Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Space Heaters Under $100

Lasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop Heater vs Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Anyone who wants to heat a whole small-to-medium room evenly and quietly, with set-and-forget auto temperature control and top-tier safety features. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Lasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop Heater
Ranked #4 in Best Space Heaters Under $100
Lasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop Heater
$69.99as of Jun 7

The Lasko Ellipse CD12950 is the best budget tabletop heater, named CNN Underscored's top budget pick for its blend of heating performance and safety. In testing it hit its target temperature within 15 minutes and raised a room 10F in an hour, and it is small and light enough to move easily. Its standout is safety value: a tip-over switch, child lock, and cool-touch housing make it a great choice for homes with kids, all for around $60.

Strengths
  • CNN Underscored's top budget pick for heating performance and safety value
  • Hit target temperature within 15 minutes and raised a room 10F in an hour in testing
  • Strong safety set: tip-over switch, child lock, and cool-touch housing
Watch-outs
  • Best suited to small and medium rooms, not whole-house heating
  • Tabletop unit needs a stable surface
  • No app or smart control
Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Space Heaters Under $100
Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater
$95.16as of Jun 7

The Vornado AVH10 is the best space heater you can buy for around $100. TechGearLab named it their top pick, praising how its signature Vortex circulation pushes 1500W of heat evenly around a whole room rather than just at whoever is in front of it. Auto Climate Control holds your set temperature, and it carries every safety feature you want: cool-touch case, tip-over protection, and auto shutoff. It is quiet and efficient; the only catch is the price sits right at the budget ceiling.

Strengths
  • TechGearLab's top space-heater pick; Vortex air circulation heats a whole room evenly
  • Full suite of safety features: cool-touch case, tip-over protection, auto shutoff
  • Auto Climate Control holds your set temperature and saves energy
Watch-outs
  • At about $100 it sits at the top of the under-$100 budget
  • Fan is not the fastest, so drafty rooms take a while to catch up
  • Some owners want a more durable power button

How they stack up

Lasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop Heater

The best small-room safety value here, adding a child lock the Vornado AVH10, Lasko 755320, and Dreo Atom One do not have. It is a tabletop unit like the Dreo Atom One but with wider oscillation, and it offers far more safety and control than the bare Amazon Basics 1500W.

Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater

The best whole-room heater here, circulating heat more evenly than the tower-style Lasko 755320 or the tabletop Lasko Ellipse CD12950, and far more than the personal Dreo Atom One or the Amazon Basics 1500W. It costs the most of the group but earns it with Vornado's circulation and Auto Climate Control.

Specs side-by-side

SpecLasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop HeaterVornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater
Power1500W (750/1500)1500W
Heating typeCeramicFan-forced ceramic, Vortex circulation
Form factorTabletop
OscillationWide, 120-degree distribution
ThermostatAdjustable, Auto ECODigital, Auto Climate Control
Timer30-60 min increments
ControlsButtons + 7-function remoteDigital display
SafetyTip-over, child lock, cool-touchCool-touch, tip-over, auto shutoff
CoverageWhole small-medium room
NoiseLow
Fan-only modeYes
← See the full ranking of best space heaters under $100