Best heaters under $50: Models with remote controls

Winter rarely arrives with a bang. It creeps in through the bedroom window, settles on the floor and makes itself known at 7am, when the one corner of the house you need to be warm is the coldest. 

Before the first real freeze, many people start looking for the best heaters under $50, and a small one can make a cold desk, bedroom or reading corner far easier to live with.

Best Heaters under $50

Gadinsider has compiled five tower-style heaters to compare on exactly those points. Two come from WINHL, two from VOCRS and one from DREO. Between them they offer remote controls, thermostats, timers and oscillation, along with different safety features and noise claims.

Each is meant for bedrooms, desks and small rooms, and all sit under $50.

1. WINHL portable electric space heater, 70° oscillation

WINHL portable electric space heater is a compact black tower heater with a 1,500 W PTC ceramic element. WINHL describes it as supplemental heat for personal spaces and small rooms, best placed near where you sit.

Key features and specs

• Power: 1,500W PTC ceramic
• Oscillation: 70°, switched on by remote
• Controls: Remote, thermostat and 12-hour timer
• ECO mode: Cycles on and off to hold the set temperature
• Safety: Overheat protection and tip-over shutoff; ETL listed
• Size: About 5.9 inches deep and 9.9 inches tall, per WINHL
• Remote: Needs 2 AAA batteries, not included
• Colour: Black

Performance

This type of small tower would be ideal on a desk or nightstand or in a corner. With the 70° swing, it circulates the warmth through a larger area and does not leave you sitting in one spot receiving only the direct stream of heated air. The listing clearly states that it is not meant to heat a full house, and larger areas require a more powerful model.

• Pros
• Compact enough for a desk or nightstand
• Remote, thermostat and 12-hour timer
• Overheat and tip-over protection

Cons

• Seller says it is for small rooms and personal spaces only
• Must be plugged straight into a wall outlet, with no extension cord
• Remote batteries are not included.

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WINHL portable electric space heater — View at Amazon

2. WINHL space heater with thermostat, 1500W, 16.4-inch

The second WINHL is a 16.4-inch tower with three power levels and a built-in thermostat. It has a remote and a 70° oscillation option, and the listing says the fan can also be used in summer.

Key features and specs

• Power levels: 700W, 1,000W and 1,500W
• Thermostat: Built-in, adjusts output to the room temperature
• Oscillation: 70°
• Timer: 12-hour timer, plus 24-hour automatic power-off, per WINHL
• Safety: Tip-over protection, overheat shut-off, V0 flame-retardant materials, ETL certified
• Cord: 6 ft flat cord with a 2-prong plug
• Support: 30-day return and 12-month warranty, per WINHL
• Remote: Needs 2 AAA batteries, not included
• Colour: Black

Performance

There are three levels of power available, giving you greater control than one setting only. With these three power settings, you may turn down to 700W in case it is a small room and increase to 1,500W in case it is very cold. According to WINHL, the thermostat manages the power on its own, thus minimising your manual efforts.

Pros

• Three power levels to match the room
• 6 ft flat cord and a 2-prong plug
• 30-day return and 12-month warranty, per WINHL

Cons

• Remote batteries are not included.
• No noise level is stated.
• Room coverage is not given.

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Space heaters for indoor use with a thermostat — View at Amazon

3. VOCRS 24-inch oscillating tower heater

The 24-inch VOCRS has a touchscreen on top and a remote that VOCRS says works from up to 25 feet away. It uses 1,500W PTC ceramic heating with 70° oscillation.

Key features and specs

• Power: 1,500W PTC ceramic
• Size: 24 inches, with a hidden handle
• Oscillation: 70°
• Coverage: 200 square feet, per VOCRS
• Noise: 32 dB, per VOCRS, with a mute mode for button sounds
• Controls: Touchscreen, remote, 12-hour timer
• ECO mode: Target temperature of 76°F to 84°F
• Safety: Tip-over protection, overheat protection, V0 flame-retardant materials, 24-hour auto power-off; ETL certified
• Support: 30-day return and 12-month warranty, per VOCRS
• Remote: Needs 2 AAA batteries, not included

Performance

The VOCRS has 200 sq ft coverage and a 32 dB noise level, both according to the seller's data. The ECO function maintains a certain temperature through the change of heat levels on and off, and the set range stops at 84°F. This is a smaller range compared to some other heaters in the list, which may be important if you prefer a lower temperature setting.

Pros

• Touchscreen plus a remote with a stated 25 ft range
• Coverage and noise figures given, per VOCRS
• Hidden handle for moving it around

Cons

• The ECO target range is limited to 76°F to 84°F.
• Listing gives two different cord lengths, 5 ft and 6 ft.
• Remote batteries are not included.

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Space heater for indoor use with remote — View at Amazon

4. VOCRS 1500W small portable space heater

The smaller VOCRS is a 1,500W PTC heater with three power modes, a digital display and a remote. The listing offers eco and fan modes and a carry handle.

Key features and specs

• Power modes: 700W, 1,000W and 1,500W
• Controls: Remote, digital display, thermostat
• Timer: 1 to 12 hours, with automatic shut-off
• Modes: Eco and Fan, per the listing title
• Safety: Overheat protection and tip-over automatic shut-off; ETL certified
• Handling: Built-in carry handle
• Support: 30-day return and 12-month exchange guarantee, per VOCRS
• Remote: Needs 2 AAA batteries, not included
• Colour: Black

Performance

The digital display provides the temperature setting and operating status of the machine, which means you will know how it is functioning without looking at the remote. The timer works for 1 to 12 hours, and then the machine switches itself off once the timer stops, which is helpful, especially during nighttime. There is no information about the size, area coverage, and sound level provided in the listing.

Pros

• Three power modes with Eco and Fan modes
• Digital display and remote
• Timer from 1 to 12 hours

Cons

• No dimensions, coverage or noise figure given
• Does not mention oscillation
• Remote batteries are not included.

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Small portable space heater for indoor use — View at Amazon

5. DREO space heater with thermostat

The DREO is the quietest heater on this list by its own claim, at 34 dB, and the only one with a child lock. It has a tilt-detection sensor and a thermostat with a wide range.

Key features and specs

• Power: 1,500W PTC
• Thermostat: 41°F to 95°F in 1°F steps
• Noise: 34 dB, per DREO, from a brushless DC motor
• Modes: Power heat, ECO and Fan Only
• Extras: Remote, 12-hour timer, mute, child lock and memory function
• Safety: Tilt-detection tip-over protection, overheat protection, V0 flame-retardant materials, ETL certified
• Reach: DREO says its heat funnel design gives up to 200% farther reach than traditional heaters.
• Handling: Carry handle
• Colour: Gold

Performance

With the degree increments and wider temperature range, the DREO provides the highest accuracy in temperature control. With regard to the home safety features, the child lock is an important feature in case you have children at home, while the memory mode stores your preferred settings. The 200% coverage claim by DREO compares it to other conventional heaters.

Pros

• Finest temperature control, with 1°F steps
• Child lock and memory function
• Quiet operation claimed at 34 dB

Cons

• Oscillation is not listed
• No dimensions or coverage area given
• No warranty details given

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DREO space heater — View at Amazon