Best Dr Infrared Heaters [In-Depth Buyer’s Guide]

Ben Leonavicius
By Ben  • Updated:   October 26, 2023
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Sometimes writing these articles is an absolute joy.

I mean, it is always wonderful to write reviews – helping people find the best heating and air conditioning products for their homes, knowing that these reviews can make people’s lives better, more comfortable, and even safer.

But when I get to write about a product like the Dr Infrared line of space heaters it is fun on a whole new level!

Are Dr Infrared Dual Heating System Space Heaters Any Good?

Yes, absolutely, and that is why this article is so nice to write – Dr Infrared’s products are so safe, so well made and so effective that the article pretty much writes itself. Well, I still have to write it, or else I’d be lying on the sofa having another cup of coffee, but you know what I mean.

And it’s not just safety, quality, and effective heating that make these space heaters so special. Some of the qualities and features of any Dr Infrared Dual Heating System Space Heater include:

  • They are exceptionally effective, providing deep-down radiant heat and room-filling PTC heat
  • They are very safe, with a full range of safety features
  • They are well-built and reliable
  • They are clean-burning, with extremely low emissions
  • They are among the most energy-efficient heaters
  • They are absolutely loved by customers, with some of the highest ratings and most glowing reviews of any HVAC product
  • They are quite attractive, with their distinctive “furniture grade” wood cabinets

And so, while the title of this article is Best Dr Infrared Heaters: An In-Depth Buyer’s Guide, that may be a little misleading. Dr Infrared only makes four Dual Heating System heaters for home use, and they are all, arguably, the best.

You could, instead, ask what is the best Dr Infrared Heater for me.

What does Dual Heating System Mean?

Dr Infrared heaters use a Dual Heating system, which combines infrared heating with PTC, or Positive Temperature Coefficient, heating. Yes, you must be thinking, of course… Positive Temperature Coefficient…

Or perhaps instead you may be thinking what in the world does Positive Temperature Coefficient mean?

Simply put, a PTC heater uses a ceramic stone as a heating element, and that stone draws an electric current to heat it up to a certain point. When that point is reached, the stone’s electrical resistance effectively stops the draw of power, making this a very efficient heating system that will save real money on your utility bills.

A Dr Infrared heater uses both this ceramic PTC heating element and a more conventional quartz tube radiant heating element – also a very energy-efficient system. The ceramic element is better at distributing heat throughout the room – especially with the Dr Infrared high-efficiency blower – while the quartz tube provides that nice, satisfyingly direct, down-to-the-bone radiant heat.

With other heaters, you have to choose between heating the room most effectively and heating yourself most effectively, but the Dr Infrared space heaters offer both, and still save you money on electricity!

Are Dr Infrared Dual Heating System Space Heaters Safe?

Dr Infrared heaters are cool to the touch, with no exposed heating elements, and on turn-on, they wait for user input instead of going directly into heating mode.

More importantly, all Dr Infrared products have an overheat protection circuit that will turn the heater off if temperatures get too high, as well as a tip-over monitor which does the same thing if the heater is knocked over.

They have essentially no dangerous fumes or emissions and consume no oxygen in heating, unlike much popular gas or even electric space heaters, and have easily removable and cleanable lifetime filters to keep your home’s air cleaner.

This all adds up to make a Dr Infrared space heater one of the safest heaters to have in your home, even if you have children or pets.

But what Dr Infrared Space Heater is Best for You?

All four of Dr Infrared’s space heater models have the same 1500-watt rating, all have pretty much the same basic features, as outlined below, and all have the same attractive wooden cabinet and a nice retro look.

And all are made to the highest standards, engineered in the US, and covered by a full 3-year warranty.

Really, you can’t go wrong with any Dr Infrared dual heating system space heater, but there are some basic differences between the models.

Here is a list of the three basic space heater models in the Dr Infrared line, as well as the Dr Infrared Garage Heater, but please read the individual descriptions below to get a better idea of which Dr Infrared model is right for you.

Please note that while Amazon lists several other Dr Infrared space heater models, we always try to keep our lists and recommendations limited to only new, currently available models, to make certain you will never have an issue with support, service or warranty and – especially with an innovative company like Dr Infrared – you are enjoying the latest features and advances in design.

Dr Infrared DR-968 1500 Watt Dual Heating System Space Heater

Our Pick
Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
$129.99 $121.90
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The Dr Infrared DR-968 space heater is the most basic heater in the Dr Infrared line, and the least expensive.

Given its quality and effectiveness, for the price it is self-recommending, especially considering:

  • It offers extreme value compared to similar heaters which tend to cost lots more
  • And it offers much better performance than other heaters in the same price range

All of the basic features are there – infrared remote control, programmable timer, reusable filter, thermostat and three heat settings, a high-efficiency fan and built-in caster wheels for easy moving and set-up.

The Dr Infrared DR-968 space heater also has all the safety features built-in, which means it is never hot to the touch and has no exposed heating elements, and also that it will immediately turn off if it overheats or is tipped over.

What is not included in this basic unit is a humidifier or an oscillating fan, which means the Dr Infrared space heater models below may be better choices for larger rooms or very dry climates.

But for the money, and for small to medium-sized rooms, the Dr Infrared DR-968 dual heating system space heater is perhaps the best value on the market today for a truly top-quality unit – a safe, reliable and really effective heater that will save you significantly on energy.

And, as with all Dr Infrared heaters, the DR968 offers one of the very best guarantees on the market – a 3-year warranty and a full 30-day customer satisfaction return policy.

Features & Specifications

  • Power Rating: 1500 Watts
  • Dual Heating System: Quartz Infrared and PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient)
  • High-Efficiency Fan
  • Three Heat Settings: High, Low and Automatic (Thermostat)
  • Infrared Remote Control
  • Reusable Lifetime Filter
  • Safety Features: Cool Touch; Tip-Over Protection; Overheat Protection
  • Warranty: 3 Year Warranty; 30 Day Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
  • UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listed in both US and Canada

Dr Infrared DR-998 Elite 1500 Watt Dual Heating System Space Heater with Humidifier

Our Pick
Dr Infrared Heater DR-998W, Dual Heating System, Walnut
$159.99 $149.05
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Next in the Dr Infrared lineup is the  popular DR-998 Elite space heater, which is very similar to the DR-968 above but with two important additional features:

  • A Built-In Humidifier for up to 15 Hours of Effective
  • Humidification An Oscillating Function

The humidifier makes the Dr Infrared DR-998 Dual Heating System space heater a better choice for people living in dry climates, or for people who are sensitive to the dryness normal heaters can cause – although it should be clearly stated that none of the Dr Infrared heaters causes as much dryness as a normally forced air heater, whether a space heater or your home’s central heat.

And although the DR-998 Elite has the same 1500 Watt rating as its little brother, its oscillating function helps distribute heat throughout the room better, making it more effective in filling larger rooms – customers claim their DR998 can nicely heat a 1,000 square foot room, even with high ceilings.

And again, all the other features are included – infrared remote control, programmable timer, reusable filter, thermostat and three heat settings, a high-efficiency fan, and built-in caster wheels for easy moving and set-up.

The best space heater overall in the Dr Infrared product line, the DR998 is, despite its higher price, still a great value, and should offer safe and effective heating for many years.

Features & Specifications

  • Power Rating: 1500 Watts
  • Dual Heating System: Quartz Infrared and PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient)
  • Built-In Humidifier
  • High-Efficiency Fan with Oscillation
  • Three Heat Settings: High, Low and Automatic (Thermostat)
  • Infrared Remote Control
  • Reusable Lifetime Filter
  • Safety Features: Cool Touch; Tip-Over Protection; Overheat Protection
  • Warranty: 3-Year Warranty; 30 Day Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
  • UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listed in both US and Canada

Dr Infrared DR-999 Nightstand 1500 Watt Dual Heating System Space Heater

Our Pick
Dr Infrared Heater DR999, 1500W, Advanced Dual Heating System with Nightstand Design
$142.07
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The DR-999 Nightstand Space Heater is the newest model in the Dr Infrared line-up of top quality space heaters. A beautiful product, the Dr Infrared DR-999 space heater has 3 basic differences from previous models.

  • Improved Advanced Blower
  • Redesigned Controls and Display Panel
  • Attractive Night Stand Design

The DR-999 dual heating system space heater offers Dr Infrared’s new and improved air distribution system, for even more efficient and effective distribution of heat throughout the room, and the updated control and display panels make for even simpler use.

All of the other great features you’d expect from a Dr Infrared product are, of course, still in place.

Designed to look like a nightstand, the DR999 heater is primarily meant for use in the bedroom, but is in fact equally effective in any room, and can handle large spaces easily.

A great new product from Dr Infrared, the DR-999 Dual Heating System space heater is more expensive than the other models, and does not offer either oscillation or humidification, but is nonetheless one of the best heaters for the money, and maybe the most beautiful, effective and easiest to use the heater in their entire product range.

Features & Specifications

  • Power Rating: 1500 Watts
  • Dual Heating System: Quartz Infrared and PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient)
  • High-Efficiency Fan with Advanced Blower
  • Beautiful Nightstand Design
  • Simplified Controls and Display
  • Three Heat Settings: High, Low, and Automatic (Thermostat)
  • Infrared Remote Control
  • Reusable Lifetime Filter
  • Safety Features: Cool Touch; Tip-Over Protection; Overheat Protection
  • Warranty: 3-Year Warranty; 30-Day Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
  • UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listed in both US and Canada

Dr Infrared DR-988 1500 Watt Dual Heating System Garage / Shop Heater

Our Pick
Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988 1500 Watt
$119.79
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An entirely different animal, the Dr Infrared DR-988 utility heater does not come in a lovely furniture grade cabinet – instead, its bright red metal case seems to scream workshop!

The no-nonsense design extends to the purely mechanical controls and its carrying handle, as well as its oversized fan, to really force the hot air out with power – perfect for those cold workspaces in the winter months.

But still, this is a Dr Infrared heater, so it still has its advanced dual heating system, as well as safety features including overheat protection and finger-proof intake and discharge grills.

The DR-988 garage space heater also offers the famous Dr Infrared quality, and in fact, is especially ruggedly built and suitable for heavy use. As such, it does not run on normal 110-volt electricity but requires the same 220-volt circuit you would use for a clothes dryer or industrial machinery.

The Dr Infrared DR988 is a powerful heater, meant for heavy-duty use, and stands as one of the very best values available for workshop heating, substantially less expensive than many comparable units from other manufacturers.

Features & Specifications

  • Power Rating: 1500 Watts
  • Dual Heating System: Quartz Infrared and PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient)
  • Oversized High-Volume Fan
  • Industrial Design with Metal Case
  • Fully Mechanical Controls
  • Carry Handle and Cord Storage
  • Three Heat Settings: High, Low and Automatic (Thermostat)
  • Safety Features: Safety Grill; Overheat Protection
  • Warranty: 3 Year Warranty; 30 Day Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
  • Runs on 220 Volt, 30 Amp AC
  • UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listed in both US and Canada

Final thoughts: Should I Buy a Dr Infrared Space Heater?

I think it was clear from the beginning that we love Dr Infrared products, and can warmly recommend any of their heaters without hesitation.

Dr Infrared is a very innovative company with great designs, real innovations, and incredibly effective products.

What this means for you and your home is simple – their heaters just heat a room or a space better than competing models, and often better even than space heaters which may be substantially more expensive.

The clever combination of radiant and convection heat offered in Dr Infrared space heaters means that you can have the best of both worlds, enjoying deep heat when you are close to the heater, and still knowing that the whole room is toasty warm, with no cold spots.

When you combine all of this with the fact that Dr Infrared space heaters are so well built and reliable and that they are among the most energy-efficient heaters available, saving you money on your heating bills, it is really a no-brainer.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article – Best Dr Infrared Heaters: An In-Depth Buyer’s Guide – and that you really enjoy your new Dr Infrared space heater.

And please come back soon for more great Know the Flo articles, reviews, and buyer’s guides for heating, air conditioning, and all related products!

Hey there! I am Benas, the founder and content editor at Home Caprice. Thanks for reading the article. I hope you were able to find what you were looking for. I and my team are here to simplify heating and cooling for everyone. Please have a look at the About page for more details about our website and feel free to check out our editorial process.