Space heater safety: the rules to follow every time

Why space heaters need care

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that portable heaters, including electric space heaters, were involved in an average of 1,600 fires a year from 2020 to 2022, resulting in an average of 70 deaths and 150 injuries a year.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) puts it another way: home portable heater fires were only 3% of home heating fires each year from 2017 to 2019, but they accounted for 41% of fatal home heating fires. Most of those fires start when something that can burn is too close.

Keep 3 feet clear on every side

The CPSC advises keeping all sides of the heater at least 3 feet from beds, clothes, curtains, papers, sofas and other things that can catch fire. The USFA gives the same distance for anything that can burn around any heat source. Watch for:

• Bedding and blankets that slide off a bed overnight.
• Curtains that move in a draft.
• Clothes or towels hung to dry nearby.
• Children and pets – set up a kid-free and pet-free zone around the heater.

Plug directly into a wall outlet

• The CPSC and USFA both say to plug electric space heaters directly into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip. Heaters draw a lot of power, and cords and strips not rated for that load can overheat.
• Do not run the heater’s cord under rugs or carpet.
• If the cord or plug feels hot, the CPSC says to disconnect the heater and contact an authorized repair person.
• Do not plug other high-power appliances into the same outlet.

Features to look for

• Tip-over shutoff. The American Red Cross advises choosing a model that shuts off automatically if it falls over.
• Overheat protection. Many electric models switch off if internal parts get too hot. Check the product description.
• A safety certification mark from an independent testing laboratory on the heater or its label.
• No recalls. The CPSC suggests checking SaferProducts.gov to see if your electric heater has been recalled.

Where to put it

The CPSC advises placing the heater on a stable, level surface where it will not be knocked over, and away from water – never touch it if you are wet. The Red Cross adds: a level, hard and nonflammable surface such as a tile floor, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep it out of walkways and away from doors where it can be bumped.

Never unattended, never while sleeping

The CPSC says never to leave a heater running while unattended or while you are sleeping. The USFA advises turning space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed, and the Red Cross says to turn them off before going to bed or leaving home. If a bedroom is too cold overnight, warm it before bed, then switch the heater off and use extra blankets.

Fuel-burning heaters and carbon monoxide

Kerosene, propane and other fuel-burning heaters burn fuel and can produce carbon monoxide, a poison you cannot see or smell. Never use one indoors unless the maker states it is designed for indoor use, and follow its venting and fresh-air instructions exactly. Never use outdoor heaters inside.

• Never heat your home with an oven or range – the USFA and Red Cross both warn against it.
• Generators go outdoors only. The CPSC says at least 20 feet from the home, with the exhaust pointed away, and never in a home, basement, shed or garage.
• CO alarms belong on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, the CPSC advises.

More in our carbon monoxide safety guide.

Smoke alarms

The Red Cross advises smoke alarms on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test them each month and before you start using space heaters for the season.

If the heater is standing in for a broken furnace

A space heater is a stopgap, not a fix. The CPSC advises having a professional inspect all fuel-burning heating systems – furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents – each year. If your main heat is out, work through furnace not working or heat pump blowing cold air, protect your plumbing with how to prevent frozen pipes, and see the emergency guide.

Sources

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Keep Warm and Safe This Winter – Tips for Using Generators, Furnaces and Space Heaters (January 2026) (checked October 2026)
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Highly Effective Portable Heater Safety Habits (PDF) (checked October 2026)
• U.S. Fire Administration: Heating Fire Safety (checked October 2026)
• U.S. Fire Administration: Portable Heater Fire Safety (PDF) (checked October 2026)
• American Red Cross: Home Fires – How to Stay Safe as Cold Weather Returns (checked October 2026)