The flames really look close to a real fire,” a Walmart reviewer says. “The light it puts off is like having a night light on.”
This space heater is currently $47, reduced from $70.
Best safety features: Black + Decker electric radiator space heater
Wayfair
This 800-watt oscillating space heater looks like a fan. It heats rooms up to 161 square feet.
This heater has two settings and you can set an auto-off timer up to 60 minutes for safety. It also offers safety overheat protection and a safety tip-over auto-shutoff. This space heater is cool to the touch for easy transportation.
“It works amazingly!” a Wayfair reviewer says. “I feel safe with the tip protection and timer.”
Best oscillating space heater: Dreo fast quiet oscillating ceramic space heater
Amazon
This 4.4-star-rated, 24-inch tower heater heats up to 270 square feet. It offers five modes, including fan-only. There’s even an eco mode that adapts the heat automatically to maintain a comfortable temperature.
This quiet heater also has overheating and tip-over protection, plus an auto-off function after 24 hours. It comes with a remote control so you don’t have to get out of your warm bed to adjust its temperature. You can set it to oscillate 70 degrees.
“This space heater heats up an entire room in seriously like two minutes,” an Amazon reviewer says.
What to look for in a space heater
If you’re new to space heaters, there are a few key features you should be on the lookout for. Here’s what you need to know.
- Safety features. Most space heaters will offer some kind of auto shut-off for safety. Keep an eye out for a space heater that will automatically shut off if it’s tipped over, or after a certain time period has passed. (Note: For safety, only operate a space heater on level, non-flammable ground. Space heaters should not be put on carpets or furniture.)
- Oscillation. If you want to spread heat quickly throughout a room, you may want a space heater that oscillates. Most oscillating models have a tight range, though the Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool above oscillates up to 350 degrees.
- Size. If you’re looking to buy a space heater to keep just yourself warm, you should be fine with a smaller model. But if you want to fill a room with warmth for the whole family, size up.
- Programmable features. Some space heaters allow you to set a timer, or even adjust thermostat settings from afar via remote control. These features, while handy, will add to the cost of your space heater.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The U.S. Justice Department is demanding records related to the July shooting death of Sonya Massey — an Illinois woman who was killed in her home by a sheriff’s deputy — as it investigates how local authorities treat Black residents and people with behavioral disabilities.
The government made a list of demands in dozens of categories in a letter to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, dated Thursday.
“The Sheriff’s Office, along with involved county agencies, has engaged in discussions and pledged full cooperation with the Department of Justice in its review,” Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch said Friday.
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was killed July 6 when deputies responded to a call about a possible prowler at her home in Springfield, Illinois. She was shot three times during a confrontation with an officer.
The alleged shooter, Sean Grayson, who is White, was fired. He is charged with murder and other crimes and has pleaded not guilty.
“The Justice Department, among other requests, wants to know if the sheriff’s office has strategies for responding to people in “behavioral health crises,” the government’s letter read. “…The incident raises serious concerns about…interactions with Black people and people with behavioral health disabilities.”
Andy Van Meter, chairman of the Sangamon County Board, said the Justice Department’s review is an important step in strengthening the public’s trust in the sheriff’s office.
At the time of the fatal shooting, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office was led by then-Sheriff Jack Campbell, who retired in August and was replaced by Crouch.
Deputy Sean Grayson’s history of misconduct
Grayson has worked for six different law enforcement agencies in Illinois since 2020, CBS News learned. He was also discharged from the Army in February 2016 after serving for about 19 months. He was hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023.
In an interview with CBS News in early August, Campbell said that Grayson “had all the training he needed. He just didn’t use it.”
In a recording released by the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, where Grayson worked from May 2022 to April 2023, a supervising officer is heard warning Grayson for what the senior officer said was his lack of integrity, for lying in his reports, and for what he called “official misconduct.”
Girard Police Chief Wayman Meredith recalled an alleged incident in 2023 when he said an enraged Grayson was pressuring him to call child protective services on a woman outside of Grayson’s mother’s home. He said Grayson was “acting like a bully.”
The recording and Meredith’s description of Grayson’s conduct showed how he quickly became angry and, according to documents, willing to abuse his power as an officer.
Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office history of accusations
According to a review of court records in 2007, Massey’s killing was the only criminal case in recent history against a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy for actions on duty. Local officials characterized her shooting as an aberration.
However, CBS News obtained thousands of pages of law enforcement files, medical and court records, as well as photo and video evidence that indicated the office had a history of misconduct allegations and accountability failures before Grayson. The records challenged the claim that Massey’s death was, as said by the then-sheriff, an isolated incident by one “rogue individual.”
Local families were confident that Massey’s death was the latest in a pattern of brazen abuse that has gone unchecked for years.
Attorneys for Massey’s family recommended an updated SAFE-T Act that would expand an existing database used to track officer misconduct to include infractions like DUIs and speeding during police chases.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.