Best heaters in Australia

Buy at Bing Lee

Why we chose it

If you prefer gas to electric, the Rinnai Dynamo 15 Convector Heater is our choice as the best gas heater. This unflued gas heater is designed to heat medium-sized rooms, offers a high energy-efficiency rating and is simple to program and use throughout winter.

It's also come in for plenty of praise from Australian consumers. Not only does it have an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from almost 100 Google reviews, but it has also earned an average score of 4.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings on productreview.com.au. As a result of all these factors, it's well worth a look if you're shopping around for a versatile gas heater.

Available with natural gas or LPG, the Dynamo 15 features low emissions technology and is fully thermostatic. This means you can just program your desired heat setting and then let it do its thing, while the 5.8-star energy-efficiency rating means your gas bills aren't going to take too much of a hit.

The Dynamo 15 also features a clever Economy mode. When it detects that the room has been at the same temperature for an hour, it automatically reduces the heat setting at a gradual pace to help reduce your gas consumption.

Dual programmable timers allow you to set the heater to leap into action when you need it most, and the Dynamo 15 can heat rooms of up to 38m² in cold climates or 59m² in mild climates.

It's also backed by a five-year warranty for added peace of mind, so there's certainly a lot to like about this versatile Rinnai gas heater.

Best budget heater: De'Longhi 2000W Convection Heater HCM 2030

Pros

Simple to use
Can be wall-mounted or portable

Cons

Some buyers complain that supporting feet are hard to attach
Some users complain about power bill increases

Price (RRP): $69
Amazon pricing: From $54.46

Why we chose it

Shopping for a heater this winter and want to spend less than $100? We recommend checking out the De'Longhi HCM 2030 convection heater.

This budget-friendly option can be mounted to a wall or used in freestanding mode, is easy to relocate and is designed to heat rooms of up to 60m³. It's also picked up a host of positive reviews, as shown by its average score of 4.4 out of 5 from almost 300 Google reviews. That's why it's our top pick as the best budget heater.

With 2,000W of heating power, this convection model is designed to evenly distribute heat quickly around medium and large rooms. Simply turn the knob to the heat setting you want and away you go, and it's easy to adjust the temperature based on your needs.

Another of the main selling points of this De'Longhi convection heater is the fact that it's highly portable. Light in weight and featuring convenient carry handles, it's easy to move around the house to heat other rooms.

This model can also be mounted if needed. Other features included double insulation for added protection and an anti-frost function.

Best of all, you can pick up one of these heaters without blowing your budget. With a price tag of less than $70, it well and truly fits into the budget category. So if you want an affordable heater to help warm your home this winter, look no further than the De'Longhi HCM 2030 2,000W Convection Heater.

Best heater for bedrooms: De'Longhi Radia S Oil Column Heater TRRS 0510T

Pros

Compact
24-hour timer

Cons

Not suited to larger rooms
Some might prefer the convenience of an added fan

Average online price: $119
Amazon pricing: Check site for current pricing

Buy at Bing Lee

Why we chose it

If you're searching for a heater you can use to make sure your bedroom is nice and toasty throughout winter, there's a lot to like about this oil column heater from De'Longhi.

The De'Longhi Radia S TRRS 0510T is a quiet performer and one that's easy to use and move around your home. It's also been well received by consumers, with lots of positive feedback from customers at retailers like The Good Guys, Harvey Norman and Bing Lee. With this in mind, the TRRS 0510T is our top pick as the best heater for bedrooms.

Designed to warm rooms of up to 30m³, this heater will be a good fit in many bedrooms. It features larger fins to provide better heat distribution, but it still has a relatively small footprint so it's not going to take up too much space in your room. It has a thermostat so you can set and maintain the temperature you want, and there's also a 24-hour timer so you can program the heater to warm up your room at just the right time.

There are also three levels of heating power available, while the auto-off safety system in case the heater turns over is an important protective feature for added peace of mind. And when you need to move the heater to another room, its front carry handle, handy castors and compact size ensure that the job will be light work.

Happily, the De'Longhi Radia S TRRS 0510T is backed by a seven-year warranty. And because it comes with pre-assembled folding castors, it's ready to use straight away.

Best heater for large rooms: Rinnai Avenger 25 Convector Heater

Pros

Energy-efficient heater
Heats rooms up to 63m² in cold climates

Cons

Some complaints that it is a little noisy
Not the cheapest

Average online price: $1,610

Buy at Bing Lee

Why we chose it

If you need to buy a heater that's capable of providing warmth for a large room, we recommend checking out the Avenger 25 from Rinnai. This convector heater can heat rooms of over 90m² capacity in mild climates, plus has the added benefits of being energy efficient and easy to use.

It's also been well received by Australian consumers. The Avenger 25 has garnered lots of positive feedback from customers at retailers like Appliances Online, Harvey Norman and The Good Guys, not to mention an average score of 4.2 out of 5 from over 60 reviews on productreview.com.au. With this in mind, the Rinnai Avenger 25 Convector Heater takes the win here as the best heater for large rooms.

This unflued gas heater can heat rooms of up to 63m² if you live in a cold climate, such as in Canberra. If you live in a mild climate, this heating capacity climbs to up to 97m². The Avenger 25 also boasts a 5.8-star energy efficiency rating to help you save money, with gas input of 8.5MJ an hour on low and 25MJ an hour when on high.

Dual programmable timers — one for the morning and one for the evening — allow you to program the heater to warm your home at the times you need it most. The heater is fully thermostatic, which means you can just set your desired temperature and let it do its own thing. And when in economy mode, it automatically reduces the heat setting at a gradual pace once the room has reached the set temperature.

A 5-year warranty (10 years for the heat exchanger) provides added peace of mind and is another reason why the Avenger 25 is well worth considering for those large heating jobs.

Best oil heater: Dimplex ECR15FA 1.5kW Oil Free Column Heater with Thermostat and Turbo Fan

Pros

Added turbo fan
Lightweight and oil-free

Cons

Won't be large enough for everyone
Some complaints about fan noise

Average online price: $126

Why we chose it

The De'Longhi DL2401TF we chose as our best overall electric heater is obviously well worth a look if you're searching for a quality oil heater. But so is this portable Dimplex heater that combines a light weight with the convenience of a turbo fan and the peace of mind of a seven-year warranty.

The ECR15FA has also picked up many positive reviews from Australian consumers, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from over 50 Google reviews. Dimplex also had the honour of being named the best electric heater brand in the 2020-21 Finder Retail Awards, with the value for money, features, performance and safety of its electric heaters all garnering praise.

So while there are a lot of options worth considering if you're shopping for an oil heater, the Dimplex ECR15FA 1.5kW Oil Free Column Heater with Thermostat and Turbo Fan takes the win here as the best oil heater.

With no oil, this model is 10% lighter than a normal Dimplex oil column heater. It features castors and a handle to increase portability, with five fins to provide heat and a choice of two power settings. When you want to heat your room up quickly, there's also a turbo fan included in the appliance.

The ECR15FA also features cord storage and a thermostat, and the long seven-year warranty is another bonus. So if you're searching for a versatile oil heater, there are plenty of good reasons why you should add this oil-free Dimplex column heater to your shopping list.

Best panel heater: Noirot Spot Plus 7358-5T 1,500W Panel Heater with Timer

Pros

Stylish European design
Lifetime warranty

Cons

There are cheaper options available
May not be suited to larger rooms

Average online price: $599
Amazon pricing: From $429.00

Why we chose it

If you're in the market for a stylish yet practical panel heater, there are plenty of good reasons why you should check out the Noirot Spot Plus 7358-5T. This 1,500W panel heater boasts an elegant European design, quiet and efficient convection heating and convenient features like a digital timer.

The Noirot Spot Plus has also earned its fair share of positive reviews from customers in Australia and around the world. The Spot Plus range of heaters has an average Google reviews score of 4.6 out of 5 from over 200 ratings, while it's also largely been well received by customers at retailers like The Good Guys and Harvey Norman. And with an average score of 4.1 out of 5 from 19 ratings on productreview.com.au, the Noirot Spot Plus 7358-5T takes the win here as the best panel heater.

With 1,500W of heating power, this electric convection heater uses its Monobloc element to gently heat your room. With no fan to stir up dust particles, it's recognised by the National Asthma Council Australia Sensitive Choice program and could also be a good choice for those who suffer from allergies.

The Spot Plus features an electronic thermostat that checks the room temperature every 30 seconds and ensures that it stays within 0.1°C of your desired level. Programming is easy via a digital timer and clearly labelled buttons, while you can also lock the keypad to ensure that no-one tinkers with your favourite settings.

It's also worth mentioning that the Spot Plus is backed by a lifetime warranty. And despite the $600 recommended retail price tag attached to the Spot Plus, we found it selling for $200 less from multiple retailers at the time of writing. So if you think this heater could be a good fit for your home, be sure to shop around for the best available deal.

Best portable heater: Kmart Anko Fan Heater

Kmart Anko Fan Heater

Pros

Easy to use
Very affordable

Cons

Doesn't oscillate
May not be suited to larger rooms

Price (RRP): $15

Kmart

Why we chose it

If portability is a key consideration when choosing a heater, we recommend taking a closer look at the Kmart Anko Fan Heater. This cheap and cheerful model is lightweight and compact, and it can provide all the heat you need to warm up a small space on a chilly winter morning.

It's also an incredibly affordable option that has picked up more than its fair share of positive reviews from Aussie buyers. These include an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 from over 25 Kmart customer reviews, plus an average score of 4.1 out of 5 from over 35 customer reviews on productreview.com.au. As a result of all these factors, the Kmart Anko Fan Heater is our top pick as the best portable heater.

The first thing you'll probably notice about this heater is its ultra-affordable price tag. At just $15, it's an affordable way to stay warm this winter. Of course, fan heaters are far from the most energy-efficient option out there, so expect your power bills to increase if you're using this heater regularly.

If you'd rather have an oil heater designed with portability in mind, we recommend checking out the Dimplex ECR15FA we chose as the best oil heater above and that also featured in our guide to the best electric heaters.

The Kmart Fan Heater has also got everything you need to quickly and easily take the edge off that winter chill. It has two heat settings and a fan-only setting, plus an adjustable thermostat to help you get the temperature to your desired level. A safety tip-over switch and overheat protection round out the list of features.

Finally, it's worth noting that this heater doesn't rotate, so you'll need to manually move it around to direct the heat where you want it to go. However, Kmart also sells an oscillating fan heater, which has also picked up largely positive reviews, for an extra $5.

Best heater for energy efficiency: Panasonic C2.5kW H3.2kW Reverse Cycle Inverter Air Conditioner CS/CU-Z25VKR

Pros

5.5-star Energy Rating when heating
Built-in air purifier

Cons

Not the cheapest option
Some buyers may only need heating, not cooling

Average online price: $959

Why we chose it

Searching for an energy-efficient way to heat your living area? This Panasonic reverse cycle air conditioner is definitely worth a closer look.

Not only does it boast high ratings for energy efficiency, but this model also offers a built-in air purifier, quiet operation and, of course, the ability to keep you cool in the heat of summer. Throw in the fact that it's picked up plenty of positive customer reviews, including an average score of 4.5 out of 5 from over 80 The Good Guys customer reviews, and the Panasonic CS/CU-Z25VKR takes the win here as the best heater for energy efficiency.

This model boasts a 3.2kW heating capacity and 2.5kW cooling capacity. When in heating mode, its energy efficiency rating is 5.5 stars, while cooling mode earns an almost as impressive Energy Rating of 5 stars.

One of the Panasonic's biggest selling points is that it includes a built-in NANOE-X air purifier. This works 24 hours a day (it even works when the machine is in standby mode) to eliminate dust, pollen, allergens, bacteria and more from the air in your home, plus it also hydrates and deodorises your room.

It also offers a dehumidifier function and a 24-hour timer, while many reviewers praise the unit for its quiet operation. To top it off, you can also control your air conditioner using a smartphone app or using your voice (when paired with Google Assistant or Alexa devices), all of which makes it quick, easy and efficient to heat your home.

Best dual-action heater: Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan Heater 302644-01

Pros

Stylish design
Easy to use

Cons

Some buyers criticise its cooling performance
Some users report that is noisier than expected

Price (RRP): $575
Amazon pricing: Check site for current pricing

Why we chose it

If you're searching for a heater that can also come in handy during the hot and steamy months of summer, there's a lot to like about the Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan Heater. This unique appliance offers the convenience of heating and cooling along with a stylish design, quiet operation and clever features.

The AM09 has also picked up a long list of positive reviews from Australian consumers. It boasts lots of glowing feedback from customers at retailers like Appliances Online and The Good Guys, plus an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 from over 7,000 Google reviews. As a result, the Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan Heater 302644-01 is our top pick as the best dual-action heater.

Designed to heat rooms quickly and evenly, the Hot + Cool Fan Heater uses Dyson's Air Multiplier technology rather than blades, providing a steady stream of smooth air. Simply set the room temperature you want and away it goes, and focused mode projects the warm air over a wider area. There's also a sleep timer (programmable from 15 minutes to 9 hours) so you can set the heater to switch off when you want.

When the mercury rises, the Dyson can also be used to provide personal cooling. The fact that there are no blades helps make it safer and easy to clean, while the stylish design means it won't look out of place in any modern home.

So if you're searching for a heater that can do more than just keep you warm, be sure to check out what the Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan Heater has to offer.

Best outdoor heater: Companion Portable LPG Heater

Pros

Portable
Suitable for camping as well as in your outdoor area

Cons

Some buyers may prefer something larger
Some complaints that it uses a little too much gas when set to high

Average online price: $142