We all love the freedom of the open road, but let’s face it – those nights can get pretty nippy. That’s where a good portable electric heater comes in to keep us all warm and snug. We as fellow campervaners have cruised through countless options, tested the best, and are here to share our top picks. Whether you’re a weekend wanderer or a full-time RVer, we want your nights to be as cozy as your days are adventurous. Read on to find the perfect portable electric heater to keep you warm and toasty during your RV travels!
What is the Best Portable Electric Heater for RV?
Below you’ll find the list of the top 5 Best Portable Electric Heater for RV. We compiled this list from portable electric heaters for RV we have used, asked others about, and researched further to give you the best possible roundup. With many years of experience with portable RV electric heaters you can be assured that this article will give you what you’re looking for.
We also wrote a buying guide and answered some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) at the end of this article.
1. Lasko Ceramic Tower 751320 Space Heater
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 22.5 x 8.3 x 7.3 inches (57.1 x 21.1 x 18.4 cm) Type: Convection Heating Element: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
The Lasko 751320 Ceramic Tower Space Heater is one the most popular models sold by Lakso. Its elongated ceramic heating element is self regulated and comes with a programmable thermostat that enables one to set the desired temperature between 60°F – 85°F in 5-degree increments.
However, some may find this temperature difference feature mildly inconvenient because they prefer more incremental degree adjustments to the preferred temperature.
Pros
- Plug and play, very easy to use,
- Remote-controlled operation for comfort and convenience,
- Swinging fan detail that evenly and swiftly warms the area,
- Superb heat action and noiseless function,
- Sleek feature with a thin body making it compact and handy
Cons
- Multiple adjustment control,
- Lacking auto switch-off for tip-over
2. TRUSTECH Electric Space Heater, 1500W Portable Ceramic Heater
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 17.1 x 8.3 x 6.7 inches (43.5 x 21 x 17 cm) Type: Convection Heating Element: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts |
This Trustech oscillating tower space heater features a 120° wide heat distribution that ensures your room is evenly warmed. Space heaters with elongated designs like this one come with certain benefits, such as the ability to oscillate and produce more heat due to their bigger heating elements. Additionally, this heater is compact for easy portability and storage. However, its tall height can also be a disadvantage in tight RV spaces considering that it is ideally a floor heater and may not fit on a shelf.
The heater comes with an adjustable thermostat to maintain your desired temperature, plus three heating modes that include heat, warm, and fan-only functions. It also comes with overheating and tip-over auto-shutoff safety features and a flame-resistant external casing. Many users note that it has a quiet operation, which makes it ideal for overnight use, and it has a decent build quality for durability.
Pros
- The oscillation feature spreads heat more evenly in your space,
- The adjustable thermostat helps maintain the desired temperature,
- Compact tower design enables multi-purpose applications,
- Delivers quiet operation for convenience
Cons
- More expensive than the competition,
- This model does not come with a remote control
3. Aikoper Space Heater for RV
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 9.1 x 6.4 x 4.8 inches (23.1 x 16.3 x 12.2 cm) Type: Convection Heating Element: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts |
The Aikoper Indoor Space Heater model is larger than other models of its similar range, but yet it offers the same 1500w maximum heating capacity. It features a PTC ceramic heating system that works with an in-built fan to warm up any small space within seconds. The lightweight heater only
weighs only 3 pounds and has a compact design that would fit neatly inside a travelling backpack. It also runs rather silently, enabling you to use it while sleeping soundly in an RV or tent. However, some users feedback that a useful feature it could have would be an automatic timer to switch it off.
Pros
- Dependable composition at a cheap cost,
- Multiple settings that allow easy usage,
- Thermostat control to support various temperature settings,
- Noiseless item, ideal for all-night use
Cons
- Not rotating, may only get the heat on one area,
- Best purely for inside function
4. Lasko 755320 Ceramic Space Heater
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 8 pounds (3.63 kg) Size: 23 x 8.6 x 7.3 inches (58.4 x 21.8 x 18.4 cm) Type: Convection Heating Element: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 1500 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
The Lasko 755320 Ceramic Space Heater is another highly rated model from this brand that features digital operation. It shares many similarities with other Lasko heaters in its price range, such as the Lasko 751320 and the Lasko CT22410 models. This unit is one of the first Lasko heaters to feature digital controls, where the latter units feature electronic buttons.
The Lasko 755320 features an elegant tower design with a small footprint. It comes fully assembled with a cool-touch plastic housing for safe handling and a 6-inch power cord for maneuverability. It features high and low heat settings with an adjustable thermostat to regulate the ambient temperature to a comfortable level. Plus, it features an 8-hour timer with 1-hour adjustments to automatically shut off the heater when it is not needed and a multi-functional remote control for convenience.
This model has a notably low hysteresis thermostat that automatically switches off the heater when it goes two degrees above the set temperature and switches back on when it falls one degree below. In comparison, the Lasko 751320 has a temperature difference of five degrees, which can feel uncomfortable for many people.
Pros
- User-friendly digital controls for easy operation,
- 72-degree oscillating function enables a faster distribution of warmth,
- The thermostat regulates ambient temperature with low hysteresis for comfort,
- Slim profile with a minimal footprint and a nonskid base for stability
Cons
- It does not have tip-over protection,
- It may have a chemical smell when new
5. Minetom 350W Wall Outlet Electric Space Heater
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 6.5 x 4.3 x 2.8 inches (16.5 x 10.9 x 7.1 cm) Type: Convection Heating Element: Ceramic Heating Capacity: 350 watts Certifications: ETL Certified |
The Minetom MH-04 Wall Outlet Electric Heater is a small, cordless electric heater that mounts directly to the wall socket. Due to its compact size, it is easy to transport and useful for warming up small places, such as RV bedrooms and baths that can be up to 100 square feet. It has a contemporary style and digital controls for simple operation. Many use this device for personal use or to keep their pets warm during the cold months as it has low power usage. This little heater has a fan that quietly distributes heat while using a ceramic heating element that generates warmth in a matter of minutes. The Minetom MH-04 plug heater has a digital thermostat with a temperature ranging from 60°F to 90°F, in contrast to traditional space heaters that have two or three heat settings. By turning the heater on and off repeatedly, it keeps the proper temperature, and many users remark that it works as it should. Others have noticed though that the temperature sensor could not be precise enough to establish your preferred temperature.
Pros
- Small and light design for convenient transportation,
- Includes a rotating 3-prong plug for wall outlet attachment that is secure,
- Flexible applications supported by low power consumption.
- Safe as it has overheating and tip-over protection
- A handy on/off timer makes operation easy
Cons
- Temperature sensor that isn’t precise,
- Provides less heat output than standard space heaters
Verdict
Based on all of our experience with portable RV electric heaters, we found that Lasko Ceramic Tower 751320 Space Heater is the best portable electric heater for RV available today.
Our Premium Option is TRUSTECH Electric Space Heater, 1500W Portable Ceramic Heater with all the best features and high-quality materials, but that’s only if you have more money to spend.
However, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, you can also consider the Aikoper Space Heater for RV as an affordable alternative.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying portable electric heaters for RV
Portability
Picking the most portable heater is not necessarily about how easy it is to move. A heater with wheels could be potentially dangerous if not stowed away properly; you wouldn’t want a heater rolling about in the van – especially if it is on or has a fuel source that could spill.
Having a portable heater that is easy to stow/tuck away rather than a more permanent installation is great when you need to make your heating count. Instead of heating your whole vehicle and waiting for the heat to come to you, you could move the heater to where you are sitting.
If you do go down the electrical heater route, and you are drawing heat from a campsite, you should be sure to have long extension cords and adapters for different types of plug sockets.
When positioning your heater, be sure that it is out of reach from dogs and small children encase they burn themselves or accidentally change the setting/ turn it on and off.
Types of RV heaters
RV heaters come in a few different styles. The most common type of RV heater is the Convection style, which uses hot air blowing from a fan to distribute heat around the living area. This style of heater is often either propane-fueled or electric, and it can also be powered by solar panels. Other styles of RV heaters include radiant-style models that use infrared cooking from a ceramic plate to provide warmth and even steam models that use steam from boiling water to create hot air. No matter what size or shape – as long as your RV has a heating system – you probably have a variety of options when it comes to selecting the perfect model for your needs.
Price & Warranty
Consider the cost and the warranty provided. While it’s tempting to go for the cheapest option, it’s often better to invest in a durable, reliable heater that comes with a solid warranty, ensuring its longevity and giving you value for your money.
Questions and Answers About portable electric heaters for RV
Is it safe to use an electric heater in an RV?
Electric heaters are one of the safest methods of heating because it doesn’t carry the risk of carbon monoxide, Liquid Propane (LP) gas and depleting the oxygen supply. There are still risks involved with electric heaters.
For practically all electric heaters it is important to make sure that they are not placed next to anything just in case the heater overheats or short circuits as this will give the fire a path to spread. It is also important that the heater is placed out of reach of dogs and small children, letting it cool down after use. Make sure that the heater is only placed on hard surfaces, placing a heater on a carpet or something soft could lead to pockets of heat building up which, in the extreme, could ignite. RV life condenses the everyday living of a house into one small area, in this way things like the shower can be within metres of your heating. It is important that there is someone separating the space heater from the shower such as a shower curtain, door, and plenty of space. Often space heaters are not designed for high humidity so the humidity of a shower – or even boiling something in a cooking context – could be dangerous for the heater. Electricity and moisture is a recipe for electrocution in its extreme.
What are the safety measures for heaters?
What safety measures you need to implement will depend on the type of heater you are using. Different fuels require different safety measures. There are some, however, which apply to all heaters. For practically all heaters it is important to make sure that they are not placed next to anything just in case the heater overheats or short circuits as this will give the fire a path to spread. It is also important that the heater is placed out of reach of dogs and small children, letting it cool down after use. Make sure that the heater is only placed on hard surfaces, placing a heater on a carpet or something soft could lead to pockets of heat building up which, in the extreme, could ignite.
Carbon monoxide can be produced by propane, butane, wood-burning, and even diesel heaters – although diesel heaters produce much lower concentrations of CO. Carbon monoxide sensors can detect carbon monoxide poisoning before the levels become high enough to cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness or in the worst-case death. Other life-saving sensors you may think about purchasing are detectors that monitor the amount of oxygen in the air and detectors which detect the presence of Liquid Propane (LP) gas in the RV. It is important not just to detect harmful gases but also to make sure that air circulates well enough in your RV so that a build-up of harmful gases does not happen. For this reason, it is important to have good ventilation within your RV.
RV life condenses the everyday living of a house into one small area, in this way things like the shower can be within meters of your heating. It is important that there is someone separating the space heater from the shower such as a shower curtain, door, and plenty of space. Often space heaters are not designed for high humidity so the humidity of a shower – or even boiling something in a cooking context – could be dangerous for the heater.
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