Best Infrared Tower Heater: 5 Expert Picks for Fast, Even Warmth

Your home office is freezing, but heating the whole house feels wasteful. A space heater helps, yet many of them are noisy, slow, or look like they belong in a garage. Infrared tower heaters solve those problems. They warm objects and people directly, take up barely any floor space, and often come with remote controls and thermostats.

Not every tower heater is worth your money. The best ones heat a room quickly, run quietly, and include safety features that matter if you have kids or pets. You also want a unit that fits your space without blocking a walkway or looking out of place in a living room.

We looked at five popular models and compared their heating methods, safety systems, and real-world usability. The EXNOS 24” Infrared Heater stands out as the best overall pick for most people. If you want a furniture-grade look, the Duraflame Electric Tower Heater is a strong runner-up. Keep reading for the full breakdown.

Here is a quick side-by-side look at the key specs and features that separate these five infrared tower heaters.

Features	EXNOS 24” Heater	Duraflame Electric Tower	BLACK+DECKER Infrared Radiant	Hykolity 1500W Heater	Duraflame Oscillating Tower
Heating Element	6 quartz infrared tubes	Infrared heating system	Dual quartz tubes with fan	3 premium quartz tubes	Infrared heating system
Heat Settings	3 modes: 1500W/1000W/Eco	Stationary or oscillating heat	Low 750W / High 1500W	3 modes: 1500W/1000W/500W	Stationary or oscillating heat
Controls	Digital thermostat with remote	Timer and sleep timer	Manual adjustable thermostat	Adjustable thermostat dial	Timer and sleep timer
Safety Features	Tip-over, overheat, safety lock	Patented Safer Plug technology	Cool touch, tip-over, overheat	Tip-over, overheat, flame-retardant	Patented Safer Plug technology
Best Use Case	Bedrooms, offices, living rooms	Large rooms up to 1,000 sq ft	Personal spaces, small offices	Bedrooms, offices, living rooms	Large rooms up to 1,000 sq ft

EXNOS 24” Infrared Heater

The EXNOS 24-inch heater is a slim tower designed for people who want precise temperature control without spending a fortune. It works well in bedrooms, home offices, and living rooms where floor space is tight. If you like setting a specific temperature and forgetting about it, this one fits that habit.

Six quartz infrared tubes do the heating here, and they warm up fast. You feel the heat within seconds of turning it on, which matters when you step out of a shower into a cold bathroom or sit down at a desk first thing in the morning. The digital thermostat is easy to read, and the remote means you never have to leave your chair to adjust settings. The safety lock is a thoughtful touch for households with curious kids or pets. Long-pressing both temperature buttons for three seconds locks the controls so nobody accidentally changes your settings.

The energy saver mode holds the heater at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which reduces power draw once the room reaches a comfortable level. One trade-off: the oscillation feature is absent on this model, so heat stays directed in one direction. You will want to aim it toward where you sit rather than expecting it to circulate around a large room. The 24-inch height also means it works best as a supplemental heater, not a primary heat source for an entire floor.

• Three heat modes: 1500W, 1000W, and a 68-degree energy saver setting
• Six quartz infrared tubes for fast, even warmth
• Digital thermostat with included remote control
• Safety lock prevents accidental setting changes
• Slim footprint with built-in carry handle and cord wrap

Best for: Anyone who wants a remote-controlled tower heater with a digital thermostat for a bedroom, office, or living room.

Duraflame Electric Tower

Duraflame built this tower heater to look like a piece of furniture, not an appliance. The wood veneers and curved front give it a warm, traditional appearance that blends into a living room or den. It is a good fit for homeowners who do not want a plastic box sitting in the corner.

This model heats spaces up to 1,000 square feet, which puts it in a different class than most personal heaters. The oscillating function spreads heat across a wider area, and you can switch to stationary mode when you want direct warmth. A programmable timer runs from 30 minutes to 9 hours, and the sleep timer lets you warm a room before you enter it. The patented Safer Plug technology monitors plug temperature and shuts the unit off if things get too hot. That is a genuine safety advantage over standard tip-over switches alone.

The main drawback is the lack of a digital thermostat. You get a manual control, which works fine but does not offer the precision of a digital display. The wood veneer also requires a bit more care than plastic housings. Wipe it down gently rather than scrubbing it. And while it heats large rooms, it works best as a supplemental source alongside your main HVAC system.

• Wood veneer and curved front for a furniture-like appearance
• Oscillating and stationary heat modes
• Timer adjustable from 30 minutes to 9 hours
• Safer Plug technology monitors plug temperature
• Heats spaces up to 1,000 square feet

Best for: Homeowners who want a large-room heater that looks like a piece of furniture and includes advanced plug safety.

BLACK+DECKER Infrared Radiant

The BLACK+DECKER BHTI06 is a compact, no-frills tower heater for personal spaces. It weighs just 5 pounds, so moving it from the bedroom to the office takes almost no effort. Renters and students will appreciate how little space it takes up.

Dual quartz tubes with an integrated fan push heat into the room faster than radiant-only designs. You get two heat settings, 750 watts on low and 1500 watts on high, plus a manual adjustable thermostat. The fan makes a difference on cold mornings when you want the chill out of the air quickly. Cool touch housing means the exterior stays safe to touch even after running for a while. Overheat shutoff and tip-over auto shutoff round out the safety package.

Manual controls are the biggest limitation. There is no remote and no digital display, so you walk over to change settings. The fan also adds a bit of noise, though it is not loud enough to drown out a TV at normal volume. For a personal heater at this size, those are reasonable compromises. Just do not expect it to warm a large open floor plan on its own.

• Dual quartz tubes with integrated fan for faster heat distribution
• Two heat settings: 750W low and 1500W high
• Manual adjustable thermostat
• Cool touch housing, overheat shutoff, and tip-over auto shutoff
• Weighs only 5 pounds for easy portability

Best for: Renters, students, or anyone who needs an affordable, lightweight personal heater for a small room.

Hykolity 1500W Infrared Radiant

Hykolity’s 24-inch tower heater targets buyers who want three heat levels and a flame-retardant housing at a budget-friendly price. It works in bedrooms, offices, and living rooms. The 500W low setting is unusually low for this category, which gives you more control on mild days.

Three quartz tubes provide the radiant heat, and the built-in fan circulates warm air through the room. The adjustable thermostat dial covers a wide range, so you can fine-tune the output without guessing. The flame-retardant plastic housing meets strict safety standards and holds up well over time. Tip-over and overheat protection shut the unit off automatically if something goes wrong. For the price, the feature set is hard to beat.

The manual thermostat dial lacks the precision of a digital model. You turn a knob rather than tapping a button, and there is no remote. The fan noise is noticeable on high, similar to a small desk fan. If you want quiet operation above all else, a radiant-only heater might suit you better. But for most people, the trade-off is worth it given the three heat settings and safety features.

• Three heat modes: 1500W, 1000W, and 500W
• Three premium quartz tubes with fan-assisted circulation
• Wide-range adjustable thermostat dial
• Flame-retardant housing with tip-over and overheat protection
• Compact 24-inch design for easy placement

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who want three heat settings and solid safety features in a compact tower.

Duraflame Oscillating Tower

This second Duraflame model shares the same furniture-grade design and large-room capability as the first, but it appears here as a distinct option for buyers who want the oscillating feature highlighted. The wood veneer finish and curved front make it a natural fit for traditional home decor. It heats up to 1,000 square feet and works as a supplemental heat source.

Oscillation is the headline feature. Press the button and the tower sweeps heat across the room rather than blasting one spot. That makes it more effective in open living areas where people move around. The timer runs from 30 minutes to 9 hours, and the sleep timer lets you program warmth before you walk in the door. Safer Plug technology monitors the plug temperature and cuts power if it rises above safe levels. That is a meaningful safety layer for a heater running for hours at a time.

Like its sibling, this model uses manual controls rather than a digital thermostat. You also pay a premium for the wood veneer finish compared to plastic-bodied heaters. The unit is lightweight for its size, but it still takes up more visual space than a slim black tower. If your decor leans modern or minimalist, the traditional look may not fit. For everyone else, it is a handsome and capable heater.

• Oscillating and stationary heat modes for flexible coverage
• Wood veneer and curved front for a classic furniture look
• Timer and sleep timer adjustable from 30 minutes to 9 hours
• Safer Plug fire prevention technology
• Heats spaces up to 1,000 square feet

Best for: Buyers who want a large-room oscillating heater with a traditional furniture aesthetic and advanced plug safety.

How We Chose These Products

We started with the features that actually affect daily use: heating method, wattage options, thermostat type, safety systems, and physical footprint. A heater that warms a room in two minutes but tips over easily is not a good heater. So we weighted safety features like tip-over switches, overheat protection, and plug monitoring heavily in our evaluation.

We also considered who each heater serves. A student in a dorm has different needs than a homeowner heating a 1,000-square-foot living room. That is why our picks range from a 5-pound portable unit to a furniture-grade tower that heats large spaces. We did not test these units in a lab, but we compared their specifications against common buyer complaints and real-world usage patterns to identify genuine strengths and weaknesses.

Buying Guide: What Really Matters

Wattage determines how much heat a tower heater produces. Most infrared models run at 1500 watts on high, which is the maximum a standard 15-amp household circuit handles safely. Some models offer lower settings like 1000W or 500W for milder days. More settings give you more control over energy use. If you want to keep bills low, look for an energy efficient infrared heater with a thermostat and multiple power levels.

Thermostat type matters more than most people realize. A digital thermostat lets you set an exact temperature, and the heater cycles on and off to maintain it. Manual dials work, but you adjust them by feel. Remote controls are a nice bonus if you plan to use the heater in a bedroom or while seated at a desk. Safety features are non-negotiable. Tip-over shutoff and overheat protection should be on every unit you consider. If you have pets or small children, a safety lock or cool-touch housing adds peace of mind.

Size and placement affect performance. A tower heater works best when aimed toward the area you occupy, not tucked behind furniture. Oscillation helps spread heat in larger rooms. For bedrooms specifically, quieter operation matters more than raw power. If you plan to use a heater in a bedroom, a bedroom infrared heater with a lower noise profile and a timer will serve you better than a high-wattage unit designed for open spaces.

Our Top Recommendation

The EXNOS 24” Infrared Heater wins for most people. It combines six quartz tubes, a digital thermostat, a remote control, and a safety lock in a slim package that fits almost anywhere. The energy saver mode at 68 degrees is a practical touch for keeping power use in check. It lacks oscillation, but for targeted warmth in a bedroom, office, or living room, it delivers exactly what you need.

If you want a heater that looks like furniture and can handle a large room, the Duraflame Electric Tower is the better choice. Its oscillating function and 1,000-square-foot coverage make it a strong supplemental heat source for open living areas. The Safer Plug technology adds a layer of safety you will not find on most competitors. For tight budgets, the Hykolity 1500W offers three heat settings and solid safety features at a lower cost. And if portability is your priority, the 5-pound BLACK+DECKER is easy to carry from room to room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do infrared tower heaters dry out the air like central heating?

Infrared heaters warm objects and people directly rather than heating the air itself. That means they tend to dry out the air less than forced-air systems. You may still notice some dryness in a sealed room over long periods, but most users find infrared heat more comfortable for sinuses and skin than traditional space heaters.

Can I leave an infrared tower heater running overnight?

Most modern tower heaters with tip-over and overheat protection are safe for overnight use, provided you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, curtains, and other flammable materials. If you want extra peace of mind, choose a model with a timer and a safety lock like the EXNOS. Never use an extension cord with a 1500W heater.

Will a 1500W tower heater raise my electric bill significantly?

Running a 1500W heater for eight hours a day adds up, but it costs far less than heating your entire home with central heat. The key is using it as a supplemental heat source in the room you occupy. Models with thermostats and energy saver modes cycle on and off automatically, which reduces power draw compared to running at full blast continuously.

What is the difference between quartz infrared and ceramic heaters?

Quartz infrared heaters use tubes that emit radiant heat, which warms people and objects directly. Ceramic heaters use a fan to push heated air into the room. Infrared feels warmer faster in a targeted area, while ceramic heaters circulate heat more evenly across a space. Tower-style infrared heaters are generally quieter and better for spot heating.