14 Choices for The Best Electric Heater for an RV

LOOKING FOR THE BEST ELECTRIC HEATER?

You are in the right place because the 14 best choices for electric heaters are all featured here. How do we know they are the best? We have traveled and lived in our RV since 2010 and have tested and researched the best electric heater options.

Electric heaters can be a great option to add some extra heat to your RV heating system. Some people like to use them to replace their RV propane heater because electric heat can be a cheaper option in the cold winter months. Electric heaters can work well for travel trailers or even a larger space if you purchase the correct electric heater and have the correct expectations.

When looking for an electric heater, keep in mind the temperature outside and how well your RV is insulated. These are significant factors on how well your electric heater will work while you are camping.

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Safety tips when using an electric heater

✔ Do not use a power strip when using an electric heater. An electric heater should be plugged directly into an outlet.

✔ Do not use an extension cord with an RV heater. Plug the electric camper heater directly into an outlet.

✔ If the plug does not fit snugly into the outlet, you should look into replacing the outlet or using a different outlet. A snug fit means good contact, which will prevent possible issues in the future.

✔ Make sure to keep an open 3-foot radius around your electric heater.

✔ Supervise kids and pets when they are near your electric heaters. They can easily knock over the unit in small spaces.

✔ Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

If you follow these tips, you will have a great and safe experience with your portable heater. Electric heaters can add to your RV furnace or replace it.

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Best Electric Heater for an RV

1. Heat Storm Heater

The Heat Storm Heater is a highly rated infrared heater. It is easily mounted on a wall and can be wifi controlled. The built-in digital thermostat helps regulate heat, saving you money by not using propane while you are on the road in your recreational vehicle.

If you are looking for a wall electric heater to heat your RV in the winter this is going to be one of your best heater options. Keep in mind that this heater is for 150 sq feet. You may need to add a couple if you are heating a larger RV or if you are trying to keep your RV super warm when it is super cold outside.

This heater has almost 12,000 reviews, with 75 percent of the reviews giving it a 5-star rating. This easy-to-use heater is easy to install and will keep you warm when you need some heat.

▶ SHOP Heat Storm Heater

2. Dr. Infrared Heater

The Dr. Infrared Heater is another top choice for the best electric heater for an RV. This heater is said to be able to cover up to 1000 sq feet in the right conditions. The heater has a sturdy base as well as tip-over protection and protection for overheating. These are key features in the best electric space heater for an RV.

This is another heater that has tens of thousands of reviews, with the majority of them giving this heater a phenomenal rating. The wide base is great, and it is harder to tip over than many tower oscillating heaters. Another reason why it is going to be one of the best electric heater for an RV.

The strong fan on this heater helps push the heat throughout the RV. This make this heater a better heater for larger spaces.

▶ SHOP Dr. Infrared Heater

3. Vornado AVH10

The Vornado AVH10 is a good electric heater that is really nice if you are looking for something that will heat a decent size space, but that is not very big. This is why it is one of the best portable space heaters for an RV. It is mighty but small. The fan can be used when the heat is on or when the heat is off, making it useful for multiple applications.

The heater is one of the Best electric space heaters for an RV if you are looking for something lightweight. It weighs less than 5 pounds and has a heating coverage area of around 250 sq feet. The heater has pretty good reviews, but its overall rating is a little lower than some of the other talked about electric heaters for a camper.

If you have a small RV or room and are looking to add some additional heat, this is a really good option. I would not use it as the sole source of heat unless the area were really small.

The heater is too small to fully heat a space on its own when it is cold unless the space is well insulated and is not very big.

▶ SHOP Vornado AVH10

4. De’Longhi Radiant Heater

The De’Longhi is a highly-rated oil-filled radiator heater. These are great heaters that are very easy to use. They don’t make much, if any, noise and can heat around 300 to 600 sq feet depending on your specific insulation factors and how cold it is outside. Because of this, the De’Longhi is going to be one of the best quiet electric heaters for an RV.

These types of heaters are great for people who want a quiet heater that will last for a long time. Heaters that use fans can dry out your eyes and can make a lot of noise. These types of heaters do not have the same issues.

If you have not used a heater of this type, it is important to understand that they take longer to heat up an area because they do not use a fan and the oil inside needs to heat before the room will get warm. As the air naturally circulates throughout the area, the heater heats up the air.

This is why these heaters look like an accordion. This gives the heater more surface area where the air in the room can naturally pass through. Some people say these heaters are more economical because they do not need extra moving parts, like fans, for them to function properly.

If you are not looking for a quick boost of heat but something you will have on for a little more consistent basis, this could be a very good option for your heating needs.

▶ SHOP De’Longhi Heater

5. Comfort Zone Space Heater

If you like your tower floor oscillating RV space heaters, the Comfort Zone RV space heater is another option that will not break the bank. This is a good heater if you have the proper expectations. It is not going to heat a large room but will reasonably be able to heat an area around 200 to 300 sq feet in size.

I would not use this as a replacement for your propane heater but as something that will help support your heater to cut down on your propane use. This heater will also work great if your camper has areas that get a little colder than others and you need some extra heat.

This heater is something you would use to add additional heat to an area that is not fully supported by your current heat source.

▶ SHOP Comfort Zone Space Heater

6. Turbro Electric Fireplace

The Turbro Electric Fireplace is such a good-looking heater that adds to the mood and lighting of your camper. Instead of looking at what is obviously a space heater, this electric fireplace makes your room feel like a warm fire is filling your room. The heater works well to heat a space of about 300 sq feet.

Turbro also has some really good customer service. If for some reason, your heater has any issues, they will get you situated. The flame is a nice touch for a heater, and some people really love that, but others think the flame is not real enough looking and has turned them off from the heater a bit.

We have a similar heater we use in an office space. It produces a good amount of heat, and the fire is really fun. Our kids enjoy the flames and have never had any issues getting close to it. All of our kids are 3 years old or older.

▶ SHOP Turbro Electric Fireplace

7. Honeywell Oil Filled Radiator Heater

This Honeywell Radiator Heater provides a good stable heat source. This heater has fewer reviews than many of the other heaters. About 1,600 people have reviewed this heater, with 75 percent giving it a five-star rating.

We have used multiple Honeywell products in the past and have been satisfied with them. Honeywell is a known brand in the heating and air conditioning world. The heater has all the necessary safety measures, with an auto-off timer and a shut-off for overheating protection.

The wheels on the heater make it very easy to move around, and it has a luggage-style handle that makes it easy to carry if you need to pick it up to move. 

▶ SHOP Honeywell Radiator Heater

8. Amazon Basics Ceramic Heater

Amazon Basics does a great job of offering cheap reliable products without many bells and whistles. This Amazon Basics Ceramic Heater is another one of those products. It is one of the cheapest ceramic heaters you will find.

The fact that it is an economical heater that functions well has a lot to do with so many people purchasing it. It has been reviewed over 22,000 times, with more than 75 percent of people giving the heater a five-star rating.

The heater is not very big and is not going to heat a large space. It will heat around 100 to 300 sq feet depending on your particular variables like insulation and how often you are in an out of your room or camper.

The fan is not the strong point of this heater, so don’t plan on using the fan without the heat. Both the heat and fan together work great.

Some people recommend spending 3 dollars on the three-year warranty. If you are going to be using this heater a lot after your purchase, the extra few dollars for the 3-year warranty would be a good investment as some people replaced the fan after 2 years of consistent use.

▶ SHOP Amazon Basics Heater

9. Envi Electric Wall Heater

The Envi Electric Wall Heater is a very classy-looking heater. When installed correctly in a good location, you will hardly notice it is there. This heater is good for about 150 sq feet. Many people really enjoy adding these to a bathroom or a room in their motorhome that could use some additional heat.

A few things to keep in mind when adding this unit to your camper is that the heat is very close to your wall. This will cause your wall to get warm.

In order to reflect some of that heat, you can add a little insulation or some sort of backing behind the heater.

▶ SHOP Envi Electric Wall Heater

10. Lasko Designer Ceramic Space Heater

This Lasko Designer Ceramic Space Heater is a great heater that looks really nice. It is an electric heater that is going to work best when placed on your countertop or table.

It looks much better than your other ceramic heaters that have a plastic base. This heater is beige, making it look like a nice decoration.

The heater only weighs 3 pounds and is said to heat up to 300 sq feet. This is going to be your highest-rated heater if you purely base your rating on reviews. The heater has almost 12,000 reviews, and more than 80 percent give this a 5-star rating making it a great camper heater.

People love the look of this heater, and the heater functions really well. You will be very happy with how this heater performs.

▶ SHOP Lasko Designer Space Heater

11. Lasko-22 Digital Ceramic Oscillating Heater

Lasko is a name brand when it comes to portable electric heaters, and they are considered some of the safest electric heater for an RV. They sell many variances of these heaters. They are reasonably priced and do a good job of keeping you warm.

This Lasko ceramic tower heater has been used by many. They use it in RVs, shops, or your house for some extra heat. With more than 25,000 reviews and more than 75 percent of those reviews being 5 stars, you can be confident that this heater will do a good job.

The oscillation feature is great for pushing the heat into different areas of the camper, giving you a good even heat feel and reducing cold and hot spots.

▶ SHOP Lasko Oscillating Heater

12. Dreo Indoor Space Heater

The Dreo indoor space heater is a portable electric heater with 70 degrees of oscillation. The remote makes this an excellent heater for the bedroom, office or living room where you may want to make adjustments without getting up or getting out of bed.

You will want to use this heater for smaller spaces. We like this heater for smaller bedroom applications or smaller areas in general. The small size and weight makes if very portable and the ample safety protections make this a very intriguing and competitive option.

When using this heater it is best to set the temperature to your desired room temperature and not much above. You can set the temperature up to 95 degrees but for most RV and household uses you don’t need to get that hot.

13. Camco 57341 Wave-6 Catalytic Safety Heater (Propane)

The Camco Wave Heater is a fantastic heater choice if you want to replace your current propane heater. It does not use any power, making it a great choice for dispersed camping or boondocking. It can heat up to 230 sq feet.

If you are working on a van conversion, an RV remodel, or just want to change from your current heating setup in your motorhome, this is a great option to look at. The installation is easy, all you need is to connect to your propane line, and you will be ready to heat for the winter.

▶ SHOP Camco Wave Heater

14. Mr. Heater (Propane)

The Mr. Heater portable propane heater is one of the most versatile heaters you will find. We love this heater and have used it for many years. It is for indoor use or outdoors because it has all of the necessary safety precautions, like an oxygen depletion sensor.

This heater is often referred to as the Heater Buddy. It is easily portable, and you can use small throw-away propane tanks or large propane tanks with this heater.

We do not recommend using small propane tanks, but they do work. The large tanks last a lot longer, and in the long run, it saves you a lot of money not to purchase the smaller tanks. You will need to purchase a few accessories to use the larger tanks.

Heater Buddy Accessories

In order to use this heater to its full potential, you should purchase some accessories to go with it. You will need to purchase a hose that will connect a large propane tank to the heater. You will want a filter because the larger tanks are not as clean as the small tanks, and they can clog the lines of the heater.

After those accessories, you are ready to heat your RV, patio, shop, or just about anything you want. We have used this heater to help heat a small house when the furnace quits, heated our tents and campers, and even used it for some cold Black Friday shopping lines.

Another very useful accessory is the Mr. Heater portable carry bag. It keeps your hose and filter from getting lost and keeps your heater clean while stored.

Some models have a small electric fan that helps disperse the heat, but the practical use of the fan is not that great because it is so small and uses a lot of batteries to function.

If you want a heater to do everything and is easily portable, this is what you want.

What is an Electric RV Heater?

An electric heater is a heater that uses electricity to produce heat. There are different types of electric heaters, but all electric heaters use electricity in some way to heat up a designated area.

Benefits of Electric RV Heaters

Electric heaters can be very efficient. All you need is an outlet that is 110 volts, and you will have heat. Electric heaters are also very portable and lightweight.

 You can easily use them in different locations or rooms. They work well for small areas and are very cost-effective.

A whole house heater or new RV heater can cost thousands of dollars, but with a couple of hundred dollars or less, with an electric heater, you can have a nice heated space.

Electric heaters do not use flame-like propane and gas heaters. With electric heaters, you don’t have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning, but it is still recommended and good practice to have properly installed carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms when using any sort of heating source.

Features to Look for In Electric Heaters for an RV

Ease of Use

Some electric heaters are easier to use than others. Wall-mounted electric heaters require more work to install than heaters that are not wall-mounted. You will also want to look at the weight of the electric heater.

If you are going to be moving the heater frequently and it is going to be in a small space, a small, lightweight electric heater could be much easier to use than a heavier oil-filled heater that weighs 20 plus pounds.

Auto Shut-Off

An auto shut-off is something that is important for many electric heaters. Not all heaters have this feature. If the heater is knocked over, an automatic shut-off will automatically turn the heater off when it is not upright.

Other auto shut-off safety precautions can pertain to automatically being shut off when certain temperatures are reached.

Compact Design

The design is something you may want to look into. Some electric RV heaters are larger, and some are smaller. You will need to gauge the space and what you are looking to get out of an electric heater before you make your decision.

Quiet Settings

When looking at electric heaters for recreational vehicles, you will notice that some are going to make more noise than others. If a constant fan noise is not your style, you will want to look at an oil-filled radiator heater because they do not make any noise.

Power Consumption

Power consumption is hard to gauge when looking for an electric heater because there are so many variables. These variables include how well your space is insulated and how large your space is. If you are trying to keep your space at 72 degrees, that will consume much more power than if you are ok with 65 degrees.

If your heater is too small for the space, it will constantly run and can consume a lot of power, or it can possibly overheat.

Thermostat

Many heaters come integrated with a thermostat that will tell the heater to turn off when the heater reaches a certain temperature. Not all heaters have this thermostat. Some heaters only have low, medium, or high options, and it goes at that rate until you turn off the heater.

If you want the heater to turn off automatically, make sure it has a thermostat where you can program the temperature you are looking to achieve.

Square Footage of Heating

The square footage you are heating is a major thing to pay attention to when using an electric heater. You need to be realistic with the space you are heating. When the manufacturer tells you it will heat 400 square feet, this is 400 square feet of well-insulated space with your typical wall height.

If you have bad insulation and you can see light coming in from your doors, don’t be surprised when the heater does not heat your 400 sq feet well when it is rated for 400 sq feet.

Safety Features (Automatic shutoff, tip-over protection)

You always want to make sure you have the needed safety features when using any type of electric or gas heater. Many electric and gas heaters have tip-over protection and will shut down automatically if they get too hot.

Even if an electric heater has safety features, you should always have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. They are not very expensive and can save your life. The risk you are taking by not having the proper safety precautions is not worth it. You should have these in your home RV and your traditional house.

Always make sure you have taken all the necessary precautions when using electric heaters.

Why You Need an Electric Heater

Electric heaters are great to have for many reasons. Some people like to have them because they have hot and cold spots in their motorhome, and an electric heater will add that little extra you need. Some people will want an electric heater because it is cheaper than using their propane heater.

Electric heaters can be a great backup if your propane heater runs out of propane. If you are boondocking, electric heaters might not work well, but when you get to shore power, you can then switch to your electric heater saving you money.

Types of Heaters

Electric

This article is almost purely on electric heaters, but there are other heater options that people really enjoy. Electric heaters are great for when you are plugged into shore power. You can add them as needed, and they are often portable and economical.

Propane

The majority of stock RV heaters are propane heaters. Propane heaters work well because they don’t always need electricity to function. Many RV propane heaters require a fan to push the heat throughout the RV, but not all of them. A 12-volt heater for a camper is often propane because they don’t require as much electricity.

Diesel

Most diesel heaters are aftermarket installations, and you will find them frequently in van conversions. They work similarly to propane heaters but use diesel as the fuel source.

These heaters work well with van conversions or camper vans that have diesel engines because they can be integrated directly into the diesel fuel tank without the need to add an additional large propane tank to run the heater.

FAQs: Best electric heater for an RV

Can I run an electric heater in my RV?

Yes, you can use an electric heater in your RV. There tends to be a bad vibe with electric heaters, but electric heaters are safe when used correctly.

Where a lot of people get into trouble with electric heaters is they try to heat way too large of space with too small of a heater. This can cause strain on your heater.

What is the best kind of heater for an RV?

The best kind of RV heater depends on the need of the person and the type of RV you have. Many RV manufacturers believe propane heaters are the best for your RV, and this is why almost all of them come stock with a propane heater, but that does not mean a propane heater is the best heater for your RV and your circumstances.

Are infrared heaters good for RVs?

Yes, they are great for RVs. They can heat up your space very quickly, and they are very efficient heaters.

How can I heat my RV cheaply?

There are many ways you can cheaply heat your RV. The Dr. Infrared Heater is a very efficient heater that many people like. However, some people install a small wood-burning heater in their RV, and this can be very cheap if you have access to wood.

Is it safe to use an electric heater in an RV at night?

Yes, it is safe to use an electric heater in your RV at night, but you will want to make sure it is temperature controlled. This means the heater will turn off once it has reached the desired temperature.

It is also very important you have functioning smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. You have all these items in your house it is just as important or more important to make sure you have them in your RV.

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