How to order the right portable heater online

September 19, 2026 ยท 6 min read

Illustration of a warm living room in winter with a sofa, a knitted throw, a steaming cup of tea and snow falling outside the window

Winters in southern Indiana can swing from mild to freezing in a day, and some rooms always seem colder than the rest. A portable heater lets you warm the room you're in without turning up the whole house. Here's how to choose the right one and order it online.

Start with the room size

Most portable electric heaters max out at 1,500 watts, enough for about 150 square feet. If your room is larger, has high ceilings or loses heat through older windows, consider an infrared heater, which warms people and surfaces directly.

Pick a heater type

TypeBest forConsider
CeramicSmall rooms and quick heatFan noise
InfraredLarger rooms and quiet warmthLarger footprint
Oil-filledBedrooms and steady heatTakes longer to warm up

Look for these safety features

  • Tip-over shut-off
  • Overheat protection
  • Cool-touch casing, especially with kids or pets
  • A UL, ETL or similar safety certification

Use your heater safely

  • Plug it directly into a wall outlet; never into an extension cord or power strip.
  • Keep it at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
  • Turn it off when you leave the room or go to bed.
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before the cold season starts.

Shipping and tracking

  • Standard shipping: 3 to 5 business days, free on orders over $50.
  • Express shipping: 2 business days when you order by 1 pm Eastern Time.
  • We email a tracking link as soon as your order ships.

When it arrives

Check the heater, cord and plug for any damage, and keep the packaging for a few weeks. If there's a problem, contact us within 7 days for a free replacement or refund. Unused heaters can be returned within 30 days under our returns policy.

Related departments