Stay Cozy All Winter Without the High Heating Costs: Here’s How
Tired of watching your heating bill soar every winter? Infrared heaters may be your ticket to slashing those costs while staying cozy. These modern devices use advanced technology to warm objects (like you!) instead of just the air, giving you efficient, comfortable heat for less. But how exactly do they work?
Got big heating bills during winter even though you keep the thermostat set to “Brrrrrr”? Science offers a better and cheaper way to stay warm at home that can reduce your energy bill by  30-40% – the infrared heater.
How Infrared Heaters Work: The Science Behind It
The sun produces harmless infrared light waves that are invisible and responsible for making us feel warm. Feeling warm or cold does not depend on the temperature of the surrounding air. Skiers and mountain climbers do not freeze on extremely cold but sunny days. That’s because of infrared. When infrared waves touch the surface of the skier’s skin and clothing, heat energy is released regardless of the surrounding air temperature. So people on a winter sports holiday can sunbathe despite the low air temperatures—all thanks to the sun’s infrared rays.
Now let’s talk about the way you heat your home. Whether you have a forced-air furnace, a central gas heater, or radiators in every room—your system heats air and directs it into the rooms of your home. It costs a lot of money to keep open areas warm using this method, but you may still feel cold.
Infrared heaters mimic the sun’s warmth by producing infrared light waves. An infrared heater will heat you, your dog, your chair, the carpet, and the walls—not the air around you, making them highly efficient at keeping you cozy.
Infrared Heater Effect on Electric Bills: Do They Save Money?
Infrared heaters aren’t just effective at heating—they’re also budget-friendly. Since they use 30-40% less energy than traditional heaters, you’ll see the difference in your electric bill. While both infrared and conventional electric heaters run on electricity (with the same cost per kilowatt-hour), infrared units heat directly, saving you money without sacrificing comfort.
Used in conjunction with your current heating system, stand-alone infrared heaters can reduce your home heating bills by as much as 50 percent because you can turn down the thermostat for the whole house, then supplement as needed with infrared. Depending on how much you are paying for home heat, an infrared heater could pay for itself in a matter of weeks.
Infrared heaters also cost nothing to install (just plug it in) or maintain (no wood or pellets to purchase) and can keep you warm for nickels a day.
Do Infrared Heaters Really Work in Winter?
Wondering if infrared heaters are strong enough to handle winter’s cold? The answer is yes! Unlike typical heaters that struggle to maintain warmth in larger or drafty spaces, infrared heaters are ideal for cold weather. They warm surfaces and objects (think furniture, floors, and walls), which then radiate heat back into the room. This creates a lasting warmth that works even in frigid conditions, making it feel like you’re soaking in sunlight even on the coldest days.
Are Infrared Heaters Safe for Home Use?
Infrared heaters are safe, available readily, and relatively inexpensive. They don’t rely on burning fuel or exposed heating elements, which makes them safer than some alternatives. Many models come with built-in safety features like automatic shut-off if they overheat or tip over, making them ideal for homes with kids or pets. Plus, they don’t reduce air humidity or stir up dust, keeping your home more comfortable for everyone.
How Much Do Infrared Heaters Cost to Run?
The running cost of an infrared heater depends on the size of the room and how often you use it. On average, these heaters cost between 10 and 20 cents per hour to run, depending on your electricity rates. Given that infrared heaters are energy-efficient and can be used as a supplement to your central heating system, many users report noticeable savings on their monthly heating costs. Over time, your infrared heater could pay for itself through energy savings.
Best Infrared Heaters to Lower Your Heating Costs
Infrared heaters come in a wide range of designs and sizes. Some appear to be attractive pieces of furniture–a wood stove, a flat panel, or a fireplace. Stand-alone portable infrared heaters can heat objects in a room from 300 to 1,800 square feet, depending on the model you select. Some even have a programmable thermostat to start the heater just before you get home so your favorite chair will be warm and ready for you.
If you’re sold on the idea of saving money and staying warm, here are a few great infrared heaters to consider:
- Best Upgrade: duraflame Freestanding Electric Fireplace
- Best Portable: Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968
- Best Wall-Mounted: Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater
- Best Outdoor: Heat Storm HS-1500-OTR Infrared Heater
Best Upgrade: duraflame Freestanding Electric Fireplace
duraflame Freestanding Electric Fireplace
This charming infrared heater is the next best thing if your home doesn’t have a built-in fireplace. It continues to be one of reviewers’ favorite space heaters due to its good looks; safety features; perks, like the remote control; and the ability to customize settings such as heat and lighting.
It’s designed to look like a wood stove, with a flickering-flame effect (complete with fake logs and embers).
Best Portable: Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 Portable Space Heater
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 Portable Space Heater, 1500-Watt, Cherry
When you need a heater that can move with you from room to room, the Dr. Infrared Heater DR-968 is a standout. Its advanced dual heating system, combining PTC and Quartz Infrared elements, delivers 60% more heat than many standard 1500-watt heaters, warming your space quickly and evenly. In side-by-side tests, it heats rooms faster than higher-priced competitors, making it a smart investment for both comfort and energy savings.
This model covers a large room with ease, thanks to its high-velocity, low-noise blower. You’ll appreciate the quiet operation (just 39 dB) perfect for working, reading, or winding down without the constant hum. Safety features like tip-over protection, overheat auto-shutoff, and UL certification ensure peace of mind, especially around kids and pets. The heater’s exterior stays warm, never dangerously hot, and the electronic thermostat allows precise temperature control from 50 to 85°F.
Other thoughtful touches: a 12-hour timer, caster wheels for portability, and a 72-inch cord so you can place it wherever it’s needed most. Using infrared heat, this unit warms objects in the room rather than just the air, which keeps the space cozy without drying out your skin like traditional convection heaters. Plus, with its Auto Energy Saving mode, it cycles between high and low settings to maintain your desired temperature while saving on electricity.
(Disclosure: This post includes an Amazon Creator Connections product. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link, at no additional cost to you.)
Best Wall-Mounted: Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater
Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater
Looking for a space-saving heating option that’s both efficient and smart? The Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater is Wi-Fi-enabled letting you control the temperature right from your phone. It’s wall-mounted design is perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, or home offices.
With 1500 watts of power, it can warm up to 150 square feet as a primary heat source, or up to 750 square feet as a supplemental one. Plus, if you install it over an outlet, you can even hide the cord inside the heater for a cleaner look.
Best Outdoor: Heat Storm HS-1500-OTR Infrared Heater
Heat Storm HS-1500-OTR Infrared Heater
If you’re looking to stay warm outside while working in the garage or relaxing on the patio, the Heat Storm HS-1500-OTR Infrared Heater is a great option. With its 5200 BTU output, it’s designed for outdoor spaces like workshops, balconies, patios, or even by your hot tub. Plus, the fact that it’s rain and dust-protected makes it ideal for outdoor use.
One of the nice perks of the Heat Storm Tradesman model is that it’s ready to go in just five minutes—just plug it into any standard outlet and you’re set. It comes with an 8-foot cord and can be mounted on a wall or ceiling, making it flexible for various spaces.
Are Infrared Heaters Worth It?
An infrared heater may be the solution you’ve been looking for to slash your heating costs while staying toasty this winter. With lower energy use, quick warm-up times, and built-in safety features, these heaters offer a smart, modern way to keep warm without breaking the bank.
Question: Have you tried using an infrared heater? If so, how has it impacted your heating bills? Let’s compare notes and see how much we’re saving.
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Every electric heater has an efficiency of almost 100 %. So 100 % of the electrical energy gets converted to heat.
BUT: Infrared heaters do not heat your walls and furniture and only slightly heat the air in the room. They heat up water containing objects like humans. Soles heat is wasted to heat the objects around of you and more is used to heat you. So you need less energy to feel cozy. That’s the secret of infrared heaters.
We tried one of these several years ago, in a wood paneled room. One piece of paneling popped totally loose from the top of the wall, and down about 2 feet. Can’t imagine what may have eventually happened to my wooden furniture in that room, had we kept using it. Anyone else have this happen?
Can you explain why some have a fan since it doesn’t heat the air? I’ve read this several times and don’t understand. Also why the closed front on the heaters? Wouldn’t a larger opening allow more IR waves in the room? Just trying to learn
Great Article! Thanks for sharing such information about the infrared heater. Infrared heaters are really beneficial for large warehouses as well as homes & offices.
Infrared heaters sound wonderful but what do they do to the electric bill?
Both infrared and electric heaters run on electricity. The price of one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy usage is the same. In the U.S., the average electricity price is 16.32 cents per kWh. However, since infrared heaters use 30-40% less energy for the same level of comfort because instead of producing heat these heaters produce infrared, your energy bill will be 30-40% lower.
I have an Black N Decker Infrawave Counter top oven, like new. Can this be used as a source of heat, perhaps in the kitchen if I leave the door open?
Your infrawave speed oven does use infrared to cook food, however to use it as a room heater you would have to find a way to point those infrared rays at the items in the room you wish to heat. Not sure how that would work. And I need to do a bit more research, but I believe your oven uses other types of heat as well (it has an electric heating element and possibly halogen heat as well?) in the cooking process. You might be able to learn more as you read the manual that came with the oven.