Search Amazon for a space heater and two small ceramic heaters sit at the top of the bestseller chart: the boxy Amazon Basics Ceramic Space Heater and the little round-topped DREO Space Heater. Amazon shows each one selling more than ten thousand units a month. Both are 1,500-watt ceramic heaters about the size of a shoebox, so the question is simple: is the DREO worth the extra money, or is the Amazon Basics all you need?
On high they cost exactly the same to run: about 27¢ an hour at 18¢ per kWh, close to the 2026 U.S. average. The difference is control. The DREO has a digital thermostat you can set from 41 to 95°F in 1-degree steps, an Eco mode, a remote, a 12-hour timer and a quieter fan, which makes it the better heater for a bedroom or home office you sit in for hours. The Amazon Basics has two heat settings (1,500 and 900 watts), a basic thermostat knob and nothing else, and it is the better buy for short warm-ups, under a desk or when the budget is tight.
Affiliate note: As an Amazon Associate, The Low Bill Home earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through our links costs you nothing extra. We have not tested these products hands-on: this comparison is based on the makers' published specs, the Amazon listings and their review summaries as of October 18, 2026, and official energy and safety guidance, and we say where each one falls short.
Digital thermostat in 1° steps, Eco mode, remote, 12-hour timer and a 34 dB fan.
Check price on AmazonWhy we picked it ↓Two heat settings, tip-over and overheat protection, 3 pounds. Simple and cheap.
Check price on AmazonWhy we picked it ↓Shopping on Black Friday? Add it to your Amazon cart now so it is ready when the deals start (Black Friday is November 27, Cyber Monday November 30, 2026).
Amazon Basics vs DREO at a glance
| Amazon Basics Ceramic | DREO Space Heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 1,500 W high, 900 W low, fan only | 1,500 W (PTC ceramic), plus Eco and fan-only modes |
| Thermostat | Basic thermostat knob | Digital, 41–95°F in 1° steps |
| Remote and timer | No | Remote, 12-hour timer |
| Noise (maker’s figure) | 43 dB | 34 dB, brushless DC fan |
| Safety | Tip-over and overheat protection | Tilt sensor, overheat protection, flame-retardant (V0) housing, child lock; ETL listed |
| Size and weight | 7.5 × 6.3 × 9.5 in, about 3 lb | 6 × 6 × 10 in, about 3 lb |
| Warranty | See listing | 12 months, extendable to 30 months by registering |
| Amazon rating (Oct 18, 2026) | 4.4 stars, about 29,000 ratings | 4.6 stars, about 21,500 ratings |
| Best for | Quick warm-ups, under a desk, tight budget | Bedrooms and home offices, hours of use |
What each one costs to run
Every electric heater turns electricity into heat at close to 100% efficiency, so watts decide the cost, not the brand. At 18¢ per kWh:
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | 6 hours a day for a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Either heater on high | 1,500 | 27¢ | $48.60 |
| Amazon Basics on low | 900 | 16¢ | $29.16 |
| Either heater cycling on its thermostat (about half the time) | ~750 average | 14¢ | $24.30 |
The last row is where the DREO earns its price. A heater that runs flat out all evening costs the full 27¢ an hour. A heater with a good thermostat switches its element off once the room reaches the temperature you set, so in a closed, reasonably insulated room it may only run half the time. The DREO’s digital thermostat lets you pick an exact temperature, such as 68°F, and hold it. The Amazon Basics knob also cycles the heater, but without numbers you set it by feel.
Calculator: your rate, your hours
Enter the rate from your bill (total dollars divided by kWh used) and how long you run the heater.
Cost calculator: compare the two
Option A
Option B
| Cost | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | – | – |
| Per day | – | – |
| Per month | – | – |
| Per season | – | – |
–
Full-power figures: the most each setting can cost. With a thermostat, a heater switches its element off once the room is warm, so real costs are lower. The rate starts at 18¢, close to EIA’s 2026 U.S. average.
The differences that matter
Thermostat and Eco mode
This is the big one. DREO’s thermostat is set in 1-degree steps from 41 to 95°F, and Eco mode adjusts the heat to hold that temperature. If you leave a heater on for a whole evening, precise control is what keeps the cost down. The Amazon Basics gives you high, low or fan only plus a simple thermostat knob: fine for warming your feet for 30 minutes, less good for holding a bedroom at a steady temperature all night.
Noise
DREO rates its heater at 34 dB with a brushless fan; Amazon lists its heater at 43 dB. Every 10 dB sounds roughly twice as loud, so the DREO should be noticeably quieter in a bedroom. Owners of both describe them as fairly quiet, but noise is a mixed point in Amazon Basics reviews.
Convenience
The DREO adds a remote, a 12-hour timer, a mute button for the beeps, a child lock and memory of your last setting. The Amazon Basics has dials and a power light. If you want the heater to switch itself off after you fall asleep, only the DREO does that.
Safety
Both have tip-over and overheat protection, which is what the CPSC says to look for. DREO adds a flame-retardant (V0) housing, a child lock and an ETL listing on the listing page. Neither changes the basic rules below.
What owners report
Amazon’s review summaries (generated from thousands of reviews) agree on the strengths: both heat a small room quickly and are good value for money. The weak points differ. For the Amazon Basics, reliability and durability get the most negative feedback, with some buyers saying theirs stopped working within a year. For the DREO, reliability is mixed in a different way: some owners like the automatic shut-off, while others report it shutting off when they did not expect it. Buy either from a seller that makes returns easy, and register the DREO to extend its warranty.
The two heaters in detail
DREO Space Heater (1,500 W ceramic)
Amazon’s #1 best seller among indoor electric space heaters as of October 18, 2026, and a well-equipped small heater. The PTC ceramic element and a funnel-shaped outlet push warm air out quickly, the thermostat holds the room within a degree, and the brushless fan is quiet enough for a bedroom. A 12-hour timer, a remote, a child lock and a mute button cover the everyday annoyances.
- 1,500 W PTC ceramic; Eco and fan-only modes
- Digital thermostat 41–95°F in 1° steps
- Remote, 12-hour timer, child lock, mute, memory
- Tilt sensor, overheat protection, V0 housing; ETL listed
- 12-month warranty, 30 months if you register
Good: precise thermostat, quiet, timer and remote, strong safety list.
Watch out: some owners report unexpected shut-offs; like every 1,500 W heater it costs about 27¢ an hour on full power.
Skip it if: you only need heat for a few minutes at a time: the Amazon Basics does that for less.
Amazon Basics Ceramic Space Heater
A no-frills ceramic heater with the two settings that matter, 1,500 W high and 900 W low, plus a fan-only mode and a basic thermostat knob. It weighs about 3 pounds and is small enough for a desk or the floor of a home office. Tip-over and overheat protection are built in. Amazon notes it is not for bathrooms, laundry rooms or other damp spaces.
- 1,500 W high, 900 W low, fan only
- Thermostat knob
- Tip-over and overheat protection, power light
- About 7.5 × 6.3 × 9.5 in, about 3 lb
Good: cheap, simple, a true low setting at 900 W.
Watch out: no remote or timer; durability is the most common complaint in reviews; not for damp rooms.
Skip it if: you want it to hold an exact temperature or switch off on its own: get the DREO.
Which one should you buy?
- Get the DREO if the heater will run for hours in a bedroom or home office. The thermostat, Eco mode and timer are what turn a 1,500-watt heater into an affordable one.
- Get the Amazon Basics if you need short bursts of heat, for example under your desk in the morning or in a cold corner while you get dressed, and you will switch it off yourself.
- Get neither if you want to heat a big living room for the whole evening: see our Lasko vs DREO tower heater comparison, or check whether a space heater beats your central heat with the space heater vs central heat calculator.
Safety
Same rules for any space heater. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates portable heaters are involved in about 1,700 fires a year (CPSC). Keep heaters at least 3 feet from curtains, bedding, furniture and papers; plug them directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord, power strip or smart plug; and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep (CPSC winter safety tips).
FAQ
Is DREO better than Amazon Basics?
For long use, yes: the DREO has a digital thermostat in 1-degree steps, an Eco mode, a remote and a 12-hour timer, and it is rated quieter (34 dB versus 43 dB). For short warm-ups the Amazon Basics does the same job for less money.
Which heater is cheaper to run?
On high they cost the same, about 27¢ an hour at 18 cents per kWh, because both draw 1,500 watts. The cheaper one in practice is the one whose thermostat lets it cycle off more often, which usually favors the DREO.
Can I leave either heater on overnight?
Safety agencies advise turning space heaters off when you go to sleep. If you use one in a bedroom, the DREO’s timer can switch it off after you fall asleep; a heated blanket or mattress pad is a cheaper and safer way to stay warm in bed.
Can I plug a space heater into a power strip or smart plug?
No. Plug any space heater directly into a wall outlet. Power strips, extension cords and most smart plugs are not meant for a heater’s continuous 12.5-amp load.
Sources
- U.S. CPSC: Caution when using space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces
- U.S. CPSC: Winter safety tips
- U.S. Department of Energy: Six simple steps to save energy and money this winter
- U.S. EIA: Short-Term Energy Outlook, electricity prices
- U.S. EIA: Average residential electricity price by state
Email me at hello@thelowbillhome.com. I read every message, and when a rate, a rule or a product changes, I update the guide. — Eugene
Affiliate Disclosure: The Low Bill Home is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product details and availability change, so check the listing before you buy.
