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2025’s best heaters for bedrooms and beyond

Expert picks for a cosier home
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Many homes in New Zealand don’t have the luxury of central heating or heat pumps, so finding the best heaters for your bedroom or living space is essential for staying warm during the colder months.

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Choosing the right heater for your space can greatly affect your comfort and power bill. For small spaces like bedrooms and home offices, consider panel and fan heaters or oil-filled radiators that are quiet and provide consistent warmth. Open-plan living areas benefit from fan heaters that quickly heat larger spaces. Bathrooms require safety-focused options like moisture-resistant panel heaters that can be wall-mounted to save space.

To help you find your perfect match, we’ve rounded up top-rated portable heaters that suit various spaces, needs and budgets. We’ve selected these models based on key features, including energy efficiency, thermostat controls to maintain consistent temperatures, safety features like auto shut-off and tip-over protection, and silent operation and air purification for undisturbed sleep.

The best heaters 2025

The best heaters for apartments and small rooms

01

SmarterHome Premium Glass Panel Heater

From $149 at Kogan

Best for: A stylish, high-tech heater for small bedrooms, bathrooms and patios

The SmarterHome Premium Glass Panel Heater combines sleek design with advanced features like WiFi connectivity, so you can control the temperature from your smartphone or via the included remote.

With a wattage of 1500, it efficiently heats bedrooms and small spaces up to 15m². For larger areas, models with 2000 or 2400 watts are available. Its IP24 water resistance makes it suitable for damp spaces like bathrooms or enclosed patios.

The panel heater is freestanding with removable wheels, so you can mount it on the wall to save space.

Wattage: 1500W, 2000W, 2400W
Heating coverage: 15m², 20m², 25m²
Size: 597 x 70 x 400 mm
Colours: White, black

Key features:

  • Glass panel materials for a modern look
  • Freestanding with removable wheels or wall-mountable for space-saving
  • Programmable timer for convenience
  • User-friendly LED display and remote control
  • WiFi-enabled controls via smartphone (2.4 GHz connectivity only)
  • Safety features include tip-over protection, auto shut-off, and child lock
  • IP24 water resistant, ideal for damp environments and bathrooms

Available at:

02

Sheffield 1500W Panel Heater

$99 at Smiths City

Best for: A budget-friendly option for compact bedrooms

The Sheffield 1500W Panel Heater is ideal if you’re on a budget but need an efficient solution for heating a small bedroom. Its slim design ensures it fits easily into tight spaces and is splash-proof, making it suitable for bathrooms.

Wattage: 1500W
Heating coverage: 6m² (areas with colder than normal winter) to 9m²
Size: 615(W) x 500(H) x 250(D) mm

Key features:

  • Two adjustable heat settings (750W and 1500W)
  • Slim design with freestanding or wall-mountable functionality
  • Overheat safety cut-off for peace of mind
  • Splash-proof IPX4 construction, suitable for bathrooms
  • 24-month manufacturer warranty

03

Goldair 2000W Fan Heater

$42.54 at Amazon Australia

Best for: A compact, portable fan heater for targeted heat

This budget-friendly heater delivers instant, targeted warmth wherever you need it. Great for shared workspaces and bedside use, the lightweight fan heater features two heat settings and an adjustable thermostat.

Wattage: 2000W
Heating coverage: Personal heat or up to 10m²
Size: 230(H) x 210(W) x 120(D) mm

Key features:

  • Two heat settings with an adjustable thermostat
  • Lightweight design for portability
  • Built-in safety features like tip-over and overheat protection

Available at:

The best heaters for medium-sized rooms

04

The AirRounder Connect

$469.95 at Breville

Best for: The best heater for bedrooms year-round

The AirRounder Connect is an all-in-one solution that heats, cools, and purifies the air, making it perfect for year-round use. Its smart temperature controls automatically turn off the heater once your desired room temperature is reached, while the ambient light sensor ensures a restful sleep environment. As a bonus, its built-in air purifier can improve sleep quality for those with allergies.

Wattage: 1800Watts (heating), 24Watts (cooling)
Heating coverage: 25m²
Size: 24.5 x 26 x 45 cm

Key features:

  • Heating, cooling, and air purification functions
  • Oscillation options (60°, 120°, 180°) for even heat distribution
  • Smartphone app and voice assistant compatibility for simplified use
  • Smart ambient light sensor adjusts for bedroom-friendly night mode
  • Energy-efficient operation with automatic temperature control

05

Dragon 4 1500W with timer

$299.99 at De’Longhi

Best for: Silent, steady warmth for medium-sized bedrooms

This oil column heater offers quiet, consistent warmth, making it perfect for peaceful nights. Its fin design enhances airflow, while the cool-touch handle makes it portable. It boasts a 24-hour timer and high thermal inertia for retaining heat after it’s switched off.

Wattage: 1500W
Heating coverage: 45m³
Size: 445(W) x 180(D) x 700(H) mm

Key features:

  • Three power settings for flexibility
  • 24-hour programmable timer
  • Cool-touch handle for safe handling and portability
  • Safety tilt switch and overheat protection
  • Radiates warmth even after being turned off due to high thermal inertia
  • 2180mm cable length

Available at:

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The best heaters for open-plan areas and large rooms

06

Purifier Hot+Cool Fan Heater

$1,047 (usually $1,099) at Dyson

Best for: Purifying, cooling and heating large rooms with ease

Dyson’s Purifier Hot+Cool offers powerful, even heating while filtering pollutants from the air. With features like night mode for quiet operation, app control, and voice command, this model is a premium choice for maintaining a comfortable room temperature while improving air quality.

Wattage: 2000w
Heating coverage: 35m³ (heating), 81m³ (purification)
Size: 764(H) x 130(L) x 205(W) mm
Colours: White/silver, black/nickel

Key features:

  • Purifies, cools, and heats efficiently
  • 350° oscillation for even heat distribution
  • Quiet night mode with dimmed display for disruption-free sleep
  • Smart control via the Dyson Link app or voice assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri)
  • Automatically captures allergens and pollutants
  • 1.8m cord length

07

2400W Ceramic Tower Fan Heater

$369.99 at De’Longhi

Best for: Energy-efficient heating for large spaces

This ceramic tower fan heater is designed to heat large open-plan areas or spacious bedrooms and offers quieter operation at high power settings. Its eco function adjusts power settings based on the room’s temperature for efficient heating, while the anti-dust filter improves air quality.

Wattage: 2400W
Heating coverage: 70m³
Size: 275(W) x 262(D) x 695(H) mm

Key features:

  • Ceramic Technology for self-regulating heat distribution
  • Digital control panel for power, timer, and thermostat management
  • Silent Plus mode for quieter operation
  • Washable anti-dust filter for improved air quality
  • Automatic shut-off and tip-over safety features

Choosing the best heater for your bedroom

Consider panel, fan, or oil-filled heaters with a thermostat function that distributes heat evenly for a consistent temperature overnight. For added convenience, opt for models with remote control or smartphone activation, allowing you to adjust the settings without leaving your bed.

To enhance sleep quality, look for heaters with a silent mode or night function and air purification if you suffer from allergies.

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What is the best heater for a baby’s bedroom?

A wall-mounted panel or fan heater with a programmable thermostat is ideal for a nursery. Smart heaters with remote control options offer added convenience for parents.

For extra peace of mind, low-glare LED displays and air purifiers ensure a safe and clean sleeping environment for little ones.

If you’re using an older model oil heater in your nursery, consider a portable temperature controller that automatically turns it on and off to ensure the room temperature is consistent and you’re saving on unnecessary power consumption.


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