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12 Best Under Desk Heaters To Keep You Toasty Warm While You Work

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There’s nothing worse than being cold when trying to get work done. It may be sweater weather season, but if you find yourself still shivering while checking your emails, it’s time to turn up the heat — and a space heater is just what you need. If you work in an office, it saves you from begging your manager to raise the thermostat, and if you’re working from home, using the right one can lower your heating bill. There are many different types of space heaters, each ranging in size and price. However, if you want to save space and avoid clutter, tucking a small one beneath your workspace may be the way to go. Keep reading to learn our recommendations for the best under desk heater for you.

Fun fact: working at a comfortable temperature may help you get more work done. According to a study reported on by USA Today, cold offices make women less productive. And while one could certainly make the case for wearing your fashionable winter coat during your daily zoom calls, you’d probably prefer feeling warm. Completely understandable.

What to Consider When Looking for the Best Under Desk Heater for You

When searching options for a personal heater, your work situation is the first thing to consider. The size of a heater will depend on the height of your desk, if you share a space with others, and if so, how large it is. Access to outlets (more on that below) and power output are things to factor in.

Heaters with a high watt (anything above 1,000) will heat a larger room – about 10 by 15 feet – but they use more electricity. If you don’t want a spike in your electric bill, a heater with a lower watt can still be effective. There are ones that have an output as low as 150 watts that can still thaw your toes.

They’re surprising affordable. Although you’ll find some personal heaters in the triple-digit price range, there are an abundance that can be scored for under 50 bucks, most having extra safety features and control options.

Is it safe to put a heater under your desk?

Like any electrical appliance, an under desk heater has risks — and that’s why it’s important to pick a good one. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advices keeping flammable material three feet away from portable heaters. In plain English: Keep your papers on your desk, not on the floor. Make sure your heater has also been given the thumbs-up by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as UL or Intertek. ( Their certification sometimes appears as “ETL”). To avoid causing a short circuit, under desk heaters should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Avoid running extension cords beneath a rug. And of course, never leave a space heater turned on and unattended, or where it could get wet.

If some of these safety tips are making you think twice about getting an under desk heater, don’t worry. These appliances have come a long way since they were invented in 1905. In fact, to cut back on safety risks, many are made with flame retardant material and overheating protection.

Can I have a space heater in my office?

It depends on where you work, and your particular desk set-up. Although there are no federal workplace regulations that prohibit the use of personal heaters, you may want to ask your boss for permission. The same rules of safety apply whether working from home or an office building. Make sure to keep it away from your hard drive, as the additional heat can cause the hardware damage. If you’re not in a cubicle, you may want to place yours to the side of your desk instead of beneath your workstation.

If your workplace doesn’t allow space heaters, there are alternatives: Electric blankets, hand warmers, and even hot water bottles can make the atmosphere more comfortable.

What type of electric heater is most efficient?

You may think that if you’ve seen one portable heater, you’ve seen them all, but you’d be wrong. There are oil based heaters, infrared space heaters, panel electric heaters, and more. Most under desk space heaters fall into one of three categories: convection, radiant, or combination.

If you remember your Earth science class, you may remember what convection motion is. Warm air rises, while cooler air drops in the atmosphere, creating a type of current. Convection heaters work the same way. As air inside the heater warms up, it rises and draws cooler air towards the machine.

Although they take a while to get going, convection heaters are wonderful if you have your own enclosed office space. Many different portable electric heaters fall into this category, but if you want something that fits under a table, look for a ceramic or fan-based one. They’re smaller, tend to come with a built in thermostat, and are cool to the touch.

Radiant heaters utilize infrared rays. They won’t take the chill off an entire room, but they’ll warm whatever is directly in their path, making them ideal for under desk situations. They won’t dry out the air, and they warm up super fast.

Heaters that fall into the combination category have both a heater and fan. Like a convection space heater, combination space heaters can circulate warm air throughout a room. However, their energy can be focused on a single area — like your legs — and the fan can be used solo.

What is the most efficient stand-alone heater?

When it comes to choosing the most efficient stand-alone heater, it boils down to what’s important to you. If you’re concerned about your electric bill, choosing an under desk heater with a low energy output is your best bet. If you’re more interested in getting toasty ASAP, then a radiant or combination heater is the way to go. Regardless what type you opt for, we have plenty of choices to pick from below.

Looking for even more options? Check out our other recommendations:

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Best Under Desk Heaters

Lasko Ceramic Heater With Adjustable Thermostat

Best Lasko under desk heater
best under desk heater.
Amazon
20% off!

Buy from Amazon, $39.99 (was $49.99)

Why we like it:

  • Compact
  • Built-in safety settings
  • Noise settings

This electric heater is only nine inches high, but you know what they say about things in small packages. Though not as flashy as some electric heaters on the market, the Lasko Ceramic Adjustable Thermostat heater will keep your tootsies warm. It has a cool exterior, overheat protection, and 11 different temperature settings. Worried about noise? Don’t be. This convection electric heater can be manually adjusted, so it can be as quiet as it is non-intrusive.

MVH Whole Room Vortex Heater 

Best Vornado under desk heater
best under desk heater.
Amazon

Buy from Amazon, $69.99

Why we like it:

  • Safety Shutoff
  • Heats entire room
  • Sleek design

Whether you want to pop it beneath your desk or place it in the corner of your office, this device will certainly take the chill out of the air. Pick your perfect temp from one of the seven available settings, and fight the urge to doze off. And if you do, the MVH Whole Room Vortex Heater from Vornado will automatically shut off if things get too hot. The built-in fan comfortably distributes air, and you can control its energy output by selecting the low option.

Honeywell HeatBud Ceramic Personal Heater

Best Honeywell under desk heater
Best Under Desk Heater
Amazon

Buy from Amazon, $26.99

Why we like it:

  • Evenly heats space
  • Cool touch plastic casing
  • Highly rated

If you have little space to spare, the Heatbud Ceramic Personal Heater from Honeywell is your pal. Only a few inches bigger than a coffee mug, you’ll love how quickly it heats up the area under your desk. Using just 250 watts of power, it will keep you warm without overheating your coworkers. Its no-fuss two heat settings makes it easy to use, and it has a tip-over switch perfect for protecting leg-shakers from knocking it over.

Toasty Toes Heated Foot Rest

Best Cozy under desk heater
Best Under Desk Heater.
Home Depot

Buy from Home Depot, $51.29

Why we like it:

  • Adjustable foot position
  • Energy efficient
  • Unique design

There’s no need to have cold feet about picking up this portable radiant heater. The Toasty Toes Heated Foot Rest from Cozy is perfect for melting the ice off your little piggies. The ergonomic design can be laid flat, or adjusted to be elevated or upright. And since it only uses 90 watts of energy, you’ll save as much money as you do space.

Sengoku Desk Mini Panel Electric Space Heater

Best Sengoku under desk heater
Best Under Desk Heater
Amazon

Buy from Amazon, $57.86

Why we like it:

  • Safe to touch
  • Extra long cord
  • Spot heating

The Desk Mini Panel Electric Space Heater from Sengoku stands 15 inches high and will fit neatly under tables. Falling into the radiant category, this spot heating device features a six-foot extension cord, built-in thermostat, and metal legs so it can stand alone. Outputting only 150 watts of energy, you won’t have to worry about burning your extremities.

Turbo Force Heater and Fan

Best combination under desk fan
Best under desk heater.
Walmart

Buy from Walmart, $42.87

Why we like it:

  • Focused and dispersed heat
  • Dial control
  • Warm and cool air functions

You won’t have to pack up this bad boy when winter is over: The Turbo Force Heater and Fan from Honeywell offers both warm and cool air. The head is movable, allowing for full control of where heat goes. We love the sturdy base, and the overheat sensor ups the safety factor. You’re sure to feel cozy throughout the day.

Electric Convection Baseboard Heater

Best Comfort Zone under desk heater

Buy from Bed Bath & Beyond, $52.99

Why we like it:

  • Quiet
  • Low profile
  • Controllable temperature

Blessed with an office bigger than a closet? The Electric Convection Baseboard Heater from Comfort Zone can warm up a medium-sized room, no problem. Unlike its blockier counterparts, this space heater can be placed against the wall under a table or some place else in your space. Whether you like it boiling or just moderately sweltering, you’ll be able to control the temp with the dial-based thermostat. A top-seller on Wayfair, users praise it for it silent operation and how quickly it warms an area. One reviewer wrote, “I love it. It warms the room to a comfortable temp and it takes up hardly any space.”

Electric Convection Compact Heater

Best stylish under desk heater
Best Under Desk Heater.
Wayfair

Buy from Wayfair, $169.99

Why we like it:

  • Retro design
  • Auto shutoff
  • Touch controls

I love anything with a vintage feel, and with 1500 watts of power, the Electric Convection Compact Heater easily takes the chill out of the air. Place it beneath your standing desk or in the draftiest corner of your home office and stay warm while you work! It may have an old-fashioned exterior, but you’ll enjoy the modern features, such as LED touch controls. It not only locks, but allows you to control how hot it gets, or just use the fan setting to cool down.

Happy customer: “Super cute super powerful and keeps us warm in the chilly weather! Love how small it is and the design. Highly recommend.”

andily 500W Space Electric Small Heater

Best compact under desk heater
Best Under Desk Heater.
Amazon
Great deal!

Buy from Amazon, $19.99

Why we like it:

  • Control options
  • Simple controls
  • Lightweight

I like my electronics simple, and this straightforward under desk heater doesn’t disappoint. The andily 500W Space Electric Small Heater has one switch, making it a breeze to control. Unlike many personal heaters, this one comes in four fun colors: black, red, blue, and white. Its fan is super quiet, and if things get too hot, the machine will automatically shutoff. With more than 7,000 Amazon reviews, you may not be the only one at work enjoying this device.

Happy customer: “I have had small space heaters before, and this little guy heats up a small space with no problem. I would have to keep my old space heater running all day but this one I have to constantly turn off, because of all the heat it puts out.”

Amazon Basics 500-Watt Ceramic Small Space Heater

Best radiant Under Desk Heater
Best Under Desk Heaters
Amazon

Buy from Amazon, $17.99

Why we like it:

  • Affordable
  • Fun colors
  • Tip over protection

There’s no need to sink a lot of money into heating your workspace. This best under desk heater from Amazon Basics is under $20, and comes in several pretty colors. The base is sturdy and tip-over proof, and has a 4.2 star rating for heat output. The convention heater has lots of fans on Amazon, is a great option, especially if you’re planning to bring the device home at the end of the day. It’s under 2 pounds, so it’s easy to carry. It would also make a great gift for a coworker when the holidays arrive.

Happy customer: “I love this little space heater. Sitting at my feet in my office, it offers the perfect amount of warmth to keep my feet and my body warm in a cold house. I like the size, the looks, and the fan’s sound is just fine and it serves as a nice, even white noise.”

Amazon Basics Oscillating Ceramic Heater

Best Amazon under desk heater
best under desk heater
Amazon

Buy from Amazon, $29.89

Why we like it:

  • Powerful
  • Oscillation optional
  • Portable

What we love about the Oscillating Ceramic Heater from Amazon Basics is that it gives us options. Want heat focused on you? Pick from the low or high setting. Prefer just the fan? Turn the easy-to-read dial. The electric heater users up to 1500 watts of power, and if you want to warm the entire room, hit the oscillation switch. Less than eight inches high, the portable heater can be placed under your chair, desk, or even to the side of your work station. It comes in two color options (black and gray), and we love that it can easily be carted home at the end of the work day.

Heat Storm Mojave Ultra Infrared Quartz Portable Heater

Best Heat Storm under desk heater
Best under desk heater.
Bed, Bath & Beyond

Buy from Bed Bath & Beyond, $110.99

Why we like it:

  • Remote controlled
  • Digital termostat
  • No fuss settings

It looks like a high-tech toaster, but don’t be intimidated. The Mojave Ultra Infrared Quartz from Heat Storm is refreshingly simple to use. Just tap the arrows on its digital thermostat to heat things up. If you’re tired of bending over to adjust settings, use the remote control. There are only two setting speeds to deal with, and did we mention it uses elements of quartz to generate heat? That makes it both modern and fancy! In short, it’s a great option for your work space.

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