Comparison: Best Space Heater For Van (Updated | Dec 16th)
Dreaming of cozy van life adventures without shivering through chilly mornings? The right space heater transforms your van from a cold box into a warm sanctuary, but choosing the perfect one can be overwhelming. We’ve done the legwork for you, testing and comparing the top options to keep you comfortable on the road. From compact electric models to versatile propane heaters, we’ll help you find the ideal balance of warmth, safety, and energy efficiency for your specific van setup.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for precise temperature control: Dreo Space Heater
- Best for wide-angle heating: Dreo Space Heater
- Best for budget-friendly choice: GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater with Thermostat
- Best for quiet operation: GiveBest Space Heater
- Best for compact personal heater: Performance Tool W5011 250W Personal Space Heater
- Best for uniform room heating: Dreo Space Heater
- Best for energy efficient: Space Heater
- Best for fast warmth delivery: Dreo Space Heater 1500W
- Best for 3d whole-room coverage: Dreo Whole Room Heater 714
- Best for propane power heater: 3
Product Comparison: Best Space Heater For Van
Precise Temperature Control
Dreo Space Heater, Portable Electric Heaters for Indoor Use with Thermostat and Remote, 2024 Upgraded, Digital Display, 12H Timer, 5 Mode, 1500W PTC Ceramic Fast Safety Heat for Office Bedroom Home
Dreo
- Powerful heat that fits everywhere: Dreo space heaters for indoor combines Hyperamics 1500W advanced PTC system with a new heat funnel design to deliver heat within seconds and enhance warm air circulation for up to 200% farther reach than traditional heaters.
- Unbreakable safety: Dreo goes beyond the unexpected to deliver peace of mind with every room heater. The innovative tilt-detection sensor improves accuracy and reliability for better tip-over protection, and built with V0 flame retardant materials, overheat protection, and safety plug, all certified by ETL.
- Ultimate temperature control: The enhanced NTC chipset brings more precision to turn your space heater with thermostat into a smart heating powerhouse, allowing you to set heat on a wider range from 41-95℉ with 1℉ increments, saving you energy while keeping you comfortable.
- Cozy quietness: No more choosing between quiet or warmth, Dreo’s heater for bedroom warms quietly thanks to its brushless DC motor with frictionless performance and a winglet fan design that reduces turbulence, reducing noise to only 34dB.
- Fits into your lifestyle: This portable heater handle makes it easier to carry and is equipped with multiple heating levels and modes to heat as you like (Power heat, ECO, Fan Only). It also features handy extras for a hassle-free experience (remote control, 12-hour timer, mute, child lock, and memory function).
- We Are Always Here for You: To ensure a pleasant experience for everyone while using the heater, it is recommended to carefully read the precautions in the user manual and QSG before use. It is important to note that a hot or loose-fitting plug can be a sign of a worn electrical outlet. We recommend that such outlets be checked and replaced prior to heater use to prevent potential overheating hazards. Let our product experts guide you through any issues or questions you might have with the product at any time with our customer support line.
Wide-Angle Heating
Dreo Space Heater, 1500W Portable Electric Heaters for Indoor Use, PTC Ceramic Heater for Office with Remote, Thermostat, 70°Oscillation, 12H Timer, 5 Modes, Safe Quiet Room Heater for Bedroom
Dreo
- Faster Heat Than Ever: Powered by Dreo Hyperamics Technology, Atom One space heater heats up more efficiently with up to 1500W working power, reaching your desired temperature immediately, letting you feel fast, balmy heat straight away. This electric heater is meant to sit by your feet on the floor, near your hands on a desk, or carry around indoors. Add our heaters for indoors use to your cart & experience our amazing heater and customer service
- Shield360° Protection: Dreo Room Heater Heat up your day and night without worries. ETL-listed Shield360° system provides tip-over and overheat protection, as well as an enhanced safety plug. Along with UL94 V-0 flame-retardant materials to ensure ultimate safety in all aspects
- Save More on Energy Bills: ECO Mode adjusts the heat level automatically to reach your desired temperature while saving more on energy bills. Personalize your own comfort with the digital thermostat from 41 to 95 ℉, adjustable in 1℉ increments. Precise Heat, Precise Comfort
- Warm Any Angle: Experience the heat that envelopes you in the widest way possible. 70° wide-angle oscillation sweeps around to cover the whole area, providing wide-reaching heat for your bedroom, garage, basement, office, desktop, etc
- Engineered to be Quieter: Brushless DC motor and 9 aerodynamic blades smooth out airflow and eliminate air turbulence, delivering soft, tranquil warmth. As quiet as 37.5 dB, you can sleep or work with peace of mind
- Heat the Way You Like: With various modes (High/Medium/Low/ECO/Fan Only), the heat comes in many forms, from powerful heat to more energy-saving ECO heat. Dreo Atom One electric heater with remote control easily provides the balance you want between heat and energy saving
Budget-Friendly Choice
GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater with Thermostat, 1500W/750W Safe and Quiet Ceramic Heater Fan, Heat Up 200 Square Feet for Office Room Desk Indoor Use, Silver
GiveBest
- 2 in 1 heater fan: This ceramic heater provides two heat levels, 1500W or 750W and one cool air fan, you can use it both for winter and summer. Thermostat control of the heater will turn the heater off when it reaches a preset temperature and turn the heater back on when the temperature dips below the thermostat setting. It will cycle on and off. Adjust the setting of thermostat from 41℉ to 95℉ to keep room comfortable
- Multi protection safety system: These heaters are made of flame retardant material avoiding any fire hazard. Automatic safety shutoff system will shut the heater off when the heater overheat. The tip over protection system will also shut the heater off when the heater was knocked over by accident and it will come back on automatically if it is up righted
- Compact and powerful: The mini heater with build in carry handle helps to reinforce the potential of rather low electrical bills by using at the place where you need when you don’t want to warm the full house with other centralized heaters
- Quiet and fast heating: The noise this ceramic heater makes is lower than 45 decibels, quiet enough for most people to use in a bedroom while sleeping. With PTC ceramic heating tech and high speed fan, this heater put out tons of heat to heat up 200 square feet in seconds
- Upgrade abs material: Upgrade abs material applied, which is more flame resident. The room heater with six feet lead cord and 2 prong connection has a long lasting life
Quiet Operation
GiveBest Space Heater, Electric Portable Heaters for Indoor Use with Thermostat and Remote, 70°Oscillation, Digital Display, 12H Timer, 1500W PTC Ceramic Fast Safety Heat for Office Bedroom Home Desk
GiveBest
- Fast Indoor Heating: With 1500W power and PTC ceramic heating technology, this room heater heats up quickly and delivers comfortable warmth. This small space heater can quickly heat up an area of 200 square feet.
- Precision Temperature Control: Whether you prefer it hot or just a little toasty, our enhanced chipset provides unparalleled temperature control that adapts to your desired level of warmth with 1℉ increments from 41-95℉, making it an energy-efficient and cost-effective option for any heating need.
- Multi Safety Protection: With an innovative tilt-detection sensor, our small heater provides unmatched tip-over protection. Plus, our V-0 flame retardant materials, overheat protection, and safety plug are certified by ETL, ensuring your safety with every use.
- Cozy Tranquility and Comfort: Enjoy the warmth without the noise thanks to our motor that reduces turbulence for whisper-quiet performance, making it perfect for a peaceful night’s sleep. The small desk heater offers a remote control for easy portability.
- 70° Oscillation Heater: With multiple heating levels and modes (Power, ECO, and Fan), a 12-hour timer, and child lock. 70° wide-angle oscillation sweeps around to cover the whole area, providing wide-reaching heat for your bedroom, garage, basement, office, desktop, etc
Compact Personal Heater
Performance Tool W5011 250W Personal Space Heater, White
Performance Tool
- 250-Watt Personal Space Heater
Uniform Room Heating
Dreo Space Heater, 1500W Electric Heaters for Indoor Use with Thermostat, 70° Oscillation, 8 Safety Protections, 5 Modes, Remote, 12H Timer, Quiet Portable Heater for Office, Bedroom, Large Room
Dreo
- ETL-Certified Safety: Made of V0 flame-retardant materials with multiple safety features including built-in smart tip-over protection, overheat protection, 12-hour timer, 24-hour automatic power off without interaction, V0 flame retardant 2-prong plug, and sturdy 6ft long flat power cord. Safe and worry-free all-day use. Safety Reminder: Please do not use with an extension cord. Only plug directly into the wall outlet.
- Fast Indoor Ceramic Heater: Powerful 1500W PTC ceramic heating allows this space heater to heat up in seconds, suitable for warming up spaces in the home including bedrooms, basements, garages, living rooms, and can also be used in offices, dorms, hot yoga studios, etc. Heating Coverage:270 sq.ft.
- Quiet Heating: 34dB – almost as quiet as a library. The fan wheel uses oblique airflow technology, which effectively reduces wind noise and makes the room heater 12% quieter than traditional electric heaters. Calm airflow lets you sleep soundly and work undisturbed during the cold winter
- Uniform Heating: Experience enhanced comfort in large rooms with the exclusive trackball system, engineered for smooth and whisper-quiet oscillation. The 70° wide-angle oscillation, with a lifespan of over 750,000 cycles, boosts heating coverage by 20%, which helps distribute the warm air more evenly towards the room’s corners
- Energy Efficiency: Save on energy bills and live more sustainably. With a built-in precise temperature sensor, the smart ECO mode adjusts the working mode independently (with a low of 900W and high of 1500W to efficiently maintain your desired indoor temperature) based on the ambient temperature
Energy Efficient
Space Heater, 1500W Electric Heaters Indoor Portable with Thermostat, PTC Fast Heating Ceramic Room Small Heater with Heating and Fan Modes for Bedroom, Office and Indoor Use
Aikoper
- GET NICE & TOASTY FASTER: The advanced PTC ceraming heating technology combined with the ultra-efficient fan will heat up any space faster and distribute the heat more evenly. Just turn on your space heater, count to 3, and enjoy your warm living room, bedroom or office.
- CUT DOWN ON ELECTRIC BILLS without having to freeze. Our energy-efficient interior space heater features 3 different heat settings (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH) as well as a fan-only mode, so you can tailor it to your exact needs. Instead of wasting a fortune on central heating, you can warm just the spaces you actually use.
- ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE TO YOUR NEEDS: Equipped with an adjustable thermostat, our space heater will keep you comfortable at all times. Just set the dial to the desired heat setting and let the thermostat monitor the surrounding air temperature and keep you comfy.
- PERFECT FOR YOUR HOME OR OFFICE: The compact and portable design combined with the ergonomic built-in handle, will allow you to easily move your space heater to any room you want. Make sure your office, kitchen, bedroom, guest room, study or living room is nice and warm.
- YOUR PEACE OF MIND IS OUR PRIORITY: We have ensured the safety of you and your loved ones by adding an advanced overheat protection sensor as well as a smart tip-over switch, which will automatically turn off the heater in case it overheats or gets tipped over by your kids or pets.
- NOTE：Before purchasing the heater, please check the User Guide in the Product Guide and Documentation.
Fast Warmth Delivery
Dreo Space Heater 1500W, 60° Adjustable Tilt, 10.5ft/s Portable Electric Heaters for Indoor Use with Thermostat, 8 Safety Protections, 3 Modes, Remote, Quiet Desk Heater for Bedroom, Office, Black
Dreo
- Fast Warm Air Delivery: Powered by 1500W Hyperamics tech, this space heater for indoor use delivers warmth in just 2 seconds and produces 53.9% more heated air than traditional heaters
- Vertical Tilt for Full-Body Warmth: Manually tilt the portable heater from 0°-20°-40°-60°, enjoying warmth from your head to toe. Place it on a table or floor, heating wherever you need it
- Unbreakable Safety: Enjoy peace of mind with the electric heater featuring advanced tip-over protection, V0 flame retardant materials, overheat protection, and a safety plug, all certified by ETL
- Precise Temperature Control: The advanced NTC chipset lets you set your heater for office from 41-95℉ in precise 1℉ increments, delivering smart, energy-saving comfort tailored to your needs
- Enjoy Distraction-Free Warmth: DREO’s desk heater uses a brushless DC motor and winglet fan design to reduce turbulence, operating as quietly as 34dB for peaceful comfort
3D Whole-Room Coverage
Dreo Whole Room Heater 714, 60° Vertical & 90° Horizontal 3D Oscillating Heating, 12 ft/s Long-Range Circulator, 3 Heat & 3 Fan Settings, Space Heaters for Indoor Use, Bedroom, Office, Black
Dreo
- 3𝘿 𝙒𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚-𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: This heater for bedroom delivers 12ft/s airflow with 60° vertical and 90° horizontal oscillation, ensuring fast, even warmth that keeps every corner cozy.
- 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩-𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: Powered by 1500W PTC, this portable ceramic heater delivers 2s instant warmth with a 92% boost and 120CFM airflow for quick, even heating throughout any room.
- 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙: With overheat shutoff, tip-over protection, and flame-retardant housing, this ETL-listed room heater brings safe, reliable warmth you can trust daily.
- 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚: With ECO Mode, this heater for office maintains perfect warmth from 41-95°F in 1°F increments, giving you tailored comfort while using less power to cut daily energy costs.
- 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙩𝙝, 𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙚: With a brushless DC motor and upgraded Bionic Blade design, this desk heater stays whisper-quiet at 34dB, keeping your space cozy without distraction. Simply set the 12H timer and let comfort run on your schedule.
Propane Power Heater
3,800 BTU Little Buddy Portable Radiant Propane Heater
Mr. Heater
- 3,800 BTU per hour
- For use with propane gas
- Heats up to 95 sq ft
- One button ignition on function
- 8in round stand; uses little floor space
- Accidental tip-over safety shut-off
- Automatic low oxygen shut-off system
- Connects directly to one 1lb propane cylinder
- Quiet, clean,odor-free operation
- The use of un-authorized accessories/attachments with this heater are expressly prohibited, may cause serious injury, and will void the warranty.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What’s the most important factor when choosing a van heater?
Safety is the absolute top priority for a van heater. You must choose a model specifically designed for enclosed spaces that has safety features like automatic shutoff for tip-over and low oxygen levels. Electric heaters are simple, but propane or diesel heaters often offer more power for colder climates, provided they are properly vented.
Should I get a propane, diesel, or electric heater for my van?
The best choice depends on your travel style and power setup. Electric heaters are cheap and quiet but drain your leisure battery quickly and are only viable when plugged into shore power. Propane heaters are popular for their efficiency and low cost, while diesel heaters are a favorite for their fuel economy and ability to tap into your van’s main fuel tank.
How much power will an electric space heater use from my batteries?
A typical 1500W electric heater draws a massive 125 amps from a 12V battery system. This will quickly deplete even a large battery bank, making it suitable only for very short periods or when connected to an external power source. It’s crucial to calculate your battery capacity before relying on an electric heater for warmth.
What are the key safety features I need to look for?
For any heater, an automatic tip-over switch is non-negotiable. For combustion heaters (propane/diesel), ensure it has a low-oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) that shuts the unit off if oxygen levels become unsafe. Proper ventilation is also critical to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide and moisture.
How much BTU (British Thermal Unit) power do I need for my van?
A good rule of thumb is to have about 40-50 BTUs per cubic foot of van space. Measure your van’s interior length, width, and height to calculate its total volume. For a typical cargo van conversion, a heater with an output between 5,000 and 9,000 BTUs is usually sufficient for staying warm in freezing temperatures.
What is the difference between a direct vent and a non-vented heater?
A direct vent heater, like a diesel heater, has a sealed combustion chamber and vents all exhaust fumes directly outside the van, making it very safe for sleeping. A non-vented heater, often a catalytic propane model, consumes oxygen from inside your living space and requires a constant source of fresh air ventilation to be used safely.
Are portable electric ceramic heaters safe for overnight use in a van?
While many have safety features, using a standard portable electric heater overnight in a van is generally not recommended. The risk of fire, battery depletion, and potential failure of the safety mechanisms is high. For overnight heating, a heater specifically designed and installed for RV or van use is a much safer and more reliable option.
How do I prevent condensation when running a heater in my van?
Combustion heaters (propane and diesel) produce a significant amount of moisture as a byproduct, which can lead to mold and rust. To combat this, you must provide constant ventilation by cracking a window or a roof vent, even when it’s cold outside. Using a dehumidifier can also help manage moisture levels.