
What is the most energy efficient infrared heater?
- BEST OVERALL: Dr. ...
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: TRUSTECH Space Heater, 1500W Ceramic Desk Heater
- BEST STYLE: Duraflame DFI030ARU Infrared Quartz Set Heater
- BEST FOR GARAGE: Dr. ...
- BEST FOR OUTDOORS: Dr Infrared Heater DR-238 Carbon Infrared Outdoor
- BEST WALL-MOUNT: Heat Storm Deluxe Mounted Space Infrared Wall Heater
- BEST BUILD QUALITY: Dr. ...
How many watts does an infrared heater use?
The energy consumption depends on the rating of the infrared element, and that is usually in the neighborhood of 750 to 1500 watts. In a quartz infrared heater, electricity energizes a heating element in the same way it does in a conventional heater.
What is the efficiency of an infrared heater?
They convert 100 percent of the utilized energy into heat. An infrared heater needs only 40% of the energy to create a warm environment. The reason why infrared heaters are energy efficient is they are used to warm a particular individual. Hence, no extra heat energy is required. Other Differences Between Ceramic and Infrared Heaters
What are the best infrared heaters?
Our Recommendations for the Best Infrared Space Heater
- Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater. ...
- Duraflame Electric Infrared Tower Heater. The Duraflame Duraflame 5HM7000-NC04 is one of the most unique and quite cool design infrared heaters available.
- LifePlus Electric Infrared Space Heater. ...

Do infrared heaters use a lot of power?
There's also no need to preheat a room since these heaters work instantly. Some use only 300 watts of electricity and almost 100 percent of the heat created is transferred out, so you can get super efficient heating for a very low cost. The maintenance for infrared heaters is extremely minimal.
How much does it cost to run a 1500 watt infrared heater for 24 hours?
Example (you can use an electric heater running cost calculator below for different wattages/kWh prices): If we assume the price of electricity is $0.1319 per kWh, a 1,500-watt electric space heater will cost; $0.20 to run per hour. $4.80 to run per 24 hours (day).
What wattage of infrared heater do I need?
To heat a medium size room, you need to go for a 350 – 400 watt panel, which come in both the carbon fibre or glass finishes. These will heat an area of 5m2 if hung on the wall or 7m2 if suspended from the ceiling.
Is it cheaper to run a infrared heater?
Operating costs are especially lower when compared to other types of electric heating system because infrared heating panels have a much lower power requirement and therefore running cost per hour.
How big of a room will 1500 watts heat?
150 square feetAs a rule of thumb, you'll need roughly 10 watts of heating power for every square foot of floor area in the room. This means that a 1,500-watt heater can be the primary heat source for an area measuring up to 150 square feet.
Is infrared heating cheaper than gas?
Infrared heating is energy efficient with proven savings as much as 50% compared to other conventional heating systems, it is, in fact, proven to be the cheapest type of heating available.
Is an infrared heater better than an electric heater?
An infrared heater is better than an electric heater in terms of energy efficiency. These heating units use 100% of the heat produced compared to 80-90% for electric heaters. Infrared heaters also offer various power source options, such as propane, natural gas, and electricity.
Is a quartz heater the same as an infrared heater?
A quartz heater is a common type of infrared heater and the creation and subsequent release of heat from the heater is made by the heating element, enclosed in a quartz tube.
How many watts do I need for a room?
In general, the power required by electrical heating is calculated in watts. Wattage: Multiply the area in feet by 10. For a room 20 feet by 20 feet, we obtain 400 sq. ft., multiplied by 10 to give 4000 watts.
Do infrared heaters raise your electric bill?
Infrared heaters are more effective heaters than other electric heating systems. Therefore, they will help save on your electricity bills. in general, an infrared heater uses about 40% less energy to produce the same level of comfort as other heaters. Your electric bill will be about 40% lower as a result.
What is the cheapest way to heat a room?
Once you have made sure that heat loss from a room is kept to a minimum, gas central heating is generally your cheapest option. If that's not possible, then consider using an oil-filled heater for larger rooms or an electric heater for small areas if you're willing to use it in short bursts.
What is the cheapest way to heat a house?
Gas boiler A gas boiler is still the cheapest way to heat your home – though that's set to change soon, with the cost of gas rising more than twice as quickly as electricity.
How much does it cost to run a 1500 watt infrared heater per hour?
The price of electricity is set per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and is on average about $0.15. So, when you run a 1500 W infrared heater for an hour, the costs will be $0.15 x 1.5 kW x 1 hour = $0.225. You can read all about the running costs of infrared heating in my article: The real running costs of infrared heating.
How much does it cost to run an infrared heater a day?
Assume the heater is 1500 watts or 1.5 kilowatts, and you use it at least 10 hours a day. 1.5 is obtained by dividing 1500 by 1000. Then add 1.5 by 10 to get 15 kilowatt-hours per hour. So that heater would cost anywhere from $2.25 to $4.95 to run every hour.
How much does it cost to run a 1500 watt radiant heater?
So I did the research, and even made a free calculator. On average, a 1,500W heater costs around $0.20 per hour to run on high. This adds up to a cost of $1.60 for 8 hours a day, and $48 per month. The running costs depend on your electric heater's power, running time, heat settings, and your electricity price.
Does 1500 watts use a lot of electricity?
A 1500 watt heater uses exactly this, 1500 watts per hour, relative to 24 hours, heating a modest-sized room. Many household products use just as much if not more than 1500 watts, so, relatively speaking, heaters are fairly reasonable in terms of energy required.
How energy efficient are infrared Quartz Heaters?
Quartz infrared heaters are generally just as efficient as other infrared heaters, but some models are slightly more efficient and will offer some...
How many watts do the infrared heaters use compared to conventional heaters?
Infrared heaters typically use about 30% less electricity to run, making them noticeably more efficient.
Can I leave the infrared heater on all the time?
Yes, most models can be left on all the time, but try to turn it off when going out to avoid any risk of fire. The more you use the unit, the less...
How long do infrared heaters last?
Typically, infrared heaters will last for about 10,000 hours, so it entirely depends on how much usage it gets.
How much electricity does an infrared heater use?
Therefore, a 300 Wat t infrared heater will use only 40% of electricity of what a 1200 Watt convectional heater would to produce the same amount of heat.
How efficient are infrared heaters?
According to experts, Infrared heaters work more efficiently than other conventional heating machines or mechanisms. Their output has been estimated to be 86% which is higher than what other machines offer. This means that of the energy put in the heater, most of it is emitted out as heat energy with a very small percentage being wasted.
How does an infrared heater work?
Once you plug the infrared heater to a power supply, an electric current flows into the infrared heater. This current flows through a heating element in the heater. This may be tungsten or another material depending on the brand of your infrared heater.
How does electricity heat up an element?
Quite simple- electricity heats up element then the element radiates heat that heats up anything solid in the path of the rays.
How much does it cost to run a 1500 watt heater?
Taking the 1500 Watt heater as our example, it takes roughly 25 cents to run such a heater for an hour. If this heater runs for ten hours a day then this amounts to 75$ a month.
Where to find rating on infrared heater?
Ratings are usually indicated on a label affixed near the power cord. You can also find some in the infrared heater manual that came with it during purchase.
When do you know how much electricity you use?
If you know how much electricity is used then it simply follows that you know the electricity bill to expect at the end of the day, week or month. With this information, you can plan ahead or be able to account for electricity consumption where the heater is used for commercial purposes.
Infrared wattage calculator: how many watts do you need for any room?
Having the right amount of infrared wattage for a room makes all the difference. Therefore, I put together a calculator where you can easily fill in the length, width, and height of your room to get the required wattage. Since the required wattage differs per type of room, you can select what type of room you are calculating for.
Wattage calculator based on room size and type
You can use the following calculator to easily determine the required wattage based on the type of room and its size. The calculator on the left is for room size in feet. The right one is for room size in meters.
The required wattage for a standard living room
If you just want to know what an average living room requires, here you go:
Different rooms require different wattage
The calculators above already took into account everything you need, including the type of room and insulation value. Nonetheless, here are the required wattages of infrared you need per square foot for every room type. On top of that, this table shows the required wattage per room type for regular (non-infrared) heating.
Additional factors that can influence the required wattage
The calculator in this article gives an indication of the number of wattage that is required for your room. However, it cannot give a very precise answer because there are too many factors at play. Additional factors that determine the required wattage include:
How much electricity does an infrared heater use?
We can now compare this to a slightly more powerful infrared heater which uses 700 watts of electricity. 700 watts is equivalent to 0.7 kilowatts per hour. Again, we use the below equation to determine the cost per hour.
How long does an infrared heater last?
Typically, infrared heaters will last for about 10,000 hours, so it entirely depends on how much usage it gets.
How is infrared energy measured?
The energy used by an infrared heater is measured in watts which is the amount of electricity that is converted into energy to power your machine. You’ll usually be able to find this figure on the side of the machine or the packaging, but don’t be fooled by the look or size of your model; it all comes down to the wattage.
Can you use an infrared heater for quick heat?
Only use this type of infrared heater if you need quick heat, or it may cost you more than you need to pay.
Is quartz heater better than other heaters?
Quartz infrared heaters are generally just as efficient as other infrared heaters, but some models are slightly more efficient and will offer some cost savings.
How Do Infrared Heaters Compare to Other Heaters?
Infrared space heaters emit rays that are absorbed by other items, which gently increases the temperature of the heaters' surroundings. They work differently than the other types of heaters you may be considering for your home or office.
How does an infrared heater work?
Infrared Heaters Work Instantly. Most heaters work through convection, gradually heating the surrounding air and letting it circulate until it's premeated the entire room, but infrared heaters emit a precise beam of heat that warms you directly by throwing out a steady stream of heat particles. With infrafed heaters, you don't have to wait ...
Why is infrared light not visible?
Infrared light isn't visible because it's beyond the spectrum we see. That invisible light gets absorbed by our skin, clothes and other objects, which is how things around an infrared heater warm up. It is warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade because the shade blocks out a lot of the light, and like our natural big outside heater, ...
What is a garage heater?
Garage heaters are meant for places that aren't well insulated. They provide high blasts of warm air to cover large areas. Baseboard heaters are perfect for bedrooms and hallways. Low profile, safe, and easy to install, baseboard heaters remain a popular pick.
Does an infrared heater stop heating?
Stops Heating When Off. Infrared heaters work the instant they turn on, but they also stop radiating heat the instant they are turned off. Since the air in the room is not actually warmed, the room will lose heat very quickly.
Do infrared heaters need to be cleaned?
The maintenance for infrared heaters is extremely minimal. Since there are no moving parts, there's no motor to wear out, air filters to replace or lubrication required. All you have to do is periodically clean the reflectors to keep your unit working perfectly.
Is infrared heating environmentally friendly?
Cost-Effective & Environmentally Friendly. Infrared heaters won't add any pollutants in your room. They operate without any carbon combustion, no toxic-by-products, no open flames and no fuel lines. Essentially, infrared heaters don't add anything to the air, and they don't take anything from the air.
How does an infrared heater work?
In a quartz infrared heater, electricity energizes a heating element in the same way it does in a conventional heater. The energy radiates out from the heater, and any part of your body in its path absorbs the energy and becomes warmer.
How much energy does a quartz heater use?
The energy consumption depends on the rating of the infrared element, and that is usually in the neighborhood of 750 to 1500 watts.
Is infrared heat better than conventional heat?
Infrared heat is safer than conventional, resistive heat, but it takes just as much electricity to produce it. The rating for a particular heater is specified on a label — usually affixed near the power cord — and can be as high as 1500 watts. In California, where residential electricity costs about 17 cents per kilowatt hour, ...
How many watts does an infrared heater use?
The BTU output of an infrared heater, is generally correlated with the amount of watts the heater uses, which can range between 300 and 1500 watts. (They’re capped at 1500 watts because that’s the maximum amount a standard 110-volt household electrical outlet can handle.)
How to calculate infrared heater power?
One way to calculate the general amount of power your heater should generate is to multiply the space’s square footage by 10.
How to maximize heating efficiency?
To truly maximize the heating efficiency, consider a unit with an oscillating base to uniformly heat your space. Instead of the heater warming the space in its immediate path, it oscillates from side-to-side to heat at a 180-degree angle.
What temperature can a programmable thermostat be set to?
A programmable thermostat allows you to set the exact temperature, from a cool 50 degrees up to a toasty 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also equipped with four durable caster wheels for easy portability from room to room, and it includes a remote so you can operate the heater from the comfort of your chair.
How hot is a Dr Infrared heater?
Folks who spend lots of time in the garage all year long may want a safe, reliable infrared heater to stay comfortable. This Dr Infrared model pumps out 5600 BTUs of heat to quickly bring a 600-square-foot garage to a toasty 95-degrees Fahrenheit. It features an adjustable thermostat that lets you set your ideal temperature, and a large fan to spread the heat evenly throughout your space. Although this fan produces more noise than most infrared units, it doesn’t exceed 45 decibels (within the noise range of an average fridge). It also has a carrying handle, so you can easily move it around your garage.
What does the shape of an infrared heater mean?
The shape of the heater will depend on whether it sits on the floor vertically or horizontally— which affects not only its function but its visual form as well. Most uniquely, some infrared heaters are designed to simulate the appearance of a fireplace with visual and auditory effects like flames and crackling.
How to determine the right size infrared heater?
When determining the right size infrared heater, think about the square footage of the space you want to warm. Generally, infrared heaters are designed for small spaces, so the units are also relatively small, and usually portable. While more powerful units for bigger areas are available, they’re typically larger.
Is Portable Infrared Heaters Expensive To Run?
Asking if infrared heaters are relatively expensive will entirely depend on a few things. Firstly let us look at the standard for most space heaters. Most heaters operate with 2 or 3 settings, but the highest setting will likely be 1500 watts.
How Much Does It Cost To Use An Infrared Space Heater?
Energy savings would be a top priority if you think your power costs too much for convenience. Space heaters are an ideal alternative to centralized heating as long as they are used at the appropriate times and in the proper rooms for you and your neighbors.
How Do Infrared Space Heaters Work?
Infrared space heaters work vastly different than all of the other heaters on the market. Instead of heating the air directly, they convert electricity into infrared radiation, spread out over the entire area facing the heater.
Advantages & Disadvantages Of Infrared Space Heaters
Below, we have created a chart to help you better understand the pros and cons of infrared space heaters.
How To Use Infrared Space Heaters Safely?
This is a general guide for not only infrared space heaters but all space heaters.
What Are Some Highly Rated And Safe Infrared Space Heaters?
This section will talk about a few of the best-rated infrared heaters on the market. They will range in price, but they all will function the same way and come with the typical overheat protection, tip-over protection, and auto shut-off timers.
Final Thoughts
Infrared heaters are among the most popular, and for a good reason. They can save you electricity depending on the model you buy, how you use it, and how often. Hopefully, this article has answered all of your pertinent questions and helped you determine if infrared heaters are the best for you and your family.

Why Should You Know?
How Electricity Is Consumed
- Without adding too much physics jargon to it, this is how electricity helps the infrared heater to work. Once you plug the infrared heater to a power supply, an electric current flows into the infrared heater. This current flows through a heating element in the heater. This may be tungsten or another material depending on the brand of your infrared heater. Once the element heats up i…
How Much Electricity?
- In order to understand how much electricity an infrared heater uses, it is important to know that infrared heaters, like other electrical appliances, come in different ratings. Ratings are measurements of how much energy is needed to run a machine, usually determined by the manufacturer. Ratings are usually indicated on a label affixed near the pow...
Why Infrared Heaters Are Worth The Electricity They Consume
- According to experts, Infrared heaterswork more efficiently than other conventional heating machines or mechanisms. Their output has been estimated to be 86% which is higher than what other machines offer. This means that of the energy put in the heater, most of it is emitted out as heat energy with a very small percentage being wasted. As if this is not impressive enough, infra…
Now You know. So What?
- I bet you now feel like an enlightened tech guru like I did after learning how much electricity my infrared heater uses. Get your planning underway by checking your heater rating and doing the simple math involved. If you do not own an infrared heater now you know what to consider when making your purchase. With this information you can make an informed decision that will work o…