A small cube heater warms you; a tower heater is meant to warm the room. Two towers dominate Amazon: the long-running Lasko 751320, a 23-inch ceramic tower with more than 40,000 ratings, and the newer DREO 25-inch tower, sold as a large-room heater. Both are 1,500-watt ceramic heaters with oscillation and a remote. Here is how they differ and which one fits your room.
Both cost about 27¢ an hour on high at 18¢ per kWh. Pick the Lasko 751320 if you want a proven heater with a 7-hour timer and a 3-year warranty; its thermostat moves in coarse 5-degree steps. Pick the DREO 25-inch tower if you want finer control: a digital thermostat in 1-degree steps from 41 to 95°F, an Eco mode that adjusts heat from a room sensor, wider 70° oscillation and a very quiet 25 dB rating.
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.
Remote, 7-hour timer, wide oscillation and a 3-year limited warranty.
Check price on AmazonWhy we picked it ↓1° thermostat steps, Eco mode with a room sensor, 70° oscillation, 25 dB.
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).
Lasko vs DREO tower at a glance
| Lasko 751320 | DREO 25-inch (DR-HSH013) | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 1,500 W, two heat settings | 1,500 W, three heat levels plus Eco and fan |
| Thermostat | Electronic, about 60–85°F (owners note 5° steps) | Digital, 41–95°F in 1° steps, room sensor in Eco mode |
| Oscillation | Widespread | 70° |
| Timer and remote | 7-hour timer, remote | Remote, child lock |
| Noise (maker’s figure) | Described as quiet | As low as 25 dB |
| Height and weight | 23 in (listed 22.5 in) | 25 in, about 7.3 lb |
| Coverage (listing) | Medium rooms | 100–270 sq ft |
| Safety | Overheat protection, cool-touch housing, self-regulating element; ETL | 45° tip-over and overheat protection, V0 housing, child lock; ETL |
| Warranty | 3-year limited | See listing; register with DREO |
| Amazon rating (Oct 18, 2026) | 4.5 stars, about 40,700 ratings | 4.4 stars, about 12,300 ratings |
What they cost to run
On high, both draw 1,500 watts: 27¢ an hour, $1.35 for a 5-hour evening and about $40.50 a month if it never cycles off. In a closed room a thermostat cuts that, because the heater switches off once the room is warm. That is why the thermostat matters more than the brand: the more precisely it holds your chosen temperature, the less time the 1,500-watt element spends on.
A tower heater makes the most sense when you heat one room and turn the central thermostat down for the rest of the house. Whether that saves money depends on your fuel and rates: run the numbers in the space heater vs central heat calculator.
Calculator: your rate, your hours
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 precision
The Lasko has an electronic thermostat, but owners point out it moves in 5-degree steps, so you choose between, say, 65 and 70°F. The DREO sets any whole degree from 41 to 95°F and, in Eco mode, uses a dedicated sensor to adjust its output. If you are comfortable at 67°F, the DREO can hold 67 instead of 70, and each degree lower saves energy.
Room size and airflow
DREO markets its tower for large rooms, with a 70° oscillation and a stated 100–270 sq ft coverage. Lasko’s widespread oscillation is aimed at medium rooms. In practice, no 1,500-watt heater can fully heat a big, drafty living room on a cold night; both work best in a room up to about 150–250 sq ft with the door closed.
Timer and warranty
The Lasko’s 7-hour timer switches it off for you, and its 3-year limited warranty is one of the longest you will find on a heater at this price. The DREO listing highlights its remote, child lock and safety features; check the listing for its timer and warranty terms and register it with DREO.
What owners report
Amazon’s review summaries say owners of the Lasko find it heats quickly and quietly and like the remote and timer; the negatives are the 5-degree thermostat steps and some reports of units failing early. For the DREO tower, owners praise how quiet it is and the remote, but heat output gets mixed feedback (some feel it is not strong enough for the room they bought it for) and some report it stopped working after about a year.
The two towers in detail
Lasko 751320 Ceramic Tower Heater
One of the most-reviewed heaters on Amazon, with more than 40,000 ratings. A tall ceramic element and widespread oscillation spread heat across a medium room, and the remote controls the heat setting, the oscillation and a 7-hour timer. A self-regulating ceramic element, overheat protection and a cool-touch housing are built in, and it carries a 3-year limited warranty.
- 1,500 W, two heat settings
- Electronic thermostat (coarse steps)
- Remote, 7-hour timer, widespread oscillation
- Overheat protection, cool-touch housing; ETL listed
- 3-year limited warranty
Good: long track record, timer, long warranty.
Watch out: 5-degree thermostat steps; some early failures in reviews.
Skip it if: you want to fine-tune the temperature: the DREO goes in single degrees.
DREO 25-inch Tower Heater (DR-HSH013)
DREO’s large-room tower sets temperatures in 1-degree steps from 41 to 95°F and has an Eco mode that reads the room temperature and adjusts the heat. Three heat levels and a fan-only mode, a 70° oscillation, a remote and a child lock round it out. Its 25 dB rating makes it one of the quietest towers you can buy.
- 1,500 W, H1/H2/H3, Eco and fan-only
- Digital thermostat 41–95°F, 1° steps
- 70° oscillation, remote, child lock
- 45° tip-over and overheat protection, V0 housing; ETL listed
- 25 in tall, about 7.3 lb
Good: precise thermostat, Eco mode, very quiet.
Watch out: heat output gets mixed reviews; some durability complaints after a year.
Skip it if: you want the longest warranty: the Lasko has 3 years.
Which one should you buy?
- Get the Lasko 751320 for a bedroom or living room where you want a set-and-forget heater with a timer and a long warranty.
- Get the DREO 25-inch if you care about holding an exact temperature, want the quietest option, or are heating a slightly larger room.
- Consider an oil-filled radiator if you want silent, gentle heat for hours: see De’Longhi vs DREO oil-filled radiator.
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 the DREO tower heater better than the Lasko?
It has finer controls: a 1-degree thermostat, an Eco mode and wider oscillation, and it is rated quieter. The Lasko has a longer track record, a 7-hour timer and a 3-year limited warranty. Neither heats faster per watt; both are 1,500-watt ceramic heaters.
How big a room can a 1,500-watt tower heater heat?
A common rule of thumb is about 10 watts per square foot, so roughly 150 square feet as primary heat. In a room that already gets some central heat, it can top up a larger space. Closing the door and stopping drafts matters more than the brand.
Do tower heaters use more electricity than small heaters?
No. At the same 1,500-watt setting they cost the same, about 27¢ an hour at 18 cents per kWh. A tower simply spreads the heat across the room with a taller element and oscillation.
Should a tower heater oscillate?
Oscillation spreads warm air around the room and is useful when you move around. If you sit in one spot, pointing the heater at you without oscillation keeps you warmer at a lower thermostat setting.
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.
