What size space heater do I need in 2022 – BestHeaterGuide

Space heaters are an economical and durable way to heat the space, and they are pretty cheap and offer more safety than conventional heaters. Currently, there are a lot of space heaters available in the market in different sizes and different heating systems. So, shopping for a space heater that will suit your demands and requirements can be a confusing matter. Choosing the right space heater size is crucial for optimum heating of the room because too small a space heater will provide little to no benefit. Additionally, the too-large space heater would be a liability in terms of purchasing cost and operation and maintenance costs.

This article will guide you in choosing the perfect size space heater for your room that will best suit your requirements. Not only that, but we will also learn some categories to consider for specific areas of home or offices.

Size Of Space Heater

Space heater size means the power input and the heat generation by the heaters. Usually, power is measured in terms of a watt. Generally, space heaters come in 1500 watt settings, but they can be higher or lower. The best way to select the space heater is based on the space heater’s area is destined to be used or installed.

As a benchmark or rule of thumb, approximately 10 watts of space heater power is required to increase the temperature of 1 square foot of space to an optimum level at an optimum rate. By this rule, 1500 watt space heaters are more than enough for a standard 12 x 12 bedroom. 

Space heater size ( watts) = 10 * area of room (sq. ft)

This equation is valid in almost all cases, but there are a lot of factors that affect the selection of space heaters based on area. These parameters are:

• Ceiling height: Most of the room’s standard ceiling height is 8 feet. If your room’s ceiling height is more than that, multiply the space heater requirement by 1.25 for an additional 1 foot of height. The equation becomes:

Space heater size ( watts) = 10 * area of room (sq. ft) * {1.25*(ceiling height – 8)}

• Poor insulation: if your room or target area is not adequately insulated and heat can easily escape from it, you would have to consider the size of the space heater with the factor of 12 instead of 10 to account for energy losses.

Space heater size ( watts) = 12 * area of room (sq. ft)

• Windows in the room: windows are responsible for 25% of all the heat losses in an average house, although they make up only 8% of the entire surface area. Windows have cracks that can transmit heat or act as heat sink no matter how resistant they are. If your room has a lot of windows or large windows, it is better to use a space heater with a bit of extra power generation.

• Temperature difference: the most critical factor in choosing the right size of the space heater is the outside temperature. If your desired temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the outside temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it would require less energy than in the area where the outside temperature is 25 degrees. So, if you live in areas where the temperature gets below freezing, it is better to multiply the figure by 1.5

Space heater size ( watts) = 15 * area of room (sq. ft)

• Supplemental heating: if you are planning to increase the temperature of a room when there is already a central heating system working inside the building. Increasing the temperature of one room by it may make the whole building over hot, then you would require a much smaller space heater. One cubic foot of air needs 0.24 BTU of energy to raise the temperature to 1 degree Fahrenheit. Now, if your wish to increase the temperature of 12 * 12 * 8 room temperature to 10 degrees. You would require about 2765 BTU of energy, and for converting that figure into watts, you can divide it by 3.41, which gives you the required size of a space heater. Mathematically it can be written as:

Volume * 0.24 * temperature increase = BTU

BTU / 3.41 = space heater size (watts)

In this case, it is 811 watts, significantly less than the standard 1500 watts.

The critical thing to remember here is that these assumptions and calculations are for the convection heaters which heat the air inside the room. Infrared space heaters do not heat the air, so these calculations would not apply. Infrared space heaters are considered more energy-efficient, and a 1500 watt infrared space heater would provide good heat to 200 square feet area compared to a convection heater’s 150 square feet.

Factors That Are Needed To Be Considered In Choosing The Size

There must be several parameters that are needed to consider before choosing the right size for your space heaters.

• If the room had more windows, it would require a more powerful heater.
• A high ceiling room or the room with a staircase would need a more robust space heater than the standard required size.
• If the room has tiled flooring instead of carpet or wooden flooring, it may require an extra-large space heater.
• The room that is used while sleeping would require less energy as compared to daytime or office heating.
• If you use it in your cabin with poor insulation, it is better to use an infrared space heater.
• If you are shopping for a bathroom heater, you should consider a wall-mounted space heater because of extra safety.
• If you plan to buy a space heater for the whole office, it is better to choose a convection heater because an infrared heater will not spread heat evenly due to obstacles.

Conclusion

It is better to know the size and specifications of the space heater, which would suit your needs when you are looking to buy a new space heater. There are a lot of parameters that affect the size of space heaters, and we have discussed them in detail. As a general rule, 10 watts is required for 1 square foot of space, but the number can be increased or decreased based on different factors. These factors include insulation, windows, ceiling height, temperature difference, supplemental heating, tiling, or flooring, and all these parameters must be considered before choosing the right space heater for yourself. The heat generation method also affects the size of space heaters; infrared space heaters require less energy to heat the same area than convection heaters, but they lack heat transfer beyond obstacles and are not fit in some areas.