# How to Choose a Space Heater for a Bedroom _Last updated: 2026-09-26_ ## Short answer For a bedroom, pick a heater that reaches your room size at a wattage your circuit can carry (usually up to 1,500 W on a standard 15 A circuit), with a thermostat and tip-over and overheat shut-off. Choose the type by whether you want fast heat or quiet heat. ## Size by watts - A rough rule is about 10 watts per square foot for an average, insulated room. - A 120 ft² bedroom points to about 1,200 W; a 150 ft² room to about 1,500 W. - Adjust up for poor insulation or a cold exterior wall, down for a well-insulated small room. - Do not run a 1,500 W heater on the same circuit as other high-draw appliances. ## Pick the type - Ceramic / fan-forced: heats fast, moves air, but the fan makes some noise. - Oil-filled / radiant: quiet and steady, but slower to warm the room and heavier. - Infrared / radiant: warms people and objects in line of sight, quiet, but not the whole room. - For sleeping, a quiet oil-filled or infrared unit is usually preferred over a noisy fan-forced one. ## Safety and running cost - Keep at least 3 feet (about 1 m) of clear space around the heater. - Look for tip-over shut-off, overheat protection and a cool-touch housing. - Never use an undersized extension cord or a power strip. - Running cost: watts / 1000 x hours x your price per kWh. A 1,500 W unit at $0.15/kWh costs about $0.23 per hour. ## Common mistakes - Buying the biggest heater and tripping the breaker. - Placing it against bedding or curtains. - Expecting a space heater to warm a whole house. - Ignoring the fan noise until it is too loud to sleep. ## Sources U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidance on space heater safety; U.S. Department of Energy guidance on estimating appliance electricity use. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: How many watts do I need for a bedroom?** A: About 10 watts per square foot for average conditions. A 120 ft² bedroom needs roughly 1,200 W, which a standard 15 A circuit can carry on its own. **Q: Are oil-filled heaters cheaper to run?** A: No. All electric resistance heaters convert the same watts into the same heat. An oil-filled unit feels steadier because it releases heat slowly, but the cost per hour at the same wattage is the same. **Q: Can I leave a space heater on overnight?** A: Only a heater with a thermostat, tip-over and overheat protection, placed clear of bedding and curtains. Many people prefer a lower-wattage unit for overnight use. ## Recommended options Electric heaters with the listed wattage. Check it against your room size and circuit, and confirm the safety features on the current listing. - [DREO 1500W 16-Inch Space Heater](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1JCB1X2?maas=maas_adg_api_585602613512925350_static_12_201&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&aa_campaignid=PBd80bd4ce4ece40f44bcc76fcc0c48425&aa_adgroupid=5749xutSKG0_bDN2b5VkYZhr0O73dXxQKrjeAg3U7zdhblyjJ5X0RCMduXEZKvDoJkEBxJ7HINzBFMJAew2UL&aa_creativeid=c788MhgbSHlJ6REMvxwdfgAdAuA2AsrYNZnpsd9YFV4aJm8_c) — DREO, rating 4.5/5 (15376 reviews) - [DREO Smart Wall-Mounted Heater](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7ZWYHGZ?maas=maas_adg_api_585602613512925350_static_12_201&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&aa_campaignid=PBd80bd4ce4ece40f44bcc76fcc0c48425&aa_adgroupid=b298OVDozH1cGmj5BI_b2rjpRbTlZc9wQk_bRp49GXM9EdRJ_bW0lmj9KQ5kwBdvWaWOy_bMA3sBQ0XYMiMa3AoA&aa_creativeid=056dBXKAfKxX3XoLN1BkmkJaiDM6IENl5NCWu9DLaKw1sFw_c) — DREO, rating 4.5/5 (3159 reviews) _Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you._ --- Canonical: