While most people associate camping with warm weather.
Just because the temperature starts to drop outside, doesn’t mean you have to put away your camping gear for the year.
As an electric camping heater can easily extend your camping season by more than a few months and even allow you to camp year-round if you choose.
But if you plan to use a portable electric heater for camping, it’s important to choose wisely.
Because not every electric space heater is well suited for camping.
Which is why we created this list of the best portable electric heaters for camping.
1. Aikoper Portable Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 1500
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut-Off
- Size: 6.4 x 4.8 x 9.09 Inches
- Weight: 2.97 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: High Heat Output, Ceramic Heating Element, Adjustable Thermostat
The Aikoper Portable Space Heater is one of the most popular portable heaters for camping, due to its high 1,500-watt heat output, simple design, and temperature controls.
As the Aikoper Portable Space Heater has a fully adjustable thermostat, allowing the heat to easily be adjusted as well as four separate modes including low, medium, high, and fan-only for even further control.
In addition, this powerful space heater from Aikoper also uses ceramic heating that provides quick and powerful heat, as this compact space heater will start producing heat in as little as 3 seconds.
It also has several safety features that help to ensure its safe operation while camping including an advanced overheat protection sensor and a smart tip-over switch, both of which will automatically shut the heater off in case it overheats or the heater gets knocked over.
2. Kloudi Oscillating Electric Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 1000
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut-Off
- Size: 6.69 x 5.12 x 5.91 Inches
- Weight: 2.8 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: 45-Degree Oscillation, Ceramic Heating Element, Rapid-Heat
The Kloudi Oscillating Electric Space Heater is another super popular portable heater that campers will often use while camping.
Because while it’s not the most powerful portable space heater out there, at only 1000 watts, its built-in oscillation feature helps to evenly spread the heat.
Providing a much more uniform temperature.
In addition, this compact and portable space heater from Kloudi also offers two heating modes, a built-in handle for easy transport, 1-second rapid ceramic heating, and numerous safety features to help ensure its safe operation.
3. OPOLAR Ceramic Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 1000 on Low / 1500 on High
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut-Off
- Size: 7.1 x 5.9 x 11.1 Inches
- Weight: 3.5 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: Rugged Design, High Heat Output, Adjustable Thermostat
One of the more rugged portable heaters on this list is the OPOLAR Ceramic Space Heater, which has a tough and durable casing and a large heavy-duty oversized handle on the top for easy transport.
Making it one of the best choices out there, if you’re looking for a space heater that can handle the rigors and stresses of the outdoors and camping.
But it’s not just its rugged design that makes this portable space heater so great, as it also has several key features that make this heater super easier to use and operate.
Including a fully adjustable thermostat that allows you to dial in just the right temperature for your particular needs and allows the unit to maintain the desired temperature when set.
In addition, the heater also has three separate modes for further temperature control including low heat, high heat, and fan-only.
4. Honeywell 360 Degree Forced Fan Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 1500
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut-Off, Cool Touch Plastic Housing
- Size: 8 x 8 x 11.5 Inches
- Weight: 3 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: 360-Degree Heating, High Heat Output, Adjustable Thermostat
The Honeywell 360-Degree Forced Fan Heater is one of the most popular portable heaters out there.
But while most people will use it to heat a small room or office space, this powerful heater is also great for camping.
As this portable space heater from Honeywell has a powerful 1500-watt max output.
And thanks to its fully adjustable thermostat, it’s super easy to dial in just the right temperature depending on what the outside temperature happens to be.
But one of the best things about this portable heater is its 360-degree functionality, as it blows warm air out all the way around the heater, instead of just out the front like most portable heaters.
5. Lasko My Heat Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 200
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Cool Touch Plastic Housing
- Size: 3.8 x 4.3 x 6.1 Inches
- Weight: 1 Pound
- Why It’s Great: Very Portable and Compact, Low Power Consumption, Simple Design
The smallest and lightest heater on this list is the Lasko My Heat Space Heater, which is less than half the size of a typical portable space heater and weighs only 1 pound.
Making it the perfect little camping heater, if you’re trying to keep the size and weight of your camping gear down.
However, the biggest drawback of this compact space heater from Lasko is its low heat output, as this ultra-portable space heater only has 200-watts of power, which can only produce 682 BTUs of heat.
So this little space heater should really only be used during spring and fall camping trips when the temperatures are still pretty mild.
Because the My Heat Space Heater doesn’t have enough power or BTUs to keep you warm while winter camping.
Also, another point worth mentioning is that this portable heater has no settings that can be adjusted, as it only has a simple on and off switch.
6. AUZKIN Fast Heating Oscillating Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 600
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut Off
- Size: 9.8 x 6.3 x 6 Inches
- Weight: 2.29 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: 45-Degree Oscillation, Ceramic Heating Element, Stylish Design
While form factor and a stylish design are certainly not the most important consideration when picking out a portable space heater for camping.
The stylish design of this portable space heater is definitely an added bonus for those that appreciate an aesthetically pleasing appliance.
And the great news is that the stylish design is not the only thing that this heater has going for it.
Because it also has a decent heat output with 600-watts of power and has several key features that make it ideal for camping.
The first one being its wide-angle 45-degree oscillation, which helps to evenly spread the heat.
And the second one being its built-in safety features that help to ensure its safe operation while camping, which includes overheating protection and smart tip-over shut off.
7. Pro Breeze Mini Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 750 on Low / 1500 on High
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut Off
- Size: 6.77 x 5.06 x 10.79 Inches
- Weight: 3.76 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: 70-Degree Oscillation, Adjustable Thermostat, Ceramic Heating Element
The Pro Breeze Mini Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater is another portable heater great for camping.
As this heater offers 70-degree oscillation, which allows this portable space heater to evenly and quickly distribute warm air while camping.
In addition, the Pro Breeze Mini Oscillating Heater allows you to easily control the heat output by providing three separate modes includes low heat, high heat, and fan-only mode, as well as a fully adjustable thermostat.
Allowing you to dial in just the right temperature for your particular needs at the time.
And due to its 1500 power output, you can be sure this portable heater has more than enough power to keep you toasty warm even when the temperature starts to drop outside.
8. LCPOWER Electric Ceramic Heater Fan
Quick Specs
- Watts: 750 on Low / 1500 on High
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut Off, ABS Fire-Retardant Materials
- Size: 7 x 7 x 7 Inches
- Weight: 4 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: Adjustable Thermostat, Ceramic Heating Element, High Heat Output
One of the more unique-looking portable electric heaters great for camping on this list is the LCPOWER Electric Ceramic Space Heater, which to me kind of looks like a big LEGO® block.
But while its LEGO® block look might be a novelty, its perfectly square 7-inch by 7-inch by 7-inch block shape provides a real benefit, while camping with a portable heater.
As the perfectly square shape of the LCPOWER Electric Space Heater makes the heater very stable and extremely difficult to tip over compared to taller space heaters that tend to be more top-heavy.
But just in case you do manage to somehow tip the unit over, this space heater is equipped with tip-over shut-off protection that will automatically turn the heater off.
In addition, this portable heater also offers overheat protection and is made from ABS fire-retardant material, which helps to ensure that this little heater provides the safest heat possible while camping.
9. ASTERION Oscillating Electric Ceramic Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 900 on Low / 1500 on High
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut Off
- Size: 8.9 x 6.8 x 13.3 Inches
- Weight: 4.16 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: Digital Display, Remote Control, 72-Degree Oscillation, High Heat Output
One of the more feature-rich portable space heaters for camping on this list is the ASTERION Ceramic Space Heater, which is absolutely loaded with comfort and convenience features.
But the two features that really set it apart from other portable electric heaters are its LED display, which shows the current ambient temperature, and its remote control.
This unit from ASTERION is also one of the more powerful portable space heaters out there with 1500-watts of power in high mode and 900-watts of power in low mode, ensuring you always have enough power and heat.
In addition, this space heater also offers one of the widest oscillation angles available on a portable space heater with 72-degrees of oscillation, which helps to provide a nice even heat.
10. Multifun Portable Electric Ceramic Space Heater
Quick Specs
- Watts: 1500
- Heating Element: Ceramic
- Safety Features: Fire-Retardant Metal Shell, Overheat Protection, Tip-Over Shut Off
- Size: 7 x 6.7 x 6 Inches
- Weight: 2.61 Pounds
- Why It’s Great: Durable Metal Construction, High Heat Output, Adjustable Thermostat
The last portable electric heater on this list great for camping is certainly not the least.
As this portable space heater from Multifun is one of the most durable and toughest heaters on this list, thanks to heavy-duty construction and metal outer shell.
Helping this portable space heater withstand the rigors and stresses of the outdoors and camping with ease.
But the metal construction on the Multifun Portable Electric Ceramic Space Heater is just one of the features that make this portable heater great for camping though.
As this portable space heater also has a powerful 1500-watt output with a ceramic heating element, which will start producing heat in as little as 2 seconds.
Also, this feature-rich portable heater is loaded with safety features, allowing you to use this heater safely while camping thanks to its anti-tip protection, overheat protection, and VO flame-resistant housing.
And thanks to its small compact size and large ergonomic handle on the top, this space heater is super portable and easy to transport to the campsite.
How Many Watts Does an Electric Heater Need for Camping?
The number of watts an electric heater needs while camping can vary greatly depending on the camping season and the ambient temperature outside.
But if you plan to camp in the winter or in temperatures close to freezing, you should choose a portable space heater that has at least 1000 watts of power and ideally 1500 watts of power.
As the wattage of the space heater directly correlates to its heat output, with higher wattages equating to higher heat output or BTUs, which is the common measurement of heat.
As a BTU or British Thermal Unit is a measurement of heat, that is defined as the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one gallon of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
So the more watts a space heater has the more heat and BTUs it can produce.
Watts to BTUs for Space Heaters
So if you want to see how much heat a particular space heater can produce, you first need to convert its wattage to BTUs by using the below simple conversion.
1W = 3.412141633 BTU/hr
And by using this conversion, we can now see what the BTU’s or heat output of a particular space heater is based on its wattage.
| Space Heater Watts | BTUs (Heat Output) |
| 200 | 682.43 |
| 500 | 1706.07 |
| 750 | 2559.11 |
| 1000 | 3412.14 |
| 1500 | 5118.21 |
How Much is an Electric Camping Heater?
Electric heaters that are ideal for camping usually cost between $20 and $60, with more expensive camping heaters possessing higher wattages, more features, and higher heat outputs.
But to get an even better idea of how much a camping heater costs.
Take a look at the below table, which shows the average retail price and wattages of some of the most popular portable electric heaters for camping on the market today.
Popular Electric Camping Heaters (From Least to Most Expensive)
| Model | Watts | Average Retail Price |
| Lasko My Heat Space Heater | 200 | $18.00 |
| LCPOWER Electric Ceramic Heater Fan | 750 / 1500 | $22.00 |
| Lasko Ceramic Space Heater | 1500 | $25.50 |
| Amazon Basics Oscillating Ceramic Heater | 1500 | $27.00 |
| AUZKIN Fast Heating Oscillating Space Heater | 600 | $30.00 |
| Kloudi Oscillating Electric Space Heater | 1000 | $34.25 |
| Aikoper Portable Space Heater | 1500 | $35.00 |
| Multifun Portable Electric Space Heater | 1500 | $37.50 |
| Honeywell 360 Degree Forced Fan Heater | 1500 | $40.00 |
| Pro Breeze Mini Oscillating Space Heater | 750 /1500 | $46.25 |
| OPOLAR Ceramic Space Heater | 1000 / 1500 | $55.00 |
| ASTERION Oscillating Ceramic Space Heater | 900 / 1500 | $60.00 |
How to Safely Use an Electric Heater While Camping
Anytime you’re using an electric heater while camping, it’s important to exercise caution and follow the below safety rules, to keep you and your campmates safe.
- Make sure to give the electric heater plenty of room by keeping the heater at least 3 feet away from all flammable materials.
- Never leave an electric heater unattended or go to sleep while one is running.
- Only use a space heater with overheat protection and tip-over shut off.
- Make sure the cord is out of the way to prevent tripping hazards.
- Always keep an electric space heater away from water and never touch one if you’re wet.
- Only use for short periods and never leave one on for extended periods of time.
- Always unplug the heater when not in use.
- Always plug an electric space heater directly into the wall socket.
- Only use an electric heater for heat and never use it to dry clothes.
Want to know how to air condition a tent? If so, check out our article “Tents with AC Ports and How to Air Condition a Tent“.