Baseboard Heater Buyers Guide

TL;DR: When planning to purchase a baseboard heater, there are several factors to keep in mind. These factors include:

• Room Size and Heat Demand: Helps you choose the correct wattage
• Available Voltage & Circuit Capacity: Ensures the heater matches your home's electrical system
• Thermostat & Accessories: Ensures the heater installs and controls correctly

Having and reviewing this information helps you choose a model that better fits your room and electrical system.

Commonly known as baseboard heaters or baseboard wall heaters, these zoned heat devices usually use convection heat. Baseboard heaters provide quiet, room-by-room heating without ductwork. They are mostly used for supplemental or zoned heat in bedrooms, offices, apartments, and other individual rooms.

Most electric baseboard heaters use natural convection to warm cooler air near the floor and allow heated air to rise through the room.

• Size of the Space: Assess the area you aim to heat and choose a heater with adequate power.
• Type of Heater: Select the heater type that best fits your needs, whether radiant, convection, fan-forced, or hydronic.
• Energy Efficiency: Look for models with Energy Star ratings or high-efficiency labels to save on electricity bills.
• Safety Features: Prioritize features like overheat protection and thermostat control, especially in households with children or pets.
• Design Elements: Consider aesthetics and additional features such as remote controls or programmable thermostats.
• Budget: Choose a heater within your financial comfort zone.

Once you've considered these factors, you can proceed with confidence to follow the installation steps for your heat source. This will help transform your space into a cozy haven of warmth and comfort.

Baseboard heater size is usually determined by room square footage, insulation, ceiling height, windows, and climate. A common baseline is about 10 watts per square foot for an average room. Better-insulated spaces may need less. Older homes, rooms with large windows, high ceilings, and colder climates might require more.

Normally, you want to look at the amount of power (wattage) your heater puts out in order to determine if it will fit in your designated room.

Find the square footage of the desired room and use the chart below as a reference:

"I have a Lot of windows or my square footage is not listed…:"

Rooms with large windows, poor insulation, high ceilings, or cold climates may need more wattage than the basic estimate. If your square feet is not listed in the chart, or you plan on installing a lot of windows, general guidance is to choose the next highest wattage. Several factors can affect sizing, ALWAYS refer to the manufacturer's sizing chart whenever possible.

"I Have a Newer Building or Live in a Warmer Climate..."

Well-insulated newer homes in warmer climates may require less wattage output. Differences in outdoor climate, window quantity, insulation, and ceiling height can cause drastic swings in wattage requirements for baseboard heaters. If you're unsure about heater sizing rules, use the manufacturer's sizing chart for your specific model over general guidance.

Electric baseboard heaters are commonly available in 120V, 208V, 240V, and some 277V configurations. You'll find residential installations mostly use 120V or 240V, while 208V and 277V are more common in multifamily or commercial buildings.

Always match the heater voltage to the available electrical supply. A heater connected to the wrong voltage may create incorrect heat output or create an electrical hazard.

To improve your baseboard heating experience, you should consider adding the following accessories or parts:

1. Thermostats: Many baseboard heaters require a separate line-voltage thermostat, while others support built-in controls. Verify voltage and amperage compatibility before purchasing.
2. Thermostat Covers: Protective covers for thermostats can prevent tampering and help maintain a consistent temperature setting.
3. Replacement Baseboard Covers: Use only covers designed for the specific baseboard heater and maintain proper airflow and clearance requirements.
4. Baseboard Heater End Caps: End caps seal the left- or right-side wiring of baseboard heating systems. These accessories offer a finished look and prevent debris from building up inside.
5. Baseboard Heater Enclosure: Enclosures serve safety and aesthetic purposes when added around baseboard heaters, concealing and protecting them.
6. Child Safety Guards: Designed to protect young children or any other parties from harm, they help reduce accidental contact with hot surfaces. However, they do not replace required clearances or supervision around operating heaters.

• Bedrooms or Nurseries: Size the heater based on room square footage and heat loss, not room type alone.
• Offices: Account for exterior walls, windows, and insulation.
• Watch for Voltage: Match the heater to the available circuit. 120V does not always mean plug-in and 240V does not automatically mean higher heat output.

Need help sizing? Our baseboard sizing guide goes over how to size your heat. If you need more assistance, contact us directly.

Baseboard heaters are a helpful addition to you home, warming rooms while keeping a space open with their discreet design. Looking for more information regarding these units and how they function? Check out our baseboard heater Master Guide, a blog going over the ins and outs of these products! And when you are ready to keep your home cozy during the fall and winter months, HomElectrical has plenty of popular baseboard heater models to choose from!