OUR TOP PICK – Best Heater For 500 Square Feet
We have found the best heater for 500 square feet areas, and our top pick is the Mr. Heater Corporation F299720 Vent-Free Propane Heater. This gas-powered heater can easily heat spaces that have an area between 500 and 700 square feet. It can keep everyone inside a room warm during those cold winter months.
Read on for more information, or click the link below to read more reviews on Amazon.
- Convenient top-mounted comfort control adjustable thermostat
- Battery operated electronic ignition - requires one AA battery (included)
- Easy to install - wall mount or free standing (feet kit included)
- ODS low oxygen safety shut-off control
Here are the Best Heaters that we have included in our review
Keeping your home warm during colder months can be a challenge. You can crank up your central heater’s thermostat, but that can result in expensive utility bills. You can wear a lot of clothes, but that wouldn’t be too comfortable. So what should you do? Use another smaller and more portable heating device that would work together with your existing heating system.
A portable heater, or space heater, can provide heat to a single and confined area. So if you need to heat a 500 square feet space, like a garage or a very large room, you can use a portable heater to stay warm and toasty without worrying about your electricity bills. However, heaters come in a variety of sizes, heating capabilities, types, and functions. Thus, it may be difficult for you to find exactly what you need.
So as your guide, we have come up with a list of the best heater for 500 square feet spaces. But before that, you should first know the differences between the types of heaters today.
Types of Heaters
When it comes to choosing a heater, you have many options. To help you figure out what you need, here are the best types of heaters for a 500 square feet space.
1. Radiant Heaters
Radiant heaters are great for indoor heating, but some units can be used outdoors as well. They work well even in uninsulated areas, and they provide quick heating. This is because they use infrared rays to heat objects close, including your clothes and skin. So if you are looking for a heater that can keep a portion of a room warm, these are your best options.
These types of heaters are energy-efficient, quiet, and they have minimal moving parts. Thus, they are less likely to break down. However, even without burning fuel, they still pose a fire hazard when they get hot. Thus, they are not ideal for use when sleeping. It will also help to look for models with safety features that can prevent fires.
Radiant heaters include infrared, quartz, and halogen heaters. Aside from electric models, there are also gas-burning units that use propane, kerosene, and natural gas.
2. Convection Heaters
When it comes to large spaces, convection heaters are the best. Unlike radiant heaters, convection heaters are designed to warm the air in an area. They follow the natural airflow, where the hot air produced by the heater rises to the top and causing the colder air to go down to the floor. Thus, causing warm air to circulate. However, take note that such heaters take a while to warm a room. But they do provide constant heating even after you’ve turned them off. Of course, this depends if you have proper insulation.
Most common convection heater models include water or oil-filled and baseboard heaters. There are fuel-burning units too. If you are interested in using such heaters, just make sure to keep them away from small children as they can get very hot to touch.
How Much Heat Output Do You Need?
Aside from the type of heater, you also have to look for the right heat output. This way, it’s easier for you to find the best heater for 500 square feet. So how much heating capacity should you be looking for?
Generally, heaters are rated based on how much thermal heat they can emit per hour. You’ll see this as BTU/hr or simply just BTU. Some units only have Watt ratings, but you can simply multiply it by 3.41 to get the BTU equivalent. That said, estimating that every square foot requires 10 watts to keep warm, you’ll need around 5,000 watts for a 500 square feet area. That’s 17,050 BTU.
So to efficiently keep the area warm, you’ll need a heater with a rating of 17,050 BTU. But if the room is well insulated, has a low ceiling, or is usually occupied by several people at once, then you can select a heater with a lower BTU.
The Best Heaters for 500 Square Feet Area
Best Gas-Powered Convection Heater: Mr. Heater Corporation F299720 Vent-Free Propane Heater
- Convenient top-mounted comfort control adjustable thermostat
- Battery operated electronic ignition - requires one AA battery (included)
- Easy to install - wall mount or free standing (feet kit included)
- ODS low oxygen safety shut-off control
Featuring a 20,000 BTU rating, the Mr. Heater Corporation Propane Heater can easily heat 500 to 700 square feet spaces. It runs on propane gas and does not require external power to function. There are also mounting hardware and legs included, so you can put it up on a wall or let it stand on the floor. With this, you’ll certainly stay warm and toasty during those winter cold months.
Pros
- Equipped with thermostat
- Electronic ignition
- Automatic low oxygen shut-off system (can help prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide)
Cons
- Creates loud noise at start-up
Best Kerosene Convection Heater: Dyna-Glo RMC 95C6B Indoor Kerosene Convection Heater
- 23,000 BTU/hour
- Heats up to 1,000 SQ.FT.
- NO ELECTRICITY NEEDED
- Save on utility bills!
The Dyna-Glo RMC 95C6B Indoor Kerosene Heater has an impressive 23,000 BTU and can heat up to 1,000 square feet. It is suitable for use in your home, garage, workshops, basement, or cabin. With this device, you don’t have to worry about keeping warm and comfortable even in the harshest weather conditions.
This kerosene heater only uses 1K kerosene, and it can last up to 11 hours on a full tank. It burns with 99.9% efficiency, and it is built with a safety switch that turns the power off when it gets knocked over.
Pros
- Easy on and off button
- Long run time
- Economical
Cons
- Burning fuel is a fire hazard so use the product per the manufacturer’s instructions
Best Electric Heater for Garage: 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...
- [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...
- [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...
If you’re not interested in using gas-powered heaters, here’s a great alternative for you. The NewAir G73 Hardwired Electric Heater is the perfect heating device for your garage. It features a 17,000 BTU capacity and 5,000 watts. Thus, it can efficiently warm a 500 square feet area. It’s also designed to be hardwired to a 30 Amp breaker, which can help prevent fires.
Pros
- Rugged and durable design
- Overheating protection
- 6 custom thermostat settings
- Wall mount hardware included
Cons
- May require you to hire a professional electrician for installation
Best Electric Radiant Heater: Air Choice Space Heater for Indoors
- 【3 Power Modes & Fast Heating】- Air Choice Space infrared heater adopts 3 heat settings. The High mode can reach to 1500W, which will warm your whole living room just in seconds. The low mode of...
- 【Safety Assurance of Space Heater】- Go out but forgot to turn off the heater? Don’t worry, overheat protection will be automatically shut off when the heater is overheated. If the product is...
- 【Adjustable Thermostat& Smart 12Hrs Timer】- With easy to read LED temperature settings you can select temperatures from 59°F to 86°F or select max heat for maximum warmth. Air Choice space...
- 【Remote Control & Portable with 4 Wheels】- Air Choice space heater is equipped with a remoter control and LED display screen. All the functions can be set by the remote control. You can adjust the...
While weaker than the other heaters on this list, the Air Choice Space Heater for Indoors can still be a great choice if you are looking for an affordable unit that can provide ample heat. It has 3 power modes, particularly 1500W, 1000W, and Eco. Thus, the Air Choice Space Heater can help you get the right temperature according to your needs. This heater is also loaded with advanced features such as an LED screen, timer, and remote control. However, it’s only said to cover an area of 495 square feet.
Pros
- Affordable
- 3 different heat settings
- Overheat shut-off protection
- Tip-over protection
- Child lock
- Oscillating function
Cons
- May not provide enough heat for 500 square feet area
There you have it. Just remember, no matter which of the best heater for 500 square feet you purchase, always use it with precaution. Also, portable heaters are designed as supplemental heating options only. Thus, they are not meant for long time heating.