No matter how efficient or technologically advanced your RV heating and air conditioning system, you will still find spaces inside that are colder than others.

Keeping an electric heater handy can help you stay toasty warm when your RV’s HVAC can’t keep up. How do you find just the right one?

Check out this list of the best electric heaters for use in an RV.

COMPARISON CHART

IMAGE	PRODUCT
	1. Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater Compact size Ceramic disc heating elements warm faster and more efficiently Integrated oscillating fan and thermostat keep things warm without wasting energy	LEARN MORE ►
	2. Ontel Handy Heater 142598 Plug-in Personal Heater One of the smallest and lightest space heaters available Sits on your outlet and heats up small rooms fast Timer and external temperature display	LEARN MORE ►
	3. Dr Infrared Heater DR998, 1500Wl Combination heater, humidifier, fan, and air purifier Quartz Tube & Ceramic heating elements for optimal efficiency	LEARN MORE ►
	4. Caframo Limited 9206CABBX True North Heater Small footprint Variable wattage Built in thermostat	LEARN MORE ►
	5. Comfort Glow BDISC6 Original Brown Box Ceramic Disc Heater Compact size Exceptional heating performance High quality design and durability	LEARN MORE ►

OUR TOP 5 PICKS

#1 Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater

Specifications

Features

• Dual quiet settings
• Compact size
• Ceramic heating elements

• Adjustable thermostat
• Wireless remote
• Oscillating fan for even heat distribution

The design of this compact electric heater gives it the appearance of an old-fashioned Franklin stove combined with a classic wood-burning chiminea. In addition to its good looks, this space heater can warm even larger spaces in a short time. Keeping warm isn’t a problem either thanks to the oscillating fan and integrated thermostat.

• WHAT WE LIKE
• WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
• PROS/CONS OVERVIEW

The looks, the internal oscillating fan, and the set-and-forget thermostat are all must-have features for any good RV electric heater. The fact it takes up so little space and functions exceptionally well make it an excellent value.

It’s a bit on the short side, so if you expect the oscillating fan to clear the top of your bed it’s probably not going to happen. It also draws some serious wattage, so you need to make sure that either your generator has enough power to keep it running when you are camping “off the grid.”

Pros

• Compact size
• Ceramic disc heating elements warm faster and more efficiently
• Integrated oscillating fan and thermostat keep things warm without wasting energy

Cons

• Doesn’t stand high off the floor, so you may need to stand it on something if you want to blow warm air over your bed
• Draws 1500-watts when its on, so you want to make sure you’ve got a generator that can handle that power draw with all your other accessories and appliances

Video

#2 Ontel Handy Heater 142598 Plug-in

Specifications

Features

• Plug it directly into the outlet and turn it on (no power cords to worry about
• Digital temperature display
• Cool-touch housing
• Programmable 12 hour timer

Got a small RV room or living space that stays too cold? Plug in your Ontel Handy Heater and warm yourself up in no time. This on-outlet heater is cool to the touch and is perfect for small bedrooms or bathrooms that always seem to stay colder than the rest of the RV in the winter time. It’s a cost effective and elegant solution to keeping small spaces heated.

• WHAT WE LIKE
• WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
• PROS/CONS OVERVIEW

This tiny little heater weighs just over a pound and heats up fast. You can easily plug it in when you hop in the shower and have the whole bathroom toasty warm by the time you finish. The external temp display also helps you keep the room at your desired temperature more easily.

Unless you are heating up a small room, this little space heater isn’t going to do much good. It doesn’t have the wattage output to heat up a larger space quickly, and it has no fan to move air through a large space efficiently. Most troubling of all though is the lack of a thermostat: you have to turn it on and off manually to control the temperature.

Pros

• One of the smallest and lightest space heaters available
• Sits on your outlet and heats up small rooms fast
• Timer and external temperature display

Cons

• No automatic thermostat
• Low wattage and no fan make this model less effective in larger spaces

Video

#3 Dr Infrared Heater DR998, 1500Wl

Specifications

Features

• Air purifier keeps allergens and contaminants out of the air
• Oscillating fan distribute heat efficiently
• Humidifier drives out dry winter air
• Built-in thermostat saves energy
• Combination Quartz tube and ceramic heating elements for optimal heating efficiency
• Compact size allows you to place it in any space and even use it as an end table

An attractive design with plenty of extra features, the Dr. Infrared DR998 replaces up to four other appliances in your RV: heater, humidifier, air filter, and fan. This diminutive space heater can keep even large RV bedrooms or living areas warm all winter long without drying out the air or triggering your seasonal allergies.

• WHAT WE LIKE
• WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
• PROS/CONS OVERVIEW

There is no feature so underrated and underappreciated like a built-in humidifier. Even if you winter in a warm climate, the dry winter air can make your morning miserable. Additionally, he combination infrared heating and quartz/ceramic elements lets you heat your space faster using less energy.

It’s a bit short for an end table or a bedside table, but it can function as one. You will need to put it on top of something else if you want to blow warm, humidified air over your bed while you sleep though. Moreover, the air purifier function needs to be cleaned regularly to be effective.

Pros

• Combination heater, humidifier, fan, and air purifier
• Quartz Tube & Ceramic heating elements for optimal efficiency

Cons

• Much pricier than comparable units with more features
• Combination appliances require more frequent maintenance as a rule

Video

#4 Caframo Limited 9206CABBX True North Heater

Specifications

Features

• Three heat settings for us in small, medium, and large spaces
• Dual speed fan helps keep warm air circulating
• Thermostat automatically maintains temperature while minimizing energy usage
• Integrated anti-freeze setting to prevent failure in freezing weather
• Low profile design lets this heater fit in any living space regardless of size

For the space conscious, Caframo offers this low-profile, compact design suitable to every small living space. Under your desk at work, in your RV, or even under your sofa or favorite armchair, the Caframo Limited 9206CABBX True North Heater is ready to provide warmth fast.

• WHAT WE LIKE
• WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
• PROS/CONS OVERVIEW

This thing fits just about anywhere you might want to put it, and if you have an extension cord handy that means it’s tough to find a space it’s not useful. It also keeps small spaces extra warm when you need it, but thanks to its builtin thermostat is shuts off to save power.

The is definitely the ugly bug of space heaters. It is definitely functional, but it’s a bit of an eyesore in terms of design. Moreover, the fans don’t oscillate, so you are blasting heat in one direction only while this little space heater is running. It’s fine for small spaces or rooms in RV, but it’s not effective otherwise.

Pros

• Small footprint
• Variable wattage
• Built in thermostat

Cons

• Design is fairly spartan and unattractive
• Fans do not oscillate to aid in air circulation

Video

#5 Comfort Glow BDISC6 Original Brown Box Ceramic Disc

Specifications

Features

• 4 ceramic heating discs
• Built-in thermostat
• Tip-over shut-off to minimize the potential for a fire hazard
• External temperature sensor

“No frills, no fancy features, no problems” should be a tagline on the packaging. This heater is a little metal box with four ceramic heating discs, a safety grill, no internal fan, and one of the best thermostats I’ve ever seen in a space heater.

• WHAT WE LIKE
• WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
• PROS/CONS OVERVIEW

This functions on the simple concept of “plug it in and make the room warm.” No second guessing, no fiddling with questions, just plug it in and turn it on for a warm room. After that, it manages the temperature for itself.

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It looks like a mid-century modern throwback, but ugly. Normally I like this design, but the brown metal box and black grill aren’t doing the looks any favors. It also has no circulating fan, so warming up a room definitely takes longer than with comparable models in the same class.

Pros

• Compact size
• Exceptional heating performance
• High quality design and durability 

Cons

• No fan to circulate air
• Works great, but the design is an eyesore

Video

CONCLUSION

From my research, the best electric heater for your RV is the Lasko Designer Series Ceramic Space Heater. It’s got the best looking and fastest heating with the most efficient design out of the five electric heaters I examined.

Plug it in, turn it on, set the thermostat where you want it, and your room is warm and toasty within minutes. Whether you are just an occasional RV traveler or live the RV life full time, this miniature powerhouse heater is going to be the best choice in terms of features, value, and lifespan.

Check one out when you go shopping for an electric heater for your RV. I’m confident you will reach the same conclusion.