Find Your Baseboard Heater: Reviews Of Efficient Electric and Hydronic Options

Keeping your home warm always seems to be a struggle. While a central heating system can do a lot for many homes, it’s not always going to be enough. If that’s the case in your home, it’s only natural that you start looking for other solutions. One of the best ways to help supplement your normal heat is through using a baseboard heater. Figuring out which baseboard heater to buy, though, can be tougher than you might imagine.

There are many baseboard heaters on the market right now, some of which work much better than others. We’ve decided to step in by providing consumers with a list of not only the best baseboard heaters out there right now but also with reviews of how well they work and how they’re different from one another. If you’re looking for the best baseboard heater not just on the market but specifically for your personal needs, read on - you’ll find it on this list. 

Top Baseboard Heaters In 2021

It’s important to remember that while every baseboard heater on this list works well, they won’t all be the perfect fit for every buyer. As such, we’ve listed a number of great baseboard heaters so that you can find one with all the features that meet your needs. No matter what you need, you’ll be sure to find the perfect baseboard heater for your room here. 

Cadet Manufacturing 240-Volt White Baseboard Hardwire Electric Zone Heater

It’s usually best to start with the basics regardless of the type of heating product at which you are looking for. Starting with something simple doesn’t mean that you’re starting your search by looking at a lesser baseboard heater, though; instead, it means that you’re starting out by looking at for the best electric baseboard heater that embodies exactly what the device is supposed to do. One such product is this electric baseboard heater from Cadet Manufacturing. Though it might not have all the bells and whistles that some other brands have, this baseboard heater is an admirable example of the most important features that you’ll find across the board. 

When looking at the basics, you have to keep a few things in mind. First and foremost, you have to think about how the baseboard heater will be installed. This product is a typical electric baseboard heater, usually meant to be installed under a window and crafted specifically so even those who have limited expertise in installation can feel safe installing the device. The other big thing that this baseboard heater carries with it is a sense of durability - even if it’s close to the ground, this is not a device that’s going to end up getting damaged easily. Once you get this baseboard heater installed, you won’t have to worry about it.

The other major factor is, of course, heat. This particular electric baseboard heater is actually designed to maximize its heating space and to funnel air efficiently, giving you a very pleasant heating experience in a relatively small package. This is a really good example of what you should be looking at when you’re trying to determine a baseline for baseboard heaters. It might not be fancy, but you will always feel comfortable in the knowledge that this baseboard heater can get the job done. It’s never a bad idea to give this baseboard heater a try when you’re ready to install this sort of device, which is why we’ve chosen it as the best electric baseboard heater available today.

Fahrenheat FBE15002 Portable Heater

One of the big problems with electric baseboard heaters has traditionally been installation. Though most baseboard heaters honestly aren’t that hard to install, there are many people who can’t take advantage of them because of the places that they inhabit. Whether it’s students in dorm rooms, renters in apartments, or even workers in offices, it’s simply not possible for everyone who needs heat to do wiring work. Fortunately, baseboard heaters like this one from Farenheat exist to solve just that kind of problem. 

Farenheat’s portable baseboard heater brings all of the benefits of having a baseboard heater without requiring the user to do any wiring work. Instead, this baseboard heating unit can be plugged directly into a wall socket, allowing it to be used virtually anywhere. It is indeed among the more portable options. Not only does this make installation incredibly easy, but it’s great for those who might want to use their electric baseboard heaters in multiple spaces. If you’ve ever wished you could bring your space heater from home to work, these might be among the best baseboard heaters for you. After all, getting this kind of heating experience isn’t easy if you can’t bring your great electric baseboard heaters on the go.

This is, in fact, a great baseboard heater even if the only feature about which you care is heating. Efficient and capable of working even after being jostled around, it’s a baseboard heater that can provide a great deal of supplemental heat to smaller spaces. Whether you’re looking to heat up a cold office or you just want to feel comfortable in your own room without having to turn up the heat for an entire house, you’ll quickly find that these are among the best electric baseboard heaters on the market today. 

Lasko 5624 Low Profile Room Space Heater

While most people might think of electric baseboard heaters as fairly workmanlike units, the truth is that there are a few great baseboard heaters that put a little more work into the design aspects. These space heaters work just as well as their counterparts, but they’re typically easier to use and they even look a little bit better. Though looks shouldn’t matter as the primary factor for choosing a good electric baseboard heater, it’s nice to know that there are some options out there for the aesthetically inclined. One such option is this Lasko Low Profile baseboard heater. 

One of the first things that you’re going to notice about this heater is that it does look a little different than most of the other portable heater models out there. It’s mostly just a color thing, but it looks more like a piece of consumer tech than a strictly utilitarian heating device. This isn’t a big deal for most, but it’s nice to know that there is something out there that will fit in with more modern designs. The low-profile design of these baseboard heaters does, however, help them to be remarkably stable and easy to move when it’s time to take them from place to place.

These baseboard heaters also have one of the better user interfaces on the market right now. The adjustable thermostat makes it easy to set the temperature of the ceramic heating element, allowing you to get hot air radiating around the room with ease. The baseboard heaters also have a built-in timer so you can set it for when you need it and not have to worry about turning it off when you are done for the day. The heater is even able to be used right out of the box, allowing for a great heating experience with no extra steps necessary on the part of the user. This electric baseboard heater is definitely one that’s worth a second look. 

Heat Wave 1,000 Watt Convector Baseboard Heater

Most people who choose baseboard heaters aren’t going to use the heaters as a primary heat source. As nice as it would be to have a primary heater in this small of a package, these are generally supplementary items. If you live in a house that has central heating system but that doesn’t have good coverage in every room, for example, you might some convection heating baseboard just to pick up the extra slack. If you’re looking for something that’s purely supplemental, you’ll love this electric baseboard heater from Heat Wave. 

Heat Wave is very clear that this is a supplemental heating system, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There are plenty of units that bill themselves as all-over heating solutions but none of them are really capable of doing as much heavy lifting as the marketing might suggest. This unit is purely made to offer supplemental heat to rooms of up to four hundred square feet, which means that it is ideal for a small office, a bedroom, or even for a dorm room. Since it’s basically plug-and-play, it’s an ideal tool for those who might need to use it in temporary spaces as well. 

Though this heater is meant for small spaces, it does have some of the features that you’d expect for a bigger machine. It has multiple heat settings, for example, and it also has an adjustable thermostat. Comfort shouldn’t be an issue when using this heater, nor should safety as it features both thermal and tip-over protection. It might not be meant to heat a large room, but this is definitely a unit that you should feel comfortable using and depending on when you need a little bit of extra heat in your room. 

Fahrenheat PLF Liquid Filled Electric Hydronic Baseboard Heater

The idea of a hydronic baseboard heater is remarkably straightforward even if the name can be a little scary to the average consumer. Hydronic baseboard heaters work by literally heating up the water around a tube, which then sends warmed air around the room. Hydronic systems are an efficient, time-tested way of heating up spaces that makes a lot of sense but that hasn’t always been available in the hydronic baseboard heater market. If you’re interested in experiencing this type of heat, it’s a great idea to check out Fahrenheat’s excellent hydronic baseboard heater to try it out for yourself. 

You’re going to notice a few really interesting little touches with this unit from the moment that you turn it on. The first is that, unlike many other space heaters, it’s going to stay cool to the touch throughout its operation. Not only will that help some feel safer while they’re still enjoying the heat, but it’s an incredibly important feature for those who might have small children or curious pets. You will also notice that this unit is much quieter than most of the other hydronic baseboard heaters on the market, with markedly less noise from the unit no matter how long it is running. 

There are also some other really nice features for this unit that aren’t necessarily there just because of the hydronic design, but because of the company’s overall design decisions. Since it is always cool to the touch, for example, you can plug this unit in virtually anywhere and feel comfortable letting it operate. The unit is also much more efficient than some of its counterparts, which can let you feel much more comfortable letting it run without having to worry about what it is doing to your electric bill. If you’re interested in a hydronic baseboard heater, this is honestly one of the best choices on the market. 

KING 4K1210BW Baseboard Heater

At the end of the day, some of the baseboard heaters are definitely among the most old-school. While there are a number of fantastic heaters on this list that have new features and more modular designs, there are definitely some customers who want something that’s a little more permanent. If you’re looking for a baseboard heater that can be traditionally installed and that can provide you with the kind of heat that you expect from a more traditional baseboard heater, KING might have the best product out there for you. 

If you’ve seen a typical baseboard heater, you’ll probably be familiar with the general build of this one. Fairly easy to install with wiring access at both ends, this is the kind of baseboard heater design that the vast majority of people have seen in homes, dorms, and offices around the United States. Once installed, the unit makes use of a unique heating element design to put out more heat than its size would suggest, allowing those in larger rooms to get a better heating experience than most might imagine from a unit of this size and shape. This heater is proof positive that sometimes older design work has stuck around for a reason.

This heater isn’t just about tradition, though. There are plenty of little elements that can make it a must-have for those in many situations. The construction of the device is incredibly solid, making it a good fit for those who know that people may end up bumping into the heater from time to time. The heater also makes use of a thermal shut-off system for basic safety, which turns the machine off if it starts to overheat. This means that the unit is both safe and durable, both great factors for those who are looking for any type of baseboard heater.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most energy-efficient baseboard heater?

This is a tougher question to answer than you might think. Most baseboard heaters are fairly efficient, but some tend to do better than others in specific situations. There are some heaters that are better for large spaces, for example, while others might be more energy efficient because they have onboard temperature monitoring tools. The best way to make sure that you get an efficient baseboard heater is to check out the features of the product and to see how those features line up with the experiences of other customers.

Are new baseboard heaters more efficient?

Like most household appliances, baseboard heaters have become much more efficient over the last few years. The heaters that are on the market right now generally run better and use energy more sparingly than their counterparts from even a few years ago. Best of all, many of the new electric heaters use new technology to reduce their overall energy usage while still putting out heat reliably. This means that not only are today’s heaters a lot more efficient than they may have been in the past, but they’re also much more reliable. If you have an older electric heater, it might be worth your time to see if you’d actually save money by upgrading to a newer unit. 

Is baseboard heat expensive to run?

Baseboard heat usually isn’t too expensive to run as supplemental heating solutions. While you are certainly going to get a higher-than-normal bill if you keep it running in your room as hot as possible all day and night, those who use their baseboard heaters as intended won’t see as much of a jump in their utility bills as they would when using the heat from a traditional HVAC unit. Many newer baseboard heaters tend to be packed with tools that are meant to reduce their overall energy usage while still producing reliable heat, something that makes these units much more efficient than ever before. The best way to ensure that your bills stay down when using this type of heat is to pick an energy-efficient model and to use it in a room that’s not too big for its output. 

What is the best hydronic baseboard heater?

As you might imagine, the best brand of hydronic baseboard heater for one person won’t necessarily be the best heater for another person. Even if you know that you want a hydronic heater, you’re still going to be faced with enough choices to make it impossible to pin down one hydronic unit that’s a perfect fit for everyone. Instead of focusing on what’s best overall, try to figure out what’s actually best for you. This means taking a look at all the features that are important to you in order to figure out if the hydronic heating units that are advertised as the best of the best are actually going to do everything that you need them to do. The good news, though, is that there really is a great electric heater out there for every type of consumer and every type of room. 

Baseboard Heater Buying Guide

Let’s face it - buying a baseboard heater isn’t exactly like buying a car. There aren’t magazines out there to tell you the hot new features, nor can you just walk down to a lot to try out a baseboard heater to see how it handles. If you want to buy one of these electric heaters, you are going to need to know about the features that tend to be most important to consumers like you. Below are a handful of the things you need to look at during your search for the perfect baseboard heater.

Room Size

The size of your room in square feet is a pretty big factor, and it’s perhaps the one that stumps most people. The question here is one of size, specifically the size of the room that you are attempting to heat. Obtaining exact square feet measurements is a must here so that you can find a baseboard heater that’s going to help to make the room in which the device is installed a little more habitable during the coldest months of the year. Fortunately, most baseboard heaters are fairly clear about the room sizes in square feet in which they can reasonably operate. 

You actually have to walk a fairly fine line with this factor. A baseboard heater that’s meant for too big of a room is going to be overwhelming in a smaller room, while one meant for a smaller room is simply going to be useless in a larger room. Try to get some precise measurements before you start shopping and then measure them against the room size recommended by the manufacturer. If you’re overly concerned, check out some reviews to see if anyone has used a baseboard heater in a room of a similar size to your own. You can also check out other types such as an infrared space heater or bathroom heaters to see what’s more fitting.

Fuel Source

Baseboard heaters don’t produce heat from out of anywhere. They need a fuel source, and that fuel source is going to play a huge role in not only how the electric heater works but how expensive it is going to be to run the baseboard heater. If you don’t have a need for a specific kind of heat, it’s usually a good idea to stop and think about what’s going to make it easy to install a baseboard heater in your home and what’s going to produce heat for the best price once the weather gets colder.

Though you can get baseboard heaters that run off of natural gas or oil, most are going to feel more comfortable with heaters that run off of electricity. Not only are these units usually an awful lot easier to install than the other version, but they tend to heat much more efficiently. If you’re leaning towards something other than an electrical source, it would generally be fairly wise to stop and think about whether the other sources are going to be quite as easy to use. If you can come up with a good argument against it, electricity is usually the best choice. 

Design

Choosing an aesthetically pleasing heat source should always be a goal, and that’s no different with baseboard heaters. Because these units are going to sit out and be seen by everyone who comes into your room, you should try to find something that’s not going to clash too badly with your décor, nor the aesthetics of your existing central heating system. One of the best parts about buying these hydronic or electric heaters is that there are finishes that will match pretty much anything, so doing a little bit of extra shopping around should help you to find a baseboard heater that will at least fit in unobtrusively with everything else that you have in your room.

Note that your goal still needs to be find something that works efficiently, so don’t put too much emphasis on the aesthetic factor. If you can’t find something that matches your décor and works well, try to find something that won’t be too noticeable. Most people will be happy enough to get the extra warmth to the cold air that they won’t complain about a mismatched piece, but even choosing something that won’t stick out can go a long way to making you feel comfortable with how your baseboard heater looks. At the end of the day, only you know how important the aesthetics of the piece will be to you. 

Safety

Safety is one of those factors that absolutely can’t be ignored. No matter how well a baseboard heater fits all of your other criteria, you’ll have to give it a pass if it isn’t safe. The good news is that virtually every unit that’s on the market right now is safe to use. The bad news, though, is that even a very safe piece of electric technology can become dangerous if it’s not used in the right way. You don’t just need something safe, you need something safe for how it will be used.

Don’t be afraid to look at some online reviews to figure out if a unit will actually be safe in the circumstances in which it will be used. Anything from the composition of your carpet to the electric systems in your home can play a role in how the unit will function, so don’t be afraid to do a little digging. The key here is not just to find out how the electric unit works in an ideal setting, but how well it will work in a real-world setting. If other users have found it to generally be safe, you should feel fairly comfortable with your choice. 

Cost

The final factor is ironically that which will have the biggest impact for most buyers. Try to figure out how much money you are comfortable spending on a baseboard heater and then stick to that as a limit. Do a little research to make sure that your limit is reasonable, of course, but don’t force yourself into buying something that’s just too much money. There are some great electric models out there for a reasonable price, so learn to shop for great deals and prioritize important features so that you can get exactly what you need.