Is your bathroom colder than the rest of your house? Perhaps the tiled floor sends shivers through you if you need the loo in the middle of the night?
Sounds familiar?
You need an electric bathroom heater.
Electric bathroom heaters can be expensive to run, but sometimes your home heating isn’t sufficient; especially for fully tiled bathrooms. There’s nothing worse than shivering while waiting for the water to warm up – you’ll forever rush your ablutions if the bathroom remains frosty and unwelcoming.
We have put together a list of the best bathroom heater solutions, including portable bathroom heaters, wall mounted bathroom heaters and bathroom ceiling heaters.
If you’re wondering how you can turn your hyperthermic hovel into a heated haven, read on.
Article Contents
Best Bathroom Heater Comparison Table
Use this table to quickly compare the best bathroom heaters. Keep scrolling down the page for more info on our review criteria and in-depth reviews on each item.
Product Best Installed Option Stelpro Design Wall Heater Stiebel Eltron CK15E Broan Model 157 Ceiling Heater Best Portable Option Holmes Portable Heater Panasonic FV-11VH2 Ceiling Fan and Light Preview
7.0
5.3
8.6
6.0
Power Rating 750/1500W 1500W 1250W 600/1500W 1400W Requires Professional Installation? Heat Control System Built-in thermostat Thermostatic Control Always On or optional wall-mounted thermostat Temperature controlled thermostat Always On Shop on Amazon Check Local Price Check Local Price Check Local Price Check Local Price Check Local Price Best Installed Option Product Stelpro Design Wall Heater Preview
Power Rating 750/1500W Requires Professional Installation? Heat Control System Built-in thermostat Shop on Amazon Check Local Price Product Stiebel Eltron CK15E Preview
Power Rating 1500W Requires Professional Installation? Heat Control System Thermostatic Control Shop on Amazon Check Local Price Product Broan Model 157 Ceiling Heater Preview
Power Rating 1250W Requires Professional Installation? Heat Control System Always On or optional wall-mounted thermostat Shop on Amazon Check Local Price Best Portable Option Product Holmes Portable Heater Preview
Power Rating 600/1500W Requires Professional Installation? Heat Control System Temperature controlled thermostat Shop on Amazon Check Local Price Product Panasonic FV-11VH2 Ceiling Fan and Light Preview
Power Rating 1400W Requires Professional Installation? Heat Control System Always On Shop on Amazon Check Local Price
Our Top Pick
Taking everything into account, we think that there are two winners here. Is that a cop-out?
Because of the need for a professional installation with these units, we’ve decided to break this down into best “installed” heater and best portable unit.
Obviously, the best portable bathroom heater is the Holmes Heater with 1 Touch Control. We thought that this heater provided great versatility for heating a smaller bathroom, but with the added convenience of being able to move the heater around the house whenever needed.
- Product Dimensions 12.3"H x 10.3"W x 12"L
- 1Touch® digital controls with programmable thermostat
- ALCI safety plug. Overheat protection and cool touch housing
- 2 heat settings - 1500 watt max. Portable and lightweight with integrated carry handle. Wall mountable option
We think that the best “installed” heater is the Stelpro Design Integrated Wall Heater. It has the best design of all the heaters featured in this article; it has thermostatic control; and the grill blades can be pointed down towards the floor or up towards the ceiling, which is a feature we really liked for tiled floors.
Electric heaters for bathrooms are expensive to run, but the Stelpro has a built-in thermostat and a digital thermometer that means that you can get the temperature of your bathroom just right, saving electricity by not over-heating an empty bathroom.
- FREE THERMOMETER: Portable thermometer & E-Book with every wall mounted heater
- ULTRA QUIET FAN: heats quickly and quietly & provides comfortable heat in seconds
- SAFE & RELIABLE WALL HEATER: for children and pets with its safe rounded corners
- 100% ENERGY EFFICIENT HEATING: Top quality heating element, soft safe heat that's built to last
- NOTE: It must be hard wired with a dedicated power line to your circuit breaker
The Best Bathroom Heater Reviews
Stelpro Design Integrated Wall Heater Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Permanent bathroom heating. Good energy-saving, ultra-quiet, wall mounted bathroom heater.
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Ultra-quiet fan
Max power output: 750W & 1500W
Heat Control System: Built-in thermostat
The Stelpro Design integrated wall heater is a high-quality heater with a built-in thermostat. The ultra-quiet fan provides near silent heating in seconds, and the rounded edges of the wall unit are safe for use around children and pets – no danger of scratches from sharp, hard edges.
The unit comes with a separate, indoor digital thermometer so that you can gauge the exact temperature inside the bathroom.
This bathroom electric heater is hard-wired to the electrical circuit of your home – after installation, there’s no maintenance required.
- Two heating settings – 750W & 1500W
- Rounded edges – safe for children and pets
- Built-in thermostat, heats accurately between 45ºF and 75ºF
- Heats up to 150sq ft of bathroom
- 18 gauge steel cover – built to last
The thermostatic controller will produce a comfortable heat in the bathroom. The heating range is between 45ºF and 75ºF, so there’s plenty of scope to get the temperature exactly to your preference.
The Automatic safety cut-off prevents overheating of the element and the fan, keeping the unit operational for many years.
The heating element is made from high-quality nickel-chrome; facilitating instant heat, distributed perfectly by the ultra-quiet fan. The epoxy powdered polyester coating has a 1-year limited warranty, while the element is covered by a 10-year warranty.
The unit protrudes from the wall by (WxHxD) 9” x 17” x 1”, and the back-box needs to be buried around 2.5” deep into the wall.
This wall mounted bathroom heater should be installed by a qualified, professional electrician. The white metal grill at the front of the heater can be aimed either downwards or upwards. If you have stone floor-tiles that are often cold, pointing the heat downwards will gently warm the tiles underfoot.
The Stelpro Design Pulsair Integrated Wall Heater is available from Amazon.
More Info
View Stelpro Design Pulsair Installation Manual
Stelpro Design Integrated Wall Heater ReviewHeating Capacity9Ease of Installation5Other Features9 7.6Small, powerful and ultra quietA tough little heater that warms up a large bathroom easily. Built to last – you won’t regret investing in this heater.Check Price on AmazonHolmes Heater with 1 Touch Control Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Portable and occasional heating around the home. ALCI Safe Plug for safety in wet environments.
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Fan assisted
Max power output: 600W & 1500W
Heat Control System: Temperature controlled thermostat
The Holmes Heater has a 1-touch control interface that allows you to set your precise, desired temperature (in increments of 5 degrees). Minimum temperature is 60ºF and maximum is 80ºF. The simple, one button control surface makes this a super-simple unit to use in the bathroom.
The ALCI safety plug cuts the electricity supply if the unit becomes accidentally immersed in water. The unit is built from plastic and remains cool to the touch when heating is in operation.
- Two power levels – 600W & 1500W
- Temperature-controlled thermostat
- One-button control
- Portable bathroom heater, suitable for moving around the house wherever fast heat is required
- ALCI safety plug
The Holmes Heater has two main heat settings – Hi and Lo. The Hi setting uses 1500W of power and heats the bathroom more quickly, while the Lo setting uses 600W of power, which is suitable for slower, more consistent heating.
The fan-forced heating operates quietly, distributing heat through the large grill area and quickly warming the bathroom. The fan blows the heated air from a wire element, spreading a comfortable heat for smaller bathrooms.
The Holmes Portable Heater is available from Amazon.
Holmes Heater HFH-441U ReviewHeating Capacity8Ease of Installation10Other Features8 8.6Portable and safeA safe, portable heater that packs a big punchCheck Price on AmazonStiebel Eltron CK15E Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Heating a bathroom quickly and safely
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Fan assisted
Max power output: 1500W
Heat Control System: Thermostatic control
The Stiebel Eltron CK15E wall mounted bathroom heater is fan assisted, runs on a 120 Volt electricity circuit and requires professional installation. This 1500W heater will heat an average-sized bathroom quickly and quietly, but there’s also a 2000W version for larger bathrooms.
The fan directs the heat down towards the floor which is perfect for floor-tiled bathrooms as it will bring warmth underfoot. The CK15E is ideal for bathrooms but also recommended for kitchens and hallways.
- Thermostatically controlled temperature
- Wall mounted bathroom heater
- Dial control thermostat
- 1500W heating power
- Nichrome Wire heating element
The installation could be done reasonably simply by a confident DIYer, but for added safety, it would be recommended to hire a registered, qualified electrician to ensure that the installation is safe in wet environments. The unit, when correctly installed, comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
The compact design fits directly onto the wall and could make an attractive addition to your bathroom furniture. The painted steel and plastic housing provide a stylish aesthetic.
The built-in thermostat offers good control over the heat output, controlled via a dial on the side of the unit. You can’t choose specific temperatures, but it doesn’t take long to get the heating level right for your bathroom.
The unit dimensions are 18” x 13” x 4.5” (Height x Width x Depth)
The Stiebel Eltron CK15E is available from Amazon.
More Info
View Stiebel Eltron CK15E Installation Manual
Stiebel Eltron CK15E ReviewHeating Capacity9Ease of Installation5Other Features7 7Big on features yet nice and compactThis heater requires professional installation, but it works really well and takes up very little spaceCheck Price on AmazonBroan Model 157 Ceiling Heater Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Permanent bathroom heating. Good energy-saving heater. Recommended as a supplementary heater, rather than the primary source of heat.
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Radiant, Fan assisted
Max power output: 1250W
Heat Control System: Optional wall-mounted thermostat control
The Broan 157 ceiling heater for bathrooms has a 1250W element that radiates heat from behind a metal-sheath. The low-profile housing will subtly fit into your existing bathroom furniture. The housing includes an aluminum grill, with a satinized finish.
When affixed, the entire unit protrudes just 2 3/4 inches from the ceiling, leaving plenty of headspace.
A minimum 15 amp circuit is required for this unit, and it’s recommended that hard-wired heaters are installed by qualified, professional electricians.
- 1250W of heating power
- Subtle aluminum grill distributes the heat efficiently
- Automatic heat shut off
- Simple ON / OFF heating action
The basic unit is a simple ON / OFF unit which provides instant heat but does need to be switched off manually. An optional wall-mounted thermostatic control unit is available.
The motor powering the fan is permanently lubricated, meaning that maintenance is minimal. The automatic overheat protection function stops the room from becoming too hot and prevents overheating of the unit and damage to the ceiling.
The enclosed and sheathed solid wire heating element powers up immediately, providing a fast solution to a chilly bathroom.
The unit comes with a 1-year warranty.
The The Broan 157 Cieling Heater is available from Amazon.
More Info
View Broan Model 157 Installation Manual
Broan Model 157 Ceiling Heater ReviewHeating Capacity7Ease of Installation5Other Features4 5.3Simple, effective heatingA simple cieling mount heater that heats a medium size space effictively. Highly recommend the optional wall mount thermostat.Check Price on AmazonPanasonic FV-11VH2 Whisper Warm Ceiling Fan and Light Review
Price: Check local price on Amazon
Perfect for: Permanent ceiling heater for bathrooms. Features a light. Quiet unit.
Key Specifications
Heater Type: Fan
Max power output: 1400W
Heat Control System: Always on
The Panasonic FV-11VH2 is a super-quiet unit that you may very well forget is switched on. The large fan blades rotate at a low rpm, producing less sound than a smaller fan which needs to rotate more rapidly to distribute the heat.
This North American built unit should be professionally installed, no more than 8ft away from the floor.
The integrated light has a nightlight feature which is useful if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
The tubular heat element is made of stainless-steel sheathing, featuring a Nichrome wire, coupled with magnesium oxide for maximum heat transfer.
The Panasonic FV-11VHW ceiling heater with light features include:
- Light and nightlight facility
- Super-quiet fan operation
- Enclosed condenser motor with permanent lubrication, requires no maintenance
- Suitable for 30,000 hours of continuous running
- 1400W heating element
The unit features two 18W fluorescent tubes, which provide the equivalent of 100W of light, in comparison with traditional globe bulbs. The 4W nightlight offers a comfortable light during the night-time.
The fan’s condenser motor is totally enclosed, providing a guaranteed long life – it should run for 30,000 hours continuously. The high-quality Panasonic parts will last for many years – the larger fan blade is designed to run more slowly and quietly than a smaller fan, creating less friction within the fan motor. This should ensure that the unit will have some longevity in the home.
The Panasonic FV-11VH2 is available from Amazon.
More Info
View FV-11VH2 Installation Manual
Panasonic FV-11VH2 Whisper Warm Ceiling Fan and Light ReviewHeating Capacity8Ease of Installation5Other Features5 6Quiet, powerful heatingA simple, cieling mounted heater with an in-built light that really pumps out the heat. Can be a little difficult to install. Check Price on AmazonThe Best Bathroom Heater - What We Look For
Safety First
Electricity and water aren’t the best bed-fellows, so if you want to prevent some serious electrocution and fire hazards, it’s imperative that you get the right type of heater.
Bathroom heaters are either hardwired into your electricity circuit or come with a dedicated safety plug that is suitable for use in environments where water and moisture are likely. An ALCI Safe Plug is the general standard in North America.
Heating Speed
Infrared bathroom heaters provide heat via light radiation. Bathroom heat-lamps heat up the space quickly and efficiently but do cast an orange glow in the room, which may not be to everyone’s taste.
Installation Requirements
Bathroom ceiling heaters are a permanent solution to a cold bathroom – they do require professional installation, however, as they are hard-wired into your home’s electrical circuit and controlled by a wall switch.
Hard-wired heating is safer (as long as it’s correctly installed) and more energy-efficient.
Portable bathroom heaters are a good option for those who require temporary heat in the bathroom – to prepare the room for a bath, for example. They do need to have an ALCI Safe Plug or equivalent.
