Can You Put a Space Heater on Household Furniture?

Buying a space heater can be the perfect way to keep the chill out of your home in the winter. But when you have small children or dogs, you may wonder if it is okay to put your space heater on a table or desk to keep it out of their reach.

Placing a floor space heater on furniture is never okay unless you buy a specific tabletop space heater. Even then, you should always keep a close eye on a space heater placed on furniture because it could damage the furniture or worse, start a fire, if things get out of hand.

Curious about the furniture you can put a tabletop space heater on? Let’s look at the types of tabletop space heaters and the safe places where you can place them in your home. 

Which Space Heaters are Safe to Put on Furniture?

Chihuahua dog lying on faux fur near electric heater in living room

The only space heaters that can be placed on furniture are the smaller types that state on the box or in the owner’s manual that they are safe to place on furniture. If you take a regular space heater and put it on furniture, it is liable to tip or fall and could injure you or your kids. 

But even when you purchase a special tabletop space heater, this doesn’t mean you can just put it anywhere you want in your home. Tabletop space heaters are designed to be placed on a tabletop-like surface, not just any tabletop, but one made of wood and a smooth surface.

Therefore it is safe to place your tabletop space heater on a nightstand, coffee table, side table, dresser, or a counter in your bathroom as long as it’s far enough away from other materials and is in a spot where it can’t fall. 

You should never place these space heaters on a furry side table or ottoman because movement could cause them to tip over and light the soft material on fire.

You’ll also want to be careful not to place your space heater too close to the edge or anywhere someone could step on the chord and cause the space heater to fall. 

You also need to be careful of other items near the tabletop space heater. For example, if your desk is cluttered with papers and you put a space heater in the middle of them, this could start a fire. 

Can You Place Any Space Heater on Furniture?

You cannot place just any space heater on your furniture because they are not designed for this purpose. Regular space heaters are made to be more top-heavy, causing them to tip when they are placed up high.

Floor space heaters are also typically bigger, making them too large to fit on most tabletops comfortably. Also, regular space heaters typically have shorter cords because they are designed to be plugged in close to the ground. 

Trying to put them on a table or desk, then making their cord try to reach the outlet can be a problem. Stretched cords are a fire hazard, and a cord with too much tension can cause a space heater to fall when a door is slammed, or thunder strikes near the home. 

Best Tabletop Space Heaters

If you want a space heater for a particular table or nightstand in your home, then it’s best to buy a tabletop one. Below are the best tabletop heaters available on the market. 

Amazon Basics Personal Space Heater

The Basics Personal Space Heater (on Amazon) is perfect for someone on a budget looking for something to keep a desktop warm. This heater is small, compact, and has tip-over safety to prevent it from starting a fire if it falls. It also comes in 4 colors, so you can select the one that matches your decor. 

Portable Electric Space Heater

This Portable Electric Space Heater (on Amazon) is the best option for someone who wants a space heater for their desk but may also want to take it into the kitchen or bedroom at times.

It has a handle for easy carrying and can heat up to 200 square feet when on full blast, keeping you and the room nice and toasty. 

Atomi Smart Tabletop Space Heater

If you’ve got a little more money to spend, the Atomi Smart Tabletop space heater (on Amazon) is the way to go as it hooks directly into your wifi and can be turned on and off remotely.

You can also tie it into your Alexa or GoogleHome to use voice activation. It also heats 750 square feet, an extensive range for a space heater of this size. 

Safety Advice Before Buying a Tabletop Space Heater

Modern electric fan heater on floor in room

No matter what space heater you select, bringing a space heater into your home is always dangerous. So before you purchase one, consider the following safety advice. 

Know Where You Will Put the Heater

A space heater needs a precise amount of space in your home away from flammable items while still being near enough to a plug. Before purchasing a space heater, take some time to decide exactly where you will put it and ensure the cord reaches an outlet. Never use an extension cord with a space heater.

Consider Pets and Kids

If you have pets or kids, you need to find a place where they will not go near the space heater or accidentally knock it over. This can be more difficult if you have cats in every room of your home as they can easily get on space heaters.

Some space heaters have features that keep them cool to the touch so as not to burn animals or kids, and they are generally the best choice for keeping everyone in your home safe.

Never Leave Your Space Heater Unattended

A space heater is designed for personal and intermittent use while you are around. Therefore, you should not be purchasing a space heater to heat your home full time. 

Take the time before you buy to think about when you will use your space heater and how you plan to remember to turn it off. Some people prefer one with a timer, so they don’t have to stress about accidentally leaving their space heater on.

Final Thoughts on Putting Space Heaters on Household Furniture

While a space heater can be a great way to keep you warm in the winter, you should never plan to put a space heater meant for the floor on your furniture. Instead, take the time to find a smaller space heater that you can safely place on a tabletop.

Once you have found your ideal tabletop space heater, don’t buy it just yet. Instead, take the time to review some safety advice to ensure you have the proper place and type of tabletop space heater for your home.

Then, once you do purchase your space heater, ensure you never leave it running unattended, and you should never have to worry about it causing damage to your home. 

1