6 Best Bathroom Heaters Worth Buying

On the cold winter days when you get out of the warm shower, the whole bathroom feels like it’s in freezing temperatures.

Well, with the right bathroom heater, you’ll experience a spa-like feeling from the comfort of your bathroom.

You might not even want to reach for a towel and you’ll most certainly won’t freeze and tremble.

Before jumping into the top 6 models, let’s first talk about important things to consider before making a purchase.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Bathroom Heater

• Size – Depending on your bathroom size, choose a bathroom heater that won’t fill up all the free space in your bathroom. Some smaller heaters might have higher heat output than space heaters.
• Heat output – Heat output is very important if you have a larger bathroom – you don’t want to buy a less powerful unit than you need. Always look for CFM and wattage of each heater.
• Waterproof – Bathrooms are always humid places and it’s natural for some water to spill out of the shower once in a while, so always look for heaters with a good safety rating (IP rating).
• Features – Some heaters have a built-in thermostat that allows you to control your desired temperature in the bathroom. You can also always look for heaters with remote control, heating time, safety features, etc.
• Installation – Don’t forget that installation is sometimes harder than you expect, so in some cases you should consider hiring a professional to do it for you.

Best 6 Bathroom Heaters On The Market

1. Best Overall: Stiebel Eltron CK 150-1 Trend

This Stiebel Eltron heater is our top pick for a bathroom heater.

The first thing you’ll notice is a very unique design – it was made especially for the bathroom.

It has a built-in thermostat, so you can easily choose your desired temperature. Because of how quiet it is, you can put it in the bedroom and you’ll be satisfied with the performance.

Stiebel lists it at 49 decibels, which is quiet for a fan heater, and the 47-inch cord plugs into an ordinary 120-volt outlet, so there is no wiring to do.

This is one of the rare heaters that have frost protection settings, meaning it will maintain above-freezing temperatures in any room.

Everything about this model is focused on quality, and it’s no wonder it’s made in Germany.

2. Portable: Lasko CD08200

This is a small and portable bathroom heater.

It has a very fast heating time, so you can even turn it on before going to shower to avoid feeling freezy when getting out of it.

It does bring a spa-like treatment especially when you keep the heater turned on a bit longer.

It is small enough for a bathroom, but check that Lasko’s manual for your unit allows bathroom use before you buy. If it does not, choose one of the wall or ceiling units below.

The integrated ALCI plug adds shock protection, but a portable heater and water are a risky mix, so keep it well away from the shower and tub and never use it with wet hands or on a wet floor.

Although you could use it in the bedroom, I doubt it will heat the whole room efficiently.

3. Low Wattage: Envi Plug-in Electric Panel

This is an improved version of the previous model that had one of the best ratings on the market.

It is a low-wattage heater, so it uses less electricity per hour than a 1,500-watt model, but it also puts out less heat.

Envi says the surface stays cool to the touch, which is gentler around children and pets. Check the manual before running any heater around the clock; fire safety groups say to turn space heaters off when you sleep or leave.

Also, it doesn’t blow dust or allergens in the room, so you can use it in your bedroom as well.

It’s very quiet, you’ll barely hear it running even on the highest settings.

Although it’s a wall-mounted heater, it’s still easy to install and you won’t need to hire a professional.

4. With Light: Delta Electronics

This is a ceiling-mounted heater.

It’s very small and practical, and what I love about ceiling heaters is that they sit out of reach of splashes and small hands.

This specific model has a built-in light, so not only it can heat, but it can also grant you better visibility at night.

What might surprise you is that it has a built-in thermostat – that’s a rare feature for this type of heater.

5. For Larger Bathrooms: Broan-NuTone 174

This model is a wall-mounted bathroom heater.

In my opinion, you should use it only in larger bathrooms due to its power.

It has a rotating button that allows you to change the desired temperature.

The design is very unique and you can install it on every wall in the house. The installation is pretty straightforward and you get everything explained in the user manual.

It provides supplemental heat from a wall location and doesn’t take the place of the home’s main heat source.

6. Premium: Cadet Com-Pak Twin

This model was originally built for living rooms and bedrooms. Check Cadet’s manual and your local code before using it in a bathroom.

What I love about these types of heaters is that they don’t take up any space, unlike other models that require a bit of space (that can’t be a lot) in the bathroom.

If normal operating heating temperatures are exceeded, this heater will automatically shut off.

Considering the power, it’s very quiet – even quieter than I thought it would be.

The installation is pretty simple and it will take you around 10 minutes to set everything up.

Different Types Of Bathroom Heaters

Although they all might look similar, it’s important for you to learn the different types of bathroom heaters on the market.

Let’s talk a bit about each one.

Portable bathroom heaters

What’s great about portable bathroom heaters is they don’t take up a lot of space and you can easily store them during the spring and the summer.

Another great thing is that you can simply move them to another room when you’re not in the bathroom, so you essentially save money by buying one heater instead of two.

You should take a look at portable USB heaters if you’re looking to heat just yourself instead of the whole room.

Bathroom heaters with exhaust fan

The best thing about this type of bathroom heater is that you remove lots of humidity.

If you like to take long hot showers (like myself), there’s usually a lot of steam which damages your furniture, walls, and ceiling.

Wall-mounted heaters

I’m a big fan of wall-mounted heaters because I have small children at home and a smaller dog. I mounted it a bit higher, so they can’t reach it and they can’t knock it off.

These types of heaters don’t take up too much space.

Propane wall heaters are a different job from the electric heaters in this guide, so ask a licensed installer what your local code allows in a bathroom.

My advice is to always hire a professional to install it for you because if you don’t install it properly, it can affect overall performance.

Ceiling heaters

If you want a permanent heating solution in your bathroom, this might be a good option to consider.

Although a lot of people might think they’re not safe, a ceiling unit sits well away from splashes, which makes it a good fit for a bathroom as long as it is rated for the room.

However, they can sometimes be a bit more expensive, so it’s important to have a slightly higher budget.

Benefits of Bathroom Heaters

• Less steam – a heater with an exhaust fan pulls the steam out of the bathroom, so you can use a mirror straight out of the shower – believe me, your wife will love this 😁
• A model with an exhaust fan removes moisture; a heater alone does not
• Moisture control – moisture can quickly build up in your bathroom and damage the ceiling and walls. A model with an exhaust fan moves moist air outside, which helps prevent that build-up.
• May save water – When your bathroom is warm, you may be less tempted to stay in a long, hot shower.

Are Electric Heaters Allowed in Bathrooms?

Bathroom heaters are popular and there are always people asking how safe it is to have an electric heater in your bathroom.

The short answer is – yes, if the heater is made for bathroom use and installed correctly.

However, you should learn a few things about using heaters in your bathroom.

For areas in your bathroom that usually get a bit wet, look for a heater made for bathrooms, with a water-resistance (IP) rating such as IPX4, which covers splashing water.

For wall-mounted heaters, check the manual for where in the bathroom the heater may go, and use an installer.

Even in a dry corner of a larger bathroom, steam and humidity reach the whole room, so use a heater that is listed for bathroom use.

Still, I always recommend at least some type of waterproof rating for peace of mind.