Six heaters below were checked on Amazon on October 11, 2026. The grille heater and the Convectair Allegro 26 II from the old list could not be matched to live listings with ratings, so they were dropped. Wattage and voltage come from the Amazon titles and listings. Hardwired heaters should be installed by a licensed electrician.
An electric wall heater takes up almost no floor space and runs without fumes, flames or a fan that rattles. It is a classic fix for a bathroom, a mudroom, a garage office or a room added on to the house. This guide covers how they work, how to size one and six models to look at.
Table of Contents
What Is an Electric Wall Heater?
An electric wall heater is built into a wall cavity or mounted on the wall. Inside, a resistance element warms the air, and a small fan or natural convection pushes it out. Most are 240 volt and wired into the home circuit. Smaller ones use a normal 120 volt plug. A built-in thermostat cycles the heater on and off.
Looking ahead, electric wall heaters are a quiet comeback story. More homes are adding rooms, finishing basements and closing in porches that the main heating system does not reach, and a hardwired wall heater is a clean fix. The catch is that electric resistance heat costs more to run than a heat pump, so a wall heater is best for small spaces and short use.
6 Wall Heaters on Amazon
Prices and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 11, 2026.
Price on Amazon: $269.00 | 4.4 stars from 371 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Cadet Energy Plus CEC163TW is a 1,600 watt, 240 volt wall heater with a digital thermostat, per the listing. It has a 4.4 rating from 371 ratings. At about 10 watts per square foot it suits a room of roughly 160 square feet.
Price on Amazon: $365.00 | 4.1 stars from 400 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Broan-NuTone 198 is a 240 volt heater that can run at 4,000 or 2,000 watts, with a white painted grille. Its 4.1 rating comes from about 400 ratings. The older page named it the runner-up.
Price on Amazon: $219.99 | 4.5 stars from 322 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Cadet Com-Pak Twin is a 4,000 watt, 240 volt wall heater with a thermostat. At 4,000 watts it can cover about 400 square feet in a mild climate.
Price on Amazon: $187.20 | 4.4 stars from 313 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Broan-NuTone 170 is a 120 volt heater that runs at 500 or 1,000 watts, per the listing. It is the one to pick for a small room or a closet-sized space. It has a 4.4 rating from 313 ratings.
Price on Amazon: $149.99 | 4.4 stars from 13,954 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI is an infrared heater that mounts on a wall and works from a phone app. It has about 14,000 ratings at 4.4 stars. Check the listing for the plug and mounting details.
Price on Amazon: $129.95 | 4.3 stars from 5,191 ratings (checked October 11, 2026)
The DeLonghi Mica Panel heater is a plug-in 1,500 watt unit that stands on the floor or mounts on a wall, per the listing. It is the pick for a renter who cannot hardwire anything.
The risk to watch is the wrong circuit. A 4,000 watt, 240 volt heater on a weak or shared circuit can trip breakers or overheat wiring, and a heater mounted behind furniture or curtains is a fire risk. Expect more rules on clearances and more smart thermostats that cut waste. Hire an electrician, follow the clearance diagram and keep the front of the grille open.
How to Pick the Right Size
- Measure the room. Multiply the square footage by 10 watts. A 12 by 14 foot room is 168 square feet, so about 1,700 watts.
- Add for the weak spots. Older homes, big windows and high ceilings need more. Use our space heater wattage calculator or read how to choose the right size space heater.
- Check the voltage. A 240 volt heater needs a dedicated circuit sized by an electrician. Do not guess.
- Pick the controls. A built-in thermostat is simplest. A wall thermostat gives better control.
Benefits of Wall Heaters
- No floor space. They sit in the wall or on it.
- No fumes. Nothing burns, so there is no carbon monoxide.
- Zone heating. Heat only the room you use.
- Low price to buy. Compared with a new duct run or a mini-split, the up-front cost is small.
The downside is the running cost. A 4,000 watt heater costs about 68 cents an hour at 17 cents per kWh, so use it in short bursts. For a big room, read best heaters for large rooms.
Install and Safety
- Use a licensed electrician for any 240 volt heater.
- Follow the clearance diagram. Keep curtains, furniture and bedding away from the grille.
- Do not mount a heater where water can reach it, such as over a tub.
- Clean the grille and fins each fall. Dust smells when it burns off.
- If the heater trips the breaker, stop and call an electrician.
FAQ
How do wall heaters work?
A resistance element heats the air, and a fan or natural convection moves it into the room.
Can you leave one on overnight?
Wall heaters with thermostats are made for steady use, but safety experts advise against running any space heater while you sleep unless the maker says it is allowed.
Do they cause carbon monoxide?
No. They are electric and burn nothing.
Can you sleep in a room with one on?
Follow the manual. A hardwired unit with a thermostat is designed for it, but keep bedding well clear.
Final Word
Match watts to square feet, hire an electrician for 240 volt units and use a plug-in panel if you rent. For a plug-in alternative, see infrared heaters.
What happens next: expect more wall heaters with digital thermostats and Wi-Fi, and more homeowners pairing them with a mini-split for the main rooms. For a bathroom, mudroom or garage office, a wall heater stays the simple, quiet answer.
Related Guides
Keep going with how to choose the right size space heater, space heater wattage calculator, best heaters for large rooms, infrared heaters and how much electricity space heaters use.
