The Different Types of Portable Heaters​: A Comprehensive Guide

February 19, 2025 | Nate Cord

If you live in the UK like us, you’ll know that the British weather is incredibly unpredictable, and the chilly months seem to last forever, even through so-called ‘summer’. But if you’re in a chilly office or in a room at home that doesn’t get sufficient heat from your central heating, a portable heater can be your best friend.

In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through the different types of portable heaters on the market and tips for choosing the right one for you.

So, first things first…

What Are Portable Heaters?

In short, portable heaters are compact, movable heating solutions that are especially designed to provide temporary or supplemental warmth wherever and whenever you want.

Unlike central heating systems, which will heat entire buildings, these handy heaters are intended more so for direct heating, making them the perfect solution for places like homes, offices, workshops, and outdoor spaces.

Portable heaters can be controlled individually, meaning you only heat the room you are using, instead of your whole home/office, and different heater types can provide instant heat or a gradual consistent heat, depending on what your specific needs are.

Keep reading to discover the most common types of portable heaters and tips on how to choose the right one for you.

The 5 Different Types of Portable Heaters

There are 5 main types of portable heaters on the market, each designed with their own features for different heating needs and environments.

1. Electric Space Heaters

Electric space heaters are probably one of the most popular and convenient heating options, and this is down to their ease of use, energy efficiency, and safety features.

As it says in the name, they use electricity to generate and distribute warmth in small to medium-sized areas.

Whether it’s heating up a cold office or workshop, supplementing your home heating system, or creating a cosy atmosphere in a poorly insulated room, electric space heaters are designed to provide efficient, targeted warmth wherever and whenever it’s needed. Learn more about electric space heaters in this guide.

Electric space heaters come in various types, which brings us nicely onto number 2…

2. Fan Heaters

Fan heaters are a popular type of space heater that uses electricity to blow hot air directly into the room and heat up space quickly. In fact, the ‘fan’ feature allows them to heat up spaces faster than many other types of heaters, making them ideal for small to medium-sized rooms, offices, and personal use.

The only main downside of a fan heater is that they can often be noisier than other types of heaters due to the fan, and they may not be the most energy-efficient option for prolonged use.

Browse our wide collection of quality fan heaters here, from Clarke, Draper or Sealey.

3. Infrared Heaters

Infrared is another type of space heater that uses infrared radiation to produce direct heat. Unlike normal heaters that rely on convection, this type of heater emits electromagnetic waves that transfer heat efficiently to surfaces and people directly in front of them, without drying out the air.

As they do not rely on fans to distribute heat, infrared heaters operate quietly, making them ideal for bedrooms and cold offices where noise is preferred to be kept as a minimum.

You can find a variety of infrared heaters on the market, including quartz, carbon, and halogen-based models, each with different heating intensities and wavelengths.

4. Halogen Heaters

As mentioned above, halogen heaters are a type of infrared heater, which use halogen-filled bulbs to generate radiant heat.

One of the main benefits of using a halogen heater is their ability to provide instant warmth as soon as they are turned on. They are also energy-efficient, as they do not waste energy heating unused spaces.

5. Quartz Heaters

Another popular type of heater is the quartz heater, which is a type of infrared heater that uses, you guessed it, quartz heating elements to produce radiant heat.

These heaters work by passing electricity through a quartz tube, which contains a tungsten or nichrome wire that heats up and emits infrared radiation. Instead of warming the air, quartz heaters directly heat objects and people within their line of sight, making them a perfect option for spot heating.

Due to this direct heating ability and efficiency to function in drafty areas, quartz heaters are commonly used in outdoor spaces, patios, garages, and small-medium warehouses.

Quartz heaters, however, are probably not best for larger or enclosed spaces, as their warming effect is only limited to the areas directly in front of them.

Browse our wide collection of portable heaters from reputable manufacturers here, and for more information or expert advice, feel free to give our experts a call on 01639 849847.

How to Choose a Portable Heater

Having a wide range of portable heaters to choose from can initially seem overwhelming, but it’s actually a blessing in disguise because it means you can truly find the perfect one that meets all of your requirements.

When shopping around, you need to consider things like noise level, your heating requirements, energy efficiency, and preferred safety features.

Let’s look at these in some more detail…

To help you choose a portable heater, consider these 6 things:

• Noise level – As touched on above, some portable heaters are louder than others, which, in some settings, might not be the best option. For example, fan heaters can be noisier than infrared heaters, so if noise is a concern for you, you might want to stay away from the fan type.
• Portability – if you need a heater to move between rooms, opt for a compact, lightweight model with handles or wheels, such as fan or ceramic heaters.
• Type of heater- This is an important factor as all fuel/product types will offer something different. For example, fan heaters would be best for quick heating in small rooms; while infrared and quartz heaters are great for objects and people directly, making them great for spot heating in drafty rooms.
• Safety features – if safety is an important factor for you then you’ll want to take some time looking at what different heaters offer in terms of safety. For example, some will offer tip over prevention, overheat protection and cool-touch housing.
• Energy efficiency – With energy-efficiency becoming a huge part of our daily lives, choosing a portable heater with good energy efficiency is more important than ever. Look for heaters with features like adjustable thermostats, eco-modes, and programmable timers, as these can help regulate energy consumption.
• Infrared heaters and ceramic models are often more energy-efficient than fan heaters as they directly heat objects and people rather than wasting energy to warm the air.
• Heating capacity – You’ll also need to consider heating capacity, i.e. will the heater you choose have enough capacity to heat up your space? Around 1,500 watts is typically enough for a small to medium room (up to 150 sq. ft.). And for spaces larger than that, you might want to consider getting multiple heaters or a more powerful unit.

Looking For The Perfect Portable Heater?

At Generators Direct, we offer a range of different space heaters for your specific needs, from powerful propane heaters to smaller electric fan heaters and everything in between.

All of our products are manufactured, tested and certified to industry standards, and come with a price promise – you won’t find prices cheaper anywhere on the web, but if you do, we’ll match them.

In addition to this, all orders come with free mainland UK shipping and after sales support from our experts.

If you’d like to speak to a friendly member of our team, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us using this form or via telephone at +441639849847.