Verdict
All guidesResearchMethodologyAboutContact
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.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
The short answer

Lasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop Heater comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.4 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Homes with children who want a safe, compact tabletop heater for small and medium rooms with a child lock, tip-over protection, and a remote at a budget price. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Lasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop Heater
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Space Heaters Under $100
Lasko Ellipse CD12950 Ceramic Tabletop Heater
2 sourcesall derived$69.99as of Aug 1

The Lasko Ellipse CD12950 is the best budget tabletop heater and CNN Underscored's top budget pick, chosen for its blend of heating performance and safety. In reviewers' 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. Safety is where the value really sits: a tip-over switch, child lock, and cool-touch housing make it a good 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
$69.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater
Ranked #2 in Best Space Heaters Under $100
Vornado AVH10 Whole Room Space Heater
2 sources1 derived$95.16as of Aug 1

The Vornado AVH10 is the best space heater you can buy for around $100. TechGearLab named it their top pick, praising how the signature Vortex circulation pushes 1500W of heat evenly around a whole room instead of 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 runs quiet and efficient; the only catch is a price sitting 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
$95.16 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

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
Coverage—Whole small-medium room
Noise—Low
Fan-only mode—Yes
← See the full ranking of best space heaters under $100