If you want to heat a relatively large room, it’s important to look for economical options, like the best heater for 500 square feet.
Portable electric space heaters will not only help you save energy but also add targeted warmth to single rooms, especially those you use the most during winter.
However, it’s also vital that you choose a heater designed to heat a specific room size. Going too large or too small will result in energy wastage and under-heating.
The lifespan of the space heater is also shortened simply because it’s overworking. So, if you want to heat a room approximately 500 square feet, we have compiled a list of the best space heaters for 500 square feet.
My Overall #1 Rated Pick
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Some of these space heaters are powerful enough and ideal for rooms up to 1000 square feet. So, we definitely included other 1000 square feet space heaters.
Best Heaters for 500 Square Feet
- Heat Storm HS-1000-WX-WIFI WiFi Infrared – Best Budget Option
- NewAir G73 Hardwired Electric Garage Heater – Best Long Lasting Option
- Dr. Infrared Heater 1500 Watt Portable Space Heater – Best Overal Option
- Heat Storm Wave Floor to Wall Infrared Space Heater – Best Energy Saving Option
- LifeSmart 6-element Infrared Heater, HT1013 – Best Safety Option
- Cadet Manufacturing 67527 240-Volt – Best Wall Mounted Option
6 Best Heater for 500 Square Feet – Review
1. Heat Storm HS-1000-WX-WIFI WiFi Infrared Wall Heater
- EFFECTIVE HEAT - Our infrared space heaters warm objects instead of just the air! This will help your room stay warm even after the heater turns off.
- SAFE TOUCH GRILL - That’s because our grills are made out of material that doesn’t burn skin. Our heaters also automatically shut off power if it tips over.
- MODERN DESIGN - wall mount design means you don't lose floor space. Perfect for bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, offices and more
- ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT - LED display shows you what the ambient temperature is and helps regulate the temperature efficiently. (goes to dark mode after 5 minutes of no activity) Included remote control allows you to control the temperature with ease
- COMPACT - Uses less than 2 square feet of wall space and plugs into a normal 110v outlet. When installed over the outlet, you can hide the cord behind the heater.
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The world’s first infrared wall heater, the HS-1000-WX, is a member of the Heat Storm brand of home heating and cooling space heaters. The Utah-based Energy Wise develops the space heaters.
As with other infrared space heaters, the wall heater generates instant heat. However, the HS-1000-WX incorporates an innovative HMS dual-wall technology that ensures superior energy efficiency compared to its peers.
Other features of the HS-1000-WX include a safe-to-touch grill and space-saving wall-mounted design, so you don’t lose valuable floor space.
In addition, the heat storm heater only takes up two sq ft of wall space and plugs into a standard 110-volt outlet. It also comes with an inbuilt adjustable thermostat with LED light indicators and remote control.
The 3,400 BTU heater is Wi-Fi smart and has an overheat protection feature for safety.
Pros
- Patented energy-efficient HMS heating technology
- Several safety features
- Smart Eco Mode
- Remote controlled
- Wi-Fi smart
Cons
- The 500- square feet rating is for supplemental heating.
2. NewAir G73 Hardwired Electric Garage Heater
- [RUGGED EXTERIOR BUILT TO LAST] - The hard-shell exterior is made from heavy-duty material that is built to last, especially in tough climates and work conditions.
- [SAFETY FEATURES FOR PEACE OF MIND] - This heater is considered one of the safest on the market and is our customers tried-and-true favorite. It is ETL certified for electrical safety, and comes with overheating protection, so rest assured you have one of the most trusted heaters available.
- [HARDWIRED TO YOUR 30 AMP BREAKER] - The NewAir G73 doesn’t come with any of the maintenance issues of a propane heater. Once your heater is hardwired to your 30-amp breaker, your warm workspace is only a switch away.
- [AMBIENT HEAT CONTROL WITH ADJUSTABLE LOUVERS] - The 240 Volt heater brings direct heat anywhere in your garage with the adjustable louvers and tilt head. If you happen to be sitting in one location while you work, you can make sure the heat is sent to the exact spot you need. Or you can turn the louvers completely open to allow heat to travel everywhere.
- [MOUNTING HARDWARE INCLUDED] - Comes with a mounting bracket for you to place it on the wall or ceiling of your workspace. This way you can stay toasty and safe with a heater hidden from busy work areas.
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Another moderately-priced electric heater with all the bells and whistles, the Newair g73 hardwired electric space heater is a popular garage heater with over 17,000 BTU heating capacity.
It effortlessly warms a 500-square-feet space and can be used for even larger spaces. In addition, the in-built, single-pole thermostat helps with easy and accurate temperature control in your work area.
The Newair g73 hardwired electric unit is also very safe as its automatic temperature control switch shuts the heater off if it begins to overheat. You also don’t have to worry about toxic fumes from gas or propane fuel.
The Newair g73 hardwired electric heater can be wall-mounted or ceiling and comes with a swivel bracket. It moves heat at 200 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) and is made from durable stainless steel.
The 120V/30 Amp electric heater is ETL certified. The ceramic heater has a comfort system, and it is quiet.
Pros
- Built-in thermostat
- Hardwired to eliminate maintenance problems
- Durable stainless steel construction
- UL Certified
Cons
- Professional installation required
3. Dr. Infrared Heater 1500 Watt Portable Space Heater
- Can heat up a large room with Auto Energy Saving Model With High and Low Feature. Tip-over protection and Overheat protection.Heat Up for a large room - Dual Heating System: Infrared Quartz tube + PTC for 60% more heat than others. Rated around 5200 BTU.
- Dual Heating Systems featuring infrared quartz tube + PTC with 12-Hour automatic shut-off timer. Amperage: 12.5 Amps
- IR Remote Control, High Pressure Low Noise Blower with Noise level 39 dB super quiet. Heating can cover for a large room.
- Electronic Thermostat: range 50 to 85 degrees. Caster Wheels and Lifetime Filter
- Weights 24 lbs and uses 12.5 Amps of Power. 1500 Watts. Power Cord is 72-inch-long (6 Feet)
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Dr. Infrared heater is one of the most talked-about 1500 watts electric heaters, and for a good reason. This radiant heater heats up fast, gives off plenty of heat, and is extremely energy efficient.
Not many 1500 watt heaters can comfortably warm a 500-square-foot space, for instance. Yet, the Dr. Infrared heater does so without any signs of strain.
The heater has a dual heating system featuring an infrared quartz tube + PTC for consistent production of gentle heat. As a result, the heat is quietly and evenly distributed throughout the intended space.
The space heater safety features include an automatic shutoff timer and a cool-to-the-touch exterior. The 110V/12.5Amp Dr. Infrared heater weighs 24 lbs and comes with a 72-inch long cable. It plugs into a 3-prong outlet.
Related Read: How Do Infrared Heating Technologies Work?
Pros
- Anti-tip-over and overheat protection
- Dual heating system
- Uses standard 110V 3-prong outlet
- Super quiet operation at 39 decibels
Cons
- Manual temperature setting
- No remote control
4. Heat Storm Wave Floor to Wall Infrared Space Heater with Attachable Feet
- Safe to the touch grill. Safety tip over shut off feature. Digital Thermostat with touch screen controls. Child lock safety feature. Remote Control included.
- Space saving wall mount design means you don't lose floor space. Perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, offices and more
- Uses less than 2 sq. Ft. Of wall space and plugs into a normal 110V outlet. When installed over the outlet, you can hide the cord inside the heater
- Built in thermostat with led display shows you what the ambient temperature is and helps regulate the temperature efficiently. Included remote control allows you to control the temperature with ease
- This heater comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The space heater designed for bedrooms and other small spaces, the 1,000-watt Heat Storm Model HS-1000-WA is a compact wall heater system that comes in a space-saving design.
This electric space heater occupies about two sq ft at most and plugs into the standard 110V electricity outlet. When installed over the outlet, you can install the cord inside the heater.
A built-in thermostat with an LED display makes it easy to read and regulate current indoor temperature settings. You can also adjust temperatures using the remote control (included) from the comfort of the sofa.
This heat storm warms up quickly and should get your room up to the desired temperature within seconds.
It’s also extremely energy efficient thanks to Heat Strom’s patented HMS dual-wall technology that allows maximum heat from the infrared quartz bulbs without any heat loss from the space heater.
The space heater installs on the wall but can also stand on four feet (included). The base is raised so that theater doesn’t destroy your floor. It has two heating modes, low and high.
When you don’t need too much heating, select the low mode, also known as the green mode, which uses just 500 watts instead of the default 1,000 watts.
This portable space heater is Wi-Fi compatible for greater convenience and safety certified by ETL.
Pros
- Energy-saving mode is available
- Freestanding or wall-mounted (feet included)
- Smart control with Wi-Fi
- Includes built-in thermostat
Cons
- The housing can get burning hot
5. LifeSmart 6-Element Infrared Heater, HT1013
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For clean, energy-efficient heating, you can never go wrong with a Lifesmart infrared heater. Lifesmart’s electric heaters have a varying number of heating elements.
This electric space heater has six quartz elements, thus the “6-element” phrase in the name. In addition, all the heating elements are packaged into one unit and tucked deep inside the heater for maximum user safety.
The Lifesmart 6-element infrared heater comes with lifetime washable air filters and three energy-saving heat settings. One of the settings, Eco mode, heats smaller spaces at 18-degrees using just 500 watts.
The cool-to-touch metal cabinet and overheat protection ensure safety, while a large remote makes it easy to control the adjustable thermostat.
The 21-pound Lifesmart infrared heater has a dual timer function and is equipped with E Z Glide casters for effortless movement from room to room. It has a one-year warranty.
Pros
- Digital controls with remote
- Smart Eco Mode
- Stylish metal cabinet
- Adjustable thermostat
Cons
- Settings aren’t memorized
6. Cadet Manufacturing 67527 240-Volt White Com Pak Twin Double Fan Forced Electric Wall Heater, 4000-Watt
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Finally, the Cadet Com-Pak is a fast-heating coil element wall heater designed for spaces around 200 sq ft but capable of handling rooms up to 500 square feet large.
For the electric space heater to work as desired in a 500-square-feet room, the area must be properly insulated. Also, the Cadet Com-Pak should be used as a supplemental heat source rather than the primary source of heat.
This wall heater is quite efficient because it blows warm air throughout the intended space in seconds without producing any loud and annoying sounds.
In addition, whenever the space heater becomes too hot, an overheat switch automatically turns off the heating for safety reasons.
The Cadet is the lightest space heater on this list, weighing just seven pounds. In addition, the 1500 watts heater features a compact design that recess mounts discreetly into the wall.
Your package will come with a complete set of installation materials. These include the wall heater, a wall can, a grill, and a thermostat for hard-wired installation. It plugs into the standard 120-volt outlet.
Pros
- The fast-heating coil element
- Quiet and energy-efficient
- Multiple safety features
- Multiple installation options
Cons
- No remote control
- Better in spaces smaller than 500 square feet
Best Heater for 500 Square feet Buying Guide
Ideally, it would help if you considered hiring a home heating professional to perform the load calculations to determine your room’s best space heater size.
The professional would factor in climate data, the home’s layout and construction type, windows and doors, and the home’s insulation levels to figure out the right space heater size for the application.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t estimate the heating requirements yourself. The following tips and considerations should help you figure out what size you need.
Please read our latest guide about the best direct vent propane heater with blower
Start By Looking at Professional Sizing Charts and Calculators
Take a moment to check different websites with home heating charts. There, you’ll find estimated heating requirements for different room sizes.
According to most of these charts, for a 500 square-foot space, you’ll need about 4,000 watts. After checking the charts, you may also want to try out home heating BTU calculators.
These calculators allow you to input the size of the space and other details such as the number of passages (doors) and windows in the room, insulation, and height of the space.
You’ll also be asked whether you intend to use the space heater as the primary or secondary heat source. In the end, you get a value much closer to what you actually need.
Do the Math Manually
In addition to using home heating charts and calculators, it would also be great to do the math manually. Don’t worry; it’s a simple process. Proceed as follows;
Measure the room: Is the room really 500 square feet? The only way to find out is to measure. Measure the length and width and multiply the two values. Most 500 square feet rooms measure 25 x 20-feet.
Calculate the wattage: The rule of thumb is to allocate 10 watts for every square foot. Take the figure from step #1 above and multiply by 10—500 square feet. The room would, therefore, require 5,000 watts.
Convert the Watts to BTU: In many space heaters, the power rating is given in BTU. So, the next step is to convert the wattage value in step #2 above into BTU.
As earlier mentioned, one (1) watt = 3.41 BTU, meaning 5,000 watts is equivalent to 17,050 BTU. So, it would help if you were shopping in the 17,000 BTU range.
How to Pick the Right Wattage to Heat Your Room
Home heating charts, calculators, and even manual calculators will likely give you a value in the 4,000 to the 5,000-watt range when shopping for a 500-square-feet room portable heater.
However, to pick the perfect wattage, several factors come to play. These include;
1. Insulation
Heavily insulated rooms require less heating power, whereas a standard room with standard insulation requires 10 watts per square foot.
Rooms with double the recommended R-value (thermal resistance) require only 7.5 watts per square foot. Rooms with half the recommended R-Value, meanwhile, require 12 watts per square foot.
2. Ceiling height
Most formulas used to calculate home heating requirements assume a standard ceiling height of eight (8) feet. So, what happens if your ceiling is lower or higher?
Experts recommend adjusting the wattage requirements by 25% for every two-foot increase or decrease in the ceiling height as necessary.
If you’ve determined that your 500-square-feet room requires 5,000 watts, for instance, but then realize that your ceiling is 10-feet high, you’d need to adjust the heating requirements as follows;
5,000 x 125% = 6250 watts. So, you’ll need a 6,250-watt heater.
3. Windows
Windows are one of the primary avenues for heat loss in the home. Although they only make up 8% of a typical home, they are responsible for 25% heat loss.
Heat is lost not just through the glass but also via cracks and gaps in the weather stripping around the frame.
The problem gets worse if you’re using infrared radiators. While walls and furniture absorb infrared radiation, glass lets it pass straight through.
So there are only two ways to compensate for the lost heat – lower the U-value of your windows or increase the wattage of the electric heater.
4. Temperatures outside the house
Homes in icy areas (where temperatures regularly drop below 20⁰C) lose heat pretty fast. So if you live in these areas, it’s recommended that you increase your wattage per square foot from 10 to 15.
5. Are you buying supplemental heating?
If you intend to use the portable heater as a supplemental rather than the sole/primary heat source, use the formula to determine the required size of the heater;
Room volume x Desired Temperature Rise x 0.24 = Required Heating BTU.
The Room Volume is calculated as Length x Width x Height of the room.
The 0.24 constant, meanwhile, is the amount of heat in BTU required to raise the temperature of a cubic foot of air by one degree Fahrenheit.
The Desired Temperature Rise is in Fahrenheit.
Want the best electric heater for your home? We’ve collected the best models for you.
Wrap Up
It takes a lot of technical details and a bit of experience to precisely determine the size of the heater required to warm any space effectively. So if you’re in a hurry, it would be best to let a home heating professional help with the matter.
However, if you’ve come this far, then I am certain you’ve narrowed down on the best heater for 500 square feet.
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